Can anybody tell what that thing is and what this inscription says?

[MarcinK]

During my visit in China couple years ago I bought this thing as a souvenir. Any idea what this is for? And can anyone translate this inscription for me? Thanks a lot!

[大块头]

Well, it's definitely not Chinese characters. Mongolian maybe?

[li3wei1]

It looks like it could be used as an incense holder. The sticks go inside, and when you want to light them, you poke them through the holes in the lid. Just a guess.

[Zeppa]

It looks like Bengali to me, but don't take my word for it.

[bURL]

OHM MANI PADME HUM

 

pure body+jewel+wisdom+unity

 

(but with a little strange writing for "dme" perhaps because of the writing space constraint)

 

 

A very common Tibetan Chanting Phrase

you can see it everywhere inTibet

[Shelley]

Or maybe you just put sweet smelling flowers and leaves (know as popurri) inside and it wafts out the holes. I have a wooden box that has holes in and is for popurri.

 

 

[Luxi]

Yes, a Tibetan incense burner. Usually the lid is detachable, it'd be strange if this one wasn't. These boxes are commonly filled with ashes or fine sand to hold incense sticks upright while they burn, you would take the lid off to burn them.

 

Some rituals in Tibetan Buddhism use dried herbal mixtures that are burnt on charcoal, the holes on the lid here are probably to keep the charcoal alight, 

 

I agree, the legend says OM-MANI-PADME-HUM (the mantra of Avalokiteshvara, Tib. Chenrezig, Ch: Guanyin) in Tibetan writing