The Origins of Mandala Tattoo Designs
Mandalas are symbols used primarily in Asian cultures, especially in Tibet, Nepal, China, Japan, and India. They’re all composed of thousands of geometric and figurative designs that are combined to create highly meaningful, multi-layered works of art.
Each traditional mandala is used in serious religious ceremonies. Some are created from scratch each time to represent the fleeting nature of life or to heal a sick individual. Others are permanently painted and carved to be used as focal points for meditation and contemplation.
All true mandalas feature a circular shape because the word means circle in Sanskrit. Yantras are Hindu patterns with similar complexity and purposes, but they’re not limited to the circle shape.
Why You Shouldn’t Get A Religious Mandala Tattoo
When you see the beauty and intricacies of a real Buddhist Kalachakra design, it’s easy to fall in love with the colors and desire to get it tattooed on your body. However, all the religions that use mandalas find this practice very insulting. Many mandalas physically represent deities on the physical plane, so it’s like having Jesus or Mohammed tattooed on your arm.
These designs aren’t supposed to be used as decorations for clothing, electronics, or posters either. It’s fine to buy wall hangings made correctly by members of the religion if they’re offered openly for sale by a temple, since these items are designed for outsiders to use for their own spiritual purposes.