a device for spreading spiritual blessing and well-being

a holy object containing the Tibetan

a very sacred object for any Tibetan,The Tibetans call it Mani

Copies of the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hung," as many as possible, printed on very thin tisssue paper (or these days on microfilm), are wound around a spindle and covered with a protective cylinder. The wheels are made to be turned by hand or by wind, water, or fire power.

(Tibetan) Wheel or cylinder with written prayers on or in it.

Prayer wheels are called Mani wheels by the Tibetans. A prayer wheel is a wheel on a spindle, and on the wheel are written or encapsulated prayers or mantras. According to the Tibetan Buddhist belief, spinning such a wheel will have much the same effect as orally reciting the prayers.