MANDALAS- A Spiritual genre of art:

 

Art has been a traditional way to express one’s feelings and ideas in an artistic and more eloquent way. Circles have always found a way in the spiritual traditions and one sort of circular art work has made its mark on the world of arts. Mandalas originated in India, the word ‘Mandala’ is derived from Sanskrit which means “sacred circles” or “core container”.  They are not always in circular forms, mandalas have changed their shape and forms throughout these years bringing more variety and styles. Mandal’s exist everywhere in nature, the pattern of the snowflake, the shell of a snail, even the rings of the trees to the cosmos itself, all are composed of mandalas and their patterns. They are mostly geometrical patterns on a circular or square chart. Mandalas symbolizes the cosmos and everything within it.

 

Mandalas have different shades of meaning and interpretations, they symbolically and metaphysically represent the universe. On the microscopic level mandalas symbolize the world in its divine form but on the other hand on a microscopic level they symbolize the enlightened mind and soul. So together mandalas remind us about our connection with the whole, beyond our small self to the larger self. Mandalas can be used in a myriad of ways, since they are designed in a variety of patterns, so they are intended to project the gaze of the viewer to the center, which is the center of concentration and attraction of mandalas.

 

Mandalas are used for numerous practical benefits except from spiritual purposes, mandalas have been used throughout the history for therapeutic benefits. They have a calming effect and help facilitate psychic integration.  Mandalas are drawn by creating concentric circles and squares which lead to the center, they are mostly divided into four equal quadrants.  An eye is usually drawn at the centre,  using it as a tool for meditation. Carl Jung, the famous psychoanalyst used to paint mandalas, insisting that it provided him with deep insight of his patients' emotional disorders. Tibetan monks used to take hours to create increate mandalas with colored sand showing concentration and contemplation, and afterwards destroyed them to show the impermanence of life and trans science of all life. 

 

In addition to upheaval and nurture of the spiritual growth, mandalas used as an art therapy  have shown significant benefits of body and well being of a person. Mandalas are shown as an upheaval in the reduction of stress, tensions and anxiety. They are used to enhance creativity and increase focus, helping a person in self discovery and individuation. They promote self growth and decrease the symptoms of trauma for those suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder ).  Mandals are incarnate and complex works of art which are conspicuous and  spectacular to look at but possessing adept of their own which ensnare the mind and soul of the person in its clutches which feels like walking in the maze of some labyrinth. They are used as wonderful tools for self recognition and spiritual practice to repair the soul resulting in self growth and improved health.

 

"Each person’s life is like a mandala – a vast, limitless circle. We stand in the center of our own circle, and everything we see, hear and think forms the mandala of our life."