Sacred Mandala Design

Sacred Mandala Design

One of the richest visual objects in Tibetan Buddhism is the mandala. A mandala is a symbolic picture of the universe. Here are few colouring sheets of Mandala designs for Balvikas children!

Group II and Group III children can create posters or draw rangolis and decorate their Balvikas centres.

Fruits Mandala (Buddha Poornima Group Activity)

A mandala is a circular symbol, often seen in Hinduism and Buddhism, which represents the universe. It can be used as a focus for meditation, and making one is very calming and centring. During Buddha Poornima, decorating the homes with ‘Sacred Mandala’ is a Buddhist tradition involving the creation and destruction of these mandalas.

Often a mandala is ritualistically dismantled once it has been completed. After some ceremonies and viewing time, the dismantling symbolizes the Buddhist doctrine that the material life is transitory and illusionary.

Values Inculcated:

• To carry out art from heart
• Offering skills and time to Lord
• Devotion
• Understanding the significance of ‘Sacred Mandala’

Preparatory Effort :

• The guru to explain the children about Buddha, Buddhism and Buddha Poornima.
• Significance of Mandala in Buddhism.
• If Small children are involved, the guru shall cut or peel the fruits and keep them in separate bowls.

Materials Required :

• Fruits
• 1 Plate (per team)
• 1 Knife (per team
• 1 Cutting Board (per team)
• Bowls (to keep the cut fruits)

Method:

• Divide the children into groups.
• Children to arrange the cut/peeled fruits in the plate.
• Offer to God.
• Distribute as Prasadam.

Assorted Mandala Creation (Buddha Poornima Group Activity)

Mandala art combines math, art and natural materials. It links to festivals like Vesak, Buddha Day and Deepavali. Mandalas can be created with variety of materials, indoors or outside. They often use symmetry, repeating patterns, fractions and concentric designs. Here are some easy mandala crafts for Balvikas Group I, II and III children which feature an interesting collection of materials.

Values Inculcated:

• To carry out art from heart
• Offering skills and time to Lord
• Devotion
• Understanding the significance of ‘Sacred Mandala’

Preparatory Effort :

• The guru to explain the children about Buddha, Buddhism and Buddha Poornima.
• Significance of Mandalas in Buddhism.
• If Small children are involved, the guru shall help the children to draw a circle

Materials Required:

• Pista shells, grains, vegetables, fruits or paints
• A4-sheet, chart or circular plate
• Fevicol
• Pencil, Eraser
• Compass (to draw circles)
• Bowls (to keep the pulses, shells, fruits, vegetables)
• Waste cloth

Method:

• Divide the children into groups.
• Children to gather the materials for the Mandala of their choice.
• Create the Mandala on a chart paper or on a plate.
• Display the Mandala.