Prayer Wheel (Wall Hanging)

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Name: Prayer Wheel (Wall Hanging)
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZAO13
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$69

Includes any tariffs and taxes

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Specifications

	ZAO13
	Wood, Brass and Copper Statue
	Height: 4.5 inch
	Width: 4 inch
	Depth: 2 inch
	Weight 120 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.

Echoes of Enlightenment: A Sacred Wall Hanging

Invite a sense of peace and spiritual devotion into your home or meditation space with this exquisitely crafted wall-hanging prayer wheel. More than just an object of beauty, it serves as a tangible representation of the profound spiritual practices that have guided seekers for centuries. The intricately carved dark wood base and pillars evoke the natural, grounding energies of the earth, while the cylindrical prayer drum, a blend of gleaming brass and copper, represents the celestial and the flow of sacred energies.

Ancient Wisdom Embodied

Prayer wheels, or "mani wheels" in Tibetan Buddhism, are instruments of meditation and spiritual accumulation. According to tradition, each rotation of the wheel is equivalent to reciting the mantra inscribed upon it, often the powerful mantra of Avalokiteśvara, "Om Mani Padme Hum." It is believed that the spinning of the wheel generates merit and purifies negative karma, similar to the diligent practice of chanting. In the ancient tales, the Bodhisattva Tara, a female Buddha embodying compassion and protection, is often associated with prayer wheels, as their turning is said to spread compassion and wisdom across the land, like the gentle turning of the earth.

A Touch of Divine Adornment

The prayer drum itself is a masterpiece of miniature artistry. Adorned with the sacred Tibetan script, its polished surface catches the light, symbolizing clarity and insight. The uppermost part of the wheel is crowned with luminous turquoise stones, cherished for their protective qualities and their connection to the heavens in many indigenous cultures. These precious gems add a touch of celestial beauty and are thought to enhance spiritual awareness and well-being. The wooden stand, with its carved details, provides a stable and elegant frame, suggesting the robust foundations of faith and practice.

Harmonizing Your Space

This prayer wheel is designed to be a focal point for contemplation. Its compact size allows for placement in various settings, from a personal altar to a quiet corner of your living room. The act of observing its gentle sway, or even giving it a gentle turn, can be a meditative practice in itself, encouraging a moment of mindfulness in a busy world. It serves as a constant reminder of the path towards enlightenment and the potential for inner transformation. This piece is more than an artifact; it is a conduit for peace, a vessel for intentions, and a beautiful testament to enduring spiritual traditions.

Craftsmanship and Cultural Significance

The fusion of natural wood with the metallic sheen of brass and copper speaks to a deep respect for materials and their symbolic meanings. Wood represents growth, stability, and the material world, while metals often symbolize purity and conductivity of spiritual energy. The thoughtful combination creates a harmonious balance, echoing the Buddhist ideal of integrating worldly existence with spiritual aspiration. The carved designs on the wooden elements, though subtle, add a layer of intricate detail that speaks to the dedication and skill of the artisans. This wall hanging is not merely decorative but is imbued with the spirit of its origin and the profound intentions it represents.

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.