Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. Any of various ritualistic geometric designs symbolic of the universe, used in Hinduism and Buddhism as an aid to meditation.
Wiktionary
- n. Any ritualistic geometric design, symbolic of the Universe, used as an aid to meditation.
- n. A division or book of the Rigveda (of which there are 10).
- n. almond
WordNet 3.0
- n. any of various geometric designs (usually circular) symbolizing the universe; used chiefly in Hinduism and Buddhism as an aid to meditation
Etymologies
- Sanskrit maṇḍalam, circle.
Examples
“In Buddhism, the term mandala can be viewed in some respect as a sort of organizational chart.”
The Huffington Post: Lodro Rinzler: Becoming Who You Want To Be (When You Grow Up)
“But, if the mandala is already gone, why is Chris still being targetted with violence?”
“The mandala is a profound, universal symbol that translates literally to "center and its surroundings" and is a physical representation of our interdependence, or the notion that everything and everyone is interlinked.”
The Huffington Post: Spotlight: The Mandala Project at Los Angeles' Hammer Museum (PHOTOS)
“We are not going to label mandala on just some pile of dirt.”
“What allows us to really get into this whole visualization or imagination process is what the word mandala would refer to.”
“Each mandala is individual, mirroring peyote vision trances.”
“The distinctive keyhole-shaped design is called a mandala garden, and it's an old-school style of gardening that is making a comeback, fueled by the sustainability movement.”
“Throughout the ritual, practitioners concentrate on a symbol called the mandala to find peace with themselves and the universe.”
Voice of America: Kalachakra Brings Hope to Washington Area Couple
“The most important part of creating a mandala is the motivation behind it.”
“From above, the mandala is a perfect architectural plan and easy to imagine as a five-story palace.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘mandala’.
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Visuals
A list of words which yield surprising, beautiful, amusing, or otherwise noteworthy images here on Wordnik.
photochrom, fufluns, thank you, cool l..., postcard, picture postcard, cricket, physiological ill..., Gakuryū Ishii, ametropia, One Froggy Evening, rhodopsin, Santiago Calatrava and 624 more...
chained_bear According to Wikipedia, a pasta shape:
"Designed by Philippe Starck in 1987 for French pasta maker Panzani. Design based on compensating for overcooking."
Not to be confused with mancala, an interesting game for two using small stones or figurines. Apr 17, 2009
oroboros See integral sphere. Jun 30, 2008
srkrause THE GREAT MANDALA (The Wheel of Life)
Peter Yarrow- Pepamar Music Corp.- ASCAP
So I told him that he'd better shut his mouth
And do his job like a man.
And he answered "Listen, Father,
I will never kill another."
He thinks he's better
than his brother that died
What the hell does he think he's doing
To his father who brought him up right?
Chorus:
Take your place on The Great Mandala
As it moves through your brief moment of time.
Win or lose now you must choose now
And if you lose you're only losing your life.
Tell the jailer not to bother
With his meal of bread and water today.
He is fasting 'til the killing's over
He's a martyr, he thinks he's a prophet.
But he's a coward, he's just playing a game
He can't do it, he can't change it
It's been going on for ten thousand years
(Chorus)
Tell the people they are safe now
Hunger stopped him, he lies still in his cell.
Death has gagged his accusations
We are free now, we can kill now,
We can hate now, now we can end the world
We're not guilty, he was crazy
And it's been going on for ten thousand years!
Take your place on The Great Mandala
As it moves through your brief moment of time.
Win or lose now you must choose now
And if you lose you've only wasted your life. Mar 2, 2008