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Yantra

Madhuri

RF Goddess
Staff member
Premium Member
Hi all! I've been doing a little reading on Yantras and interestingly, though I grew up in Hinduism, it's never been an emphasised aspect of my religious experience. I was never taught their meaning or significance and I didn't know anyone who kept them in their home or anything like that.

Is anyone here familiar with the concept and use of Yantras?

M
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Hi all! I've been doing a little reading on Yantras and interestingly, though I grew up in Hinduism, it's never been an emphasised aspect of my religious experience. I was never taught their meaning or significance and I didn't know anyone who kept them in their home or anything like that.

Is anyone here familiar with the concept and use of Yantras?

M
Good to see a post from you.

I don't know much, but I do know that in Agamic Hindu temples, they are a key. Each deity, and especially the presiding deity will have the deity yantra inscribed on a copper plate and put under, or nearby the deity during installation. It acts like a key, or gateway between the three worlds, where the God or Gods can enter/exit. The priest treat these copper plates as if they are the deity itself, so they'll make offerings, do abhishekhams etc. It's really important in the temples with more than one installed murthy that they have the right yantras in place, else the energies get all 'swirly'.

That's about all I know. Sorry.
 

Madhuri

RF Goddess
Staff member
Premium Member
Good to see a post from you.

I don't know much, but I do know that in Agamic Hindu temples, they are a key. Each deity, and especially the presiding deity will have the deity yantra inscribed on a copper plate and put under, or nearby the deity during installation. It acts like a key, or gateway between the three worlds, where the God or Gods can enter/exit. The priest treat these copper plates as if they are the deity itself, so they'll make offerings, do abhishekhams etc. It's really important in the temples with more than one installed murthy that they have the right yantras in place, else the energies get all 'swirly'.

That's about all I know. Sorry.

That is actually very helpful and gives me more direction for research. Thank you :)
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
That is actually very helpful and gives me more direction for research. Thank you :)
At the right temple, the priest will know more. People don't usually ask them, but in my experience, it's a question that will get them going so to speak. On Sri Yantra especially, as in Sri Vidya school, it is a very central focal point.
 

ajay0

Well-Known Member
Here are Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's comments on Yantra, and its relation to Mantra and Tantra....


Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : 'It is said that more important than the idol, is the Yantra ( the diagrammatic representation of the deity in the form of symbols.)

Every deity has a Yantra and a Mantra dedicated to him or her, and the procedure or rituals of worship of the deity is known as Tantra.

The idol does not get its spiritual strength until its Yantra is installed. And the Yantra does not have any power until it is empowered by the chanting of the Mantra.

That is why in every temple a Yantra is installed first, and then on top of that the idol is established. This is done to invoke a deep sense of devotion in those who visit the temple.'

(more given below...)

Q: Guruji, what is the relation between Mantra and Yantra?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: One is mantra is for one yantra. Mantra means word, yantra means picture. Mantra has a sound and yantra has a form.


Sometimes, a yantra, which means a diagram, would be put in temples.If you open a radio, there is a chip with some design on it; even your cell phone has a chip. The chip has a little design that you and me cannot understand. However, when you put the chip, only that number comes on your cell phone. Similarly, these yantras were the universal energy’s diagrams, the cosmic energy’s diagrams. There are many yantras; one of them is the Star of David, which is used in the Jewish tradition. These yantras are charged and put (in temples), and the statues are placed on top of these yantras. The statue is not important, but this yantra, this diagram underneath is most important.

There is mantra (chant), yantra (diagram) and tantra (technique). Tantra is the technique, i.e., how to energize the yantra, the diagram; the technique to do that is tantra. This is why we have yagnas (one of the techniques used to bring down the cosmic energy through the five elements). One has to know how many herbs have to be taken, how they should be taken, how to do the chanting.

In a yagna, the energy is brought down from the space element through chanting, to the air element; then to the fire element; then from fire to water, and from water to the yantra, the diagram (the earth element). So, in yagnas, this energy is being brought down from the subtle to the gross; this is the whole technique.
 
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Madhuri

RF Goddess
Staff member
Premium Member
Here are Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's comments on Yantra, and its relation to Mantra and Tantra....


Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : 'It is said that more important than the idol, is the Yantra ( the diagrammatic representation of the deity in the form of symbols.)

Every deity has a Yantra and a Mantra dedicated to him or her, and the procedure or rituals of worship of the deity is known as Tantra.

The idol does not get its spiritual strength until its Yantra is installed. And the Yantra does not have any power until it is empowered by the chanting of the Mantra.

That is why in every temple a Yantra is installed first, and then on top of that the idol is established. This is done to invoke a deep sense of devotion in those who visit the temple.'

(more given below...)

Thank you, this is also really helpful. I love the concept of yantra, and never knew the connection with it and mantra and tantra.
 

Viraja

Jaya Jagannatha!
Dear Madhuri,

It might be helpful to know yantras have greatest power and potent, and can be used for any purpose -

During the reign of Krishnadeva Raya of the great Vijayanagara Empire in South India, a very great drought prevailed for many year together and gradually grains and crops too did not produce enough for the population. The king was very upset and worried. At this time, it is said the king sought the help of a great saint (believe it is Vyasaraya Theertha, the previous incarnation of Raghavendra Swamiji) performed a puja to a yantra for pleasing god Varuna after making and installing such a yantra and the drought and famine was instantly relieved.

Also, many say that Tirupathi Sri Venkatachalapathi temple is supposedly the richest because Adi Shankara Bhagavadpada, the great saint, installed a 'Swarna Akarshana Yantra' (yantra for attracting wealth) underneath the deity!
 

Madhuri

RF Goddess
Staff member
Premium Member
Dear Madhuri,

It might be helpful to know yantras have greatest power and potent, and can be used for any purpose -

During the reign of Krishnadeva Raya of the great Vijayanagara Empire in South India, a very great drought prevailed for many year together and gradually grains and crops too did not produce enough for the population. The king was very upset and worried. At this time, it is said the king sought the help of a great saint (believe it is Vyasaraya Theertha, the previous incarnation of Raghavendra Swamiji) performed a puja to a yantra for pleasing god Varuna after making and installing such a yantra and the drought and famine was instantly relieved.

Also, many say that Tirupathi Sri Venkatachalapathi temple is supposedly the richest because Adi Shankara Bhagavadpada, the great saint, installed a 'Swarna Akarshana Yantra' (yantra for attracting wealth) underneath the deity!

Very cool story! Incredible how significant they are and that I never learnt about them!!
 
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