Mandala Art for Beginners | About, Symbolism and Usage

What is a Mandala Art? Symbolism of a Mandala and It’s usage? Do you want to know about mandalas? Here in this article I will introduce you an Indian folk art called Mandala. If you have ever studied or read about spiritual Asian art then you’ve likely encountered Mandalas. A Mandala is a Sanskrit word which means ‘circle’ or ‘discoid object’ is a geometric design that holds a great deal of symbolism in Hindu and Buddhist cultures. It is produced on paper, cloth, built in stone, etc. These mandalas are believed to represent different aspects of Universe and used as an instrument of meditation and symbols of prayer mostly in Japan and Tibet. A Mandala is used as a symbol of spirituality and ritualism in Asian cultures. It can be taken in two aspects : externally as a visual representation and internally as they are used in several practices like meditation.

Symbolism in a Mandala — Traditionally these mandalas include the presence of Buddha’s mind in an abstract form in the form of a tree, jewel, wheel, flower, etc. The center is a dot symbol which represents free of dimensions. The dot is interpreted as the starting point, beginning of contemplation and devotion to divine. The dot is surrounded by lines and geometrical patterns that depict as the Universe and encompassed by the outer circle which represents the cyclical nature of life. As you read so far, you find that Mandalas are a lot related to one’s spiritual and inner life. Yes, it is.

The most common symbols included in a Mandala are:

Wheel with Eight Spokes — It represents the Noble Eight-fold path in Buddhism.

Bell — It represents the openness and emptying of mind to allow wisdom and clarity to enter.

Triangle — When drawn facing upwards, it represents the action and energy. When drawn downwards, it represents the creativity and knowledge.

Lotus Flower — It depicts the balancing in life.

Sun — The Sun symbolizes the Universe.

Mandalas are used in variety of ways in religious traditions, meditations and in modern contexts. Completing a mandala can take weeks. Mandalas are used in healing circles. These circles are associated with restoration of body, mind and heart. Mandalas are also found in Dream Catchers. In Yoga, mandalas are used as a signification of a sacred space which helps to shut away all the external influences. The process of creating mandalas is considered and experienced as a transformative practice that is intended to restore inner peace and wisdom within a human.

Other Indian folk art include Mural, Madhubani, Warli, Phad, etc. So stay tuned to my blog for upcoming blog posts about those paintings. Thank You!

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