THE SCIENCE OF YANTRA

by Ramakrishna Jim Curas

The power of yantra in one's daily sadhana (spiritual practice) is often overlooked or little understood. As spiritual aspirants of ancient eastern traditions we are likely attracted to, and appreciate, the presence of the unique beauty which yantric art possesses. Within the yantra, though often unseen behind it's beauty, lies an eternal reservoir of untapped power. Yantras are not merely depiction's of an artists aesthetics and imagination; they represent and reflect a continuing living record of human spiritual knowledge. Ancient rishis realized the potential and distilled this eternal knowledge into yantra along with the mantric keys to unfold it's mysteries.

Yantra comes from the Sanskrit roots yam, to support and contain, and trana, to liberate from bondage, a yantra contains that which can liberate. Yantras also serve as visual tools to help center one's consciousness away from the outer world toward one's inner essence. The yantra historically is part of tantric tradition and ritual, It's language is conveyed without written or spoken word. It's visual message is revealed through direct perception of the energetic movement within the yantra. These geometrical, energetic movements are represented through the use of lines, triangles, squares, circles, around which there is a central point called the bindu. When this language is understood the yantra can be read like an ancient text which reveals it's inner quality. Enlightened adepts are able to read the 'yantras manifesting within all life' occurring continuously around them as this geometrical symbolism incorporates all that is seen. Part of the fascinating tapestry of yantra is the complexity involved behind the surfaced image, as the essence of various deities are represented and encoded through the use of geometrical form. This visual experience pulls one deeper into the yantras structural essence, the deity.

 Sankhya philosophy is recorded in the yantra through the mahabhutas; earth, water, fire, air, ether, which are represented through geometrical shape and color. The nine planets and nine primary numbers also figure in the yantras design. These formulations become the shakti of the deity locked within it's sacred geometry, waiting to be set free. In the beginning, before the first yantra was realized and created, this shakti was free and expressed itself through the earth element. It was witnessed in the intricate lines of a leaf, dancing flames of fire, ever flowing rivers and streams, in the stars of heaven as in the cells of our body. All that becomes and dissolves forms the continuous, living yantra of Shakti. The enlightened rishis of antiquity have gleaned and distilled the essential qualities for a higher existence through their study of yantra along with centuries of austere spiritual discipline, empirical study, and deep meditation. Their realizations have come down to us through yantra and mantra. As guardians of this sacred science they have long realized the importance of this perennial source of power and continue to pass on this knowledge to those seriously seeking.

When used rightly the yantra releases the light of the deity. For this light to begin nourishing our spirit we need to consciously, and with clarity of intention, beckon the deity out to it. The yantra is a static visual configuration, of numerological calculations and planetary coordination's. Yantras represent the many faces of god and needs the dynamic element of sound (mantra) to activate it's intrinsic source of power. These sources are many, as many are the names of god. India understands and expresses well the many archtypical energies (deities) and these yantras each personify a particular energetic deity. How we personally perceive our attractions and reactions in this world depends on the degree to which these energies (deities) are manifesting through us. The proper use of yantra and mantra can elevate our sensibilities and comprehension's while washing away internal impurities and obstructions. This clarity helps us tune into and unite with the deity that resonates most with our own essential nature. Yantras can be seen as specific energetic prescriptions which are used for specific maladies. They can be thought of as 'spirit medicine' as they help to realign and sustain the inner working realities of a person. Yantras are also used as vehicles for transcending into the higher realms (lokas) of the deities. The yantra becomes a powerful portal, but a passage way into which one must not stray unintentionally. One needs not only the correct yantra for a  situation, and the correct mantra to activate the yantra, but also a qualified teacher/guru to guide and support any serious undertaking. One who can act as a spiritual liaison should any unfortunate situation arise. We are dealing with ancient primordial energies which could activate dormant karmic connections that we may not be strong enough to handle. These karmic energies manifest through the vehicles of the mahabhutas; the five primary elements which make up all we see and experience. These elements when either distilled, or become seriously deranged, can be quite powerful, so needless to say 'we are playing with fire' and must be very clear as to our intentions, may they be noble and of a high order, otherwise we may be creating more karma than we work out. Often a period of austerity, tapas, is recommended to assist in cleansing and strengthening one's mind and body before any serious attempt is taken in reaching out to, or calling in, any of the deities.

These ancient seers of India also became acutely aware that the nakshatras (fixed star configurations outside our galaxy), the constellations within our galaxy, and the circling grahas (planets) in our solar system, were the sources of these archtypical energies (deities) and the moment we take birth, take our first breath, we inhale this unique, dynamic blending of celestial forces and alignments. We become their spirit offspring, take on the strengths and weaknesses of that particular moment of conception. This configuration at birth is our personal yantra which reveals the nature and source of the forces presiding over our lives. These energies are the celestial deities, the gods, playing out on a greater scale 'their karma' through 'our karma', for there may be some karmic debts on either end which need to be settled.

To the extent that any one of these manifesting deities be afflicted or weakened at the time of birth could become during the lifetime sources of pain and misery. It would be at this time that one may engage in the services of a jyotisi (vedic astrologer) and receive a particular yantra sadhana practice to appease and propitiate the negative effects of the graha/deity in question. The deity would be represented through a yantra and mantra. Each planet and deity has an association with a particular visual geometry and a vibrational seed sound. Again, this seed sound vibration is the all important key in unlocking the geometrical reservoir of light dormant within the yantra. The reciting of mantra should be seriously and deeply undertaken. It will release that which binds us to ignorance, help free us from karmic debts, and allows, once again, waves of liquid light to flow and nourish the body, mind and spirit.