# Wheel

Source: https://buddhisma2z.com/wheel/  
Author: Bhante S. Dhammika, *Guide To Buddhism A To Z*  
Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

![Wheel](https://buddhisma2z.com/images/W/wheels.webp)

The wheel (*cakka*) is a flat circular object that turns as it moves. The ancient Indians used the wheel as a [**symbol**](https://buddhisma2z.com/symbols/) for political sovereignty and dominion.  The first Buddhists used it as a symbol for sovereignty too, but for spiritual rather than for political sovereignty. The Buddha’s first discourse is called ‘Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Dhamma’ (S.V,420 ff). The rim (*mukhavaṭṭi*) of the wheel represent movement or progress and the spokes (*ara*) and hub (*nābhi*) represent the coming together of multiple things into a unity. [**Generosity**](https://buddhisma2z.com/generosity/), kindly [**speech**](https://buddhisma2z.com/speech-right/), doing good for others and treating them with impartiality are to the world, the Buddha said, what the linchpin (*āṇi*) is to the wheel (A.II,32), i.e. they keep it turning smoothly. A wheel flanked on either side by a deer has long been used to symbolize the Buddha’s teaching of this first discourse in the Deer Park at [**Sārnāth**](https://buddhisma2z.com/sarnath/).

            Today the wheel as a symbol for Buddhism is often depicted with eight spokes representing the [**Noble Eightfold Path**](https://buddhisma2z.com/noble-eightfold-path/) although this is a relatively recent innovation. In the scriptures the Dhamma wheel, called either the Supreme Wheel (*brahmacakka*) or Highest Wheel (*anuttaraṃ dhammacakkaṃ*, A.III,9; 148), is described as being ‘a thousand-spoked’ (*sahassāraṃ*, D.III,60). Before the advent of [**statues**](https://buddhisma2z.com/statues/), the Buddha was often represented by a wheel. What the cross is to Christians, the *ying yang* symbol to Taoists and the Om sign to Hindus, the wheel is to Buddhists. See [**Basis of Community**](https://buddhisma2z.com/basis-of-community-the-four/).

**Further reading:** The Buddhist Wheel Symbol, T. Karunaratne, 1969.

Subjects: Culture and Traditions