Shri Yantra[1]

7/30/2019 Shri Yantra[1]

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The r-yantra as shown here is based on a commentary of Kaivalyrama on Saundarya-Lahari. Usefulcorrections of a3 and a5 were found elsewhere. The units given can be transformed into any scale; we havechoosen the scale 1 unit = 1,5 mm.

a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6 a7 a8 a9 a10 a11 a12 a13

in units 1 5 5,5 6 6,5 8 12 20 24 35 36 43 48

our scale in mm 1,5 7,5 8,25 9 9,75 12 18 30 36 52,5 54,5 64,5 72

(1) BinduUsing a pencil, draw a cross in the middle of a sheet ofgraph paper. The exact point where the two lines of thecross meet, i.e., the middle of the cross, is called thebindu. The bindu symbolizes the divine origin of allcreation. Mark this bindu with a felt pen.

(2) Circles

Take a compass and draw four circles with the radii a9,a10, a12 and a13. Now draw a square around the lastcircle (a13) so that this circle fits exactly into thesquare. This square symbolizes the gross materialaspect of creation.

(3) GatesDraw on top of the middle of each side of the square agate with the width a8 and the depth a6. The outerborder of this square with its gates can now be tracedwith a felt pen. See detail:

Alternatively, you can enlarge the top of each gate to adepth of a4 and a width of a11:


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(4) BroadeningTo broaden the boundary, use the outer border of the

yantra and draw two additional lines within thisborder, tracing the outer border with the spacing a1.The third circle (radius a12) is traced with a felt pen,and two additional circles with the radius a1 are added.Finally, the first two circles (radius a9 and a10) can betraced with a felt pen as well.

(5) SectoringDivide the two outer rings into sectors of 22.5 degrees.

(6) 16 PetalsUsing a compass, draw sixteen semicircles as depicted

to the right and below.


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Using these semicircles as a guide, draw the 16 petals(oaa-dala) of the outer lotus according to yourliking.

(7) 8 PetalsIn the same manner, draw the semicircle outlines of theeight petals of the inner lotus (aa-dala-padma).

Again, draw the eight lotus petals (aa-dala) accordingto your liking, using the semicircles as guides.


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(8) Reference linesNow we will construct the r-cakra inside the innercircle, using nine triangles that indicate different aktis.Five of them will have their apex pointing downwards,and four pointing upward. First draw six horizontalreference lines with the following distances. From thetop: a4, a4 and a2, and from the bottom: a3, a5 and a4.It is very important that these measurment are exact.

(9) Triangles 1-2Draw the first two triangles using the innermostreference lines as the base of the triangles, as depictedto the right.

(10) Triangles 3-4Draw triangles 3 and 4 with the apex touching thelowest and uppermost reference lines, respectively. The

arms of the triangles are drawn through the intersectionof the first two triangles.


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(11) Triangles 5-6Draw a horizontal line within triangle 3. It is situatedexactly between the bindu and the base of triangle 2.Now you can draw triangles 5 and 6. The apex oftriangle 5 is touching the hoizontal reference line thatwe have just created and its arms are running throughthe intersections of triangles 1 and 4, and 2 and 3. Theapex of triangle 6 is touching the base of triangle 1 and

its arms are running through the intersections oftriangles 2 and 3, and 1 and 4.

(12) Triangle 7Now draw triangle 7. Its basis is the reference line thatwe created in step number (11).

(13) Triangles 8-9The base of triangle 8 is touching the base of triangle 4and its arms cross the intersection of triangles 6 and 7.

Draw a horizontal line within triangle 7 through theintersections of triangles 5 and 6. This is the base oftriangle 9. The apex of triangle 9 is touching the base oftriangle 2.


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(14) CakrasThese nine triangles form fourtythree small triangles,which make up five cakras. The small triangle at thecenter enclosing the bindu is called the tri-koa-cakra.The eight triangles surrounding it form the aa-koa-cakra. The ten triangles surrounding the aa-koa-cakra form the inner (antar-) dara-cakra, whereas thenext ten triangles surrounding the antar-dara-cakra

form the outer (bahir-) dara-cakra. And finally, theoutermost fourteen triangles form the caturdara-cakra.

(15) CompleteyantraNow you can trace all lines of the r-yantra with a feltpen, and erase the reference lines.


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bindu: plus caturdara-cakra:

plus tri-koa-cakra: plus aa-dala-padma:

plus aa-koa-cakra: plus oaa-dala-padma:

plus antar-dara-cakra: plus mekhal-traya:

plus bahir-dara-cakra: plus bh-gha:


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There are hundreds of similaryantras for different deities. You see here for example a Viu-yantra for thefamous mantra o namo bhagavate vsudevya, with the outer lotus only containing twelve petals and asimplified r-cakra in the middle.

To draw the simplified r-cakra, start with two referencelines with a spacing of a7 from the bindu.


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Shri Yantra[1]