Today begins the mandala construction which is the integral part of the Kalachakra blessing.
The Kalachakra mandala includes the syllables (or presence) of 722 deities within the complex structure and geometry of the mandala itself and will take several days to complete. Like all mandalas, it is meant as a two-dimensional representation of what is supposed to be a three-dimensional environment. The destruction of a sand mandala is also highly ceremonial. Even the deity syllables are removed in a specific order, along with the rest of the geometry until at last the mandala has been dismantled. The sand is collected in a jar which is then wrapped in silk and transported to a river (or any place with moving water), where it is released back into nature. For this reason, the materials in a sand mandala are always biodegradable and in keeping with the symbolism, are never used twice.
Resources:
- Kalachakra 1996 – Step by step images of sand mandala construction.
- Information on the Kalachakra mandala from Tibet Government in Exile website.