View the Paper Mandala Glossary of Terms
The word "Mandala" is Sanskrit for "whole world" or "healing circle."
Mandalas are historically used as symbols to help people meditate, and for protection and healing rituals.
Mandalas can be simple or complex circular designs which tend to draw the eye inward to the center of the Mandala design.
This is the basic structure of a Tibetian Mandala:
The mandala is often illustrated as a palace with four gates, facing the four corners of the Earth.
What designs can you make on this Mandala Template? Click on the image to view/print without page formatting
Common or typical colors and designs to use on a mandala:
The symbol of Buddha (Vajra) lives in the center of the Mandala.
He is surrounded by eight meditating Buddhas.
These Buddhas are symbolic deities: four male and four female.
These figures face the "corners" of the earth and together form a lotus flower.
Click on the image to view/print without page formatting.
| Color | Element | Means of Transport | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center: Vairocana | White | Ether | Lion |
| West: Amitabha | Red | Fire | Peacock |
| East: Aksobhya | Blue | Water | Elephant |
| South: Ratnasambhava | Yellow | Earth | Horse |
| North: Amoghasiddhi | Green | Air | Mythical Bird |
| Byname | |
|---|---|
| Southwest: Mamaki | The Peculiar |
| Northwest: Pandaravasini | Lady in White Clothing |
| Southeast: Locana | Eye of Buddha |
| Northeast: Tara | The Saviouress |
When finished, a Mandala based upon the template above might look like one of these three images:
Diamond: indestructible, clear, yet showing all colors. The diamond is a symbol of the nature of the mind
Bell: the female part of Tantric polarity: a symbol of emptiness, boundless openness which gives room for wisdom
Vajra: the male part of Tantric polarity: the symbol of Buddha's active compassion with a meditating person.
Lotus: symbol of Buddha's teachings. The lotus plant stands with its roots in the mud and raises its blossom towards the light.
Dharma Wheel: the eight hubs are a symbol of the Eightfold Path which leads to perfection:
- Right belief
- Right resolution
- Right speech
- Right action
- Right living
- Right effort
- Right thinking
- Peace of mind through meditation
Tibetan monks use Mandalas in rituals of tantric initiation. The Mandala design is divided into four quarters with one monk assigned to each quarter.
The Mandala is an imaginary palace that the Tibetan Monks contemplate during meditation.
Monks at Tibetan Buddhist monasteries learn to construct mandalas as part of their training.
Tibetan Mandalas are created by carefully pouring grains of colored sand onto specially prepared platforms.
The creation of a mandala can take up to 9 days. Then after the Mandala is finished, it is soon destroyed.
All the colored sand is collected into a container and the sand is ritually poured into a stream or river so the waters can carry the healing energies of the Mandala throughout the world.
Images of Monks constructing a Mandala, Images of Monks sacrificing the Mandala to the river
The Mandala - Sacred Geometry and Art This is an excellent article which shows all the images for making a traditional mandala.
Early Tibetan Mandalas: The Rossi Collection
