Maṇḍala Wheel
Supplies
To prepare the Maṇḍala Wheel, you'll need the following:
- Maṇḍala wheels strip
(printed double-sided,
flip on the short edge) or maṇḍala wheels
- Jambhala maṇḍala wheel
- Vasudhārā maṇḍala wheel
- Ganapati maṇḍala wheel
- Aṣṭamaṅgala maṇḍala wheel
- Viśvavajra maṇḍala wheel
- Honey
- Butter
- Sugar
- Gemstone powders, such as:
- Red and white sandalwood
- Nice cotton cloth or silk in saffron or deity-specific colors
Instructions
-
Prepare the sweet paste offering
Mix honey, butter, and sugar together. Combine this with gemstone powders and red and white sandalwood to create a fragrant, sacred paste.
-
Join the Jambhala and Vasudhārā maṇḍala wheels
Use the sweet paste to stick the Jambhala and Vasudhārā maṇḍala wheels together - symbolically as if they are embracing.
- Jambhala should be placed on top, facing downward.
-
Mark the outer surface
After joining them, mark the outside of the maṇḍala wheels to identify:
- Which one is Jambhala
- The direction of the heads of the deities
This helps ensure correct orientation when placing them inside the statue or stupa. The heads of the deities should face the back of the statue/stupa - so if they were "standing up", they'd be facing the same direction as the statue/stupa.
-
Layer the remaining maṇḍala wheels
Beneath the Vasudhārā maṇḍala wheel, add the following in order:
- Ganapati maṇḍala wheel (facing up)
- Aṣṭamaṅgala maṇḍala wheel (facing up)
- Viśvavajra maṇḍala wheel (facing down, toward the base - like Jambhala)
Use the sweet paste offering to stick each layer together.
-
Wrap the entire set
Once assembled, wrap all the maṇḍala wheels together with a nice cloth - preferably cotton or silk in saffron or deity-specific colors.