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21. MANDALA CONCEPT IN JAMBŪDWĪPA PRAJÑAPTI
Definition of mandala
The word mandala which is in Sanskrit derived from मण्डइ धातु कलच् प्रत्ययः... This means round, circular. Even though it may be dominated by squares or triangles. According to Rig Veda, the collection of mantra's are in different categories such as अष्टक, अध्याय, सूक्त and मण्डल, अनुवाक, सूक्त. Here the mantra's which were collected in mandala are called as sūkta or Ruk. So here the term mandala is as a group, which is the centre of collecting mantras. Yogaśāstra mentions about mūlādhāracakra and Trikonayoni maṇḍala which is presented in the face of vajranand reflecting light. Trikonayoni maṇḍala is in the triangular shape has the concentric structure. Mandala offers a balance to visual elements symbolizing the power within us and can arouse concentration or deep meditation. Kundalini yoga mentions that mandala is yantra within us. A person gets spiritual power by deep meditation. Vajrayana meditation has mudra, mandala, mantracārya, kāryavātsa, śoucacāra, niyama, japa and so on. kalacakra is described as goddesses of shoonyatha and center of karuna. This goddesses of mandala is filled with stars and planets, Kālacakra maṇḍala has the whole world within it. Here cosmic reality and the metaphysical world are reflected through mandala.
Tejaswini Jangda, Bangalore
The knowledge of surya maṇḍala is identified in the name of jyotisya. The movements of surya in its mandala are counted as one ahoratri. If we remove the letters Aa and tri from the word ahoratri, only hora will be left. The other name for jyotiṣya śāṣtra is hora śāṣtra. Here mandala represents the knowledge about cosmic world which can be mathematically derived. Therefore the mandala also symbolizes mathematical knowledge.
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