prayer roll

Tibetan printed prayer roll. The first three lines are repetitions of Om Mani Pad Me Hum - the six syllable mantra symbolizing the power and blessings of Avaloketisvara, the God of compassion. The fourth line contains a mantra dedicated to Vajrasattva.

This roll, which has been printed with mantras was probably placed inside a hand-held prayer wheel. In Tibetan Buddhism prayer wheels are spun in order to activate the mantras they contain. Whilst spinning the wheel the devotee maintains a focused mindset and may also recite mantras in order to fully realise the merit gained from the spinning the wheel.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
nn12721
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 24.0157 x 2.0866 in.; 610 x 53 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
paper (fiber product); ink
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
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Collection Information

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