Made in the middle of the 19th century in Tibet, the mandala of silver and turquoise is a sacred symbol that appears to the uninitiated in the form of a complex geometric figure. First of all, it is a certain model of the Universe, a "map of the cosmos". In Buddhism and Hinduism, this construction is used as a visual aid for contemplative practice. Clarity and geometricity are not accidental - its inner beauty and organization must overcome the universal disorder.
The mandala consists of a flat base, resembling an inverted plate, on which three silver rims are then mounted one after the other, each of which is smaller in diameter than the previous one. The circle is the deepest symbol of the mystery of life. The outside of each rim is embossed with elephants, a seated Buddha and large flowers. A mixture of stones is poured inside each rim. This building is crowned with a decorative diadem. The mandala is decorated with turquoise inlay.
Those who see the mandala for the first time invariably ask themselves: "What will happen next with this unearthly beauty?" The answer is startling and confusing: "At the end of the ritual, it will be taken apart." And this is also a special ritual.
The practice of drawing up a mandala is widespread to this day. Tibetan monks often make it out of colored sand. The very process of creating an "ordered Universe" is akin to an artistic performance, it is a phenomenon that occurs "here and now".