How do we rise above the subtle illusions of the subconscious and return to the unity of pure consciousness? The answer lies in the ancient science of the Mandala.
A Mandala is a pathway to reintegration. It is a map of the cosmos — a symbolic universe in geometric form, distilled into its essential pattern. It is the creative blueprint through which space is shaped, time unfolds, and the journey of becoming is transcended.
At the heart of the Mandala lies the lotus, often depicted with four or eight petals. These petals represent the expansion from the One into the many — the unfolding of creation across space and time. Through this symbolic blossoming, the Mandala reveals how the process of manifestation ultimately dissolves back into the stillness of unity.
Colors and the Persona
In a Mandala, colors are not mere decoration; they express the very constituents of personality:
White represents Matter
Yellow symbolizes Sensation
Red expresses Notion
Green denotes Karma tendencies
Dark blue stands for Cognizance
Each color is a doorway into the inner architecture of being.
Five Elements of the Mandala
A Mandala embodies five subtle principles:
Shiva-tattva – pure Intelligence
Shakti-tattva – blissful Energy
Sadashiva-tattva – the power of Will
Ishvara-tattva – the radiance of Consciousness
Sadvidya – dynamic Activity
Together, they describe the unfolding of the cosmos and the soul’s ascent back into its origin.
From Bodhisattva to Buddha
When a Bodhisattva attains illumination, he becomes a Buddha. He enters Nirvana — the vast stillness of pure being.
Buddhist philosophy describes this journey through four states of void:
Shunya (paratantra) – the foundational void
Atishunya (parikalpita) – the super-void of illusory appearance
Mahashunya (parinispanna) – the great void, the truth behind illusion
Sarvashunya – the absolute void, the universally luminous consciousness known as Vajradhara
Mandala is the script of this inner transformation. It teaches that where once there was darkness, now there is light. Its symbols echo the timeless Upanishadic prayer: “Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya” — From darkness, lead me to light.
Names of the Cosmic Consciousness
Buddhist sages gave various names to this universal consciousness:
Tathāgatagarbha – the matrix of all Buddhas
Tathatā – the Absolute identity
Dharmadhātu – the ground of all phenomena
Dharmatā – the essence or “thingness” of everything
The Origin and Purpose
The philosophy of Mandala was born in India and later blossomed in Tibet. Whether Indian or Tibetan, the Mandala artist follows a sacred tradition — a disciplined way of revealing the drama of the soul through symbols, colors, and geometric harmony.
Regards, Geeta
Geeta
Certified Mandala Practitioner
Geeta Joshi Brahme is a certified Mandala practitioner at Nisargshala with 18 years of experience spanning academia and holistic healing. She holds an M.Phil., and Mandala therapy certification. After 15 years as a Commerce faculty member in Mumbai & Pune, she transitioned to holistic healing. Geeta conducts transformative Mandala Camps that guide participants through emotional healing and creative self-discovery.
