2011-8-15

Yantra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yantra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yantra ( ) is the Sanskrit word for "instrument" or "machine". Much like the word "instrument" itself, it can stand for symbols, processes, automata, machinery or anything that has structure and organization, depending on context. One usage popular in the west is as symbols or geometric figures. Traditionally such symbols are used in Eastern mysticism to balance the mind or focus it on spiritual concepts. The act of wearing, depicting, enacting and/or concentrating on a yantra is held to have spiritual or astrological or magical benefits in the Tantric traditions of the Indian religions.

The Sri Yantra.

Contents
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Etymology and meanings Symbols employed in yantras As an astrological device Philosophical context See also Notes References External links

Etymology and meanings

Yantra is a Sanskrit word that is derived from the root yam meaning to control or
subdue [1] or "to restrain, curb, check" [2]. Meanings for the noun derived from this root include:[3][4] "any instrument or machine" (i.e. that which is controlled or controls. For instance the body is said to be a yantra[5]) "any instrument for holding, restraining, or fastening" (for instance a symbol which 'holds' the essence of a concept, or helps the mind to 'fasten' on a particular idea) "a mystical or astronomical diagram" (usually a symbol, often inscribed on an amulet) sometimes said to possess mystical or magical powers.

-tra is an indoeuropean suffix meaning ' instrument', found in Latin ' aratrum' and
in tantra and mantra. A yantra depicts both macrocosmic and microcosmic forces acting together - the movement towards and away from the centre - "control" and "liberation" within the one device. Mantra plus yantra creates tantra. In some disciplines of Tantra it is said that a focused, controlled gaze upon a particular
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yantra 1/4

2011-8-15

Yantra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

yantra may lead to liberation.

Symbols employed in yantras

Shapes and patterns commonly employed in yantra include squares, triangles, circles and floral patterns but may also include more complex and detailed symbols, for instance: The lotus flower typically represent chakras, with each petal representing a psychic propensity (or vritti) associated with that chakra A dot, or bindu, represents the starting point of creation or the infinite, unexpressed cosmos The akoa (Sanskrit name for a symbol identical to the star of David) composed of a balance between: An upwards triangle denoting action (or service), extroversion, masculinity or Shiva A downwards triangle denoting introversion, meditativeness, goddess energy or Shakti A swastika represents good luck, welfare, prosperity or spiritual victory Bija mantras (usually represented as characters of Devangar that correspond to the acoustic roots of a particular chakra or vritti) Geometric element meanings: Circle = Energy of the element water Square = Energy of the element earth Triangle = Energy of the element fire Diagonal lines = Energy of the element air Horizontal line = Energy of the element water Vertical line = Energy of the element fire Point = Energy of the element ether

As an astrological device
Yantra may be used to represent the astronomical position of the planets over a given date and time. It is considered auspicious in Hindu mythology. These yantras are made up on various objects i.e. Paper, Precious stones, Metal Plates and alloys. It is believed that constantly concentrating on the representation helps to build fortunes, as planets have their peculiar gravity which governs basic emotions and karma. These yantras are often made on a particular date and time according to procedures defined in the vedas.

Philosophical context
Yantra function as revelatory conduits of cosmic truths. Yantra, as instrument and spiritual technology, may be appropriately envisioned as prototypical and esoteric concept mapping machines or conceptual looms. Certain yantra are held to embody the energetic signatures of, for example, the Universe, consciousness, ishta-devata. Though often rendered in two dimensions through art, yantra are conceived and conceptualised by practitioners as multi-dimensional sacred architecture and in this quality are identical with their correlate the mandala. Meditation and trance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yantra 2/4

2011-8-15

Yantra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

induction that generates the yantra of the subtle body in the complementary modes of the utpatti-krama and sapanna-krama are invested in the various lineages of tantric transmission as exterior and interior sacred architecture that potentiate the accretion and manifestation of siddhi. Khanna (2003: p. 21) in linking Mantra, Yantra, Ishta-devata, and thoughtforms states: Mantras, the Sanskrit syllables inscribed on yantras, are essentially "thought forms" representing divinities or cosmic powers, which exert their influence by means of sound-vibrations.[6] Yantra is an aniconic temenos or tabernacle of deva, asura, genius loci or other archetypal entity. Yantra are theurgical device that engender entelecheia. Yantra are realised by sadhus through darshana and samyama. Yantra, or other permutations and cognate phenomena such as mandala, rangoli, kolam, rangavalli and other sacred geometrical traditions, are endemic throughout Indian religions. Some Hindu esoteric practitioners employ yantra, mantra and other items of the sa dhy-bh (Bucknell, et al.; 1986: p.ix) in their sadhana, puja and yajna.[7]

See also
Namkha Sri Yantra Sigil Yantra tattooing

Notes
1. ^ For definition see: White 1996, p. 481, note 159. 2. ^ For root (yantr ) meaning "to restrain, curb, check" see: Apte 1965, p. 781 3. ^ For definitions for noun (yantra) including 1) "that which restrains or fastens, any prop or support"; 2) "a fetter", 4) "any instrument or machine", and 7) "an amulet, a mystical or astronomical diagram used as an amulet"; see: Apte 1965, p. 781. 4. ^ For definitions for (yantra) including "any instrument for holding, restraining, or fastening, a prop, support, barrier"; "any instrument or apparatus, mechanical contrivance, engine, machine, implement, appliance"; "restraint, force"; "an amulet, mystical diagram supposed to possess occult powers", see: Monier-Williams 1899, p. 845. 5. ^ Shrii shrii Anandamurtii, nanda Vacanmrtam Part 15 6. ^ Khanna, Madhu (2003). Yantra: The Tantric Symbol of Cosmic Unity. Inner Traditions. ISBN 0892811323 & ISBN 978-0892811328 7. ^ Bucknell, et al.; 1986: p. ix.

References
Apte, Vaman Shivram (1965), The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary (Fourth revised and enlarged ed.), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, ISBN 81208-0567-4 Bucknell, Roderick; Stuart-Fox, Martin (1986), The Twilight Language: Explorations in Buddhist Meditation and Symbolism, London: Curzon Press, ISBN 0-312-82540-4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yantra 3/4

2011-8-15

Yantra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Khanna, Madhu (2003). Yantra: The Tantric Symbol of Cosmic Unity. Inner Traditions. ISBN 0892811323 & ISBN 978-0892811328 Monier-Williams, Monier (1899), A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mw/) , Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mw/ White, David Gordon (1996), The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval India, Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-89499-1

External links
Media related to Yantra at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yantra" Categories: Hindu symbols | Meditation | Sanskrit words and phrases | Spiritual practice | Tantra This page was last modified on 4 July 2011 at 04:00. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of use for details. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yantra

4/4