mandala

(noun)

Any ritualistic geometric design, symbolic of the universe, used as an aid to meditation, particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Related Terms

Examples of mandala in the following topics:

  • Art of Esoteric Buddhism

    • Shingon Buddhist practice is based on various rituals, including the chanting of mantras, puja, hand gestures (mudras), and meditation through visualization of mandalas.
    • These religious paintings, mandalas, and statues provided practitioners with ways to contemplate Buddhist deities and concepts.
    • A famous example of a Shingon mandala is the Taizokai (Womb World) mandala .
    • Part of the Mandala of the Two Realms, the womb world is composed of 12 zones representing different dimensions of Buddha nature.

  • Geometric Symbolism

    • Indian and Himalayan spiritual communities often constructed temples and fortifications on design plans of mandala and yantra (see below).
    • In Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions, sacred art often takes the form of the mandala (), or sacred circle.
    • Forms which are evocative of mandalas are prevalent in Christianity as well.
    • Similar to the mandala, the labyrinth is a geometric pattern often used to symbolize a journey to the center or to the divine.
    • This sand mandala is an example of a sacred geometric design in Buddhist religious tradition.

  • Painting and Calligraphy in the Heian Period

    • The central role of ritual in Japanese Esoteric Buddhism led to a flourishing of religious painting and mandalas in the Heian period.
    • A famous example of a mandala from the Shingon school of Buddhism is the Taizokai (Womb World) mandala.
    • Part of the Mandala of the Two Realms, the Womb World is composed of 12 zones representing different dimensions of Buddha nature.

  • Process Art

    • For example, the construction process of a Vajrayana Buddhist sand mandala by monks from Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, New York was recorded and exhibited online by the Ackland's Yager Gallery of Asian Art.
    • The monks' creation of a Medicine Buddha mandala began February 26, 2001 and concluded March 21, 2001, and the dissolution of the mandala was on June 8, 2001, demonstrating that the process of creating the art was more important than preserving the finished product.

  • Influence of Buddhism in the Heian Period

    • Shingon Buddhist practice is based on various rituals, including the chanting of mantras, hand gestures (mudras), and meditation through visualization of mandalas.
    • Religious paintings, mandalas, and statues provided practitioners with ways to contemplate Buddhist deities and concepts.
    • A famous example of a Shingon mandala is the Taizokai (Womb World) mandala.
    • Part of the Mandala of the Two Realms, the Womb World is composed of 12 zones representing different dimensions of Buddha nature.

  • Religion as a Theme

    • An important example of Tibetan meditation art is the sand mandala, made and used by monks for meditation.
    • An example of Tibetan meditation art is the sand mandala, made by monks and used in meditation.

  • Hindu Sculpture

    • In addition to these symbols, flowers, birds, animals, instruments, symmetric mandala drawings, objects, and idols are all part of symbolic iconography in Hinduism.

  • Indonesian Architecture

    • The entire structure resembles a stupa, and when seen from above, looks like a mandala, a concentric diagram with spiritual significance in Buddhism.

  • Japanese Painting and Sculpture in the Kamakura Period

    • Painted mandalas were common, and many were created as hanging scrolls and as murals on the walls of temples.