Universal Mandala

This Thangka is a Universal Mandala (dkyil 'khor), a complex Tibetan scroll painting used as a sacred blueprint of the universe and an aid for meditation.

The design prominently features five mandalas: a large central one surrounded by four smaller ones in the corners. This specific arrangement often represents the Five Dhyani Buddhas (Buddhas of Wisdom), with the central figure, such as Mahāvairocana, representing the core enlightened mind.

The nested geometric patterns—including the outer ring of fire (burning of ignorance) and the square inner palace (the deity's residence)—symbolize the layers of consciousness the practitioner mentally traverses on the journey from the chaotic outer world to the realization of enlightenment at the center.