Cario, Jenelyn J.

BTIT 4C

MANDALA

A mandala (Sanskrit: , literally "circle") is a spiritual and

ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe. in common use, "mandala"
has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents
the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe. The basic form of most
mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Each gate is in the
general shape of t. Mandalas often exhibiting radial balance. The term appears in the Rigveda as
the name of the sections of the work, and Vedic rituals use mandalas such as Navagraha
mandala to this day. Mandala is also used in Buddhism. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas
may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool,
for establishing a sacred space and as an aid to meditation and trance induction.

Religious meaning
A yantra is a two- or three-dimensional geometric composition used in sadhanas, puja or
meditative rituals. It is considered to represent the abode of the deity. Each yantra is unique and
calls the deity into the presence of the practitioner through the elaborate symbolic geometric
designs. According to one scholar, "Yantras function as revelatory symbols of cosmic truths and
as instructional charts of the spiritual aspect of human experience"[5]
Many situate yantras as central focus points for Hindu tantric practice. Yantras are not
representations, but are lived, experiential, nondualrealities. As Khanna describes: Despite its
cosmic meanings a yantra is a reality lived.
Political meaning
The Rajamandala (or Raja-mandala; circle of states) was formulated by
the Indian author Kautilya in his work on politics, the Arthashastra (written between 4th century
BCE and 2nd century BCE). It describes circles of friendly and enemy states surrounding the
king's state.
In historical, social and political sense, the term "mandala" is also employed to denote traditional
Southeast Asian political formations (such as federation of kingdoms or vassalized states). It was
adopted by 20th century Western historians from ancient Indian political discourse as a means
of avoiding the term 'state' in the conventional sense. Not only did Southeast Asian polities not
conform to Chinese and European views of a territorially defined state with fixed borders and a
bureaucratic apparatus, but they diverged considerably in the opposite direction: the polity was
defined by its centre rather than its boundaries, and it could be composed of numerous other
tributary polities without undergoing administrative integration.[8] Empires such
as Bagan, Ayutthaya, Champa, Khmer, Srivijaya and Majapahit are known as "mandala" in this
sense.
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