A sand mandala is a visual, geometric representation of a deity’s holy abode, created using sand. It is a meditation tool to guide practitioners in transforming ordinary minds into enlightened ones. During the ritual, monks meditate upon the mandala, visualising it as a three-dimensional palace, and invite the principal deity to reside in the very centre.

In conjunction with Grand Consecration Ceremony (Rabney Chenmo) of the Tsem Rinpoche Relic Stupa and Temple, senior ritual masters performed the 13-deity Yamantaka sand mandala ritual at Kechara Forest Retreat.

Yamantaka is the wrathful emanation of Lord Manjushri, who is the supreme embodiment of the Buddha’s wisdom. His practice offers a profound and quick method of purifying heavy negative karma, and allows us to swiftly achieve attainments and ultimately Enlightenment in a single lifetime. He also grants powerful protection against the most wrathful spirits, black magic and curses.

Led by Ven. Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Palden (the abbot of Phelgyeling Monastery), this complex ritual took six days to complete, combined with continuous prayers and intensive meditations on this tantric deity. Upon completion of the ceremony, Yamantaka’s blessings were dissolved into the sand mandala before it was ritually “destroyed” and carefully collected.

Bring home some of this precious blessed sand for powerful protection, healing and positive energy. Only a tiny amount is needed to invoke Yamantaka’s blessings wherever it is placed.