Throughout the Tibetan regions, whether in bustling cities, sparsely populated villages, or vast pastures, wherever there are Tibetans, you will see them holding prayer wheels (also known as “Mani wheels”). Aside from work and household chores, whenever they have free time or are on the road, Tibetans may be seen turning the prayer wheel in their hand while reciting the six-syllable mantra – “Om Mani Padme Hum” (or the eight-syllable mantra – “Om Ma Tri Mu Ye Sa Le Du” for Bon followers). In Tibet, the Tibetan prayer wheel is one of the most common religious implements. Legend has it that long ago, a disaster occurred in Jambudvipa. The patriarch Nagarjuna recalled a powerful ritual implement of the dragon race that he had heard of. He went to the Dragon Palace to seek it. This implement contained the great vow of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. Any living being who saw, heard, touched, or thought of this implement could be liberated. Later, people imitated it and made prayer wheels.
Origins of the Tibetan Prayer Wheel
There are two different views on the origin of the prayer wheel in the real world. One is the Bon origin theory, which believes that the prayer wheel originated from the Yungdrung Bon religion in western Ali. In ancient times, most Tibetans were illiterate. To facilitate the recitation and propagation of scriptures, believers would place written scriptures into the prayer wheel. Each turn was equivalent to reciting the scriptures once. Over time, merit would be accumulated, and karma would be eliminated, making it an important tool for believers’ practice and expression of devotion. After Buddhism entered Tibet, it was also adopted by Buddhism, but with the direction of use reversed. That is, Buddhist believers turn the prayer wheel clockwise, while Bon followers turn it counterclockwise. Another theory is that as early as the 2nd century BC in India, after the rise of Buddhism, to make it easier for the general public to carry and read Buddhist scriptures, the scriptures were written on scrolls and placed in tubes. The act of turning the scroll was called “turning the scripture.” With the introduction of Buddhism into Tibet, the prayer wheel, a tool for spreading religious teachings, was also introduced to the Tibetan region, and further developed. Its shape was changed to a cylindrical form and engraved with auspicious patterns to help believers recite scriptures and accumulate merit.
Types and Materials of Prayer Wheels
Currently, the prayer wheels that people see are generally divided into hand-held and fixed types. Hand-held prayer wheels are commonly seen in the hands of believers, making it easy to turn them at any time. The materials of prayer wheels vary. Most are made of metal and wood, but some are made of copper, yak bone, silver, or even gold. Some are also inlaid with gemstones such as coral, turquoise, and agate. Fixed prayer wheels are usually located around monasteries and have dedicated prayer wheel corridors. They are larger in size, and some require multiple people to turn them. In addition, there are prayer wheels that are driven by external forces, such as particularly large ones driven by water, called “water-powered Mani wheels.” Some very light ones can also be driven by the heat of a lamp, called “lamp-powered Mani wheels.”
Customs and Practices
When pushing a fixed prayer wheel by hand, some places have specific customs. For example, when turning the prayer wheels at the foot of the Potala Palace, one can only push the wooden frame under the wheel and cannot touch the surface of the cylinder because the surface of the prayer wheel here symbolizes the face of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
English 
简体中文