In the Hindu religion, a yantra represents the universe and is thus depicted as a geometric Illustration believed to assist the wearer on their spiritual journey. Hindus believe this can also help you contact higher entities who will guide you on the path to enlightenment so if you are thinking about a yantra tattoo design it is worth researching the subject fully. This is a profound symbol of the Hindu religion so it is important to know all about what yantras signify as well as the purpose of specific yantras within the rituals of the Hindu culture.
In Sanskrit, yantra is derived from two separate words, yam, meaning to retain the essence and tra which simply translates as instrument. Utilizing a symbol or other object, to assist one in contemplation or the practice of meditation is known as a yantra but any thing that is practiced ritually or symbolically can be referred to as a yantric method. While a yantra tattoo is usually symmetrical this can vary slightly in shape and a three dimensional design is often used. The purpose of such an image is to draw the eye’s attention to the focal point, which in meditation is used to guide the mind to the doorway of ‘Absolute’. At this point, the brain can switch off from incessant noise and distraction and one can silence the mind so that it views everything with complete clarity, this is a yantra. The mind will eventually move from this state of quiet to a sate of nothingness and it is from here that pure awareness emerges.
In some rituals yantras are also used to summon higher beings, such as specific deities with skills or attributes one wants to harness for oneself. However, the yantra itself can simply be used as a method of concentration that allows the mind to enter a realm in which all things seem possible. This expansion of consciousness is believed to stem from the universe, but is assisted by the yantra itself.
The theory behind a yantra is that every shape produces an energy pattern, just like a transmitter emitting a frequency. This is a science not just an art form however and while Hindus may have initially used this phenomenon, other religions have their own version like the Christians with their cross, the Jews with their star of David or the Egyptians and their pyramids. Even the Nazis had their own powerful symbol, the swastika that they believed was a symbol of great power although this actually originated in the Middle east and Asia many centuries before Hitler adopted it. These all stem from the universal belief that all shapes emit different powers although most yantra symbols are associated with positive and harmonious vibes that are deemed beneficial to mankind.
In reality accurate and effective yantra needs to be created on consecrated ground with the appropriate ritual. However, most Western yantras are not much more than a pretty picture which is somewhat of a travesty considering how revered this sacred symbol is in the East. There, they are used only by true spiritual teachers who hold them in high esteem and understand fully their moods, energies and of course the importance of their significant power. A yantra should never be turned upside down, as rather like an inverted Christian cross this has negative connotations so it must always be viewed the correct way up.
Creating a proper and effective yantra involves a ritual undertaken in a consecrated place. No surprise, then, that the Western world mistakes yantras as little more than simple or ‘pretty’ pictures. This is a gross oversimplification of the power and importance of the symbolism inherent in the design of a yantra. Yantra cannot simply be invented by a brilliant imagination, rather they are revealed by true spiritual teachers who are familiar with our moods and their associated energies and shapes. Just as a cross would not be a cross if it was inverted, so a yantra must not be viewed upside-down.
The actress Angelina Jolie is believed to have a Cambodian version of a yantra tattoo and in that country this mystical shape dates back to the 9th to 15th centuries in the ancient days of Angkor Wat. The Khmer adapted these when Buddhism arrived from their close neighbor India and this symbol was believed to evoke good luck and a long life as well as protection. Many soldiers had one tattooed as personal protection from the dangers of their occupation, known as ‘sak yant’, and a similar design is still performed today by monks in Cambodia and Thailand. The latter has a temple where its believers are tattooed in mass with yantra tattoos and these often include animal images used by shamans long before Buddhism came along.
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