Nepal - Turning Buddhist Prayer Wheel in Bhaktapur Temple
A prayer wheel or Mani wheel (Tibetan: mani chos-'khor) is a cylindrical 'wheel' (Tibetan: 'khor) on a spindle made from metal, wood, stone, leather, or even coarse cotton. Traditionally, the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum is written in Sanskrit externally on the wheel. Also sometimes depicted are Dakinis, Protectors and very often the 8 auspicious symbols Ashtamangala. According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, spinning such a wheel will have much the same meritorious effect as orally reciting the prayers.
The reason prayer wheels are used is to accumulate wisdom and merit or good karma and to purify negativities such as bad karma. The idea of spinning mantras comes from numerous Tantric practices where the Tantric practitioner visualizes mantras revolving around the nadis and especially around the meridian chakras such as the heart and crown. Therefore prayer wheels can be seen as an external visual aid for developing one's capacity for these types of Tantric visualizations.
I wanted to give this photo bit of motion and dynamism, therefore I've captured one prayer wheel in motion and one standing still.
PENTAX K20D, f/4, 0.05 sec (1/20), ISO 400, 10 mm
All rights reserved - Copyright © Lucie Debelkova
All images are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Comments and faves
BryanClark, Jeff Eickhoff, Phoebe1158, Pablo Ramil, and 93 other people added this photo to their favorites.
© Lucie Debelkova / www.luciedebelkova.com (42 months ago | reply)
livetowander (42 months ago | reply)
Cool show of motion.
swaily ◘ Claudio Parente - almost absent (42 months ago | reply)
yes... dynamic and emotional photo.
beautiful
eltalley (42 months ago | reply)
Wonderful. I love the movement, and incredible atmosphere of this picture.
Jeff Eickhoff (42 months ago | reply)
Oh yeah, this is wonderful, Lucie!
Pablo Ramil (42 months ago | reply)
Splendid shot !
:.Mustafa.: (42 months ago | reply)
Interesting capture.
livetowander (42 months ago | reply)
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
Shuggie!! (42 months ago | reply)
Love the spinning motion of the nearest wheel .. you've captured the essence nicely, Lucie!
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
--
Seen in the group"National Geographic: Are You Good Enough? Post 1, Vote for 3" (?)
natmurua (42 months ago | reply)
i like the contrast between both wheels!
VEMB (42 months ago | reply)
beautiful details
--
Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
menar menar (42 months ago | reply)
Wonderful contrast and atmosphere.
tozofoto (42 months ago | reply)
Beautiful shot,my friend!!
*This is a *Brilliant~Eye~Jewel!*
You are invited to add your picture to our pool!
*Please tag with BEJ*.
acastellano (42 months ago | reply)
Great idea, and beautiful photo as usual!
Paul Anca (42 months ago | reply)
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
Shutta.... David (42 months ago | reply)
Fantastic shot, great colour, interesting texture and lines. Really nicely captured. Well done.
p0is0n0us (42 months ago | reply)
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
catalinafilip (42 months ago | reply)
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
Marc Shandro (42 months ago | reply)
Very creative -- love the concept and the photograph!
--
Discovered using FlickrFox. (?)
mateobovet (42 months ago | reply)
Very nice,,,, well done
JMVerco (42 months ago | reply)
You are invited to add this image to www.flickr.com/groups/bigfave
Please tag this photo with ABigFave when you add it to the pool.
dbushue (42 months ago | reply)
great shot....
You are invited to display your image and join our group.
I wish I'd taken it!!!
Damn! I Wish I'd Taken That!!! - Invitation
Invited Images Only
Post 1--Award 2
Please post your photo in the Almost There thread in the group once you have collected 3 award/invites
Remember, please remove this photo from the invite thread when you post to the pool
Invited Images Only
JRodrigues. (42 months ago | reply)
Excellent details and composition!
--
Seen on my Flickr home page. (?)
Ekz . (42 months ago | reply)
Que excelente Foto! esta foto esta nominada favor de adherirla (What an amazing picture! It has been nominated, please add it)
Solo fotos invitadas (Invite only images)
daviDRombaut (42 months ago | reply)
Great picture...
_____________________
reply with darckr?
KuwaiTna (42 months ago | reply)
wonderful
aFeinPhoto (Aaron Feinberg) (42 months ago | reply)
very well done. i'd just say watch the blown highlights on the left hand side of the photo.
be well
aF
th.egilson (42 months ago | reply)
Your photostream is outstanding.
Social Geographic (42 months ago | reply)
Wonderful foto.
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
Chee Seong (42 months ago | reply)
This is awesome!
--
Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
~Mina~ (42 months ago | reply)
great work! cool idea
GilG Photo (42 months ago | reply)
You are invited to add this image to www.flickr.com/groups/bigfave
Please tag this photo with ABigFave when you add it to the pool.
U_SF (42 months ago | reply)
the good thing is that you Combine the movement part with the freeze one
well done Lucie ^_^
Chuck & Pat Harkins (42 months ago | reply)
Nice red and brown colors...good take...Chuck
rskoon (Richard) (42 months ago | reply)
Fascinating!
Peter Evans.. (42 months ago | reply)
Excellent composition, particularly like the colour and tones.
Abdullah_alowd_Photography (42 months ago | reply)
Nice Composition :)
Almischi (42 months ago | reply)
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
N A Y E E M (42 months ago | reply)
ofcourse
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
© pix&love (42 months ago | reply)
dynamic!
hiddentravel (42 months ago | reply)
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
Fatima2t (42 months ago | reply)
great shot!! and i really like the info u put underneath! beautiful shot!! love the motion!
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
bart ceuppens / www.bartceuppens.be (42 months ago | reply)
great shot!
Davide Cherubini (42 months ago | reply)
Ciao, sono amministratore di un gruppo chiamato La Luce di Dio - The God's Light - La Luz de Dios (Invited Only. Ci farebbe piacere aggiungere l’elemento al gruppo.
So beautiful
--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
ATrenado (42 months ago | reply)
Excelente captura. Una gran composición y colorido.
pattern~scissors~cloth (42 months ago | reply)
Great photo Lucie - as always :)
--
Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
Alessandro Fantini photo (42 months ago | reply)
Also this photo is a beautiful photo. I like this colors
xtph (42 months ago | reply)
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
shreik303 (42 months ago | reply)
super idea & shot!!!!!
L▲iv © (42 months ago | reply)
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?