Torma – Ritual Food Offering
Copper Torma Mandal: Red colored Torma, triangular in shape, are offered to fearsome protector deities such as Mahakala and Shri Devi. Torma is made from barley flour and constructed for several reasons. They are made as special offerings for specific deities on special days. They are sometimes used to represent the subject of an initiation ritual. They are also used as a weapon during repulsion rituals such as turning back obstacles during new year’s celebrations. They are sometimes made from metals like; copper, silver, white metals, etc. and also depicted in paintings meant to hang in the temples of the wrathful protector deities.
Mandal Set
Mandal, called Dultson Kyilkhor in Tibetan, means container of essence. In Tibetan Buddhism Mandals come in two varieties; it can represent the universe, as it is used in the Mandal Offering Ritual, where one symbolically offers the entire universe. For this several rings can be placed on top of each other filled with rice and precious objects. During the offering one recites mandal offering prayers. In the center of the Mandal is Mount Meru, the central axis in the Buddhist cosmos. The Mandal is a tri – dimensional graphical and geometrical representation of the universe. It represents a combination of the enlightened mind and body of Buddha and is considered to have great power. These unique and exquisite works are usually made of colored sand. However, powdered flowers, herbs and ever precious gems are also popularly used materials. Although Mandals were originally created as religious objects used to aid in meditation and decorate and sanctify monasteries and homes, they have become appreciated as artwork for their elegance and beauty.
Mandals are usually symmetric with series of concentric circles and squares. The center point is the residence of the resident deity, from whom the Mandal is identified. Lines are drawn from the center until they intersect and form circles and squares. The finished Mandals have four gates, which symbolize a culmination of the four virtues: compassion, kindness, sympathy and equanimity. Other Buddhist auspicious symbols can also be included in the design. Form and color application techniques are strictly followed in the process of creating a Mandal to show religious meanings.
Placed on the shrine as an offering of the universe to the Buddhas the mandal set should be of the highest quality one can afford. The three rings are built up with rice, scattered with precious stones where possible. The summit represents Mount Meru, the mythical center of the universe. The Mandal is a representation of the universe. Each layer is filled with offerings until the multi layered mandal is filled with coins, beads, jewels or rice. The ‘universe’ is then offered over the head to show you would give the entirety of existence to help others attain enlightenment. Used by practicing Tibetan Buddhists as part of the daily preliminaries to meditation, the mandal represents the naturally balanced nature of the outer world and the inner mind.
About this Copper Torma Mandal
This fine quality Torma Mandal is made of from copper alloy with gold & silver plated and has fine hand carvings which is beautifully hand carved with eight auspicious symbol and other images. The carving details are done very finely throughout the Mandal Set. This Mandal Set is hand crafted by the master artisans of Patan, Nepal.
