Art and Craft in Architecture

MANDALA ART
ADITYA BAGI A mandala is a spiritual and ritual
symbol in Asian cultures. It can be
Abstract: Represents wholeness, total understood in two different ways:
infinity, timelessness and unity. externally as a visual representation of
the universe or internally as a guide for
Introduction several practices that take place in
many Asian traditions, including
A mandala, which is Sanskrit for meditation. In Hinduism and Buddhism,
“circle” or “discoid object,” is a the belief is that by entering the
geometric design that holds a great mandala and proceeding towards its
deal of symbolism in Hindu and centre, you are guided through the
Buddhist cultures. Mandalas are cosmic process of transforming the
believed to represent different aspects universe from one of suffering into one
of the universe and are used as of joy and happiness.
instruments of meditation and symbols
of prayer most notably in China, Japan,
and Tibet.

In their most basic form, mandalas are

circles contained within a square and
arranged into sections that are all
organized around a single, central
point. They’re typically produced on
paper or cloth, drawn on a surface with
threads, fashioned in bronze, or built in
stone. While extraordinary as a
standalone work of art, mandalas hold
symbolic and meditative meaning
beyond their vibrant appearance.

Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of

Buddhism, was born in the region now
known as Nepal. Though there is no
confirmed date of his birth, historians
believe it to be around 560 B.C. It is
understood that Gautama left his
kingdom after becoming aware of
human suffering, where he sought to
attain enlightenment through
meditation and thoughtful action. He
began to preach his philosophy across
parts of India, where he gained
devout followers and eventually
established the first sangha, Buddhist
community of monks.

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 Art and Craft in Architecture

As these Buddhist monks travelled the mandala based on principles of

Silk Road, an ancient network of trade design and construction, projecting a
routes that connected the East and visual symbolization of everything they
West, they brought Buddhism to other have learned. Teaching mandalas
lands. They carried mandalas with serve as colourful, mental maps for
them and brought the practice of their creators.
painting these spiritual compositions to 2. Healing Mandala
other parts of Asia, appearing in Healing mandalas are more intuitive
regions such as Tibet, China, and than teaching mandalas, and they
Japan by the 4th century. Though are made for the purpose of
rooted in Buddhism, mandalas soon meditation. Healing mandalas are
became present in Hinduism and intended to deliver wisdom, evoke
other religious practices. Painters of feelings of calm, and channel focus
the spiritual craft were often pious and concentration.
laymen, who were commissioned by a 3. Sand Mandala
patron. They worked seated on the Buddhist monks and Navajo cultures
floor with a painting propped in their have long used sand mandalas as a
laps or in front of their crossed legs. traditional, religious element. These
intricate designs use a variety of
symbols made from coloured sand
that represent the impermanence of
human life.

Within their intricate circular patterns,

you can find common symbols
throughout mandalas. Traditionally,
they include the presence of Buddha’s
mind in an abstract form, most
commonly represented as a wheel,
tree, flower, or jewel. The centre is a
dot, which is a symbol considered free
of dimensions. It is interpreted as the
starting point, the beginning of
contemplation, and devotion to the
divine. From there, the dot is
surrounded by lines and geometrical
patterns that symbolize the universe,
encompassed by the outer circle
There are various types of mandalas which represents the cyclical nature of
found in different cultures and used for life. Some common symbols within the
a multitude of purposes, both mandala include:
artistically and spiritually. Below are Wheel with eight spokes: The circular
three main types of mandalas and nature of a wheel works as an artistic
how they are used. representation of a perfect universe.
The eight spokes represent the
Eightfold Path of Buddhism, a summary
1. Teaching Mandala of practices that lead to liberation and
Teaching mandalas are symbolic, and rebirth.
each shape, line, and colour Bell: Bells represent an openness and
represents a different aspect of a emptying of the mind to allow the
philosophical or religious system. The entrance of wisdom and clarity.
student creates his or her own

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 Art and Craft in Architecture

Triangle: When facing upward,

triangles represent action and energy,
and when facing downward, they
represent creativity and the pursuit of
knowledge.
Lotus flower: A sacred symbol in
Buddhism, the symmetry of a lotus
depicts balance. As a lotus reaches up
from underwater into the light, so too
does a human reaching for spiritual
awakening and enlightenment.
Sun: A popular basis for modern
mandala patterns, suns tend to
represent the universe, often carrying
meanings related to life and energy.

Mandalas are used for a variety of

patterns of a mandala within most
religious traditions, meditation, and
dream catchers.
modern contexts. The traditional
A spiritual symbol in Asian art,
Tibetan mandala, found in Buddhism,
mandalas have since become a
depicts the enlightened state of
popular, meditative element for a
Buddha through sand art. Patterns are
variety of different cultures. In Hindu
formed on the ground using metal and
and Buddhist cultures in particular,
a small tube to create the exact
mandalas and thangkas serve as a
texture and organization of the grains.
representation of the universe and a
Creating this can take weeks, and
guide on the path to enlightenment.
shortly after it’s complete, it is
We’ve since seen the geometric
destroyed to align with the Buddhist
design appear in yoga studios, dream
belief that nothing is permanent.
catchers, healing circles, and other
meditative practices. The habit of
As it relates to modern context,
creating and collecting mandalas is a
mandalas are used in a variety of
transformative practice that is
ways. In yoga, mandalas represent the
intended to restore inner peace and
same ancient ideals; signifying a
wisdom within.
sacred space to shut away external
influences. Often, mandalas are
positioned around the studio and
sometimes even drawn during References:
meditation periods. Similarly, mandala
art is used in healing circles, a practice 1. https://www.invaluable.com/blog/wha
t-is-a-mandala/
that derives from Native Americans. 2. https://graphicriver.net/item/vector-traditional-
The circles are often associated with vintage-gold-greek-ornament-
the restoration of the body, mind, and /6370209?ref=damiamio
heart.

Mandalas have also been found

in dream catchers as a means to
protect the individual sleeping. A
popular item in Western cultures, you
can easily identify the shape and

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