Mani Hand-held Prayer Wheels

Tibetan Buddhism abounds with ‘skilful means’─ingenious methods to accumulate merit for the benefit of all sentient beings. The hand-held Tibetan prayer wheel, a cylindrical metal or wooden drum mounted on a spindle and spun clockwise by hand, is a long cherished favorite. At the drum’s core is a wooden or metal ‘life tree’ tightly wrapped with rolls of delicate paper inscribed with thousands of mantras in Tibetan. Most popular is Avalokiteshvara’s ‘mani’ mantra: OM MA NI PAD MÉ HUM.

To maintain the carefully balanced spinning drum at a steady pace for some length of time takes skill, and serves as a wonderful method to keep the practitioner mindful and sharply aware moment-by-moment. In this way, spinning a prayer wheel increases mindfulness and compassion while clearing away the hindrances of our daily mundane distractions.

Here, our hand-held ‘Mani Wheel’ is composed of plastic and metal alloys with a wooden handle. The drum is adorned with ornate filigree, faux turquoise and coral stones, and the ‘mani’ mantra in Tibetan script. A heavy golden medallion on chain, imprinted with a lotus, serves as the counter-balance. The top of the wheel is a lotus bud embracing a gemstone emblematic of the mantra which means ’Homage to the jewel in the lotus!’

Arrives in its own lovely gift box.

Large measures 9cm in diameter, with a length of 23cm, and Medium measures 6.5cm in diameter, with a length of 19cm.