How the SRI Chakra/ SRI Yantra Evolved.......
Jaya Vardhani
The Sri Chakra or Shri Yantra is a yantra formed by nine interlocking
triangles that surround and radiate out from the central (bindu)
point, the junction point between the physical universe and its
unmanifest source. It represents the hindu Goddess Sri Lakshmi, the
goddess of abundance on all levels, in abstract geometric form. It
also represents the goddess in her form of Tripura Sundari, "the
beauty of the three worlds". Four of the triangles point upwards,
representing Shiva or the Masculine. Five of these triangles point
downwards, representing Shakti or the Feminine. 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.
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.
The Shri Chakra is also known as the nava chakra because it can also
be seen as having nine levels. "Nava" means "nine" in Sanskrit. Each
level corresponds to a mudra, 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:
Trailokya Mohana or Bhupara, a square of three lines with four portals
Sarva Aasa Paripuraka, a sixteen-petal lotus
Sarva Sankshobahana, an eight-petal lotus
Sarva Saubhagyadayaka, composed of fourteen small triangles
Sarva Arthasadhaka, composed of ten small triangles
Sarva Rakshakara, composed of ten small triangles
Sarva Rogahara, composed of eight small triangles
Sarva Siddhi prada, composed of 1 small triangle
Sarva Anandamaya, composed of a point or bindu
The Sri Chakra (called the Shri Yantra) is the symbol of Hindu tantra,
which is based on the Hindu philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism. The Sri
Yantra is the object of devotion in Sri Vidya.
Shri Chakra as popularly mistook to be a symbol of Lakshmi is actually
a representation of Lalitha Mahatripurasundari, an aspect of Parvati
Devi. Shri does not mean Wealth in this context. In fact it is used to
enhance the honour to be given to this highly revered Yantram. Readers
of this article are adviced not to consider the matter given in the
first paragraph. The Shri Chakra is definitely not a symbol of
Lakshmi.
How the Chakra Evolved-
The creation of the Shri Yantra is described in the Yogini Hridaya
(Heart of the Yogini Tantra), which still does not exist in an English
translation, as far as we are aware. This is said to be the second
part of the Vamakeshvara Tantra.
"From the fivefold Shakti comes creation and from the fourfold Fire
dissolution. The sexual union of five Shaktis and four Fires causes
the chakra to evolve. O Sinless One! I speak to you of the origin of
the chakra.
"When she, the ultimate Shakti, of her own will (svecchaya) assumed
the form of the universe, then the creation of the chakra revealed
itself as a pulsating essence. From the void-like vowels with the
visarga (:) emerged the bindu, quivering and fully conscious. From
this pulsating stream of supreme light emanated the ocean of the
cosmos, the very self of the three mothers.
"The baindava of the chakra has a triple form, dharma, adharma and
atma, and matri, meya and prama. The chakra of nine yonis is the great
mass of consciousness bliss and is the ninefold chakra and the nine
divisions of the mantra.
"The baindava is placed on a dense flowery mass and is the Chitkala.
Similarly, the ambika form of eight lines is the circle of the vowels.
The nine triangles quiver forth the effulgent form of 10 lines. The
Shakti, together with her surrounding nine blossomed forth the 10
trikonas. The second quivering form of 10 lines has Krodhisha as first
of the 10. These four chakras, of the nature of light, create the
14-fold form, the essence of perception." -- Yogini Hridaya, I 6-16.
At the very heart of the bindu or centre of the Shri Yantra is that
which caused it to emanate. This is Kamakala, consisting of the three
bindus or potentials. One is red, one is white, and one is mixed. The
red bindu is ova, the white bindu semen, and the mixed bindu the union
of Shiva-Shakti, the individual as potential Shri Cakra.
Father and Mother are represented in Shri Vidya by two limbs or
aspects of Lalita known as Varahi and Kurukulla. The semen of Varahi,
the father-form, gives four alchemical dhatus to the child. The ova of
Kurukulla, the mother-form, gives five dhatns to the child.
Consciousness enters via orgasm. The three bindus, collectively known
as Kamakala (digit of sexual desire), are the root potential of sun,
moon and fire. It is like sun and moon coming together in an eclipse,
or the seed from which the plant human being grows.
Varahi's four alchemical dhatus are known as the four fires.
Kurukulla's alchemical dhatus are known as the five saktis. The
combination of these five saktis (downward pointing triangles) and
four fires (upward pointing triangles), forms the complex figure in
the centre of Shri Cakra.
Varahi's four fires are the 12 (3 x 4) sun Kalas, 12 sidereal
constellations. Kurukulla's five triangles are the 15 (5 x 3) Kalas of
the moon, 15 lunar days. The complete individual grows within nine
months to be born as a Shri Yantra or plant. The flowering of this
plant is shown by the 24 petals of the yantra. The above all gives
rise to the familiar shape of the Shri Yantra. The yantra is usually
arranged in one of two forms. In the Bhuprastara, it is two
dimensional and laid flat, usually facing the east, but sometimes the
north, depending on the practice. The Meruprastara has the yantra in a
pyramidal form. Unless the yantra be decorated with the appropriate
bija and other mantras, it is worthless. It is also dead unless it is
installed with life and the individual doing the puja is initiated
into one of the lines (parampara).
