I am a Mandala artist. As part of my upbringing in India, from the age of five, I was taught by my mother and grandmother to draw sacred patterns and designs called Kolam or Mandalas. The Mandala (Sanskrit for “circle” or “completion”) has a long history in Hindu and Buddhist cultures. As an artist, when I create Mandala art for myself or the community, I immerse myself in the colors and energy of my women ancestors, Goddess Lakshmi and Mother Earth, thereby attaining a vibrational state of being. From my own experience, I can also vouch for the multi-layered power of mandalas; they heal, promote insight, foster mindfulness, focus attention and encourage self-expression using the complete yet straightforward form of the circle.

Printed with Master Printmaker Aaron Broughton