

In Hinduism, a mandala or yantra is in the shape of a square with a circle at its center.A traditional Buddhist mandala, a circular painting drawn with coloured sand, aided in meditation, with the main objective of aiding its creator to discover their true self.It depicts transition from one of suffering to that of joy.It is believed that by entering the mandala and moving towards its center, one is guided through the cosmic process of transforming the universe.By the sixth century, mandalas have been recorded in China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Tibet.Over the next couple centuries, Buddhist missionaries travelling along the Silk Road took it to other regions.In Hinduism, the mandala imagery first appeared in Rig Veda (1500 – 500 BCE).

It is believed to be rooted in Buddhism, appearing in the first century BC in India.While it can also be created in the shape of a square, a mandala pattern is essentially interconnected.Mandala patterns are a centuries-old motif that are used to depict the cosmos, and have been adapted by artists the world over, each of whom have added their own interpretation and painted it as their own.Literally meaning “circle” or “centre” in Sanskrit, a mandala art is defined by a geometric configuration that usually incorporates the circular shape in some form.Some residents of Liverpool in the UK are marveling over a mandala art the size of one and a half football pitches in length created by artist James Brunt with materials such as leaves and rocks. From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
