Yantra

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What is a YANTRA ? YANTRA literally means " support " and " instrument " .

A YANTRA is a geometric design acting as a highly efficient tool for

contemplation, concentration and meditation. YANTRAS carry spiritual

significance : there is a specific meaning that pertains to higher

levels of consciousness.

 

The YANTRA provides a focal point that is a window into the absolute.

When the mind is concentrated on a single, simple object (in this

case a YANTRA), the mental chatter ceases. Eventually, the object is

dropped when the mind can remain empty and silent without help. In

the most advanced phases, it is possible to attain union with God by

the geometric visualization of a YANTRA.

 

The YANTRA is like a microcosmic picture of the macrocosm. It is a

focusing point and an outer and inner doorway. The YANTRAS are often

focused on a specific deity and so. by tuning into the different

YANTRAS you can tap into certain deities or creative force centers in

the universe.

 

YANTRAS are usually designed so that the eye is carried into the

center, and very often they are symmetrical. They can be drawn on

paper, wood, metal, or earth, or they can be three-dimensional.

 

The most celebrated YANTRA in India is the SriYANTRA, the YANTRA of

Tripura Sundari. It is a symbol of the entire cosmos that serves to

remind the practitioner of the nondifference between subject and

object.

 

How do YANTRAS work ? At the basis of YANTRA operation is something

called " shape energy " or " form energy " . The idea is that every shape

emits a very specific frequency and energy pattern. Examples of old

believes in shape energy are the YANTRAS and mandalas of eastern

philosophies, the star of David, the five pointed star (pentagon),

the Christian cross, the pyramids and so on. Certain 'powers' are

ascribed to the various shapes. Some have 'evil' or negative energies

and some 'good' or positive energies, but in YANTRA yoga only the

benefic and harmonious energies are used.

 

When one focuses on a YANTRA, his mind is atomatically " tuned in " by

resonance into the specific form energy of that YANTRA. The process

of RESONANCE is then maintained and amplified. The YANTRA acts only

as a " tune in " mechanism or a doorway. The subtle energy does not

come from the YANTRA itself, but from the MACROCOSM.

 

Basically YANTRAS are secret keys for establishing RESONANCE with the

benefic energies of the MACROCOSM. Very often the YANTRAS can put us

in contact with extremely elevated energies and entities, being of

invaluable help on the spiritual path.

 

YANTRAS are poorly known in the Occident At this moment, there is

little known about YANTRAS in the Western world. Many people consider

them just pretty pictures and some artists claim to draw " YANTRAS "

from their imagination. They are very far from the true meaning and

use of YANTRAS. First of all, YANTRAS cannot simply be invented from

imagination. Every specific mood and emotion has an associated form

energy and shape. This unequivocally determines the form of the

YANTRA associated to that mood. The traditional YANTRAS were

discovered through revelation, by clairvoyance, not invented. One

needs to be a true spiritual master, a tantric guru to be able to

reveal a new YANTRA to the world.

 

Search the Internet and the libraries and you will find very little

consistent knowledge about YANTRAS. Some people placed YANTRAS upside

down, a monument of their ignorance. You cannot place a YANTRA just

any way you please. Anyone knows that when the cross is held upside

down, it is no longer a benefic symbol. A YANTRA put upside down is

no longer the same YANTRA.

 

" Disecting " a YANTRA The power of YANTRAS to induce RESONANCE is

based on the SPECIFIC FORM of its appearance. Such a diagram can be

composed from one or more geometrical shapes which combine into a

precise model representing and transfiguring in essence, at the level

of the physical universe, the subtle sphere of force corresponding to

the invoked deity. From this point of view we can argue that the

YANTRA functions similarly to a mantra (sacred word). By RESONANCE, a

certain energy from the practitioner's microcosm vibrates on the same

wavelength with the corresponding infinite energy present in the

MACROCOSM, energy which is represented in the physical plane by the

YANTRA. The principle of RESONANCE with any deity, cosmic power,

aspect, phenomenon or energy owes its universal applicability to the

perfect correspondence existing between the human being (seen as a

true MICROCOSM) and the Creation as a whole (MACROCOSM).

 

The Yantric Contour Every YANTRA is delimited from the exterior by a

line or a group of lines forming its perimeter. These marginal lines

have the function to maintain, contain and prevent the loss of the

magical forces represented by the core structure of the YANTRA,

usually the central dot. They also have the function to increase its

magical and subtle force.

 

The core of the YANTRA is composed of one or several simple

geometrical shapes : dots, lines, triangles, squares, circles and

lotuses representing in different ways the subtle energies.

 

The Dot (BINDU) For example the dot (BINDU) signifies the focalized

energy and its intense concentration. It can be envisaged as a kind

of energy deposit which can in turn radiate energy under other forms.

The dot is usually surrounded by different surfaces, either a

triangle, a hexagon, a circle etc. These forms depend on the

characteristic of the deity or aspect represented by the YANTRA. In

the tantric iconography, the dot is named BINDU; in tantra BINDU is

symbolically considered to be shiva himself, the source of the whole

creation.

 

The Tiangle (TRIKONA) The triangle (TRIKONA) is the symbol of shakti,

the feminine energy or aspect of Creation. The triangle pointing down

represents the yoni, the feminine sexual organ and the symbol of the

supreme source of the Universe, and when the triangle is pointing

upwards it signifies intense spiritual aspiration, the sublimation of

one's nature into the most subtle planes and the element of fire

(AGNI tattva). The fire is always oriented upwards, thus the

correlation with the upward triangle - SHIVA KONA. On the other hand,

the downward pointing triangle signifies the element of water which

always tends to flown and occupy the lowest possible position. This

triangle is known as SHAKTI KONA.

 

The intersection of two geometric forms (lines, triangles, circles,

etc.) represents forces that are even more intense than those

generated by the simple forms. Such an interpenetration indicates a

high level in the dynamic interaction of the correspondent energies.

The empty spaces generated by such combinations are described as very

efficient operational fields of the forces emanating from the

centeral point of the YANTRA. That is why we can very often encounter

representations of MANTRAS in such spaces. YANTRA and MANTRA are

complementary aspects of SHIVA and their use together is much more

efficient than the use of one alone.

 

The Six Points Star (SHATKONA) A typical combination often found in

the graphical structure of a YANTRA is the superposition of two

triangles, one pointing upwards and the other downwards, forming a

star with six points (SHATKONA), also known as David's Star. This

form symbolically represents the union of purusha and prakriti or

SHIVA-SHAKTI, without which there could be no Creation.

 

The Circle (chakra) Another simple geometrical shape often used in

YANTRAS is the circle, representing the rotation, a movement closely

linked to the shape of spiral which is fundamental in the Macrocosmic

evolution. At the same time, the circle represents perfection and the

blissful creative void. In the series of the five fundamental

elements it represents air (VAYU TATTVA).

 

The Square (BHUPURA) Between the simple geometrical elemets that

compose YANTRAS there is also the sqaure (BHUPURA). The square is

usually the exterior limit of the YANTRA and symbolically, it

represents the element earth (PRITHIVI TATTVA).

 

Every YANTRA starts from the center, often marked by a central dot

(BINDU) and ends with the outer square. This represents the sense of

universal evolution, starting from the subtle and ending with the

coarse, starting from " ether " and ending with " earth " .

 

Even tough most of the times YANTRAS are composed of these simple

geometrical shapes, sometimes we encounter other elements such as

arrow points, tridents, swords, spikes included in the design of a

YANTRA with the purpose of representing vectors and directions of

action for the YANTRIC energies.

 

The Lotus (PADMA) The lotus symbol (or its petals) is both a symbol

of purity and variety, every lotus petal representing a distinct

aspect. The inclusion of a lotus in a YANTRA represents freedom from

multiple interference with the exterior (purity) and expresses the

absolute force of the Supreme Self.

 

In conclusion, a YANTRA is a very complex spiritual instrument in the

tantric practice (sadhna). It can calm and focus the activities of

the mind, and by its positive auto-suggestion it has a benefic impact

on the health and psychic well being of a person.

 

A YANTRA alone represents nothing. Only when it is awakened by mental

concentration and meditation will the process of RESONANCE appear and

the benefic macrocosmic energies will manifest themselves in the

practitioner's MICROCOSM.

 

How to Use YANTRAS As we showed above, the secret key to using

YANTRAS in meditation is RESONANCE. The process of RESONANCE is

established by mental focus on the image of the YANTRA. As long as

the mind is tuned into the specific mood associated to that YANTRA,

the energy flows, but when the RESONANCE is stopped, the energy

disappears.

 

Instructions for YANTRA meditation

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a.. hang the YANTRA on a wall facing North or East, placing the

center of the YANTRA at the level of your eyes

 

a.. adopt your favorite posture or, if you want, sit on a chair

maintaining your spine straight

 

a.. breath in through the nose and out through the mouth, but do not

force at all, just let the breath flow normally

 

a.. look into the center of the YANTRA, trying to blink as rarely as

possible(doing Tratak); you don't want to look at the particular

details of the YANTRA, just keep your sight right in the center and

observe the whole YANTRA at once

 

a.. this exercise should last at least 15-30 minutes every day; the

experience will be indescribable

 

a.. in time, after at least seven days of YANTRA meditation you will

be able to tap into the same yantric energy even without a YANTRA (at

the beginning you may fix your sight on an exterior or imaginary

point or evoke the YANTRA with your eyes closed)

 

a.. do not forget to concentrate the fruits of this practice to God

(karma yoga); you should not chase any objective when doing YANTRA

meditation, just let it gradually guide you towards the sublime

energies of the MACROCOSM

 

a.. when executing this techniques it is recommended that we maintain

a state of aspiration and intense longing for experiencing the

beatific energies of the consciousness

 

a.. in superior phases the YANTRA absorbs the practitioner's complete

attention, and he can no longer tell if the YANTRA is within himself

or if he is within the YANTRA; this is the state of nonduality.