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The complex nature of yantra syntax corrects the views of some scholars
who have wrongly labelled all yantras 'magic' diagrams. Diagrams used
for occult purposes form a separate category which has evolved within
the tradition, and the role of such yantras is peripheral in comparison
with that of yantras for meditation - Yantra, Madhu Khanna
The suffix 'tra' in Sanskrit means instrument. Yantras are the
geometrical form of a divinity in the tantrik tradition. Images (murtis)
and mantras are other, more gross and subtle, representations. Yantras
can be drawn, engraved or painted on a variety of substances. The
classical eight tantrik surfaces are gold, silver, copper, crystal,
birch, bone, hide (which can include any type of paper), and Vishnu
stone (shalagrama).
The yantra shown left is for Kali, and can be used to illustrate the
basic geometrical concepts used. The point or bindu at the centre,
generally represents the deity, or sometimes Shiva and Shakti united.
The triangle normally represents the three gunas, or in the case of the
tantrik tradition, the three bindus. Akarshana Yantra Triangles usually
face downwards in the case of female yantras and upwards in male yantras.
There are exceptions - the Shri Yantra is one such. Triangles are often
surrounded by enclosing circles and a group or groups of petals, in
which are the attendants of the Devis or Devas. See the Mahamrityunja
yantra for a complete example. Finally, the whole is often enclosed in a
bhupura, a word which means earth-city. These are the enclosing walls,
fenced by the guardians of the directions and the intermediate
directions (dikpalas). Some traditions use the yantra in puja from the
outside inward, and others from the inside outward, depending on the
nature of the deity. There are many other yantras which have their own
individual shapes, often used in magic (prayoga). One such shown here is
an akarshana (attraction) yantra from the magical Kamaratnatantra.
A yantra is only truly vitalised when it is engraved with the bija and
other mantras and surrounded with the matrikas, or letters of the
Sanskrit alphabet. Before use, it must be installed with life, a rite
called Pranapratishta (establishing breath). The following is an
example.
Installation of Life in a Shri Yantra
Before any yantra is a suitable object for puja, it must be given life (pranapratishta).
The following, from Nityotsava, describes the process. This, process,
incidentally, also holds true for initiation of a candidate into Shri
Vidya. The rite installs the 35 tattvas into the yantra. It also gives
the yantra the full set of senses and the Antahkarana, or subtle body.
It is said that engraving a Shri Yantra on gold is said to hold good for
life, on silver for seven years. The process also imbues the yantra with
the matrika, the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet which are the goddess
as sound.
The Yantra Gayatri is Yantrarajaya Vidmahe Mahayantraya Dhimahi Tanno
Yantrah Prachodayat.
Brahmna-Vishnu-Maheshvara are the Rishis of this great mantra installing
life into the Shri Yantra; Rg, Yajur, Sam and Atharva are the Metres;
Consciousness is the Devata; Am is the Bija, Hrim the Shakti, Krom the
Kilaka. The application is installation of life into the Shri Chakra.
Aim Hrim Shrim Am Kam Kham Gam Gham Nam to Earth, Water, Fire, Air and
Aether, Am to the thumbs Namah.
3 Im Cham Ccham Jam Jham Nam to Sound, Touch, Sight, Taste, Smell Im to
the index fingers Namah.
3 Um Tam Tham Dam Dham Nam to Hearing, Touch, Eyes, Tongue, Nose Um to
the middle fingers Namah.
3 Um Tam Tham Dam Dham Nam to Speech, Hands, Feet, Genitals, Anus Aim to
the ring fingers Namah.
3 Om Pam Pham Bam Bham Mam to Talking, Giving, Moving, Enjoying,
Excreting Aum to the little fingers Namah.
3 Am Yam Ram Lam Vam Sham Sham Sam Ham Lam Ksham to Manas (mind), Buddhi
(intellect), Ahamkara(ego), Thought, Inner Cause, Ah to the palm and
back of the hands Namah.
(Thus Heart &c. Nyasa)
Aim Hrim Shrim Om Am Hrim Krom Yam Ram Lam Vam Sham Sham Sam Haun Ham
Sah may Life exist here in the Shri Chakra!
3 Om Am Hrim Krom Yam Ram Lam Vam Sham Sham Sam Ham Ham Sah my
individual existence be here in the Shri Chakra!
3 Om Am Hrim Krom Yam Ram Lam Vam Sham Sham Sam Ham Ham Sah may all the
senses be here in the Shri Chakra!
3 Om Am Hrim Krom Yam Ram Lam Vam Sham Sham Sam Haum Ham Sah, may
Speech, Mind, Eyes, Ears, Tongue, Nose, Breath come inside this Shri
Chakra! May Happiness stay long here! Svaha.
Internal meditations
Yantras may also be visualised internally. That, for example, is the
case with the Shri Yantra, with the different mandalas starting at the
base of the spine and going to the top of the head.
Different rituals exist for the purification of a yantra for the eight
materials mentioned above. This which follows is drawn from the
Devirahasya. Shiva is the Seer, Trishtubh the Metre, Parashakti the
Devata, Shrim the Bija, Hrim the Shakti and Klim the Peg. The
application is the purification of the given yantra.
After doing hand and limb nyasa, one should meditate on the throne of
the given Devi as being in one's heart. One should draw, engrave, or
paint the yantra, and place it on a gold colour pedestal, installing
breath into it.
It can be smeared with Kunda, Gola or Udbhava flowers or with the eight
scents. The mantra differs for each material:
Gold: Aim Sauh Aim Sauh Chakreshvari Yantram Sauvarnam Shodhaya Shodhaya
Svaha. (Aim Sauh Aim Sauh, O Lady of the Chakra, Purify! Purify the gold
yantra! Svaha)
Silver: Om Rum Om Rajatam Yantram Shodhaya Shodhaya. (Om Rum Om Purify!
purify the silver yantra)
Copper: Om Krom Om Strim Om Krom Tamreshvari Yantram Me Shodhaya. (Om
Krom Om Strim Om Krom, O Lady of Copper, purify the copper yantra for
me!)
Crystal: Om Shrim Hrim Om Kulambike Shodhaya Shodhaya.
Birch bark: Om Hum Shrim Hrim Prim Ruddhesvari Parayantram Shodhaya. (Om
Hum Shrim Hrim Prim O Lady of Trees, purify the yantra!)
Bone: Om Aim Klim Sauh Kapalamalini Yantram Shodhaya Svaha. (Om Aim Klim
Sauh O Thou garlanded with skulls, purify the yantra! Svaha)
Hide: Om Shrim Om Aim Klim Citasane Yantram Shodhaya Svaha. (Om Shrim Om
Aim Klim O Thou Whose seat is the Pyre, purify the yantra! Svaha)
Vishnu Stone (Shalagrama): Om Hsau Aim Sauh Klim Shrim Shrim Nitye
Vishnu Shila Yantram Shodhaya. (Om Hsau Aim Sauh Klim Shrim Shrim, O
Eternal One, purify the Vishnu Stone Yantra )
After using the appropriate mantra, the yantra should be placed on a
pedestal (pitha), and bathed with the substances previously described,
whilst the appropriate root mantra is recited. One should then offer
scent and flowers, and should worship the appropriate Devi in the usual
form within the yantra. This all should be done at night.
Carrying a Yantra. This is considered to be a highly potent way of
concentrating magical power. The time to do this is during an auspicious
astrological period. The yantra should be drawn using the eight Kaula
perfumes. Outside the yantra the root mantra should be written.
On the outside of this the armour (kavacha) and 1000 names should be
written. The Devi should be invoked into the yantra in due form. All
good substances are to be used. The yantra is then entwined with gold
and silver thread, and placed into a metal holder and may be worn on the
person.
Yantras should always be used on the level. If drawn on paper the
colours preferable are red, orange, yellow or a combination of these. A
yantra without bija mantras is dead. They can be drawn to whatever size
is required.
The two main types of yantra are Bhu and Meru. The former is flat, two
dimensional, the latter is of pyramidal form. When not in use they
should be stored carefully. Metal ones should be regularly cleaned to
prevent corrosion &c. In worship they should be placed level on a
pedestal or pitha. This may be as ornate or as simple as required. |
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