Monastery Prayer Wheels

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Name: Monastery Prayer Wheels
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: XS28
Price: 120.00 USD
Availability: InStock

CHF97

Includes any tariffs and taxes

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Specifications

	XS28
	Brass, Copper and Wood
	Height: 4.5 inch
	Width: 9 inch
	Depth: 2 inch
	Weight 330 gm

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.

The Sacred Wheel: A Path to Inner Peace

For centuries, prayer wheels have been an integral part of Tibetan Buddhist practice, serving as powerful tools for spiritual growth and the accumulation of merit. The turning of the wheel, filled with mantras and sacred texts, is believed to generate positive energy and blessings, radiating outwards to benefit all sentient beings. Each rotation is a silent prayer, a gentle offering to the universe. Our meticulously crafted prayer wheels, a beautiful embodiment of this ancient tradition, offer a way to integrate this practice into your own life. These prayer wheels draw inspiration from the grander, larger wheels found in monasteries nestled high in the Himalayas, where monks and pilgrims alike engage in the rhythmic act of turning them, their minds focused on compassion and enlightenment. While large wheels are sometimes powered by water or wind, smaller wheels were fashioned for individual prayer. The act of turning represents the turning of the Wheel of Dharma, the teachings of Buddha that set in motion the path to liberation.

Materials and Craftsmanship

Each piece of this artful creation involves meticulous work. The rollers themselves are skillfully made of a blend of brass and copper, providing a durable surface for the mantra. Inscribed on the surface is the sacred mantra *Om Mani Padme Hum*, a prayer to the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. The wheels are housed in a supportive wooden framework, a dark finish contrasting beautifully with the metallic luster of the prayer cylinders, creating a visually striking piece that complements any space. The mantra *Om Mani Padme Hum* is perhaps the most well known of all, and embodies the spirit of compassion and wisdom. Chanting or visualizing *Om Mani Padme Hum* is said to transform impure states of body, speech, and mind into purity, allowing one to cultivate a deeper connection with Avalokiteśvara, the embodiment of boundless compassion.

Bringing the Monastery Home

Beyond their spiritual significance, these wheels serve as an elegant reminder of the path of peace. They are perfect for adding a touch of tranquility to your home, meditation space, or office. Let the gentle symbolism and the quiet contemplation they inspire become a part of your daily ritual. These are not merely decorative objects but artifacts steeped in history, carrying the essence of centuries of faith and devotion. By placing this piece in your home, you invite the spirit of the monastery into your life, creating a sanctuary of peace and contemplation.

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.