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Art History Special:
Geometry and Art
Mandalas
Timeline
Tibetian Painted 19th century Tibetan mandala of the Naropa
tradition, Vajrayogini stands in the center of two crossed red triangles,
Rubin Museum of Art. Image in public domain.
Mandala
The circle has been symbolic
to many cultures through
history. It was as early as the
8th century that the mandala
may have been used in Tibet
as an aid to meditation.
What is it?
Hindu mandala. (Yantra) Released to public domain by Nharipra through Wikimedia
Commons
Mandala
A mandala (Sanskrit for
“circle”) is a geometric
design that is used
symbolically and ritually
in some religions,
particularly Buddhism
and Hinduism as well
as in some Native
American cultures.
What’s it used for?
Mandalas are also used
sometimes in psychotherapy. In
Tibetian Buddhism they are
used for healing.
Some people believe that
mandalas help create
wholeness and unity.
17th century art from Indian manuscript. Public Domain
Mandala
Mandalas often contain images
of religious deities such as
Buddha or other figures. It is
believed that their purpose is to
aid in meditation and perhaps,
inspire visualizations.
Sand Painting
Below are links to two
interesting videos showing
Buddhist monks doing sand
painting of mandalas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al4zxj7W
NsY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6b7iroqZ4&feature=related
Israeli Sand Paintings : website
showing a large variety fo sand
painting of mandalas and other
mandalas
http://www.maagalot.com/album_eng
.asp?id=48
Photo of a Chenrezig Sand Mandala created and exhibited at the House of
Commons on the occasion of the visit of the Dalai Lama on 21 May 2008.
GNU free license at Wikimedia granted by Colonel Warden, photographer.
Mandala
Sand Mandalas
Tibetan Buddhist thangka
painting of a mandala, 19th
century. Public domain
through Wikimedia
Window of Marsh Chapel at Boston
University John Stephen Dwyer
photograph, Wikimedia Creative
Commons ShareAlike 3.0 license
1900. Painting of Mahavira. Public
Domain image photographed by Jules
Jain, Wikimedia Commons.
Public domain image, Painted 17th century
Tibetan 'Five Deity Mandala', in the center is
Rakta Yamari (the Red Enemy of Death)
embracing his consort Vajra Vetali, in the
corners are the Red, Green White and Yellow
Yamari, Rubin Museum of Art
Examples
Link Above: Short video showing
a mandala being drawn.
Link Below: Longer video
showing a large variety of
mandalas and mandala type art.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cd
n6NODX58&feature=related
Tibetian. Kalachakra thangka painted in Sera Monastery, Tibet. Released into the
public domain by Kosigrim through Wikimedia
Mandala
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTxbj
6ZdokMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=TsP1xRV6wjE&feature=related