Sri Yantra

The Srichakra M, frequently called the Sri Yantra.

The Sri Yantra in diagrammatic form, showing how its nine interlocking triangles form a total of 43 smaller triangles.

In the Shri Vidya school of Hindu tantra, theSri Yantra ("sacred [Sri Chakra]",is a diagram formed by nine interlocking triangles that surround and radiate out from the central (bindu) point. It represents the goddess in her form of Shri Lalita Or Tripura Sundari, "the beauty of the three worlds (Bhoo, Bhuva and Swa). The worship of the Sri Chakra is central to the Shri Vidya system of Hindu worship. Four isosceles triangles with the apices upwards, representing Shiva or the Masculine. Five isosceles triangles with the apices downward, symbolizing female embodiment Shakti. Thus the Sri Yantra also represents the union of Masculine and Feminine Divine. Because it is composed of nine triangles, it is known as the Navayoni Chakra.^[1] "These nine triangles are of various sizes and intersect with one another. In the middle is the power point (bindu), visualizing the highest, the invisible, elusive centre from which the entire figure and the cosmos expand. The triangles are enclosed by two rows of (8 and 16) petals, representing the lotus of creation and reproductive vital force. The broken lines of the outer frame denote the figure to be a sanctuary with four openings to the regions of the universe".^[2]

In a recent issue of Brahmavidya, the journal of the Adyar Library, Subhash Kak argues that the description of Sri Yantra is identical to the yantra described in the Śvetāśvatara Upanisad.^[3]

Together the nine triangles are interlaced in such a way as to form 43 smaller triangles in a web symbolic of the entire cosmos or a womb symbolic of creation. Together they express Advaita or non-duality. This is surrounded by a lotus of eight petals, a lotus of sixteen petals, and an earth square resembling a temple with four doors.^[1] The various deities residing in the nine layers of the Sri Yantra are described in the DeviKhadgamala Mantra.^[4]

The Shri Chakra is also known as the nav chakra because it can also be seen as having nine levels. "Nine" comes from "Nau or Nava" of Sanskrit. Each level corresponds to amudra, a yogini, and a specific form of the deity Tripura Sundari along with her mantra. These levels starting from the outside or bottom layer are:^[1]

1. Trailokya Mohan or Bhupar, a square of three lines with four portals
2. Sarva Aasa Paripurak, a sixteen-petal lotus
3. Sarva Sankshobahan, an eight-petal lotus
4. Sarva Saubhagyadayak, composed of fourteen small triangles
5. Sarva Arthasadhak, composed of ten small triangles
6. Sarva Rakshakar, composed of ten small triangles
7. Sarva Rogahar, composed of eight small triangles
8. Sarva Siddhiprada, composed of 1 small triangle
9. Sarva Anandamay, composed of a point orbindu

The Sri Chakra (called the Shri Yantra) is the symbol of Hindu tantra, which is based on theHindu philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism. The Sri Yantra is the object of devotion in Sri Vidya.

The two dimensional Sri Chakra, when it is projected into three dimensions is called a Maha Meru (Mount Meru).

In templesEdit

• Aadi shankaracharya sthapita Dharma mahasamsthana DAKSHINAMNAYA PEETAMsringeri sharadamba temple .
• Maa Pitambara Bagulamukhi Mahakal Temple Guraiya Chhindwara Madhya Pradesh India^[5]
• Sri Chakra Mahameru Peedam inKoradacheri,Tamil Nadu
• Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal, At the roof of Ganga Mai temple (This temple is carved in shape of meru shri yantra)
• Sri Chakra Man with 10 claws, Blacktown Temple, Shivashivashivamanium
• Sri Yantra carved on Stone in Mahalaxmi Temple Kolhapur Maharashtra, it installed by Adi Shankaracharya.(This temple is shape of meru shri yantra)
• Adiparashakti (Tripurasundari Rajarajeshwari) Chapel, Anand Ashram Ubud (Bali) - where the Personification or Vigraha of Sri Yantra is installed and worshipped daily
• Kamakshi temple, Jonnawada, Nellore
• Kamakshi temple, Kanchipuram
• Kalikambal temple, Chennai
• Kamakshi temple, Mangadu, Chennai
• Shree Kali Temple, Out side Sanganeri Gate, MotiDunri Road, Jaipur
• Nimishamba temple, SriRangapatana, Mysore District.
• Prasanna Meenakshi Temple, Shivanasamudra, Malavalli Tk, Mandya Dist,Karnataka.
• Kollur Mookambike Temple, Udupi dist,Karnataka
• Matrubhuteshwar Temple, Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai installed byBhagavan Ramana Maharshi
• At Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati, Assam (This mandir itself in the shape of shree yantra)
• Puthenkavil Devi Temple, Cherumukha, Nooranad, Alapphuzha, Kerala
• Sri Thyagarajaswamy udanurai Vadivudai amman temple Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvottiyur