Mandala literally means "circle". The Tibetan word for mandala is dyyii-khor, translating to "circle and periphery". Symbolizing the cosmos in its whole, enlightened state, a mandala encompasses the stillness at the ultimate center of the circle, surrounded by the limitless dance of its circumference. The circle divides the inside from the outside, forming a protective boundary to create a sacred space free of outside influences.
Mandalas are traditionally used for focused concentration during meditation through visual form. Often representing the four directions in each corner and a central deity or symbol in the center, the mandala assists the viewer in embodying an energy, state of being, or heightened state of awareness. By focusing on a mandala, one can heal psychological fragments of the mind while strengthening the spirit. The circle completes itself to the viewer both internally and externally.