Dharmachakra

The Dharmachakra, meaning "Wheel of Dharma," is a symbol central to Buddhism and, more broadly, to Indian religious iconography. The term combines Sanskrit dharma, law or truth, with chakra, wheel, and it denotes the Buddha’s teaching and the cosmic order.

In images, the Dharmachakra is depicted as a wheel with a hub, rim, and spokes, most commonly with eight spokes representing the Noble Eightfold Path. The wheel's turning signifies the Buddha's first sermon at Sarnath, where he set the wheel of Dharma in motion by teaching the Four Noble Truths. The Dharmachakra Mudra, a hand gesture that forms a circle with the thumb and index finger, symbolizes the act of teaching and the turning of the wheel.

Historically, the Dharmachakra appears in early Buddhist art and art of Ashoka's reign, and it became a unifying emblem of Buddhist law and practice across traditions including Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. The wheel motif also features in imperial inscriptions and monuments associated with Ashoka, and later informed the emblematic use of the Wheel on Buddhist temples and stupas.

In modern times, the Dharmachakra remains a widely used symbol of Buddhist teachings and is incorporated into temple iconography, devotional art, and ceremonial objects. It is also linked to the Ashoka Chakra, the 24-spoked wheel that appears on the flag of India, illustrating the wheel’s enduring association with law, order, and dharma.