mandala
UK[ˈmʌn.də.lə]US[ˈmɑːn.də.lə]
n
A geometric figure representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism.
n
Any of various circular designs symbolizing unity, harmony, or wholeness.
Etymology
The word 'mandala' is a direct borrowing from Sanskrit मण्डल (maṇḍala), meaning 'circle' or 'disc'. In its original Sanskrit context, it could refer to any circular object, from a simple ring to the celestial orb of the sun or moon. This concrete sense of a contained, centered circle was profoundly elaborated within Hindu and Buddhist tantric traditions, where it became a complex, ritualistic diagram representing the cosmos and used as a tool for meditation and spiritual guidance. The term entered the English lexicon in the late 18th century through scholarly descriptions of Eastern religions, and its meaning has since broadened in modern usage to encompass any artistic or symbolic design based on a concentric, circular structure.
Analysis
The entire word "mandala" is a loanword from Sanskrit, functioning as a simplex noun in English.
Examples
The monk spent weeks carefully constructing a colorful sand mandala for the ceremony.
In psychotherapy, clients are sometimes asked to draw a personal mandala to express their inner state.
The rose window of the cathedral resembled a intricate Christian mandala.