Ritual

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The Sri Yantra is a configuration of nine interlacing triangles centred around the bindu, drawn by the superimposition of five downward-pointing triangles, representing Sakti, and four upright triangles, representing Siva. Because it is a composition of nine (nava) triangles (yoni) it is often called 'Navayoni Chakra'. The Sri Yantra is a symbolic pattern of Sakti's own form (svarupa), powers and emanations, the form of the universe (visvarupa), symbolizing the various stages of Sakti's descent in manifestation. It is a pictorial illustration of the cosmic field in creation. Like creation itself, the Sri Yantra came into being through the force of primordial desire. The impulse of desire (Kamakala), born of the inherent nature of Prakriti, creates a throb (spanda) which vibrates as sound (nada). This manifestation is represented by a point, or bindu. In the first state of manifestation, the bindu is called Para Bindu, which is the nucleus of the condensed energy, the seed of the ultimate Sound, and the dynamic and static aspects of the two (Siva-Sakti) in one. It contains all the possibilities of becoming; it transforms into Apara Bindu when creation begins: 'The essential point in the middle of Sri Yantra. Rajasthan, c. 18th century. Gouache on paper. 57
Emergence of the universe from the cosmic waters. The interlocked triangles symbolize the male and female principles evolving from the primal chaos of elements into the micro-version of the cosmic man. From an illustrated manuscript (detail). Nepal, c. 1760. Gouache on paperboard. 58 the Yantra is the Supreme Sakti, when it swells it evolves into the form of a triangle' (Kamakalavilasa). The point assumes a radius, the polarization of Siva-Sakti takes place, the dynamic and static energies interact and two more points emerge to form a triad of points - the primary triangle or the Mula-trikona. The three points are represented by Sanskrit syllables and the three basic vibrations emanate from one primal sound substratum. The triangle with its apex down represents the first form pattern of primordial desire in the process of creation. It indicates the sign of evolution and represents the zone or kinetic principle of creation. The static principle predominates in the Para Bindu, so that it represents the male principle. All of creation is the outcome of these two principles, the point and triangle, and the bliss of their union. Hence 'the Sri Yantra is the one body of the Siva couple' (Yamala). The primary triangle stands for three aspects of Sakti: Trividha- Bala, the young one, Tripura-Sundari, the beautiful one, and Tripura-Bhairavi, the terrifying one. It also represents the threefold process of creation (sristi), preservation (sthiti) and dissolution (samhara). The expansion of space and time, sound and energy, continue in the process of creation, and the primary triangle is transformed into a series of lines, triangles, circles and squares to form the Sri Yantra. The various patterns are the modifications of an original primal vibration, and at each stage contain the interplay of the static and kinetic energies in varying degree of concentration.
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$9.95 Printed in England The life-a
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Frontispiece: Manuscript leaf illus
Page 7 and 8: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Archaeological Surv
Page 10 and 11: Introduction Tantra is a creative m
Page 12 and 13: number of tantric texts were assemb
Page 14 and 15: Saktas (worshippers of Sakti, or fe
Page 16 and 17: The basic tenets of tantra can be e
Page 18 and 19: the union of opposites, the male an
Page 20: notions concerning time and space,
Page 23 and 24: Cosmic energy symbolized as the ser
Page 25: Tantric asana, or sexo-yogic postur
Page 28 and 29: The washer-maid represents the prim
Page 30 and 31: the five ingredients beginning with
Page 33 and 34: 32 but at the same time maintains p
Page 35 and 36: Om, the cosmic sound, is a combinat
Page 37 and 38: Brahmanda, cosmic spheroid, a symbo
Page 39 and 40: Hari-Hara. Painting illustrating Vi
Page 42 and 43: ART The art which has evolved out o
Page 44 and 45: spective, tantric imagery is not an
Page 46 and 47: Symbolism and Imagery Tantric forms
Page 48 and 49: visible and eventually apprehended.
Page 50 and 51: figurative representation. The Sukr
Page 52 and 53: uilt up in stages during the entire
Page 54 and 55: The Universe and the terrestrial sp
Page 56 and 57: Point, and signifies the starting-p
Page 60 and 61: The Sri Yantra is called 'Nava Chak
Page 62 and 63: The seventh chakra, consisting of e
Page 65 and 66: 64 The mandala indicates a focaliza
Page 67 and 68: The Kundalini Sakti, symbol of coil
Page 69 and 70: The creative spiral, Kundalini. 68
Page 71 and 72: A cosmographical schema showing Jam
Page 73 and 74: Cosmogram: an astronomical computat
Page 75 and 76: Cosmographical scheme showing Jambu
Page 78 and 79: so they signify the action of karma
Page 80 and 81: The terrifying aspects of these ima
Page 86 and 87: Modern research into the compositio
Page 88 and 89: 'Krim', the bijamantra, almost an e
Page 90 and 91: consciousness, came spontaneously i
Page 92: tantric art and their own. Like the
Page 95 and 96: 94 ancient Hindus. Some inferences
Page 97 and 98: Bindu. The universe in its unmanife
Page 99 and 100: 98 units of energy called tanmatras
Page 101: V Astronomical equations, based on
Page 106 and 107: Samkhya's view that it is possible
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Atoms The atomic hypothesis of the
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matter or the remaining sediment of
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The Siddhayoga of Vrinda is an Ayur
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The science of mathematics was clos
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Solar orb. An astronomical chart us
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Extant astronomical charts were use
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(beginning with the new and full mo
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ecorded in 1954. Though science has
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Being residing in heaven. The real
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126 Moscow Institute of Oriental St
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128 of realization. Harmony is the
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Symbolic marks painted on wooden ma
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Yantra with mantra. 132 guru select
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Chakras in the etheric body. Rajast
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IX A practising Tantrika from north
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142 Both mudras and nyasas are exte
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Schematic representation of how a y
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absorbed within the system and a gr
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object of concentration. Meditation
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After such a survey of various tech
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(from the root nad meaning motion,
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a red triangle 'radiant like the ri
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XVI
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to balance the dialectical process
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that involves the sperm's odyssey t
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inner spiritual urges to flow natur
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chaksuratatam'. He then salutes his
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Only when she is seen through divin
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IV Ram vanhyatmakam dipam sasaktika
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Sakti worship It is not physiologic
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om anaisvaryaya namah om avairagyay
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om Im madanaye namah om Im utpadiny
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haga, which means both female organ
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That Power who exists in all beings
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either position, both the adepts en
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the Ida and Pingala subtle channels
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outgrow the merry-go-round of self-
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of beings and forms; (6) Chinnamast
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of the discipline may even abandon
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chants mantras, nor performs mudras
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BHUTA, any of the five elemental co
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PARA, last stage of consciousness.
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Bibliography Abhinavagupta, Tantras
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Panday, K. C, Abhinavagupta, Varana
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Index Abhinavagupta, 80 Absolute, 1
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Mercury, 19, 73 Mevlevi Dervishes,
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Ritual

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