File number: 07NEP-3149

A prayer wheel (called mani chos-'khor or Mani wheel by the Tibetans) is a wheel on a spindle made from metal, wood, leather, or coarse cotton. On the wheel are written or encapsulated prayers or mantras. According to the Tibetan Buddhist belief, spinning such a wheel will have much the same effect as orally reciting the prayers. A prayer wheel symbolizes "turning the wheel of Dharma," which describes the way in which the Buddha taught.