The roots of this design can be traced back to
many origins. References to the design can be found in the Indian and
Indo-European culture, and dates back way before that. There are quite a few
variations to the design, each signifying the same thing in different forms.
The design symbolises creation and the cycle of life.
It is believed that this design is a part of the
Hindu religion and also later became a part of the Buddhist religion and was
adopted in a different form of presentation. Not going into the religious
significance, the etymological description could be a container of essence, a
symbol of the universe.
The geometric design is pretty intriguing,
interesting and meaningful. The geometry of the design is very symmetric,
invariably with a circle at the centre, surrounded by a square or rectangular
perimeter with four gates or openings on the four sides. The central circle
symbolises the seed of life, the essence. The encapsulating square symbolises
the bounds of physical world, with the four gates on four sides.
The mandala can be of any
size, from something as small as half of a page to something as big as an
entire room. This design was initially used to decorate temples and places of worship and
prayer. It was believed to have a sanctifying effect. Later, it was adopted as
one of the popular symbols of Buddhist art.
The creation
As per the rules, only Buddhist monks are allowed
to draw this design, although that is not followed everywhere. However, the
design drawn by the monks are more accurate, meaningful and beautiful. Years of
training, great dedication and concentration goes behind drawing these. More
often than not four monks, along with four assistants, draw the four quadrants of
the design.
The drawing begins at the outermost periphery,
slowly building towards the centre. The drawing is commonly accompanied by
chants or hums of significance. The monks draw the outlines of the design, and
the assistants fill up the outlines with colours.
The amazing fact about monks making the designs is that they make it
completely from their memory. They have to memorize every little detail of the
design in order to draw it correctly. Also, even though four monks draw the
four quadrants of the design simultaneously, it is absolutely symmetric and
identical. All these can be achieved only with years of technical artistic
training and practice.
The variations and their significance
The design is formed by drawing concentric
circles enclosed in squares. Each of the circle has its own deity, and
symbolises a particular trait. The enclosing square has four gates. The perfect
shape of the square symbolises that the space of wisdom has no imperfections or
aberrations. The four gates symbolise the four thoughts that are boundless,
namely, loving kindness, compassion, sympathy and equanimity. The design is
often filled with decorative figures and items like bells and garlands.
The two broad categories of deities that one can
find in these mandala are peaceful deities and wrathful deities, symbolising
exactly what the name suggests. Additionally, sexual imagery can also be found
in these designs. The significance of all these intricacies is to show the
peaceful coexistence and the beginning of life, the true essence of life.
Even each of the different colours used in these
designs – white, red, green, blue and yellow, each have a different
significance, a different meaning.
The mandala is as much an artistic masterpiece as
it is a religious symbol. With time it has come out of temples and into
pictures and paintings and grabbed an international audience with its exotic
beauty and symbolic nature.
