Materials:

Turquoise

Coral

Lapis lazuli

Pearl

Gemstones

Gold-plated copper

Dimensions & Weight:

Height: 15 inches

Width: 9.5 inches

Weight: 2 kilograms

Shipping Origin: Kathmandu, Nepal

Description:

This extraordinary mandala offering set is made of hand-hammered copper that has been gilded and filigreed, with insets of hand carved turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli, and gemstones. The various layers have expertly inlaid carved images of flowers and Tashi. The bottom supporting tray is decorated with the eight auspicious Buddhist symbols.

Mandala in Tibetan means container of essences. Mandalas represent the universe as it is used in the Mandala Offering Ritual where one symbolically offers the entire universe. For this several rings can be placed on top of each other and filled with rice and precious objects. During the offering, one recites mandala offering prayers. In the center of the Mandala is Mount Meru, the central axis in the Buddhist cosmos. The Mandala is a tri-dimensional graphical and geometrical representation of the universe. It represents a combination of the enlightened mind and body of Buddha and is considered to have great power. Although Mandalas were originally created as religious objects used to aid in meditation and decorate and sanctify monasteries and homes, they have become appreciated as artwork for their elegance and beauty.

Placed on the shrine as an offering of the universe to the Buddha, the mandala set should be of the highest quality one can afford. The rings are built up with rice and scattered with precious stones, coins, beads, and jewelry where possible. The “universe” is then offered over the head to show that you would give the entirety of existence to help others attain enlightenment. Used by practicing Tibetan Buddhists as part of the daily preliminaries to meditation, the mandala represents the naturally balanced nature of the outer world and the inner mind.