Easy Returns

Return within 7 days of
order delivery.See T&Cs

Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

Monastery Prayer Wheels

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Name: Monastery Prayer Wheels
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: XD76
Price: 220.00 USD
Availability: InStock

CHF177

Includes any tariffs and taxes

Notify me when this item is available

Specifications

	XD76
	Brass, Copper and Wood
	Height: 6 inch
	Width: 16 inch
	Depth: 3 inch
	Weight 1.24 kg

Delivery and Return Policies

	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
	Free Delivery

Easy Returns

Return within 7 days of
order delivery.See T&Cs

Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

A Journey of Compassion and Peace

More than just decorative objects, these meticulously crafted prayer wheels embody a profound tradition of spiritual practice central to Tibetan Buddhism. Spinning these wheels is believed to be equivalent to reciting the mantras contained within them, activating the power of compassion and accumulating merit for oneself and all sentient beings. Each rotation sends blessings outward, contributing to world peace and personal transformation. The practice of using prayer wheels is said to have originated with the great Buddhist master Nagarjuna. Legend states that Nagarjuna, through his enlightened vision, saw the suffering of beings in the lower realms. He then invented the prayer wheel as a skillful means to relieve their pain by invoking the blessings of the mantras inscribed within.

Craftsmanship and Materials

These individual prayer wheels are carefully formed from brass and copper, materials valued not only for their durability but also for their inherent symbolism. The brass carries a lustrous shine, reflecting light and embodying the clarity of wisdom. The copper provides a grounding and conductive energy, representing the earth and its vital force. The wooden frame, with its carved details, lends a natural and rustic elegance to the overall design. The combination of these materials creates a harmonious blend of spiritual and aesthetic appeal. Turquoise and coral embellishments adorn the wheels, adding a touch of color and symbolizing protection and life force.

Mantras and Their Significance

Encircling each wheel is the sacred mantra, "Om Mani Padme Hum," often referred to as the mantra of compassion. It is associated with Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, who vowed to liberate all beings from suffering. Each syllable carries a unique vibration and transformative power: *

Om

represents the purity of body, speech, and mind. *

Ma Ni

symbolizes jewel-like qualities of love and compassion. *

Pad Me

represents the lotus flower, symbolizing wisdom. *

Hum

signifies the indivisibility of wisdom and compassion. Reciting or, in this case, setting in motion these sacred syllables is believed to purify negative karma, remove obstacles, and cultivate inner peace. Displaying these wheels in your home creates an environment of serenity and positive energy, reminding you to embody compassion in your daily life.

How are Nepalese copper statues made?

Nepalese statues and sculptures are best known for their unique small religious figures and ritual paraphernalia for over two thousand years. These are mainly cast in copper alloy. Nepal draws influences from the artistic styles of Buddhism and Hinduism, and therefore the sculptors of the country specialize in making the icons of both these religions. Over the years, Nepalese sculptures evolved into their own distinctive iconography. Some characteristic features of these sculptures that differ from other pieces are exaggerated physical postures, youthful and sensual features, languid eyes, wider faces having serene expressions, and ornate flourishes. The Buddhist deity icons of Nepal have tremendous demand in countries such as China and Tibet for ritual purposes in their temples and monasteries.

Nepalese statues and sculptures have a high copper content and therefore develop a slightly reddish patina on the surface as they age. However, the most unique feature of Nepalese copper statues is their decorative detailing. The pieces are heavily gilded and sometimes inlaid with semi-precious stones. This embellishment protects them from getting tarnished. The traditional lost-wax method for casting Nepalese copper statues remains the most practiced technique in Nepal for many centuries. This process involves many steps and requires skilled artists.

The first step in lost-wax sculpting is to make a wax replica of the desired Buddhist deity to be cast in copper. This replica is created by hand and therefore needs excellent artistic skills otherwise fine features will be lacking.

Once the wax replica is made, it is then coated with a special mixture of clay with a brush. This layer of clay is hardened when left to dry. A small hole is made on the base of the wax mould so that the wax flows away when it is heated.

At this stage, a hollow mould in the shape of the deity is obtained.

This is the time to pour liquid copper into the hollow mould which is then allowed to cool and harden inside a container of cold water. When the liquid metal has hardened, the mould is removed and the statue within is revealed.

The artist works on the details of the statue using various tools. It is then polished to get a shiny and lustrous surface.

Now comes the most important part of Nepalese art which is gold gilding. This is done by the traditional fire gilding method. A mixture of mercury and 18K gold is applied on the surface of the statue and heat is applied using a flame torch. The result is that mercury evaporates along with impurities, leaving a pure 24K gold finish.

The lost-wax method of sculpting is the most preferred technique

for artists to cast a metallic statue having intricate details. Since Nepalese copper sculptures require extraneous effort for giving a majestic look by adding special embellishments, it takes several weeks to complete one masterpiece. A 24K gold gilded copper sculpture retains its brilliant luster for many years and appears as like before. Nepalese sculptures continue to remain one of the finest specimens of the art of the East that have a strong aesthetic appeal that other sculptures cannot match.