The mandala (tib. Kyilokor) is a geometrical design
used for the aid of visualization during meditations. There are a wide variety of
mandalas ranging from those that represent the history of time, to those that offer
tantric designs for the aid of visualizations. Having a circle as the main theme,
the mandala incorporates many shapes and colors each with specific significance for the
practitioner's advancement along the path towards nirvana.
This mandala has a vadjra (dorje) as its central
theme. The vadjra is depicted in the center, as the symbol of emptiness and power.
Surrounding the vadjra are the eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism: the
wheel of the Dharma, the right turning conch shell, the parasol, the endless knot, the
victory sign, the vase, the golden fish, and the lotus blossom. Found within the
geometric design are small creatures charged with duty of being Dharmapalas, or Dharma
protectors.
