I did a little bit of research about mandalas and learned that mandala is Sanskrit for circle or a discoid object. A mandala can be defined in two ways: externally as a schematic visual representation of the universe and internally as a guide for several psychophysical practices that take place in many Asian traditions, including meditation usually represented by a square with a circle inside. A mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol for religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, but has been found all over the world.
Within modern culture the term "mandala" has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically. Mandalas can be used as an instrument for meditation and has a long tradition of being a spiritual guide tool to establish a sacred space to aid in meditation and trance induction. Mandalas though commonly attributed to Asia mandalas have a long history in the America's as well. Mandalas have been found in Mayan temples. Mayan presented their calendars in a mandala form or the "Wheel of time" a Kalachakra. The Aztecs also used mandalas to represent the universe. At first it was thought the Aztecs were also representing calendars but it is now understood to be a religious representation of the entire universe. Mandalas can be found all over it has become a popular architectural design, they can even be found within Christianity in church window and contemporary fashion. I've started seeing them everywhere now that I know about them.
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Myleka Bevans
Classwork for Art 450 Archives
December 2018
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