The exterior of the circular domed mandala is decorated with a cosmic diagram. In Buddhist cosmography, Mount Meru stands at the centre of the world; it is depicted in the middle of the first circle - flanked to left and right by the sun and the moon, and surrounded by six dancing deities. In the second circle, some of the eight auspicious signs of Tibetan Buddhism alternate with seated figures between the cardinal points - represented as symbols for the four continents of Indian cosmology. Purva Videha is depicted to the east in the shape of a crescent; Jambudvipa to the south in the oval form; Apara Godaniya in a circle representing the west; and Uttara Kuru in the square shape to the north. The band around the drum is decorated with the eight Buddhist emblems and lotus flowers; the inside of the hollow mandala is painted with a deep red paint.

The mandala's detailed, illustrative design suggests that it exists as a complete ritual object - rather than as a part of some larger structure; whereas, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, there is a 15th century cloisonné enamel mandala that is referred to as a base - its top being decorated with a profusion of multi-coloured lotus flowers. The catalogue text explains that the museum's example would have supported a three dimensional mandala - probably comprised of a group of small figures, or taking the form of temples and stupas.

similar example
'Chinese Decorative Arts' by Leidy, Siu and Watt, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1997, page 14 - illustrated is a mandala in cloisonné enamel of 15th century date.

'Wisdom & Compassion, The Sacred Art of Tibet', Tibet House & Abrams, New York, 1996 - plate 159. This gilt brass model in the Musée Guimet demonstrates, in three dimensions, the cosmic world depicted on our 16th century mandala.