The word simply means circle in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is one of the oldest subdivisions of Indo-European languages of which our own (a blend of Germanic and Italic) is one as well. But my subject, is sanity, and, today, its symbol. More narrowly the mandala is a religious symbol of Hinduism and Buddhism, but you’ll find it everywhere, not least immediately underfoot. The photo shows the old, worn carpet in Brigitte’s study. The eternal conflicts of humanity are harmoniously balanced in the mandala and disappear in its center. In Christianity the cross is the symbol of the conflict, Jesus Christ its center and resolution. The International Red Cross emblem is also a mandala. The most interestingly suggestive symbol I found this morning is a Navaho sand-painting (one of many used in religious ceremonies) which is a kind of circle built of bodies, and it also features a cross in the center. I found it on Wikipeia here.
I was surprised that the entire scene is set off in a semi-cartouche by a figure of a spirit, just as the ancient Egyptian goddess Nut forms a firmament above Geb, the earth.
ReplyDeleteOn the left, this outer figure has its legs and the triangular indication of a blanket and stretches to the right where there are two arms and a head. Fascinating.
I found that dome marvellous myself, Montag.
ReplyDeleteFor others reading these comments: use Google Images and put in the search phrase: Nut Geb. Many images illustrating Montag's comment will appear.