Good morning with a Monochromatic Mandala. I am writing this post to share my Understanding about Mandalas. Let me clarify here that I have not formally studied how to draw a mandala. My knowledge about mandalas has been derived from internet videos and Wikipedia and I have added to it my own experiences of drawing Mandalas. BTW, it is exactly 11 months today that I started my Mesmerising journey with Mandalas.

The word Mandala is a Sanskrit term that means circle or a discoid object. Mandala can be a schematic visual representation of the universe externally and as a guide for spiritual practices like meditation internally. Mandalas are commonly seen in Hinduism, Buddhism and also Jainism.

A Mandala is often the symbol that is used to help people focus on in meditation and achieve a sense of Oneness with the Universe. Speaking about myself, I have experience wonderful Peace,Joy and Relaxation while drawing Mandalas. I can actually feel my tense muscles relaxing when I am drawing or even thinking of drawing a Mandala.

There are various types of Mandalas for example Teaching Mandalas Healing Mandalas, Sand Mandalas etc. Certain symbols occur commonly within the Mandala for example wheel with eight spokes, bells, lotus flower and the Sun.

Sand Mandalas are found in traditional Tibetan Buddhism. As part of a spiritual practice, monks create intricate Mandalas with coloured sand made of crushed semiprecious stones.It can take weeks to create these Mandalas and shortly after it is completed, it is destroyed in a ritualistic manner to align with the Buddhist belief that nothing is permanent.

In Hindu and Buddhist cultures, Mandalas serve as a representation of the universe and a guide on the path to enlightenment.

Sometimes Mandalas are associated with a symbolic Palace at the centre , surrounded by several layers of circles which have to be traversed before you can reach the Palace at the centre. I think I have used this concept subconsciously when I drew the alphabetical Mandalas. If we want to reach the quality at the centre of each alphabetical Mandala , we would definitely have to work hard, introspect, understand our follies and make the necessary changes, not just in our outward behaviour, but in our innermost being !

Carl Jung, the Swiss analytical Psychologist recognised that the urge to make Mandalas emerges during moments of intense personal growth. Their appearance indicates that a profound rebalancing process is underway in the psyche. The result of the process is a more complex and better integrated personality. That’s why a Mandala can correspond to the artist’s emotional state at the time of drawing it.

But all this was more or less theory about Mandalas. I will share my wonderful personal experiences with the actual creation of Mandalas in a day or two.

Till then, enjoy quality time with your family and stay safe!

Love,
Anjali Bhatawdekar