Prayer Box Religious Jewelry

Tibeten prayer box and jewels

Origins of Prayer Box Jewelry

There has been debate over whether the prayer box originated in the Buddhist or Hindu faith, but these prized religious objects are treasured today by many faiths, and even by nonreligious individuals.  Originally worn as a religious ritual object, prayer boxes are now used primarily as jewelry and worn for sentimental, not religious, purposes.

Prayer Box Variations

Prayer Box with Screw Off CapPrayer boxes come in many styles, shapes, sizes and materials, but they all share one thing in common – they are containers for a cherished item of religious or personal significance.  The opening to the compartment is most often secured with a latch, of which there are many types. Others open and close with a few turns, much like the lid on a glass jar.  The prayer box above and to the left has a screw-off lid, whereas the one to the right employs a traditional latch.

Religious Uses of Prayer Boxes

Prayer boxes are used by the followers of many faiths, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.  All faiths use prayer boxes to focus the mind on one prayerful thoughts or secret wishes, typically by writing down a prayer or wish on a small piece of paper and placing it into the box.   Doing so is believed by the faithful to make these prayers and wishes come true.  Just be careful, for as Oscar WIlde noted, “When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.”

It is also possible to place a small religious object inside the prayer box.  A follower of the Hindu faith, for instance, might place a sacred Rudraksha seed,  also known as “Shiva’s tear,” inside the prayer box.

Religious Motifs

Prayer boxes can incorporate images of deities or religious teachers, such as Ganesha, Lord Buddha (see image to the left), or Quan Yin.  Much more common, however, are prayer boxes that integrate  religious symbols into their designs, such as the star of David, the Christian cross, the Christian fish symbol (Ichthus), praying hands, the Om symbol, or the Tibetan prayer wheel.

Sentimental Uses of Prayer Boxes

Heart-Shaped Prayer BoxPrayer boxes also have sentimental uses.  For example, a spouse’s lock of hair, a small photo of mom, the first lost tooth of your child, and other cherished items can be placed in the box and worn throughout the day as a remembrance of a loved one, here or long departed.  An inspirational thought might also be written down and placed in one抯 prayer box, from which strength can be drawn throughout the day.  A heart-shaped prayer box, such as the one displayed to the right, is a popular choice when the piece is used for sentimental expressions.

Inspirational Message Prayer Boxes

In recent years, message prayer boxes have made their way onto the market.  These boxes are usually engraved with a word, such as Peace, Hope, Love or Faith.  These words can also be written onto the box using silver wiring or granulations (small silver dots), that are soldered into place to form each letter of the word.

Many individuals use prayer boxes as jewelry, and for no other purpose. A beautiful prayer box does make a splendid focal point or centerpiece on a necklace and adds class to any bracelet.  What is the difference between a prayer box pendant and a prayer box charm?  Size.  Smaller boxes are usually used as charms on a bracelet, whereas larger boxes are typically used as the centerpiece of a necklace.

Prayer Box with Amber StoneSome prayer boxes have embedded gemstones, such as the one shown to the right, which is adorned with an amber stone.  Does the gemstone incorporated into the design have any special significance?  Usually not.  In most cases a person will buy a prayer box with a particular gemstone out of personal preference or to satisfy a particular fashion need.

One exception, of course, is the selection of a prayer box with one’s birthstone.  The prayer box to the right has a garnet stone as a centerpiece, which is the birthstone for the month of January.

Other Secular Uses of Prayer Box Jewelry

When put to secular uses, prayer boxes are often called “wish boxes.”  Wish boxes are too small to be of much use as 損ortable storage.?  One exception is their use as a pill box for carrying medication on one抯 person. Wish boxes are also reported to be in use as containers for aromatherapy botanicals and medicinal herbs.

We have heard of one person who used his wish box for carrying a small piece of paper on which was written his important computer passwords. Of course, there are also stories of people using wish boxes to hide illicit drugs, a practice that can only be considered an act of profane sacrilege.

Materials and Finishes

Prayer boxes are commercially available in many materials, including sterling silver, plated silver, gold vermeil (right  image), pressed gold, brass, and pewter.  By far, the most popular material is sterling silver, typically silver that has been antiqued to give an appearance of age.

The popularity of silver is not difficult to understand.  Prayer boxes are sacred, and as such should be made of a precious material, not brass, pewter or any other base metal.  However, gold is so much more expensive than silver, making silver the metal of choice for most consumers.

Phurba Dagger- The Tibetan Buddhist Ritual Instrument

In Sanskrit it is called the kilaya or the kila, and in Tibetan it is called the phurba, phurpa. The phurba is also called ‘the magic dagger’. ‘Phur’ is translated from the Sanskrit ‘kila’ and it means peg or nail. Padmasambhava is widely assumed to have invented the phurba. Padmasambhava used the phurpa to consecrate the ground when he established the Samye monastery in the 8th century. The phurba is a three-sided stake that is used in Buddhist rituals. Because Tibet has always been a nomadic culture, the tent is an important part of Tibetan lives, and placing the tent pegs into the ground is always seen as sacrificing the ground. The shape of the phurpa may have come from the stake used to hold down tents.

The three-sided style of the phurba comes from an ancient vedic tool used to pin down sacrifices. The phurba has three segments on its blade. The three segments represent the power of the phurba to transform negative energies. These energies are known as the ‘three poisons,’ and are attachment, ignorance, and aversion. The three sides of the phurba also represent the three spirit worlds, and the phurba itself represents the axis of the three spirit worlds. The phurba brings the three spirit worlds together. The handle of the phurba represents ‘wisdom’, while the blade represents ‘method’.

The phurba is often stabbed down into a bowl of rice or other grains in Tibetan rituals. Phurbas can be made from wood, bone, or metals such as copper and brass. If more than one metal is used to make a phurba, it is done in a combination of three or nine metals, which are both meaningful combinations numerically.

There are always carvings at the top of phurpas. Some popular images are skull heads or Buddha heads. Sometimes the Buddha heads come in threes to mirror the blade, so that each way the blade is turned, there is always a Buddha’s head facing you.

The phurba symbolizes stability, and it is often used during ceremonies. The phurba is often used by Tantric practitioners. The phurba can also hold demons in place. Only those who are empowered to use the phurpa may use it in these rituals. The phurba can be used to tether negative energies during ceremonies, or as a stabilizer. The blade on a phurba is never sharp, it is only used as a ritual dagger, not an actual weapon.

The phurpa is also used by Dorje Phurba a.k.a. Vajrakilaya, who is the wrathful form of Vajrapani (who is one of the wrathful deities). Vajrakilaya is often seen holding the phurba on Buddhist statues and thangkas (Buddhist paintings). Vajrakilaya is a wrathful deity who removes obstacles. Vajrakilaya’s consort is Khorlo Gyedunma, and she is a manifestation of the Green Tara.

Phurpas are only to be used ritualistically by Shamans or those who have been taught how to properly do so. To use the phurba, practitioners first meditate, then they recite the sadhana of the phurba, and invite the deity to enter the phurba. They then stab the phurba into the ground, or into a bowl of rice or grain, and imagine that the evil spirits or negative energies are underneath the blade. Phurpas can also be used as decoration in homes and temples, and many use phurbas as part of their meditation rooms. To see our selection of phurbas, please check out our bells, dorjes, and phurbas section.

Tibetan Artisan Jewelry

Tibetan Silver Bracelet

Jewelry has traditionally been an important part of Tibetan daily dress. Himalayan jewelry is often oversized and heavy, with elaborate surface design and an exuberance of color. The value of jewelry was historically determined by the intensity of color and size of the components, rather than the value in gems or precious metals. Our jewelry collection offers a diverse group of jewelry, ranging from Tibetan silver items to sterling silver. We have the larger more traditional Tibetan pieces, and also smaller delicate items. From bracelets and rings to earrings, there is a beautiful piece of jewelry that’s perfect for everyone.

Tibetan Shop

Tibetan Shop

Our mission is to bring our customers quality items from Nepal, Tibet, and China, at reasonable prices, with fast and efficient service. If you have a question about any of our products, please give us a call and ask. We are always happy to help. Some featured items are Singing Bowls, Prayer Beads Malas, and Tibetan Buddhist Thangkas. Tibetan singing bowls are wonderful to use for relaxation, meditation, or just for fun. They also look cool just sitting around! Prayer Beads are what we in the West think of as rosaries, but Buddhist Malas have certain distinguishing factors. Many Prayer Beads have 108 beads, and this number is important in both Buddhism and Hinduism. Thangkas are beautiful paintings, mounted on brocade, which generally feature Buddhas, but also can feature Tibetan Buddhist symbols, such as the dharma wheel. Thangkas make beautiful decoration, and they can also be added to your personal meditation area or shrine.

Tibetan Jewelry is one of our most popular product lines, and we love to bring new and interesting pieces of jewelry to you! Our Tibetan pendants section and our Prayer Boxes sections both have been recently updated with new products, and our Tibetan Silver Bracelets section is the most popular of our Tibetan jewelry sections. We have recently added Jewelry Accessories, including chains and jewelry bags, to enhance our Tibetan Jewelry offerings.

We ship worldwide, and we accept payment through credit card, money order, checks, and now Paypal. We are happy to do custom orders of larger quantities, and if you are interested in wholesale from us, please contact us with your credentials. We will email a wholesale price list to you along with information on how to place a wholesale order with us.

Vintage Style Tibetan Handmade Bracelets

Vintage Style Tibetan Handmade Necklace

Tibetan and Nepalese handmade jewelry from Nepal & Tibet to our customers around the world. We have a wide selection of tibetan silver bracelets, tibetan pendants, tibetan necklaces, tibetan rings, tibetan earrings and tibetan buddhist wrist malas, 108 beads prayer beads, prayer wheels, buddha statues, singing bowls…Since all our items are handmade by the tibetan local craftsmen, each item is charming & unique – that’s how we make everything different.

[bracelets malas] Yihe yuan (Summer Palace) – bracelets malas

By Wang Xianzhi
Eastern Jin Dynasty
Handscroll, Cursive script, Ink on silk
Length: 26.1cm, Width: 26.9cm

Wang Xianzhi, the seventh son of the great calligrapher Wang Xizhi, was a native of Linyi, Shandong Province. He learned calligraphy from his father in his childhood, and later received training from Zhang Zhi. He was accomplished in almost all calligraphy styles, especially the running-cursive script. Having 15 characters in 2 li

Founded in 2004, Red Star Gallery was relocated in 2006 to the 798 Art District of Beijing, which is now well-known as the “heart of Chinese avant-garde art.”

RedStar Gallery is committed to the establishment of extensive international communications and the promotion of Chinese modern art. Meanwhile, by inv

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Thank God for Daily Candy – they keep me informed about all the latest and greatest happenings in my hometown of Los Angeles. But they also keep me abreast of some pretty terrific styles and jewelry online.

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The Summer Palace or Yihe yuan (

Qianlong period, Qing Dynasty
Height: 3.7cm
Diameter of mouth: 36.7*19cm

The plate is shaped like two overlapping diamonds and coated with black lacquer as the background, on which there’s gold-painted landscape. The polished part in the middle of the plate is painted with a landscape that features mountains in the distance and rivers nearby as well as towers, pavilions and a person rowing a boat in the river. The bottom of the plate has gold-painted floral motifs of golden

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