The Construction of the Yamantaka Mandala

A Spiritual Experience of Tibet

Mandalas are sacred designs created by hand using compasses and chalk lines, which are filled in, grain by grain, with colored sand. Visible for centuries only in Buddhist monasteries, UNI has been fortunate enough to have a mandala two years in a row. This one is in conjunction with the visit by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Yamantaka Mandala is a cosmic blueprint of the palace of the Conqueror of Death. Elements of the mandala represent the world and the impermanence of human existence; compassion; the various deities of Buddhism and Hinduism; smell, hearing, taste and vision; and fire, earth, metal, water and wood.

Watch the creation of the
Yamantaka Mandala live

Opening Ceremony

Sunday, May 9, 3:30 p.m.

Construction

Sunday, May 9 - Sunday, May 16

Monday, Wednesday, Friday - 9 a.m. to noon and 2-6 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday - 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, May 16 - 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m.

Guests are welcome whenever the GBPAC lobby is open, but work will be taking place at the times listed.

Guests may view the completed mandala Tuesday, May 18 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and prior to the closing ceremony.

Closing Ceremony

Wednesday, May 19, 10:30 a.m.

All events at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center

Mandala artists:

Gedun Kalsang, Gyuto Wheel of Dharma Monastery, Minneapolis

Jampa Thuten,Gyuto Wheel of Dharma Monastery, Minneapolis

Ven. Geshe Thupten Dorjee, asst. professor, University of Arkansas

Above - a section of the Sand Mandala created at UNI in 2009.

Below - The monks work on the nearly completed 2009 mandala.

More information on the 2009 mandala is available at www.uni.edu/mandala.