By Ramakrishna Jim Curas
Many who look at yantras view them as interesting art objects without
knowing the historical tradition and practices with which they
are involved. These practices are two-fold in nature; one representing
a more commonly used and understood aspect and another less recognized,
of a more esoteric and hidden nature.
A yantra is an ancient spiritual tool used in India to assist in
one's daily practice and worship of their chosen deity. Yantras can
also be used on special occasions for a specific purpose, usually
to help alleviate an obstacle in one's life or in securing success
in an endeavor. The level of success is usually equivalent
to the level of devotion and intensity with which one focuses on
the yantra and the clarity of one's aim and purpose.
Yantras are visual, geometrical designs which can be drawn on paper,
etched in metal, carved 3-dimensionally in stone or crystal, fashioned
with colored sand or simply scratched into the earth. These yantric
designs each have a particular configuration which is associated
with a specific deity. There are two types of yantras; one made up
of lines, angles, triangles, squares, circles with a dot at the center,
the other is numerically constructed based on the Vedic square. When
a yantra is properly constructed they become a home in which the
deity can feel comfortable residing in. Simply having the deity at
home is great but if you want to be able to ask the deity for help
you need to learn how to knock properly on it's door. Each deity
has it's own mantra which becomes the key which unlocks and activates
the energy of the deity. A mantra is the name of the deity, it becomes
necessary to correctly recite this name if one wants success in gaining
the deities attention. Cultivating the proper attitude when reciting
the mantra will further insure success in your endeavors and requests.
Yantra and mantra are bhakti, devotional, dualistic paths, of the
lover and beloved, with pure passion and devotion one can merge becoming
one with the deity. Also yantras are used in group ceremonies called
yajnas, they help focus the groups energy while asking for assistance
from the presiding deity.
The yantra historically is part of tantric tradition and ritual
which has at it's roots many select, secretive elements and lofty
aspirations as part of it's practice. It becomes a language
of its own with many deeper meanings available only to those who
seek out a qualified teacher of this tradition. Yantra comes from
the Sanskrit roots yam, to support and contain, and trana, to
liberate from bondage, so a yantra contains that which can liberate.
It is also a visual tool to help center one's consciousness away
from the outer world towards one's inner essence. Part of the fascinating
tapestry of the yantra is the complexity involved behind the surfaced
image as the essence of the deity is encoded through the use of geometrical
form. These geometrical designs also involves astrology, numerology,
the nine planets and nine primary numbers along with color which
creates the various angles and aspects. The five primary elements
of earth, water, fire, air and ether along with the four directions
also express themselves energetically through the yantra. Once this
deeper knowledge of yantra is known it can be read on more subtle
levels and the qualities and signification's of the particular deity
will be more fully understood. This insight can deepen our practice
and provide more opportunity for success. So we can see that behind
the art of yantra there lies many levels of knowledge to discover
and practices to deepen our spiritual insight.
For inquiries about yantras Ramakrishna can be reached at 831-335-4471
or
e-mail - jim@fullcircleartanddesign.com website - www.fullcircleartanddesign.com
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