Prayer Wheel

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Name: Prayer Wheel
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZAB85
Price: 295.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$254.25

$339

25% off

Includes any tariffs and taxes

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Specifications

	ZAB85
	Copper, Brass and Wood
	Height: 8.5 inch
	Width: 7.5 inch
	Depth: 5 inch
	Weight 790 gm

Delivery and Return Policies


	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
	Free Delivery

Easy Returns

Return within 7 days of
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Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

A Sacred Cycle

Invite a sense of peace and devotion into your space with this exquisitely crafted piece. A prayer wheel, also known as a mani wheel, is a deeply symbolic object in Tibetan Buddhism. It represents a powerful method for bringing forth blessings, purifying negativity, and accumulating wisdom. Turning the wheel is considered equivalent to reciting the prayers within it, multiplying the effects of one's intentions for compassion and enlightenment. This beautifully constructed wheel features a rich combination of materials. Copper and brass form the cylindrical drum, adorned with sacred mantras and symbols. The support frame, meticulously carved from wood, provides a sturdy and visually appealing base. Every detail contributes to the wheel’s overall aesthetic and spiritual significance.

The Mantra Within

Often, prayer wheels contain the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum," one of the most well-known and revered mantras in Buddhism. This mantra is associated with Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Each syllable is believed to carry profound meaning and transformative power. The turning of the wheel is not merely a physical act, but a symbolic gesture of setting in motion the positive energy and blessings associated with the mantra. The practice of using prayer wheels is rooted in the belief that all beings possess the potential for enlightenment. By engaging with these sacred objects, one can connect with this inherent potential and generate merit, which contributes to one's spiritual progress and the well-being of all sentient beings. The gentle rotation becomes a meditation in motion, a way to quiet the mind and open the heart to compassion and wisdom.

Whispers of Ancient Lands

Prayer wheels have deep historical and cultural roots in Tibet and the surrounding Himalayan regions. The tradition of using prayer wheels is said to have originated with the Indian Buddhist master Nagarjuna, who is credited with inventing the first hand-held prayer wheel. Over centuries, the practice spread throughout the Tibetan Buddhist world, becoming an integral part of daily life. From large, stationary wheels found in monasteries to smaller, portable wheels carried by pilgrims, these objects are a constant reminder of the path to enlightenment. Displaying this piece is a connection to a rich spiritual heritage, a tangible reminder of the enduring quest for inner peace and compassion that spans across cultures and centuries.

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.