Yantra

The word yantra has two roots: tra emanating from trayati, meaning liberation, to make free, to awaken; yan, meaning instrument, something you use in order to make something happen. Therefore, a yantra is an instrument, a key to open up particular parts of the mind, to extend our consciousness, to make us aware of our godliness, to make us aware of 'I am that'.

A Yantra is a geometric design acting as a highly efficient tool for contemplation, concentration and meditation. Yantras carry spiritual significance, and point the user 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.

There are different kinds of yantras:

• The architechtronic yantra. Ever since prehistoric times, holy relics, temples, churches and houses of God have been constructed according to a yantric ground plan, with the aim of creating an energetic field wherein visitors could calm problematic thoughts and emotions, enabling them to be exposed to cosmic energy, in other words, godly energy. Facing towards the east, where the sun rises, is the general rule. It is interesting to study the maps and wind directions of temples and churches: where is the entrance, where is the altar? An Indian medicine wheel, stone circles, the birth yantra and the labyrinth all belong to this category.
• The astrological yantra. This is intended for use with the planets, in order to obtain knowledge about the forces that affect us. In India, nine of the planets in the horoscope are used in order to discover what the most auspicious and inauspicious circumstances are, for example, the best choice for a marriage partner, the best day for a commercial transaction, which day a journey should be avoided, etc.
• The numerical yantra. This is often worn on the person as a talisman, or lies on the place of pooja (the house altar). This yantra contains lucky numbers or letter combinations for the person concerned.

The yantra as instrument for meditation. This is constructed from a square with portals forming the foundation. On the inside are circles, triangles, lotus petals and squares, which are in themselves yantras. The yantra is created from subtle elemental sounds, mantra, which create both name and form, bringing name and form to life. Each yantra has a mantra, a sound that expands thought, man(as), and liberates, tra(yati). The repetition of a mantra liberates all thoughts, such as 'when, why, how is that possible', etc. and allows the revelation of the highest spirit. There are countless mantras. There are godly mantras and there are malicious mantras which unleash calamity. The effect depends on the spiritual development of the practitioner.

Mantra yoga is a branch of yoga that gives instruction in the knowledge of mantra. Everyone is able to repeat a mantra for themselves. This is called japa. The singing of mantra in a group is much stronger and is called kirtan. The practising of asana and pranayama with mudras and bandhas helps to create the right state to repeat a mantra and to open us up to a higher consciousness, to our higher nature.

Godly energies are manifested in anthropomorphic statues of gods and goddesses; their characteristics, qualities and strengths depicted in the number of arms, heads, eyes and in other attributes which they carry in the hands, or in the gesture made by the hands (mudra). The essences of all these strengths are combined in abstract form in a yantra.

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 automatically "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. 

Inside 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 (• or the 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 Triangle (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 elements 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 (sadhana). 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.

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.