About this video
Handheld Prayer Wheel, early 20th century (central Tibet), silver, wood, semi-precious stones, 19.6 x 5 x 4.5 inches (Rubin Museum of Art, New York) Rubin Museum senior curator Dr. Elena Pakhoutova and Smarthistory’s Dr. Steven Zucker take a look at an ornate handheld prayer wheel, which are ritual objects that are ubiquitous in Tibetan Buddhist culture. The action of turning a prayer wheel with conscious intent is believed to “recite” or “read” the mantras, activating and releasing them into the world for the benefit of all.
Video © Khan Academy, used under CC BY-NC-SA. Watch on Khan Academy. Puzzicle is not affiliated with Khan Academy.