Mandala
Created | Updated Mar 2, 2002
A mandala is a kind of Indian art form; a painstakingly created, highly intricate sand portrait that symbolizes the beautiful symmetry of creation.
The mandala is a symbol for the world. It usually takes the form of a square, in the corners of which are usually found four gods engaged in various acts of creation. The intricacy of the portraits is astounding and they can take many months to complete.
At the moment he completes it, the artist wipes the mandala away, to symbolize the fact that the universe is impermanent, and nothing survives forever. This has, fortunately, not stopped India from creating some beautiful examples of permanent art as well.
The mandala is a symbol for the world. It usually takes the form of a square, in the corners of which are usually found four gods engaged in various acts of creation. The intricacy of the portraits is astounding and they can take many months to complete.
At the moment he completes it, the artist wipes the mandala away, to symbolize the fact that the universe is impermanent, and nothing survives forever. This has, fortunately, not stopped India from creating some beautiful examples of permanent art as well.
