Shri Yantra: everything you need to know about this sacred geometry

Shri Yantra, also popularly known as Shri Chakra, is considered as the mother of all yantras in Hinduism. This yantra is believed to be the source of origin of all other yantras. The traditional belief regarding the three-dimensional shape of this Yantra is that it symbolizes Mount Meru, the cosmic mountain located at the center of the universe. It also occupies the sacred place in the spiritual world where it represents the cosmos.

Facts about the Shri Yantra at a glance:

• Believed to have originated in India

• Consists of 9 interlocking triangles

• It is a complex sum of intersections

• Numerous minute variations are found on Shri Yantras around the world

• It can be drawn in different ways

• It is popular in three main shapes ie pyramidal, spherical and flat.

According to Sri Vidya Tantra, the spiritual journey of an individual, that is, from the point of earthly existence to healthy enlightenment, is marked on the Shri Yantra. Shri Vidya school of Hindu tantra also outlines details of Shri Yantra where it describes the Shri Yantra as the diagram with its 9 interlocking triangles radiating from the central point representing the Goddess in her form of Shri Lalita.

One can worship this Yantra as a spiritual journey denoting an ascent to the central point for that matter. Therefore, the spiritual journey is mapped out in stages, and you will find that each of the stages relates directly to one of the circuits that the Shri Yantra is made up of, from the outer plane to the Bindu in the center.

In Tantra Shastra, the Shri Yantra is believed to be a tool to represent the vision of a wholesome existence and therefore the worship of this Yantra also marks the ultimate oneness with the cosmos.

It is interesting to note that Shri Chakra represents the Hindu Tantra which has its thrust in the Hindu philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism. The two-dimensional Shri Chakra with its 3-dimensional projection is also popularly known as Maha Meru (Mount Meru).

Another interesting fact about this chakra is that its name is the navigation chakra due to its 9 level visibility.

• Railokya Mohan or Bhupar

• Sarva Aasa Paripurak

• Sarva Rakshakar

• Sarva Rogahar

• Sarva Siddhiprada

• Sarva Sankshobahan

• Sarva Saubhagyadayak

• Sara Arthasadhak

• Sarva Anandamayi

The 9 triangles with their different sizes have a natural tendency to attract you and you will find that the triangles are enclosed by two rows of (8 and 16) petals, highlighting the lotus of creation and reproductive life force.