Roots and meaning of mandala art, now on display in a park in Liverpool

Last Updated26/08/2022

Recently a spectacular ‘Mandala’ art installation at a public park in Liverpool in the United Kingdom was Unveiled.
The Knowsley Mandala is made of natural elements, and is expected to last a month after which it will slowly fade away.

Mandala patterns are centuries old motifs used to depict the cosmos.
The “circle” or the “centre” in Sanskrit, mandala is defined by a geometric configuration that usually incorporates the circular shape in some form.
Rooted in Hinduism and Buddhism as it first appeared in the Vedas (c. 1500-500 BC), and Buddhist missionaries travelling along the Silk Road are believed to have taken it to regions outside India.
By the sixth century, mandalas were recorded in China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Tibet.
Separately, native American peoples are believed to have used the mandala as representation of a deity or the cosmos, and as a spiritual form.

Eight spokes of the wheel (Dharmachakra): Represent the eight-fold path of Buddhism that brings liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Lotus flower: Depicts balance, and the sun represents the universe.
Facing up triangles represent action and energy
Facing down triangle represent creativity and knowledge.

Deep-rooted in ancient philosophy, the mandala has attained varied forms in the hands of modern and contemporary Indian artists.
It continues to appear in Buddhist Thangka painting
It has a central place in the works of even mainstream artists associated with tantric and neo-tantric spiritual movements.

As part of art therapy, participants are encouraged to create and colour mandalas.
Studies have also been conducted to understand if mandalas can help reduce stress.