What Is Shri Yantra | Shri Chakra?

 


The Shri Yantra is also known as Sri Chakra is a Yantra (Geometrical Design), that is an important part of tantric traditions. The Shri Chakra is of immense importance in the Shri Vidya school of Hinduism. The Shri Yantra is used for worship and as an aid to meditation. The vibrations created by the intricate design of the Shri Yantra helps in meditation.
The Shri Yantra is made up of 9 interlocking triangles. 4 of these triangles have their apexes pointing upwards and base downwards, while 5 of the triangles have apexes pointing downwards and base pointed upwards. The 4 triangles that point upwards represent Shiva while the 5 that point downwards represent Shakti. The Sri Yantra is also referred to as Navayoni Chakra because of the nine triangles.
The nine triangles of the Shri Yantra form an interlocking design that consists of 43 smaller triangles. At the centre of these interlocking triangles is the central point known as Bindu which represents the cosmic centre and the Sri Chakra itself represents the entire cosmos. At the central point is seated the divine Shakti, known as Tripura Sundari or Lalita Tripura Sundari.
The overall structure of the Shri Yantra is made up of 9 levels.
9. At the innermost core level is the centre point or Bindu, as described above, this is known as Sarva Anandmaya.
8. The next outer level is a small triangle that has the Bindu at its centre and is known as Sarva Siddhiprada.
7. The next outer level is a ring formed by 8 triangles which are known as Sarva Rogahara.
6. A ring of 10 triangles can be seen at the next level and is known as Sarva Rakshakara.
5. Another ring of 10 triangles forms the next level known as Sarvarthasadhaka.
4. The next level is formed by the outermost ring formed by the triangles consisting of 14 triangles, this level is known as Sarva Saubhagyadayaka.
3. A lotus consisting of 8 petals forms the next layer and is known as Sarva Samkshobahana (the inner lotus).
2. The outer lotus with 16 petals forms the next layer and is known as Sarvasa Paripuraka.
1. The outer-most level is a square that frames the entire concentric structure with four square openings in the four cardinal directions. This level is known as Trailokya Mohana.
It is interesting to note that the Sri Yantra is considered to be a representation of the Lalita Sahasranama. The Lalita Sahasranama is a hymn to the Goddess Lalita Devi, a manifestation of the Divine Mother (Shakti) and a part of the Brahmanda Purana. Just as in the Shri Yantra the progression is from the outer layers to the innermost centre (Bindu), the verses of the Lalita Sahasranama start with the grosser aspects of the Goddess and then progress to the subtler aspects of Kundalini and culminate in the unity of Shiva and Shakti represented by Lalithambika.

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