Practicing Peace
Prayer wheels are cylindrical bodies made from metal or wood, containing verses of spiritual text and mantras. The verses written in bodhi are printed on many circular parchments which are then sheaved into the cylindrical body of the wheel.
Even a single clockwise rotation of the prayer wheel while chanting the ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ mantra, is said to negate bad energy and add good karma to a person’s life.
There are different types of prayer wheels that exist in the region of Ladakh. The most common one is the Mani wheel, which is the hand-held prayer wheel that is rotated by a movement of the wrist. Also commonly found are small prayer wheels mounted on a wooden base that can be placed on little tables around the house.
Most monasteries around Ladakh have large, fixed, metal wheels arranged side-by-side in a row. Devotee’s can spin the entire row of wheels by simply sliding their hands over each prayer wheel, nudging them to move in a clockwise direction.
