'CELESTIAL MANSION' BUDDHISTS CONSECRATE UNIQUE MANDALA.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer

GLENDALE - The smell of incense filled the dimly lighted room, mixing with the sound of ringing bells, beating drums and the sight of hundreds of small candles twinkling to illuminate the Shi-Tro Mandala being consecrated Saturday afternoon.

The sacred Buddhist artwork was dedicated in the Forest Lawn Museum by Lama Nubpa Chodak Gyatso and Lama Gonjang Rinpoche, as a symbol for the cause of universal peace. Officials said the three-dimensional mandala is the first of its kind to be constructed and consecrated in the United States.

Standing on a base representing the four elements, the piece itself is an intricately designed, hand-carved ``celestial mansion,'' housing small statues depicting the 100 Buddha Families, or peaceful and wrathful deities in the religion.

``It's a blueprint to enlightenment,'' said Don Delaquil, coordinator for the Los Feliz Buddhist Center T'hondup Ling, a congregation that co-organized the mandala project.

The Shi-Tro Mandala was carved and painted by hand over most of the last year, primarily by four artisans under the direction of master artist Pema Namdol Thaye. Thaye, who lives in the eastern country of Bhutan, is one of the few artists trained in the ancient mandala art.

The Dalai Lama, who blessed the mandala during his trip to Los Angeles in June, has said that anyone who hears of, sees or touches the mandala is changed by the experience. The seeds of enlightenment are sown.

The project was conducted in cooperation with the Glendale-based We Care for Youth program, which works with at-risk teen-agers. Linda Maxwell said her program uses the mandala as a tool to have teens find their sacred center, the place inside they can draw from in times of crisis.

She said she hopes the presence of the mandala in Glendale will give the community a sense of peace it has missed in the wake of a series of deaths among local teens.

``Maybe this will be the inspiration; maybe this shows us how to be excellent,'' Maxwell said.

Although the ceremony was over three hours late getting started, more than two dozen were on hand for the consecration. Many said they wanted to be a part of a significant event in their religion.

``There are very few activities that we come across in our daily lives that are dedicated exclusively to the benefit and enrichment of all beings,'' said Martin Wassell of Westwood.

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Artist Pema Namdol Thaye prepares the Shi-Tro Mandala for formal consecration by Tibetan lamas.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News