MandalasLinks to Nature, History and Art.

http://www.artnetwork.com/Mandala/

The word - “mandala”

• originates for the Hindu Sanskrit, classical language of India

• means “CENTER” and “CIRCLE

A mandala can be described as any form of circular geometric design that contains

symbols of a person’s inner self, guiding

principles, and overall ideas about the world.

The significance of objects within a mandala are conveyed by shape, size, and color; they can be abstract designs or

specific images of people, places, and ideas

that are central to a person’s life.

A Mandala• conveys a relationship

of the center to its circumference (surroundings)

• together they represent wholeness

http://murraycreek.net/labyrinth/piscesgridrmandala4sm.gif

Mandala- The figure

• circular design in layers radiating from the center

• center symbolizes that which is beyond our understanding

• circumference reflects its potential as well as boundaries

http://murraycreek.net/labyrinth/piscesgridrmandala4sm.gif

Living Mandalas(Examples in Nature)

• Planet Earth

• Solar system

• Cells in living organisms

• Iris of the eye

• Snowflakes

• Bird’s nest

A Tibetan Buddhist Mandala:

• The mandala is a symbol of a man or woman in the world, a support for the meditating person.

• In the Center is the symbol of Buddha

• Buddha is surrounded by lotus blossom of eight petals on a bed of jewels

• The mandala is illustrated as a palace with four gates, facing the four corners of the Earth

• The “walls of the palace” are represented by four square colors

• The four gates are guarded by four angry door keepers

• Four outer circles each representing a layer of protection http://www.jyh.dk/indengl.htm

Mandalas - An Art Form• All mandalas have the following

characteristics:

–center

–cardinal points that are contained in a circle

–some form of symmetry

• They can be simple or complex

Links in History• Hindus

– Meditation

• European cathedrals

– Windows

• Aztec

– Stone Calendar

www.mexconnect.com/mex_/aztecsunstone.html

Making a Mandala• Find images that express

aspects of YOU!

• Use a Pie Template to Select Parts of Each Image.

• Mirror the pie shape template

Objectives• Learn about the basic history of Mandalas

• Create one mandala that is a about yourself and one that is about something important to you

• Each mandala must have five or more layers

• The object selected for the center must mean something to you or represent something about you

• It must be difficult to get into the center

• Write a short paragraph describing your mandala

Idea Work Sheet

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/classroom-management/lesson-plan/6041.html

Student Images

My Mandala By Brittany M.

“My Mandala is about the some of the beautiful features of earth. On the outside is the ocean that protects the butterflies and tulip. The water gets lighter in color as it moves into the inside because the water is becoming calmer. The stars show how beautiful the night is, and the diamonds are there because the are found on earth. The butterflies are flying around the flower to represent how it looks on earth.” http://www.pocanticohills.org/Tibet/bm.htm

My Mandala By Nathan

“This Mandala indicates basketball skills. This Mandala is suppose to make your basketball skills better and give you more luck. It looks colorful, it has a protective layer and it has the source of meditation in the center.”

http://www.pocanticohills.org/Tibet/nf.htm

My Mandala By Veronica

“My Mandala is guarding my most favorite and precious thing in the world, a cat. The cat represents my 1-year-old kitten that was killed. The pyramids that protect my kitten are there because I read a book that said pyramids are tombs that protect the dead. The electricity outside the pyramids keeps nosy people from disturbing my kitten. The ocean is there to protect the rest of my mandala. The red sky near the ocean is the sunset.”

http://www.pocanticohills.org/Tibet/vg.htm