Category: Ritual Objects | Tradition: Tibetan Buddhism, especially Vajrayana | Origin: Nepal, India, and Tibet
A prayer wheel is traditionally made from a combination of metals, wood and other natural materials. The cylinder is usually brass or copper, the handle or frame is wood, the axle is steel, and inside the cylinder is a tightly rolled scroll of paper printed or written with mantras. Many wheels are also decorated with engraving, embossing, paint, lacquer and stones such as turquoise and coral. The materials depend on the size of the wheel, its purpose, the craftsmanship and whether it is made for religious use or for decoration. This guide explains each material, shows how they differ between types of prayer wheel, and helps you choose and care for one with confidence.
The Parts of a Prayer Wheel and Their Materials
A prayer wheel is made of several parts, and each has its own material.
• Cylinder: the drum that turns, usually brass or copper, sometimes bronze or a wooden drum covered in metal.
• Spindle or axle: the central rod on which the cylinder turns, usually steel or another strong metal.
• Handle, frame or stand: most often wood, and sometimes metal, for the handle of a hand-held wheel or the frame of a larger one.
• Mantra scroll: tightly rolled paper printed or written with sacred mantras, placed inside the cylinder.
• Decoration: engraved or embossed metal, paint, lacquer and stones such as turquoise and coral.
• Moving parts: bushings, bearings and, in motorized wheels, an electric motor and wiring.
Why Metal and Wood Are the Traditional Choice
A prayer wheel is turned over and over for years, so it has to be strong and smooth. Metal makes a durable cylinder that can be polished, engraved and embossed with mantras and symbols, and a steel axle keeps the wheel turning steadily. Wood gives a light, warm handle that is comfortable to hold and easy to carve, and it forms the frames and stands for larger wheels. The combination of a metal cylinder, a wooden handle and a steel axle is practical, long-lasting and traditional.
Metals Used in Prayer Wheels
Each metal gives a wheel its own color, weight and character. These are the main ones.
• Brass: a golden-yellow metal that is strong and easy to engrave, and one of the most common choices for hand-held and decorative wheels.
• Copper: a warm, reddish metal used for cylinders, decorative coverings and traditional craftsmanship. It is easy to shape and carve, and it darkens gently with age.
• Bronze: a darker, heavier metal used in some traditional and larger wheels, where its weight and strength are an advantage.
• Gold and silver: used for precious decorative details, inscriptions or ceremonial pieces, most often as plating or fine detailing and not as the whole wheel.
• Iron and steel: used for axles, shafts, supports and other structural parts, where strength matters most.
One thing worth knowing: precious metals and stones are usually optional decorative elements, not essential parts of a functional prayer wheel. A wheel that looks gold or silver may well be brass or copper with a gilded or plated surface.
Wood: Handles, Frames and Stands
Wood is used for handles, frames, stands and other supports. Durable local hardwoods and other sturdy timbers are common choices, and the wood may be left natural, polished, carved or painted. A wooden handle is light and warm to hold, which matters for a hand-held wheel that is carried and turned for a long time. On larger wheels, wooden frames and stands support the cylinder, and some large temple wheels have a wooden drum covered in decorated metal or painted panels.
Stone: Bases and Installations
Stone is used mainly for supporting structures, such as pedestals, bases and the architecture around prayer wheels at monasteries and stupas. It is much less common for the rotating cylinder itself. In some tabletop wheels, a stone base gives extra weight and stability, but the turning part is almost always metal or wood.
The Mantra Scroll: Paper and Cloth
Inside the cylinder is the mantra scroll, which is the heart of the wheel. It is made of paper, tightly rolled and wrapped around the spindle, and it is printed or written with mantras, most often Om Mani Padme Hum, many times over. Cloth may be used to wrap or line the scroll, or for decoration. The scroll is sealed inside the cylinder, where it is protected and treated with respect, and it is not meant to be opened.
Decoration and Finishes
Many prayer wheels are richly decorated. The cylinders may be engraved or embossed with mantras, lotus petals and auspicious symbols, and finished with paint, lacquer or protective coatings that bring out color and protect the surface. Turquoise, coral and other ornamental stones, as well as glass beads and colored glass, are set into the cylinder or the ends. Decoration is a matter of taste and purpose, and a simple wheel turns just as well as an ornate one.
Plating and Gilding
Some wheels are plated or gilded, which means the metal of the cylinder is covered with a fine coating of gold or silver. The coating gives the wheel a richer look, while the metal under it keeps its strength, and it makes engraved details stand out. A gold or silver look is not necessarily solid precious metal, so if you want to know, ask the maker or seller whether a listing means solid metal, plating or only the color.
Mechanical Components
Larger or modern wheels may use metal axles, bushings and bearings so that they turn smoothly with little effort. In a large temple wheel, a steel shaft carries the weight of the whole drum, and bearings reduce the friction. Motorized wheels also contain an electric motor, wiring and a power supply, and wind- and water-powered wheels have a rotating mechanism designed for that purpose. A smoothly turning wheel depends as much on these hidden parts as on the decorated outside.
Materials by Type of Prayer Wheel
Different types of prayer wheel use different combinations of materials. This table shows the usual choices. Individual wheels vary with the maker and the design, so treat it as a general guide.
|
Type |
Common materials |
Notes |
|
Hand-held |
Brass or copper cylinder, wooden handle, metal axle, mantra paper |
Light, easy to carry and turn |
|
Tabletop |
Metal cylinder, wooden or metal base, steel spindle |
A base keeps the wheel steady on an altar or desk |
|
Wall-mounted |
Brass, copper, wood, iron or steel supports |
Fixed in a row and turned by passing visitors |
|
Large temple wheel |
Copper or brass cladding, wooden or metal frame, steel shaft and bearings |
Heavy, so it needs a strong shaft |
|
Water-powered |
Metal cylinder, wooden or metal supports, water-driven mechanism |
Turned by flowing water |
|
Wind-powered |
Lightweight metal or wood, shaft and rotating mechanism |
Turned by the wind |
|
Electric |
Metal or wood casing, steel shaft, bearings, electric motor |
Turns continuously |
How the Materials Affect Weight, Spin and Feel
The materials change how a prayer wheel feels and moves. A brass cylinder is heavier and spins with a steady momentum, while a lighter cylinder starts more easily but stops sooner. The small weight on a hand-held wheel helps it to keep turning once it is moving. A wooden handle feels warm and light in the hand, and a metal one feels cool and solid. The quality of the axle matters most: a well-made, smooth axle lets the wheel turn with little effort, and a rough one makes it stiff and noisy.
Does the Material Matter for the Practice?
The value of turning a prayer wheel does not depend on what it is made of. Traditional teaching stresses the mantra inside and the intention of the person who turns it, which is why a simple wheel is as meaningful as a richly decorated one. The materials change only the appearance, the weight and the care a wheel needs. Choose one that suits your hand, your altar and your daily routine, and treat it with respect whatever it is made of.
How to Choose a Prayer Wheel
• For daily practice and carrying: choose a hand-held wheel with a brass or copper cylinder, a wooden handle and a smooth axle.
• For an altar or desk: choose a tabletop wheel on a steady base, which can be turned with a light touch.
• For a shrine, garden or entrance: choose a wall-mounted wheel, or a large wheel made of strong metal and wood.
• For continuous turning: choose an electric wheel, or ask about wind- or water-powered wheels, which are available on request.
Whatever you choose, check the description for the materials, the size and what the wheel holds, and ask the maker or seller if anything is unclear.
Caring for Each Material
In general, keep the prayer wheel clean and dry, away from damp, heat and direct sunlight, and turn it gently. Each material also has its own needs.
• Brass, copper and bronze: may darken naturally over time, which is normal. Polish gently if you wish, and avoid strong polish on gilded, plated or engraved areas.
• Steel and iron parts: keep the axle and the shaft dry, because they can rust in damp air, and wipe them clean from time to time.
• Wood: dust it with a soft, dry cloth, and keep it away from water, damp and strong sunlight, which can mark or crack it.
• Painted and lacquered surfaces: do not scrub them, and keep them dry and out of strong light, which can fade the colors.
• Stones: avoid water and chemicals around inlaid stones, as they can loosen the setting or dull the stone.
• The mantra scroll: do not open the cylinder, and keep the wheel away from water and damp, which can harm the paper inside.
• Electric wheels: follow the maker's instructions for the power supply, and keep the casing dry.
Materials We Use
We sell almost all types of prayer wheels, including hand-held, tabletop, wall-mounted, large temple and electric wheels, and wind- and water-powered wheels on request. Our prayer wheels are made by artisans who have worked in this field for many years, and some come from families who have practiced the craft for generations. They are generally made from brass or copper cylinders with wooden handles, frames or bases, steel axles and mantra paper inside, and many are decorated with engraving, embossing and stones. Materials, finishes and sizes vary from wheel to wheel, so each product page lists the details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a prayer wheel made of?
Usually a brass or copper cylinder, a wooden handle or frame, a steel axle and a scroll of mantra paper inside. Some are decorated with engraving, paint and stones.
What is inside a prayer wheel?
A tightly rolled scroll of paper, printed or written with a mantra such as Om Mani Padme Hum, repeated many times. It is sealed inside the cylinder.
Are prayer wheels made of solid gold or silver?
Usually not. Gold and silver are used for decorative details, inscriptions and plating, not for the whole wheel. A gold or silver look is usually brass or copper with a gilded or plated surface.
Why do hand-held prayer wheels have wooden handles?
Wood is light, warm to hold and easy to carve, which suits a wheel that is carried and turned for a long time.
What materials are used in large temple prayer wheels?
Large wheels typically have copper or brass cladding, a wooden or metal frame, and a strong steel shaft with bearings so that they turn smoothly.
How do I care for a prayer wheel?
Keep it clean and dry, dust it with a soft cloth, keep the axle dry, do not open the cylinder, and turn it gently. Avoid harsh polish on plated or engraved surfaces.
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View our handcrafted prayer wheels
Read more: What Is a Prayer Wheel? | How Is a Prayer Wheel Made?