The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1469 page)

) a ma
ala is the place where a deity is invoked by
mantra
. The placing of mantras upon the ma
ala (
ny
sa
) gives it life, and the ma
ala is then regarded, like mantra, as the deity itself (and not a mere representation of the deity). A ma
ala is also visualized (
dhy
na
) by the yogin who aims at merging with the deity. Visualization is accompanied by mantra repetition and the practice of mudr
for the control of mind, speech, and body. See also
CAKRA
;
YANTRA
.

 
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Mandalah
.

Islamic derivation from the Hindu
ma
ala
, consisting in the drawing of an inkspot surrounded by verses of the
Qur'
n
(one of which is always 50. 22) on the hand of a boy. After incantations, he is enabled to see the answer to questions about things unknown.