This photo gallery captures the beginning process of completing the sand mandala painting at the McClung Museum. The event was held as part of the Embodying Enlightenment exhibit.
UT student Bobby Tate lines the inner figure starting the sand mandala
Colored bowls are lined on a table in preparation for the painting.
A table is prepared with tools required to complete the sand mandala.
The bowls have been filled with colored sand as the monks start designing the mandala.
The monks draw the line design for the mandala. The patterns are based upon sacred geometry presented to them in ancient scriptures. This part usually takes around 3 hours.
These metal instruments, called chakpur, are used to place the sand into the lines of the mandala.
UT student Bobby Tate lines the inner figure starting the sand mandala
The chakpur is being used to fill one part of the design with a light green sand.