Roots and Origin of Mandala Art

Roots and origin of Mandala art

The dream catcher swayed in the air. It resembles the art of Mandala. It would sound inept if we are not informed about ourselves and the art of Mandala. Come let us delve deep into the origins of Mandala art. 

What is Mandala art?

It is the art of circles. Mandala means circle in Sanskrit. It depicts the cosmic truth of the universe that is represented through circles and geometrical figures. They are the instruments of meditation and prayer in India, China and Tibet. They are presented as circles inside squares that begin as a dot and keep developing with geometrical figures. These complex works of art combine geometric patterns, religious symbolism, and layers of meaning to create a masterpiece that acts as a symbol, prayer, meditation exercise, and holy blessing all in one. 

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. 

Origin of Mandala art: 

It all began in the 5th century at the outset of the religion, Buddhism. The historians claim that Buddhism began with Gauthama Buddha( who was born in Nepal (now). He gave up the family life and wanted to seek inner peace and religion was born. The monks walked the silk road to tell the world about the new religion. The monks travelled to India, China, and Tibet. They carried coloured sands to draw these Mandalas to draw in the cosmic energy for their meditations. Then they will disfigure them as a mark of impermanence since their religion embarked on it. Today in Asian culture, priests and sadhus draw these Mandalas before any yagnas to gravitate toward the power of the Earth. The word mandala has particular meanings in spiritual practices in the way it represents one's spiritual journey from the outside of oneself inward. Mandalas are seen throughout multiple organized religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity.

Elements of Mandala: 

The Mandala art encompasses various elements like chakra with eight spokes. The Buddhists at the beginning used these eight spokes to convey the eightfold path which was introduced by them. The art had triangles sometimes inverted too. The upward triangle depicted power and the inverted triangle conveyed creativity. The major element was the lotus flower. It was a symbol of the balance of symmetry. The lotus blossoms from the slushy and muddy bed to the light who symbolises a man who reaches enlightenment. Also, the bell icon used as a symbol represents the openness and the power of emptying to allow the new to enter. 

Meaning of Mandalas: 

A completed piece of Mandalas is always used for a meditative purpose. But the drawing of the Mandala is drawn with three basic meanings. The outer layer is the divine power. The inner layer drives the mind to the path of enlightenment. The final layer is intricate and is well understood only by the drawing person and the drawing. Overall it's a representation of the balance between the body and the mind infused with clarity. 

Next time when you visit a Buddhist temple or a church or a hindu temple for Yagna, don't forget to scan your eyes through the Mandalas drawn there. After 16 centuries (I.e.) after 1600 years, they are still glistening in glory. The Asian culture is a hidden wonder. Isn't it?