If you’ve been to a Buddhist monastery or admired religious art from east Asia, then you’ve been introduced to the spiritual art called Mandala. These complex works of art combine geometric patterns, religious symbols, and layers of meaning in each artwork that acts as a symbol, a prayer, or a meditation exercise. Mandala, a form of spiritual and mystical art, has been around for centuries. The word Mandala is originated from Sanskrit meaning ‘circle’ and refers to a sense of wholeness created by circular forms. Mandalas are not related to any religion or culture, but it is found more commonly – in various forms – in Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism and other eastern religions.
In Buddhism, Mandala art represents the universe in its ideal form that is believed to take its creator, the painter, to a state of enlightenment. Tibetan Buddhists see the center of the mandala as representing an awakened being at the center of the universe. The technique of painting the Mandala, i.e. radiating outwards from the center represents the beginning of each person’s journey toward knowledge and wisdom.
A history entrenched in life itself
In the earliest level of India in the Rig Veda and associated literature, Mandala was the term for a chapter, a collection of Vedic mantras or verse hymns. It is also believed that when Buddhist monks travelled along the famous Silk Route in Asia they carried Mandalas with them and brought this art to other parts of Asia. The earliest known instance of Buddhist Mandala art dates as far back as 1st century BC, but appeared in Tibet, China, and Japan by the 4th century.
Creating a Mandala
When you see any traditional Mandala art, you will find in its center a tiny dot. It is meant to represent a ‘seed’ or the starting point. Other lines are drawn around this dot until they intersect, creating geometrical patterns. The circle drawn around the image represents the dynamic consciousness of the initiated, while the outlying square stands for the physical world bound in four directions (symbolized by the four gates). The centermost section is considered as the residence of the deity.
You must note here that while today we refer to Mandala as art and talk in terms of painting or drawing a Mandala, in ancient times Mandala art had almost divine significance and it was not painted but ‘constructed’. In the early stages of creating a Mandala, Buddhist monks sit on the outer part of the unpainted mandala base, always facing the center. For larger Mandalas, when the mandala is about halfway completed, the monks then stand on the floor, bending forward to apply the colors.
Traditionally, the mandala is divided into four quadrants with a monk assigned to each. The primary monks have assistants to help fill in areas of color while the monks outline the other details. And it’s not just any monk that can step in to create a Mandala. Monks need to memorize each detail of the mandala as part of their monastery’s training program and learn all the symbols because Mandalas are based on scriptural texts.
It’s more than just art
While the beautifully intricate patterns of a Mandala and the lines that almost seem to dance together are an artistic endeavor, Mandala is also considered an act of worship. In its most common form, the mandala appears as a series of concentric circles, with a different resident deity housed in the square structure located within these circles. This four ‘gates’ in the square structure symbolize the coming together of kindness, compassion, sympathy, and calmness. This square form itself is meant to represent a four-sided palace or temple; because it is the residence of the presiding deity, and a temple because it contains the essence of the Buddha.
Color Symbolism of the Mandala
The quadrants of the Mandala are usually split into colored triangles with white, yellow, red, green and dark blue being the main colors. Each of these colors is meant to be significant:
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- White: Ignorance turns into the wisdom of reality
- Yellow: Pride becomes the wisdom of sameness
- Red: Attachment becomes the wisdom of discernment
- Green: Jealousy turns into the wisdom of accomplishment
- Blue: Mirror-like wisdom replaces anger
Self-expression and therapy
Carl Jung, the famous psychoanalyst, became fascinated by the therapeutic powers of Mandala and was perhaps the first to introduce it to western thinkers. He believed that Mandalas symbolized the psychological and spiritual self. Jung was not wrong because Mandala art is believed to have healing powers for the mind and is today frequently used in art therapy. The circle in the center is believed to ground the self. The myriad shapes, designs, symbols and colors reflect the inner realms of the painter, almost like a self-portrait that conveys the state of mind while creating the Mandala. Whatever you are feeling at that time, whatever emotions are coming through, will be represented in your Mandala art during therapy.
Symbolism in Mandala Art
Lotus Mandalas are common when creating a design for meditation, as they are believed to promote greater spiritual growth and attaining enlightenment. Mandala experts would prefer to create a Lotus Mandala with a thousand petals because that’s most powerful, but in all practicality it’s hard to achieve.
The elephant symbolizes power and strength, and the firm nature that refuses to compromise its conscience. In Buddhism, the gray elephant symbolizes a mind that is untrained and likely to be distracted from the path to enlightenment, while the white elephant represents the state of true enlightenment. Elephant Mandalas thus are designed to help one control thoughts and practice mindful meditation. Interestingly, Elephant Mandalas have become very popular in Western cultures and are associated with a Bohemian lifestyle.
Flower Mandalas feature a complex geometric design where countless overlapping circles are arranged in the appearance of flower petals. It is believed that these designs originated in Northern Africa and Mesopotamia, and can even be seen on Egyptian temples of Osiris. The symbolic meaning of Flower Mandalas is not clear, but modern users believe that it promotes focus and concentration during meditation. The Flower represents life and all creations in the universe, making it a powerful symbol of enlightenment and spiritual growth.
The most common, and possibly, the most attractive are the Circle Mandalas, which are famous for their ability to almost hypnotize the onlooker. The circle itself is symbolic of the wholeness of the man, new beginnings and a state of completion. Coloring Circle Mandalas is believed to have therapeutic benefits that help deal with anger, lack of concentration, stress and anxiety.
Mandala in the modern world
Beyond spiritualism and therapy, Mandala has found a place in fashion too. From yoga pants and ethnic wear to contemporary fashion accessories and even wall hangings and upholstery, Mandala is found everywhere now. Mandala artbooks are hugely popular with kids and adults…and not just for therapy.
Mandala is no longer limited to being a sacred symbol of Buddhism or Hinduism. It is being used widely as a form of meditation to gain knowledge and heal from within. The beauty of Mandala lies in its ability to absorb all your attention by drawing your mind into the designs and colors.
About the author: Sushmita Vobbilisetty is the concept creator at Chitrapata. She has a deep understanding of old masters, modern, and contemporary artworks. Sushmita is an expert in evaluating the market value and fair value of art based on heritage, availability, sell-through rate, market performance over time, secondary sales track record, and other key factors. Sushmita frequently predicts the bidding prices for day sales and evening auctions hosted by leading art houses.
About us: Chitrapata is a digital atelier with an in-house generative art technology platform enhanced with machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities. Our vision is to spark thoughts, conversations, and debates among different groups. Visit “About us” section to know more about our philosophy, vision, bio, artist statement, story and technology process.
Image credit: DreamStudio AI, StableDiffusion.
