The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Fostering Indo-Japanese ties

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 25, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Fostering Indo-Japanese ties

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The Japan Week organised by the Indo-Japanese Association of Karnataka, which concluded on Tuesday, saw several interesting events. From a turbulent history of relations, with Imperial Japan knocking at our borders six decades ago, the post-World War II years have seen the strengthening of business ties between the two countries.

Demonstrations of Buddhist Mandala drawings and Ikebana were part of the more popular events. "Mandala is considered a sketch of the universe. It is used as an aid in meditation and symbolises cosmic integration," according to Tulku Tenguraya, who demonstrated the rituals associated with this rare art form. It uses colours made from granular marble and the Japanese regard it as more than just art.

"The lotus at the centre of the graphic is considered the abode of Lokateshwara, the Lord who looks down on us with compassion and after whom the Mandala is named," the Japanese expert explained. The word has its origin in Sanskrit and the Buddhist Mandala represents the residence of gods. Monks are said to create the pictures while in a trance.

At the festival, six monks from the Tibetan monastery at Bylakuppe worked on the Mandala, creating it over painstakingly. According to them, the graphical arrangements are about spontaneity, with a square, a circle of flames in the centre and the images of the Buddha and other Bodhisatvas arranged in ritualistic order. Each Mandala is unique, and a puja is conducted around it before it is dismantled.

"It was a rare opportunity to see a Mandala demonstration in Bangalore," said Consul General of Japan Yoshiaki Kodaki who was here for the occasion. "The Indo-Japanese Association has been playing an active role in Bangalore for more than 25 years in promoting relations between the people of India and Japan through various media, including art, music, culture and language leaning," he said.

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