Prayer Wheel

Prayer wheel also named "Mani" wheel (means pleasant precious jewel), which is related with six words scripture. Tibetan Buddhism think people who chant six words scripture more, one is more piety to Buddha and by this one can avoid the pain of transmigration. So, except chanting scripture, they also make "Mani" wheel, putting "six words mantra" into the wheel. They spin the wheel once which is equal to chant the scripture once. Some also use the water power, hot power of fire to make water wheels, fire wheels. They use natural power to replace people to chant "six words mantra". In front of the monasteries in Tibet, there present a row of prayer wheels, with a handle on the downside. Believers come to push these pray wheels before the monasteries, it is named spinning prayer wheels.

The prayer wheel in Tibetans hands also named "Mani" wheel.

Prayer wheel can be divided into two kinds; one is hand prayer wheel, the other is stationary wheel which is fixed on the shelf in monastery.

Prayer Wheel – Hand Prayer Wheel

When you come to Tibet, you can see the Tibetans with various prayer wheels in hand on road or in monasteries. Most of them are in colorful Tibetan clothes. Some high and strong Tibetans are with a big prayer wheel in hand. There is a small leather sheath on their waist. They put the handle of the prayer wheel into the sheath and use right hand to spin it, make it spin in clockwise slightly. Most of these prayer wheels are made up of wood. The prayer wheel in the elders' hands is very light, which is made up of bone or mental delicately. Some prayer wheel with a cloth sheath over it is very precious. Most of them are decorated with precious jewel.

Prayer Wheel – Stationary Prayer Wheel

There are various big prayer wheels in Tibetan monasteries. For example, there is a row of prayer wheel out the west wall of Potala Palace; Tibetans can use right hand to slid them in clockwise and chant the six words scripture: Om ma ni pad me hum.

There are two giant prayer wheels on the left side of Potala Palace gate, which have been lightened up by pilgrims' buttered hands. In Jokhang Temple, there is a circle of prayer wheel around the temple. Tibetans who come here to worship will slide in clockwise, make them spin with the six words scripture. All of these prayer wheel have experience many things. They can purify the heart and full of infinite charm.

Both the hand prayer wheel and the stationary prayer wheel are similar in structure, and with a piece of scripture written by Tibetan language in it. Because of in slave period, most of Tibetans were illiteracy. So they put the scripture into the prayer wheel. They spin the wheel once equal to they chant the scripture for one time. There is an axis in the prayer wheel which must be changed after a certain amount of turns. So Tibetans can remember how many times they have chanted the scripture.

In solemn religious festivals, Tibetans will gather on the square before Jokhang Temple. The continuous spinning prayer wheels in their hands radiate dazzling radiance under the sunshine, which looks very spectacular.