Mandala of Chakrasamvara
- Location
- Tibet
- Date
- 14th-15th century
- Material
- Pigments on cloth
- Catalog Number
- C2006.66.138 (HAR 97)
- Collection
- Rubin Museum of Art
- Provenance
- Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin
Mandalas are pictorial representations of the abodes of deities and the Buddhist conception of the cosmos. They are widely used visual tools and serve as a guide for complex Tantric Buddhist practices, such as visualization meditation. As a rule, a mandala is a symmetrical diagram oriented around a center, usually built up of concentric circles and squares and expressed in the architectural framework of a palace. Mandalas may also serve as ritual objects and protective talismans. As seen in the adjacent video, a practitioner during the visualization practice imagines entering the mandala in their mind, with the deity at the center of this space.
The video below provides a 3D tour of a mandala.
Kavita Bala and Elizabeth Popolo in collaboration with Ted Arnold, Tenzin Thutop, and Tenzin Wangchuk of the Namgyal Monastery, "Kalachakra Mandala in 3D view,” YouTube, July 11, 2011, 7:30, https://youtube.com/watch?v=exZiswZt7NE.
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Religious Goals
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644), second half of the 15th century , Gilt brass
China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), ca. 19th century, Brass alloy, gilt, gold pigment, pigment
Kham region, eastern Tibet, 19th century, Pigments on cloth
Tibet, early 20th century, Pigments on cloth
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Living Practices
Ritual
Ritual
Ritual informs the structure of religious life in the Himalayas, defining the daily routine of practitioners and shaping a range of community-based activities.
Merit
Merit
In Himalayan cultures religious merit is the overarching reason for creating, commissioning, dedicating, and using religious works of art.
Secular Aims
Secular Aims
Religious rituals and the commissioning of art can serve everyday secular needs, the most common being wealth, health, and long life.
Storytelling
Storytelling
Many Himalayan paintings serve as illustrations and instructional tools that bring forth stories about the Buddha, Tibetan masters, and more.
Instruction
Instruction
Instructive paintings can illustrate religious doctrines, medical and astrological charts, or images of ritual implements and meditative postures.
Art in Context
Art in Context
Experience a sacred space similar to what could be found in a Tibetan household where religious objects are displayed and used in ritual and devotional practices.
Related Theme
Religions
In Himalayan regions and culturally connected regions of Inner Asia the main religious traditions are Buddhism, Hinduism, and Bon.
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