Hand-spinned Prayer Wheel 5 Zambala

This Table top Mantra Prayer Wheel is hand spun. It has a gold-plated top and bottom with clear acrylic outer cover. Inside contains a Five Zambala mantra roll  4680/roll.

 

 

MERITS AND BENEFITS

Extract from the Great Casket Sutra: The immense benefits of turning the prayer wheel includes: removal of past karmic debts and defilements; subjugate mara hindrances, physical and spiritual illnesses, hunger, imprisonment, wars, hatred , etc.  The mertis of turning the prayer wheel are so immense – one can attain wish fulfillment , peace and perfection in this life time.

 

BASIC DESIGN

The five-colour dharma wheel decals on the top and bottom of the mantra roll represents the 5 Dyani Buddhas. The dharma wheel is encircled by icons representing the dharma cloud.  Turning the dharma wheel atop the cloud will remove obstables. The eight different colours lotus on top represents the eight bodhisattvas. In the middle is the Yidam’s heart mantra, separated by Om Ah Hum, meaning the mantra is blessed by the Yidam’s body, speech and mind. The eight auspicious symbols decorate the bottom of the roll. 

 

Description:

In Tibetan Buddhism, the Five Wealth Gods (also known as the Five Wealth Gods, Sanskrit name Jambhala, Tibetan: ཛཾ་བྷ་ལ།, Dzambhala) are guardian deities in charge of wealth and blessings, and are closely related to the profound practice and mythological background of the Tibetan Tantric tradition. The following will be described in detail from the influence and status of the mantra of the Five Wealth Gods, as well as the origin of their mythological stories.

 

**The influence and status of the mantra of the Five Wealth Gods**

 

1. **The content and function of the mantra**

The common mantra of the Five Wealth Gods is "Om Jambhala Jalendraye Svaha" (Tibetan transliteration: Om Jambhala Jalendraye Svaha). This mantra is believed to be able to summon the blessings of the five wealth gods, help practitioners accumulate merit, increase wisdom, eliminate poverty, and obtain wealth in the secular and spiritual levels. According to the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, wealth refers not only to material wealth, but also to spiritual satisfaction and the success of practice.

- **The mantra of the Yellow Wealth God** (most commonly used): "Om Jambala Zhalang Zanaye Soha", emphasizing the increase of wealth, merit and wisdom.

- Other wealth gods (such as red, white, black and green wealth gods) also have their own exclusive mantras, such as the red wealth god mantra "Om Zangbala Zanglian Zhaya Dana Meidi Xi Soha", the black wealth god mantra "Om Yingzhan Nimukan Zhamali Soha", the green wealth god mantra, etc. These mantras are used in different practices to pray for blessings for specific needs (such as love, health, authority, etc.).

 

- Reciting the mantra should be based on piety and bodhicitta, combined with wealth, Dharma and fearlessness, otherwise it is difficult to obtain the true blessing of the wealth god. Tibetan Buddhism emphasizes that the blessing of the God of Wealth is to help practitioners avoid financial difficulties, so that they can concentrate on their practice and ultimately benefit all living beings.

 

2. **Status in Tibetan Buddhism**

The Five Wealth Gods are Dharma protectors in Tibetan Buddhism. Although their status is not as high as that of the main deities (such as Guanyin and Vajrapani), they are deeply worshipped by monks and lay believers because they are directly related to secular interests (wealth, health, career, etc.). They not only manage the wealth of the heavenly treasury, but are also responsible for the utilitarian cause of saving all living beings. They are an important branch of the Tibetan Dharma protector system.

 

- **Relationship with the Five Buddhas**: The Five Wealth Gods correspond to the five Buddhas (center, east, south, west, and north) in yellow, white, black, red, and green, representing different aspects of blessings and merits. For example, the Yellow God of Wealth corresponds to the Ratnasambhava Tathagata in the south, representing wealth and blessings; the Green God of Wealth is in the middle, symbolizing the perfection of career; the White God of Wealth eliminates diseases and poverty; the Red God of Wealth gathers people's wealth; and the Black God of Wealth subdues demons and enemies. This five-sided, five-colored structure reflects the Tibetan Buddhist understanding of the cosmic order.

 

- **Application in practice**: Tibetan Buddhism's methods of offering to the God of Wealth include fire offerings, water offerings, and altar offerings. Believers pray for the protection of the God of Wealth through chanting mantras, offerings, and vows. These methods not only help individuals accumulate merit, but also encourage practitioners to use wealth to benefit the public, which is in line with the bodhicitta spirit of Mahayana Buddhism.

 

- **Cultural influence**: The Five-Way God of Wealth is widely worshipped in Tibetan areas, Mongolia, Han areas, and Tibetan Buddhist communities around the world. For example, the Baojilin Tibetan Five-Way God of Wealth Temple in Taichung is the only temple in the world that focuses on the Five-Way God of Wealth, showing its unique position in contemporary Buddhist culture.

 

3. **Differences from Chinese Buddhism**

Compared with Chinese Buddhism, which emphasizes less on the worship of the God of Wealth, the Five-Way God of Wealth in Tibetan Buddhism occupies a prominent position in the practice of Tantra. They are not only the givers of wealth, but also the guardian gods who protect the Dharma and subdue obstacles. They are essentially different from the five gods of wealth in the Han area (such as Zhao Gongming). The Tibetan gods of wealth emphasize the balance between the mind and the material, and encourage practitioners to use wealth as a tool to give alms and do good deeds.

 

**Origin of the myth of the five gods of wealth**

 

1. **Origin and ancient Indian background**

The prototype of the five gods of wealth originated from the ancient Indian god Kubera, who is the god of wealth in Hinduism and controls the north and treasures. With the development of Tantric Buddhism (Tantrik Buddhism), Kubera was absorbed as a Buddhist guardian god, called Jambhala. Tibetan Buddhism, on the basis of absorbing Indian Tantric Buddhism, reinterpreted it as the five gods of wealth, combined with the universe view of the five Buddhas, forming the unique image of the five gods of wealth in yellow, white, black, red and green.

 

- Jambhala is regarded as the incarnation of Avalokitesvara or Vajrapani, embodying compassion and power. He is usually short and strong with a wide belly, holding a rat (wish-fulfilling jewel) and a treasure vase, symbolizing endless wealth and blessings. The rat is considered to be a follower of the Dragon King, and can spit out all the treasures of the three realms.

 

2. **Evolution in Tibetan Buddhism**

After the introduction of Jambala into Tibet, Tibetan Buddhism developed five colors and images of wealth gods according to different practice needs, combining them with the teachings of the Five Buddhas. Each wealth god has its own unique mythological background and function:

- **Yellow Wealth God**: The most important and earliest popular, the leader of the five wealth gods, manifested from the southern Ratnasambhava Tathagata. Legend has it that the Yellow Wealth God was manifested by Vajrapani Bodhisattva, aiming to help sentient beings get rid of poverty and increase blessings and wisdom. His image is golden skin, holding a wish-fulfilling jewel and a rat, sitting on a lotus moon wheel.

 

- **White Wealth God**: Corresponding to the Western Amitabha Buddha, he is the master of wisdom and disaster relief. Legend has it that he manifested to help sentient beings get rid of diseases and poverty, holding instruments such as a treasure tower or a lotus.

 

- **Red God of Wealth**: Corresponding to the Ratnasambhava Tathagata in the south, he is in charge of love and noble luck. It is said that he can gather connections and wealth. He is often seen holding a treasure bottle or wish-fulfilling jewel.

 

- **Black God of Wealth**: Corresponding to the Amoghasiddhi Tathagata in the north, he is in charge of authority and demon subjugation. It is said that he can quickly eliminate enemies and obstacles and is called the "King of Wealth" because of his rapid blessing effect.

 

- **Green God of Wealth**: Located in the middle, corresponding to the central Vairocana Buddha, he is in charge of career perfection and health. It is said that he can help sentient beings achieve all their wishes.

 

3. **Symbolic meaning of myths**

The myth of the Five Wealth Gods emphasizes that the source of wealth is blessings and good deeds, not just greed. Tibetan Buddhism believes that the appearance of the God of Wealth is to help sentient beings escape the bondage of poverty so that they can focus on practicing Buddhism. For example, in the myth of the Yellow God of Wealth, he spits out endless treasures as a treasure-spitting rat, symbolizing the accumulation of blessings and the importance of giving. These stories are also integrated into the secret tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, emphasizing that through chanting mantras, offerings and vows, practitioners can correspond to the merits of the God of Wealth and obtain both material and spiritual abundance.

 

4. **Historical inheritance**

The worship of the Five Wealth Gods expanded with the spread of Tibetan Buddhism. In the 7th century, during the reign of Songtsen Gampo, Buddhism was introduced to Tibet from India and Han China, laying the foundation for the worship of the God of Wealth. In the 8th century, Guru Padmasambhava entered Tibet and taught a large number of secret methods, integrating the belief in the God of Wealth into the Tibetan Tantric Dharma Protector system. In the later period, the Sakya and Nyingma sects further developed the God of Wealth methods, especially the practice of the Yellow God of Wealth and the God of Wealth.

 

**Summary**

 

The mantra of the Five Wealth Gods is an important practice tool in Tibetan Buddhism. Through chanting mantras and offerings, practitioners can pray for the blessings of wealth, wisdom and career, while cultivating generosity and bodhicitta, which is in line with the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism. Its mythology evolved from Kubera in ancient India, and was integrated into the five-sided Buddha concept of Tibetan Buddhism to form a unique five-color wealth god system. These wealth gods not only manage wealth, but also bear the responsibility of protecting the law and saving people, and are deeply revered by believers in Tibetan areas and around the world. Tibetan Buddhism emphasizes that the acquisition of wealth must be based on good deeds and blessings, which is also the core value of the belief in the five wealth gods.