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

Explanation

A mandala is a symbol of the universe for many Buddhists and Hindus. Most mandalas have colorful, detailed geometric patterns or designs. Mandalas are a type of religious and spiritual art with a deep significance for many people. As a symbol of the cosmos or universe, a traditional mandala is a square containing a circle, and the entire design is symmetrical and balanced. Some spiritual traditions use mandalas for meditation or for marking a spiritual space. The word mandala itself simply means "circle" in Sanskrit.

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 • Nov. 15, 2024

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 • Feb. 5, 2024

A huge mandala has been carved into parkland to show people "the realms of what art can be", its creator has said.

From BBC • Aug. 12, 2022

Edouard Duval-Carrié’s metallic collage-painting depicts a man who seems to be crawling through a jungle pool with an Asian-style mandala on his back.

From Washington Post • Jun. 28, 2022

“Or have you ever seen a Buddhist sand mandala? They use these different colors of sand—it’s incredibly cool—and then they destroy it. On purpose.”

From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee