Mandala Tapestry Meaning, Usage, and Types
Mandalas have grown in popularity, and many people around the world can recognize these designs today. Mandalas can have spiritual and religious significance for many different groups of people.
Hindus were among the first people to use a mandala for spiritual purposes, and the designs are still used by them today. Any person may see the mandala as a meditation tool, a way to become more centered.
Mandalas are created to organize the structures of life, and the creation of these by individuals or groups is a personalized journey.
For many, simply looking at a mandala brings them peace, and this is part of the reason mandala wall hangings are so popular.
What are Mandalas?
Mandalas are intricate patterns. The meaning of the word mandala in Sanskrit, an ancient, sacred Indian language, is “circle.”
Although many Mandalas are made in the shape of a square or various shapes such as the Star of David, the word circle refers to the meditative artwork’s physical appearance and its form and representation.
Mandalas represent completeness or wholeness and are an important symbol for Hindus and Buddhists, and other religions and cultures worldwide. Even the endless knots of Celtic origin are a type of mandala.
More and more people have been exposed to the mandala world in recent years – a magical and spiritual world, where beautiful, colorful geometric shapes are considered sacred. This article will look at what the mandala symbolizes, how it is built, and how it is treated in different cultures.
Mandala Symbolism
Mandalas represent different ideas to different groups and cultures. To Indians, the mandala marks the soul, and sometimes the whole universe as well.
In the Buddhist cultures of Tibet and Nepal, the mandala can signify the inner self and serves as a tool to aid on the way to enlightenment, a real path in which a person can walk and illuminate his soul, letting it unite with the light that illuminates it.
In other cultures, the mandala’s symbolism is more interconnected, pointing to the intelligence and integration of symbols, lines and circles, colors, and painting techniques to discern their hidden meaning.
The circular nature and repetition of mandalas symbolize that life is cyclical; it never ends and is infinite for all creatures of this earth.
Mandala Patterns and Colors
Traditional mandalas feature regular geometric patterns, floral designs, and concentric patterns. These can be fit into the larger design of a perfect circle, square, or lotus shape.
Any shape can be used to contain the mandala, just as any images or patterns can be used to adorn it. Modern mandalas may feature animals, plants, or other objects, making mandalas versatile and appealing to almost any person.
In the Buddhist faith, the mandala may feature the Buddha. Religious mandalas often feature the important symbols of the creator’s faith and can be used as a prayer and teaching tool.
Colors have important significance and represent different energies and emotions. For example, red is used to symbolize and promote strength, passion, and high energy.
Orange is for creativity, intuition, and self-awareness. Yellow is the color of laughter and learning, while green symbolizes nature and physical healing. Blue can have a tranquil effect and is the calming color of meditation and inner peace.
Purple represents all things spiritual, while white promotes focus. Pink is for love and black for mystery. These colors and others have multiple meanings, and the mandala that features one color over another is created for a purpose that aligns with the color.
Types of Mandalas
When we hear the word mandala, many people think of the eastern world and exotic cultures. But mandalas have come from South American cultures, Jewish culture, and some Middle Eastern cultures.
The knots of Celtic culture can also be considered mandalas. They hail from every corner of the earth and have developed within cultures that had no contact with each other. Their significance depends on the culture or religion, which created them, but they all seem to serve a similar purpose; they guide the creator and viewer in their own life and down their paths.
As many cultures use mandalas, there are many different types of mandalas.
An outer Mandala
An outer mandala is used amongst Buddhists as a way of offering thanks. These mandalas represent the universe and are to others as a way to say thank you. These mandalas can have many different colors and designs and do not prescribe to a certain format.
Teaching mandala
The second type of mandala is a teaching mandala. Teaching mandalas feature symbolic representations of different aspects of the religion or lesson being taught. Every line, color, shape, and design is chosen for a specific purpose, giving a visual representation to follow for those who wish to learn whatever the mandala’s subject.
Healing mandala
A healing mandala is another popular type. These mandalas are made to help promote meditation. The colors and patterns used are also designed to promote positive, healing energy in the space they are found, and for the person who sees them. Healing mandalas are widely used in bohemian tapestries and mandala wall hangings.
Amazon and Etsy.com offer a variety of mandala wall tapestries, many fitting into the healing mandala group. The soothing blues of the flowered mandala radiate calm and peaceful energy, while the vibrant purples and greens on our spiral and tree tapestry promote positive, upbeat energies into your space.
The crisp whites and cool blues reminiscent of ice’s depths and beauty bring a tranquil quality to those who encounter it. Choosing the healing bohemian tapestry to feature in your room comes down to the energy you want to flow through your space.
Mandala Usage
The most common use of mandala is meditation. The intricacy of the pattern, or the simplicity in some cases, is used to occupy the mind and keep irritating, negative thoughts from surfacing.
By focusing solely on a mandala’s design, it is believed that the viewer can meditate in a clearer mindset. The conscious mind is occupied, giving the creative, subconscious freedom to drift and center into itself.
Thoughts born of the intuition of the person should rise to the surface, providing insight and relaxation. This is the goal of all meditation practices, and the mandala is a powerful tool to aid the user.
Many people who don’t meditate find mandalas beautiful works of art and use them in various other ways today.
Rich tapestries with intricate designs and beautiful, deep colors are often hung on both the young and old walls.
These mandala tapestry wall hangings can be traditional or center around a favorite animal or plant, such as the Elephant Indian tapestry. Other tapestries’ flowered designs appeal to many, while the geometric shapes and patterns appeal to others.
Aside from these Boho wall hangings, the colorful tapestries can be used for other daily purposes. Mandala wall tapestries are the perfect size to use as a bedspread or tablecloth.
They can travel with you for use as a picnic or beach blanket, a shawl or wrap, or even a yoga and meditation mat, like the Indian Mandala Tapestry Towel.
There are even coloring books dedicated to mandala’s art and beauty, giving the user a blank canvas to fill in with their colors and patterns.
These allow a person to design a mandala using the colors to suit their needs, be it a healing mandala or one they can use to draw positive energy and influence into themselves.
Where to place the mandala in the house?
Mandala tapestries are no longer considered “hippie tapestry,” and for a good reason! These beautiful works of art appeal to our love of symmetry and color. With thousands of designs and color combinations, there is a bohemian tapestry out there for every person. Tou can find a variety of Indian mandala tapestries, from traditional mandalas to more modern designs.
While these tapestries can be used in several different ways, featuring them on the wall is a great way to enjoy them daily and let your guests enjoy them as well.
Tapestries have long been the mark of college dorms, but the market has grown to include both older and younger people among the ranks of tapestry hangers.
The classic mandalas and vivid colors fit any home and decor. Feature a mandala wall hanging Indian tapestry in any room by giving it a pronounced place on the wall. They look beautiful in living rooms, sitting rooms, and even dining rooms and are sure to generate conversation.
Replace your headboard with a mandala Indian wall hanging and bring the comfort, healing, or positive energy of your mandala into the room you need it most.
How to hang mandala?
When you’re ready to hang the bohemian tapestry, you love, be careful how you do it. Using nails or pins could cause the tapestry to rip over time, especially if you move around and often have to take it down.
Strong stickies made for hanging items in your home that could work, or a quick DIY job of sewing fabric loops on the corners might be best.
- When hanging your tapestry, know that it will stretch as you pull each corner into position.
- Make sure to pull it tight, but not too tight to prevent tearing, get the creases out, and have the tapestry stay smooth and centered.
- Center the mandala tapestry in the middle of the wall or center it over a particular piece of furniture or feature in the room.
- Have one person keep hold of the middle of the tapestry so it does not shift while pulling it tight.
How to Clean the Mandala?
Like any other item in your home, the mandala wall tapestry will need to be cleaned.
- Please remove it from its fastenings gently to prevent tearing at the corners and hand wash in cold water.
- The dyes could fade with warm water, and your hanging could lose its stunning beauty. Coldwater prevents dyes from running and will preserve the vivid colors you love.
- Do not dry your tapestry in an electric dryer, as this can ruin the designs and material. Tapestries that printed on 100% cotton could shrink in the dryer.
- Hang it to dry naturally.
Mandalas are truly an ancient art form that still captures us today. The mystery and spiritualism associated with these intricate designs speak to a deeper part of ourselves that we rarely acknowledge.
The vivid dyes used to create these bohemian tapestries may vary from one creation to the next, making each truly unique.
Bring the rich history and stunning visual art of the ancient mandala into your home with one of our beautiful tapestries. The hardest decision you’ll have to make is which one you want most!
