2-982-547 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

A Lama of the Dalai Sect, Thibet, with his Praying-Wheel and Trident - drawn by W. Carpenter, Jun., 1858. 'These priests of the Buddhist religion... [are] divided into two sects, distinguished by the colour of their vestments - the Dukpa sect wearing red and the Dalai yellow; and mostly, as in the instance before us, of brocaded satin...The prayer-cylinder or manichhos-khor (the precious religious wheel) which this individual carries in his right hand is a very singular instrument...[The body] is a metal cylinder...[and] is filled with rolls of printed prayers and charms which revolve as the instrument is turned round. Every Lama carries a chhos-khor, which he keeps perpetually turning by a gentle motion of the hand...As every revolution of a prayer is equivalent to its recitation, the chhos- khor is a very ingenious instrument for multiplying their number without fatiguing the devotee. These instruments are found of all sizes and in all positions. Cylinders about one foot in height are placed in rows around the temples, and are turned by the votaries before entering. Larger cylinders are found near the villages, turned by water, which keeps them perpetually revolving day and night'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.