mandala

American  

[muhn-dl-uh] / ˈmʌn dl ə /

noun

1. Oriental Art. a schematized representation of the cosmos, chiefly characterized by a concentric configuration of geometric shapes, each of which contains an image of a deity or an attribute of a deity.

2. (in Jungian psychology) a symbol representing the effort to reunify the self.

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mandala British  

/ ˈmændələ, mænˈdɑːlə /

noun

1. Hindu & Buddhist art any of various designs symbolizing the universe, usually circular

2. psychol such a symbol expressing a person's striving for unity of the self

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Etymology

Origin of mandala

First recorded in 1855–60, mandala is from the Sanskrit word maṇḍala circle

Example Sentences

The activities included things like drawing a tree or a mandala, writing haikus, mindful walking, talking about cycles of life and death in nature, and so on.

From Science Daily

The lines curl into dense molars and concise arabesques, like visual mantras, repeated to form airy mandalas.

From New York Times

They set up camping chairs under a bright blue sky during their session — a makeshift office without walls — and discussed how to create a circular design called a mandala.

From New York Times

One wall features several swirling mandalas pristinely plotted with a rainbow of ballpoint pens.

From New York Times

A man draws an eight-point mandala — an intricate, geometric design used in spiritual practice — to the vibrating hum of a Khmer chant.

From New York Times