The Sri Yantra, Shri Yantra, or Shri Chakra (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

: श्री यन्त्र,

IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Brahmic family, Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that ...

: śrī yantra) is a form of mystical diagram (''

yantra Yantra (; 'machine'/'contraption') is a geometrical diagram, mainly from the Tantric traditions of the Indian religions. Yantras are used for the worship of deities in temples or at home; as an aid in meditation; and for the benefits believe ...

'') used in the

Shri Vidya __NOTOC__ Shri Vidya (ISO: '; ; sometimes also spelled Sri Vidya or Shree Vidya) is a Hindu Tantric religious system devoted to the Goddess. Shri Vidya developed out of various influences, especially Kāśmīr Shaivism, and its doctrines rema ...

school of

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...

. Comprising nine interlocking triangles, it embodies complex symbolism. Four upward triangles signify

Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

, while five downward triangles represent

Shakti Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; 'energy, ability, strength, effort, power, might, capability') in Hinduism, is the "Universal Power" that underlies and sustains all existence. Conceived as feminine in essence, Shakti refer ...

, encompassing the cosmic and human realms around a central point called the bindu. This configuration is sometimes termed the "Navayoni Chakra". The Sri Yantra holds great significance in the

school, central to its worship. It symbolizes the union of masculine and feminine divine energies. The triangles, varying in size, form 43 smaller triangles in concentric levels, mirroring the cosmos. The power point ( bindu) stands as the cosmic center, encompassed by concentric circles with lotus petal patterns denoting creation and life force. These elements, set within an earth square, depict a temple with doors to different regions of the universe. In the Shri Vidya tradition, the Sri Yantra represents the core of devotion. Each triangle and level is associated with specific aspects of divinity, culminating in a structure known as the nava chakra. Its projection into three dimensions results in the

Mount Meru Mount Meru (Sanskrit/Pali: मेरु)—also known as Sumeru, Sineru or Mahāmeru—is a sacred, five-peaked mountain present within Hindu, Jain and Buddhist cosmologies, revered as the centre of all physical, metaphysical and spiritua ...

, symbolizing the philosophy of

Kashmir Shaivism Kashmir Shaivism tradition is a 20th century umbrella-term for a body of Sanskrit learning, Sanskrit exegetical literature from several Nondualism, non-dualist Shaivism, Shaiva-Shaktism, Shakta Tantra, tantric and Monism, monistic religious t ...

Appearance

In the 2009 issue of Brahmavidya (the journal of the Adyar Library),

Subhash Kak Subhash Kak is an Indian-American computer scientist and historical revisionist. He is the Regents Professor of Computer Science Department at Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, an honorary visiting professor of engineering at Jawaharla ...

argues that the description of Shri Yantra is identical to the ''yantra'' described in the

Śrī Sūkta The Śrī Sūkta or Shri Sukta ''()'', also called the Shri Suktam, is the earliest recorded Sanskrit devotional hymns that revere Shri-Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, and fertility. The Shri Sukta is recited, with a strict a ...

in the

Rigveda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' (, , from wikt:ऋच्, ऋच्, "praise" and wikt:वेद, वेद, "knowledge") is an ancient Indian Miscellany, collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canoni ...

. The Sri Yantra's nine constituent triangles vary in size and shape and intersect to form 43 smaller triangles, organized in five concentric levels. Together they represent the totality of the cosmos and express Advaita or non-duality. In the middle, the power point (''bindu'') represents the cosmic center. The triangles are circumscribed by two concentric circles composed of 8 and 16 petals, representing the lotus of creation and reproductive vital force. The entire configuration is framed by the broken lines of an earth square, representing a temple with four doors open onto the regions of the universe.

Gallery

Symbolism

In the

school of

Hindu tantra Tantra (; ) is an esoteric yogic tradition that developed on the India, Indian subcontinent beginning in the middle of the 1st millennium CE, first within Shaivism and later in Buddhism. The term ''tantra'', in the Greater India, Indian tr ...

, the Sri Yantra ("

sacred Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects ( ...

instrument"), also Sri Chakra is a diagram formed by nine interlocking triangles that surround and radiate out from the central ( bindu) point. The Sri Yantra is the object of devotion in Sri Vidya. The worship of the Sri Yantra is central to the Shri Vidya system of Hindu worship. The four upward-pointing

isosceles triangle In geometry, an isosceles triangle () is a triangle that has two Edge (geometry), sides of equal length and two angles of equal measure. Sometimes it is specified as having ''exactly'' two sides of equal length, and sometimes as having ''at le ...

s represent the Goddess's masculine embodiment

, while the five downward-pointing triangles symbolize the female embodiment

. Thus, the Sri Yantra also represents the union of Masculine and Feminine Divine. Because it is composed of nine triangles, it is known as the ''Navayoni Chakra''. Together the nine triangles are interlaced in such a way as to form 43 smaller triangles in a web symbolic of the entire cosmos or a womb symbolic of creation. The 12 and 15 sides of the four upward and five downward triangles also correspondingly symbolise, on the physical plane, the 12 sidereal zodiac signs of the Sun and 15 'nityas' phase-signs of the Moon. This is surrounded by a lotus of eight petals, a lotus of sixteen petals, and an earth square resembling a temple with four doors. The Sri Yantra is also known as the ''nava chakra'' because it can also be seen as having nine levels. "Nine" comes from" Nava" of

. Each level corresponds to a

mudra A mudra (; , , "seal", "mark", or "gesture"; ) is a symbolic or ritual gesture or pose in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. While some mudras involve the entire body, most are performed with the hands and fingers. As well as being spiritual ges ...

, a

yogini A yogini (Sanskrit: योगिनी, IAST: ) is a female master practitioner of tantra and yoga, as well as a formal term of respect for female Hindu or Buddhist spiritual teachers in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Greater Tibe ...

, and a specific form of the Deity Tripura Sundari along with her

mantra A mantra ( ; Pali: ''mantra'') or mantram (Devanagari: मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words (most often in an Indo-Iranian language like Sanskrit or Avestan) belie ...

. These levels starting from the outside or bottom layer are: #''Trailokya Mohana'' or ''Bhupara'', the outermost square with four gates. It represents the Earth plane and acts as a protective boundary for the inner levels. #''Sarva Aasa Paripuraka'' consists of a sixteen-petal lotus. It signifies fulfillment of all desires and aspirations. #''Sarva Sankshobahana'' features an eight-petal lotus. It represents the stirring or agitation of the mind, symbolizing the initial stages of spiritual awakening. #''Sarva Saubhagyadayaka'', composed of fourteen small triangles, this level is associated with bestowing auspiciousness and good fortune. #''Sara Arthasadhaka'', composed of ten small triangles, it pertains to fulfilling worldly desires and material goals. #''Sarva Rakshakara'', composed of ten small triangles, represents protection and safety from harm. #''Sarva Rogahara'', composed of eight small triangles, it signifies healing and protection from ailments, both physical and spiritual. #''Sarva Siddhiprada'', composed of 1 small triangle, representing accomplishment, spiritual attainment, and realization of one's true self. #''Sarva Anandamaya'', a point or ''bindu'' at the center of the yantra. It symbolizes pure consciousness, infinite bliss, and the ultimate unity of all existence. The two-dimensional Sri Chakra, when it is projected into three dimensions is called a Maha Meru (

). The Sri Yantra is the symbol of

, which is based on the

Hindu philosophy Hindu philosophy or Vedic philosophy is the set of philosophical systems that developed in tandem with the first Hinduism, Hindu religious traditions during the Iron Age in India, iron and Classical India, classical ages of India. In Indian ...

. The Sri Yantra is the object of devotion in

. In a recent issue of Brahmavidya, the journal of the Adyar Library,

argues that the description of Sri Yantra is identical to the yantra described in the Śvetāśvatara Upanisad.

Shri Vidya

The Sri Yantra is at the heart of

practice, representing the geometric manifestation of the formless Tripurasundari. Both the

Lalita Sahasranama The ''Lalita Sahasranama'' () is a Hindu religious text that enumerates the thousand names of Mother Goddess Lalita, which are held sacred in Hinduism particularly in Shaktism, the tradition focused on the worship of the Divine Feminine (''Sh ...

and Tripura Rahasya emphasize that while Tripurasundari is formless in her divine essence, she is worshipped through the Sri Yantra, which symbolizes her cosmic energy, and the Panchadashakshari Mantra (the 15-syllabled

), which invokes her presence. Together, the Yantra and Mantra serve as the central tools for connecting with and realizing the supreme goddess in

References

External links