Have you heard of the Mandala art yet? It is gaining popularity slowly with new artists and workshops on the rise. We had a chat with Mayank Agarwal, a Mandala artist, who gave us a brief introduction to the art form and how it is beneficial for the common person.
What does a Mandala mean?
The world ‘Mandala’ in Sanskrit means Circle or the Universe. Mandala is a symbolic representation of the Universe as per the Hinduism and the Buddhism mythology. However, these days designs of Mandala have evolved to include different other designs such as rectangles, elements of natures, etc.
Where was Mandala originated?
The origin of Mandala is not clearly known. The term appears in the Rigveda as the name of the sections of the work, and Vedic rituals use Mandalas such as Navagraha mandalas, Surya Mandalas, etc. Mandalas were also created in the service of. They were produced in Tibet, India, Nepal, China, Japan, Bhutan, and Indonesia and date from the 4th century to the present. Now, people across the world practice Mandala as an art form apart from its usual spiritual beliefs.
How is Mandala Art and the spiritual Mandala related?
Mandala is said to be a pattern which is center for energies around the world. It is closely related to the sacred ‘OM’. OM is said to be a composition of physical structures, the light energy, and the sound energy in the universe. Mandala is a pattern that pulls the positive energies from the universe to its surroundings. We see common ‘Shri-Yantra’ in Hindu homes, which holds the same relevance.
Apart from spirituality, what are all other things that have led Mandala Arts to be in very popular these days?
Mandala is not just about religion or spirituality. It is an art of patience. It is the art of attaining self-confidence. Mandala art, unlike other art forms, can be learned very easily by one with little guidance. A flow of regular patterns when concluded always looks beautiful. Symmetry in designs automatically helps the work look so amazing that even a person from completely non-artistic background would not be able to believe his/her creation. This brings about a lot of self-confidence in oneself. Also, the patience one learns to build while drawing Mandala is a treasure for life.