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 bodhisattva of compassion. The fourth line is a repetition of the 100-syllable mantra for protection against all kinds of harm.

The rest of the text reaffirms the devotee's faith. It includes a request for the turning of the wheel of dharma (or giving dharma teachings), and expresses atonement.

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
nn12722
PLACE
COLLECTION
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
paper (fiber product); ink
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
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Collection Information

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