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Mandala has many other names. The Bodhi Mandala has
paintings of Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas holding knives, swords,
wheels, etc. and is called Equality Mandala.
“Great Mandala” is so named because the statues in the
Mandala have five principal colors: yellow, white, red, black,
blue, and corresponds to the five elements of Earth, Water, Fire,
Wind and Space. It expresses the entire universe in which,
viewed broadly, human beings and all living things maintain
harmony and interdependence with each other. It includes all of
the other mandalas.
“Impartiality Mandala” is so named because the Buddhas in
the Mandala represent beings with emotions, while knife, swords
and wheels represent beings without emotions. The elements of
the cosmos: Earth, Water, Fire and Wind, expand in space to
create all impartial beings.
“Majestic Career Mandala” is so named because the
molded or sculpted statues are meticulously decorated to express
the grand career of the Buddhas and Bodhisattva in a lively
manner.
“Dharma Mandala” is so named because the seed-syllables
of the Buddhas represent good discipline, rules and regulations.
It has the seed-syllable (root of a speech) next to the Buddhas'
title as their symbols. Dharma, in Sanskrit, means teaching or
transmission. The methods for transmitting the mind of the
Buddha to people are the Sutras, Sanskrit words, and the names
of the Buddhas. The essence of the teaching is contained in bîja
or seed mantras. Generally speaking, this refers to language,
words, and written texts.
Mandala or Bodhi Mandala is therefore a place for worship
rituals, where the follower of Secret Buddhism recites mantras