The Meaning and Symbolism of Mandalas

Mandala

The mandala has almost always been associated with religion in India and Tibet, literally meaning "circle", it is one of the most important symbols of humanity. Its circular shape and concentric structure reflect the shape of the outer universe and the sense of inner perfection. Focusing on its form and content is a way of prayer and meditation, ultimately leading to being one with the world.

Cosmic mandala – The representation of the universe as a series of concentric circles is common to many cultures and appears constantly in art and rituals. It is seen as an evocation of the universe, of galaxies revolving around a center, of planets revolving around the sun. At the same time, it is also the symbol of the soul traveling from the periphery to the center of any understanding.

Cosmic mandala

Movement and Rest – Images of the universe as a fixed point, around which different degrees of creation revolve, can have various complex functions. In yoga for example this simple but powerful symbol of the cosmos is in a simultaneous evolution and dissolution, in tension and rest, it invokes perpetual movement and rest at the same time.

Mandala from Rajasthan, India (dropped in gouache)

Certain Chinese mirrors are actually mandalas, which illustrate the prime principle of the universe in Taoism.

The back of an ancient Chinese mirror

Christian Mandala – The cross as an image of concentrated spiritual thought and feeling is omnipresent in Christianity, especially in mystical representations. The cross itself is associated with the crossroads where essential energy is concentrated. It is also the Tree of Life, with its connotations of decay, death and rebirth. In the 14th century French miniature, the circle is divided by a cross, while angels turn the outer wheel of the universe, indicating that divine energy sets the entire world in motion.

14th century Christian mandala

The mandala is the representation of deities, it is the supreme abode of the gods. Thus, the God of Waters Varuna has a mandala dedicated to him, as does Vishnu, the most important god of the Hindus, the Goddess of Abundance Vasundhara and Buddha.
The most important and widespread yantra mandala (simple linear mandala) Shri Yantra, a complex arrangement of triangles and lotus leaves, expressing the entire energy of the universe, the balance between the feminine and masculine principles. The five inverted triangles symbolize Shakti, the goddess of the entire creative universe, the four standing triangles symbolize Shiva, the masculine principle and the supreme consciousness.

Shiva-Shakti Mandala

There are mandalas dedicated to the dead, which are meant to teach the devotee about the ways of death and to prepare him for his own death.

Mandala of the Dead

As a diagram of the cosmos, as a representation of the feeling of wholeness and oneness with the universe, the mandala has relevance beyond the liturgies of Buddhism or Hinduism. People from different cultures and historical periods have been drawn to the universality of this circular form, as well as its unique power to satisfy the need for perfection.