Mandala

Manjuvajramandala con 43 divinità - Unknown - Google Cultural Institute

Taizokai

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Vishnu Mandala

Painted 17th century Tibetan 'Five Deity Mandala', in the center is Rakta Yamari (the Red Enemy of Death) embracing his consort Vajra Vetali, in the corners are the Red, Green White and Yellow Yamari

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Buddha mandala

Painted 19th century Tibetan mandala of the Naropa tradition, Vajrayogini stands in the center of two crossed red triangles, Rubin Museum of Art

Mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe. The basic form of most mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Each gate is in the general shape of a T. Mandalas often exhibit radial balance.

The term mandala is of Sanskrit origin. It means "circle". The mandala represents wholeness, a cosmic diagram reminding us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends beyond and within our bodies and minds.

Description and Usage

Mandalas are used for various spiritual traditions, meditation, and as part of sacred art in Buddhism and Hinduism. In Buddhism, they are used to aid in meditation and the initiation rituals of Tantric practices. In Hinduism, they are used in ceremonies and are also represented in the layout of some temples. Mandalas may be created with various materials, including paper, cloth, and sand, and are often colorful and intricate.

Symbolism

The design of a mandala is meant to be visually appealing so as to absorb the mind in such a way that irritating thoughts are unable to get through and a spiritual essence surrounds the individual observing the mandala, which in turn allows the individual a higher consciousness or awareness, almost as though being hypnotized. This allows the busy mind to take a break while the creative mind is allowed to run free.

Having said that, the mandala is not just about beauty. Each part of the mandala has a symbol, and the mandala itself represents a sort of spiritual journey within the viewer. It is a representation of the world in divine form, perfectly balanced and precisely designed, so that the observer may find a sense of oneness with the cosmos, a realization that the individual self is one with the universe itself.

Types of Mandalas

There are many types of mandalas found in different cultures and used for a multitude of purposes, both spiritual and psychological. The Tibetan mandala, made from colored sand, is perhaps the most well-known type. These mandalas are meticulously created by monks as a form of meditation, but once completed, they are destroyed in a ritual that symbolizes the impermanence of life.

Other types include the Navajo mandala, known as the "sand painting" in Native American culture, and the Jungian mandala, used in psychotherapy as a tool for gaining insights into the self.

Creation and Interpretation

The creation of a mandala is a deeply personal and spiritual act. The colors and symbols used in a mandala are often chosen based on their significance to the creator. In Tibetan Buddhism, for example, specific colors and symbols are used to represent different aspects of Buddhist philosophy and teachings.

The interpretation of mandalas is also a deeply personal process. While there are common themes and symbols found in many mandalas, the meaning of a mandala is often unique to the individual who created or is meditating upon it.

In Modern Culture

Today, mandalas have been embraced by people around the world for their beauty, complexity, and symbolic richness. They are used in art therapy, meditation, and as a form of stress relief. Mandalas can be found in coloring books, as tattoos, and in various forms of art and decor.