The Divine energy of the Mandala Art!

Most of us are aware of the Buddhist Mandala paintings and scrolls and if you have ever googled ‘Art from Asia’, chances are you have seen  a Mandala painting pop up ! With its complex geometric patterns, colourful symmetry and religious symbolism it is a real treat for the eyes.

Today’s blog is based on the ancient art form of Mandala, its history and importance and the different types of Mandalas there are! The word "Mandala" is from the Indian language of Sanskrit where “mandal” means circular or circle. In essence, Mandalas represent the connection between our inner worlds and outer reality. It is not just a drawing , it is considered a spiritual journey into one’s own being and is said to haave therapeutic and mystic powers.

A Mandala is used as a symbol to pray to,  a picture for concentrating during meditation or is gifted as a holy blessing all in one. In Tibet, the Mandala is called Khyil-khor, which means loosely as the “centre of all creation on earth” where a truly awakened being lives!

Importance…..

In Buddhism, Mandalas represent the ideal form of the universe. The act of creating a Mandala represents the transformation of the universe from a reality of suffering to one of enlightenment. It also represents the beginning of each person's journey towards knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment. Often, Mandalas are used as tools to focus the mind during meditation.

How it all started?…..

Through meditation and following a path of thought and action, Siddhartha Gautama, became the Buddha ( the enlightened one) and freed himself from the  cycle of death and rebirth. He taught this path to his followers who call themselves Buddhists. As his folloers increased and began travelling to spread the Buddha’s message , a need arose to carry a symbol or painting to remember the core of his teachings and use as a focal point for meditation , that is when the Mandalas emerged!

The followers carried Mandalas with them and brought the practice of creating these works of art to other parts of Asia. The earliest evidence of Buddhist Mandala art dates back to the first century B.C. which slowly grew into an esoteric, mystical art form that we see today !

Earlier Mandalas  were extremely complicated and nuanced as compared to the modern Mandalas and the process of creating one was a prayer unto itself!

The process…

The Mandala begins with the centre, with a point  and then radiates outwards towards the sides. The symbols and designs becoming more and more intricate as the pattern grows larger. It can be painted, drawn, or even made from colourful sand. Those painted on scrolls are often carried by travellers and pilgrims for a blessing on the road and a good luck charm and also used to pray and focus during  meditation .

Meaning

While a finished Mandala bears importance as a focus for meditative practice, the creation process remains equally important. There are three basic layers to a Mandala's meaning.

1.     The outer Mandala ring meaning represents the divine form of the universe. 

2.     The inner one represents the map to take the mind towards enlightenment .

3.     The third and the innermost ring is the secret meaning, which remains between the artist and his God as far as specific details are concerned and is never shared. Overall, it represents a balance of body, mind and universal energy!

Its symmetry represents balance and that is the key to making a mandala . Balance.

The lotus is an important symbol used in Mandala painting as it grows in a  muddy bed to blossom into beauty and radiance , much like a human being reaching towards joy and peace beyond worldly sorrows.

Types…….

There are various types of Mandalas found in different cultures and used for a multitude of purposes, both artistically and spiritually. Below are three main types of Mandalas and how they are used.

1. Teaching Mandala

Teaching Mandalas are symbolic, and each shape, line, and color represents a different aspect of a philosophical or religious system. The student of the monastery and scholars of Buddhism ,opine that these teaching Mandalas are based on ancient principles of design and construction, projecting a visual symbolization of everything they have learned, just like a graphic organiser or mental maps to Buddhism and are usually made by the senior most Lama or Monk.

2. Healing Mandala

Healing Mandalas are more intuitive than teaching Mandalas, and they are made for the purpose of meditation. Healing Mandalas are intended to deliver wisdom, evoke feelings of calm, and channel focus and concentration. They are made to specific needs by the teacher for a disciple and one has to be particularly lucky to receive one!

3. Sand Mandala

Buddhist monks have long used sand Mandalas as a traditional, religious element. These intricate designs use a variety of symbols made from colourful sand that represent the impermanence of human life. It is an extremely tiring and painstaking process and usually involves more than three monks to make over a period of several days or months but the fun part is – it is then destroyed!

The sand is all brought together at the centre , to reiterate the point that nothing lasts in this ephemeral world!

As the Buddha Purnima or Budha’s enlightenment day just passed two days ago , it was only logical to think and write about these beautiful Mandala paintings that are a treat to the eyes and the mind and help us on our journey forward!