Who can identify this?

[TW]

This morning when I stepped out the door of my apartment, this is what I saw drawn in chalk in front of the door of the apartment next to mine. The little white dots are candles that had been burned. There is one candle in the center of the design, then one in each of the eight diamonds surrounding the eight pointed star, and one on each of the two designs right in front of the door. Some new tenants just moved in, I haven't seen them yet, but I'm guessing that they are Indian (India) as we have had an influx of Indians recently. I am just wondering what this design means. Some of you are far more versed in Oriental cultures than I am, and I would appreciate any information you could pass along. I am sorry about the quality of the picture, but digital cameras don't respond well to rapid temperature changes, it was toasty warm on one side of the door and freezing cold on the other.


TW

[Who new]

That's a hexagram. It could be any number of religious functionary symbols but I'd guess it's "white" magic used to ward off evil spirits. But what do I know, I'm a foreigner in these parts. Do a wikipdia search for hexagram and you'll know more. I saw some neopagans using similar things in a ritual cleansing ceremony once.

[valley]

It looks like something the UUs would use. The local UU congregation has a crop circle out back. Now those people are a might bit strange.

[Tim Elston]

I think it's a lotus flower. I can't claim to understand its significance from an inside perspective, but from a Western perspective we might say that it represents divinity and perfect purity. At least, that's what I read.

[macgulley]

It's definitely a "mandala" although I don't know if it has specific significance. Here's a website about them with about 1300 examples. I didn't see that design although many are similar.
http://www.mandalaproject.org/What/Index.html
Here are some more.
http://www.mandalawerkstatt.de/Indianmandalas/index.html

[Tim Elston]

It's definitely a "mandala" although I don't know if it has specific significance.

Although, check out this page, which shows both a mandala and a lotus flower:

Lotus on right, notice the eight petals.



Mandala does not necessarily have a flower-like design, but it does have an eight petalled lotus inside.



On the same page the there is a caption with the following picture. I'm getting the impression that a lotus traditionally has eight petals and is primarily a Buddhist symbol.


"The symbol of Buddha lives in the centre, surrounded by eight Buddhas for meditation - symbolic deities: four male and four female. These figures, facing the corners of the earth form together a lotus flower."



Maybe what's outside TW's apartment is a lotus flower mandala.

[free]

Why not be a good neighbor (I'm sure you are anyway) and ask them what its all about. I'm sure they'll tell you...At least that way you know what kind of people are living next door to you.

[Gerald Creasy]

Why not be a good neighbor (I'm sure you are anyway) and ask them what its all about. I'm sure they'll tell you...At least that way you know what kind of people are living next door to you.

Knock on the door. When they answer: Open your eyes wide, cock your head slowly and deliberately at a crazy angle while motionioning to the design at your feet and say: "You summoned me???"

[Sherry]

Knock on the door. When they answer: Open your eyes wide, cock your head slowly and deliberately at a crazy angle while motionioning to the design at your feet and say: "You summoned me???"

That is great!!!

[jessicacook]

Why not be a good neighbor (I'm sure you are anyway) and ask them what its all about. I'm sure they'll tell you...At least that way you know what kind of people are living next door to you.

Knock on the door. When they answer: Open your eyes wide, cock your head slowly and deliberately at a crazy angle while motionioning to the design at your feet and say: "You summoned me???"

Hilarious!!!