Dharmacakra

Dharmacakra (Sanskrit: “Wheel of Dharma” or “Turning of the Wheel”) is a concept in Buddhism referring to the Buddha’s teaching of the Dharma.

Overview

The Dharmacakra represents the moment and act of the Buddha setting the Dharma in motion—teaching the truth of liberation. The most celebrated instance is the First Turning of the Wheel at Deer Park in Sarnath, when the Buddha delivered his first discourse on the Four Noble Truths to five ascetics.

Philosophical Context

The metaphor of turning the wheel signifies the establishment and propagation of the teaching. In Mahayana chronology, three turnings are recognized: the First Turning (Four Noble Truths), the Second Turning (Prajñāpāramitā/emptiness teachings), and the Third Turning (Buddha-nature/Tathāgatagarbha teachings). Each turning addresses different capacities and dispositions of beings. The wheel symbol also connects to the broader Indian concept of the cakravartin (universal monarch) who turns the wheel of sovereignty, here transposed into a spiritual key.

Interpretations

The Dharmacakra is one of the most ancient and universal Buddhist symbols, found in early Indian, Central Asian, and Southeast Asian art. It is often depicted flanked by two deer, referencing the Deer Park sermon. In Tibetan Buddhism, the eight-spoked wheel represents the Noble Eightfold Path. The gesture of the Dharmacakra mudrā (teaching gesture) is one of the most common hand positions in Buddhist iconography.

Verification Notes

• The First Turning is described in the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (SN 56.11)
• The Deer Park is located at Sarnath near Varanasi