Prayer Wheels (Tibetan: mani ôkhor lo) are widely used in Tibet and areas where Tibetan culture is predominant. A prayer wheel is a cylindrical wheel (Tibetan: à ½ à ½Âà ½¼à ½¢à ¼â¹, Wylie: 'khor) on a spindle made from metal, wood, stone, leather or coarse cotton. Traditionally, the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum is written in Newari language (Ranjana script) on the outside of the wheel. Also sometimes depicted are Dakinis, Protectors and very often the 8 auspicious symbols Ashtamangala. According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition based on the lineage texts regarding prayer wheels, spinning such a wheel will have much the same meritorious effect as orally reciting the prayers.
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