1992 Large Ancient Tibetan Buddhist Scroll from Prayer Wheel

$3,500.00

Impressive Scroll fragment from a large outdoor Prayer Wheel with printed sutras 

This is a very rare find

Such scrolls are the main part of prayer wheels as turning the prayer wheels tantamounts to sending up the prayers that on these scrolls. 

I've seen 3 types of Buddhist prayer wheels. The handheld ones are small and have a stick attached with which it is held. Then there are the monastery wheels that are set up in a row in the compound or on the way to the monastery. These are large and can be 2 to 3 feet tall and are fixed in place along a vertical axle. Then there are the extra-large community prayer wheels that we see in village squares.
All have long scrolls of paper inside them with prayers printed on them.
Turning the wheel earns one merit and earning merit* (somewhat like Karma) is perhaps the most important pursuit in Buddhist ideology. 

*(Merit accrues mainly when one acts well, with kindness, empathy and generosity of spirit towards all creatures, keeping in mind not to harm others, but merit can also accrue through the performance of prayer rituals).

This particular prayer wheel core, was once in a large outdoor wheel made of thick cloth or leather. Over the decades of exposure to harsh extreme Himalayan conditions, the exterior deteriorated and the inner has been salvaged. 

The paper inside is extremely fine, fibrous and fragile. And the text has been block printed on it. The scroll has been secured by rope to keep it together. 

Estimated to be from the 18th century. 

50cm tall. 

Over 4 kg in weight.

Extremely rare. This gift of the past carries with it not only the prayers in the text inside but also the history of the countless times this wheel was turned in gratitude and in prayer. 


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This item has spent a lifetime being used for the purpose of its creation with the original artist/user. Signs of this life lived heartily may be present on the piece in the form of stains, thread loss, loose threads, holes, tears, color run and other imperfections. Therefore the condition must be assumed to be “not” perfect. More photos of such imperfections will be provided on request.

 

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