The prayer wheel is a Buddhist prayer instrument (mainly used by Buddhists of Nepal and Tibet) that are generally made of a cylindrical body of metal, penetrated along its axis by a wooden or metal handle. The cylinder can turn around the handle, with a slight rotation of the wrist. Inside this cylinder, written on paper or skin, are tons of copies of the mantra (prayer), usually invocations (dharani). A lot of times, larger decorative versions of the syllables of the mantra or dharani are carved on the outside cover of the prayer wheel. Buddhists believe that saying this mantra (out loud or silently) calls the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion. It is believed that rotating this prayer wheel will spread spiritual blessings and well being. The prayer wheel is also useful for illiterate members of the lay Buddhist community, since they can "read" the prayers by turning the wheel.Prayer wheels may be small and portable, or larger and fixed to the gates of monasteries or around stupas and chortens.
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