Mandala is an important offering vessel in Tibetan Buddhism, used to make offerings to Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and deities. The origin and usage of the mandala are as follows:

The origin of the mandap

Manda is the transliteration of the Sanskrit word "mandala", which means "mandala" or "perfection"1. The mandala is made of all the treasures in the world, including the four continents of the sun and moon, forming a mandala to support the deities, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Dharma protectors and Dakini and their retinues.

The origin of the mandala can be traced back to the period of Indian Tantric Buddhism, when practitioners would use sand, rice, flowers and other materials to draw mandala diagrams on the ground as the basis and support for practice. Later, as Tantra was introduced to Tibet, the form of the mandala also changed, from a flat figure to a three-dimensional tower shape, and was made of metal, jewelry and other materials to increase its beauty and magnificence.

How to use the Mandala Plate

The mandala usually consists of four tower boxes and a screw top. Each tower box is a hollow ring and can be filled with various offerings, such as gold, silver, gems, grain, stones, etc. The size and material of the manda plate can be selected according to one's own financial ability. The top quality is made of gold and silver and is inlaid with jewelry, the middle quality is made of brass or white copper, and the bottom quality is made of flat and smooth stone slabs, wooden boards, etc.

When practicing the Dharma, while chanting, sprinkle the above-mentioned offerings on the mandala, starting from the bottom and then going up, and so on, until you reach the top of the conch. The purpose of this is to symbolize the wish for good fortune and happiness, and to offer the Dharma Realm to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas themselves. Mandala offerings can be divided into outer mandals, inner mandals, inner mandals, etc., which vary according to different practices and deities.

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