|
 |
| Home Vedic Venue eMagazine Current FAQs Contact Us Links |
Yantras: |
| By Pamela McDonough |
| Yantra, while little known in the West, is slowly coming into awareness, due in part to the popularity of yoga. When I was studying western astrology in the late nineties, I also began to explore Buddhism and the art of Tibet. I was drawn to the rich colors and designs of the ancient thangka paintings. This path finally led me to the discovery of yantra and tantra through the teachings of Harish Johari. A series of fortunate events, a few years later, brought me two teachers of yantra from the Johari lineage. I am grateful to have studied the tradition of yantra painting from two direct disciples and longtime students of Sri Harish Johari. The journey started with a workshop with Mavis Gewant in 2004 and ultimately led to my long-term study with Pieter Weltevrede. I eventually traveled to the Johari home in India to deepen my understanding of the lineage and the art and practice of yantra. I have been practicing the art of yantra for nearly a decade, and I began my study of Jyotish in 2001. Yantra and mantra are powerful Jyotish remedial measures to create ease and shift thoughts and personal patterns for clients. I have experienced many positive shifts over the years from my own practice with yantra, as have my clients. First, let's understand the meaning of yantra, mantra and tantra as my Jyotish Guru Souvik Dutta describes it: So, understanding the meaning of �tra,� we are now in a position to understand the words �tan, man and yan.� �Tan� means the body; �man� means the mind; and �yan� means a multitude of souls. Thus, any knowledge that protects the body is tantra; that which protects the mind is mantra; and that which protects the interests of a multitude of people is yantra.� Yantras are protective devices from ancient India that are geometrical representations of planets and/or deities from the Vedic tradition. Yantras act as prisms, balancing and harmonizing the energy of a planet or deity within us and our environment. Yantras are used in Vastu Shastra, the Vedic science of architecture and construction. We can seek to perfect each part of ourselves through the yantras of the nine grahas (planets), develop our relationship with each of these archetypal beings, and align ourselves to the pure, archetypal energy of the grahas. Yantras are also tools for meditation, and as we sit in their presence we can absorb the perfect vibrational resonance of their associated planet or deity. Here follows a method for using yantra in practice: The eight heart-like shapes on the yantra are lotus petals which represent the eight directions. Imagine the protective energy of the yantra and the lotus petals enfolding and protecting you from each of the eight directions. Imagine each one of these petals surrounding you and protecting you. Then envision two more petals not visible on the yantra. The first comes from below the center of the yantra extending down through the muladhara (root) chakra into the earth. The second petal comes up through the center of the bindu extending up through the sahasara (crown) chakra into space. Once you are comfortably embraced by the protective energy of the lotus petals and the yantra, you can begin to chant a prayer or mantra. You do not have to chant a mantra with every yantra meditation. Experience it both ways, with and without the mantra. Based upon our Vedic chart and the transformation we want to experience in our lives, a yantra can be prescribed specifically to mitigate our karmas as seen through the lens of our horoscope. Mantras can also be prescribed to accompany a yantra. You can either chant the traditional graha mantra along with the graha yantra, or you can chant the mantra of the deity associated with the graha. Here is a list of the deities associated with each graha; you can choose any of the mantras associated with these deities. Surya/Sun: Shiva Chandra/Moon: Krishna Mangala/Mars: Hanuman Buddha/Mercury: Ganesha Brihaspati/Jupiter: Vishnu Shukra/Venus: Lakshmi Shani/Saturn: Kali Rahu: Durga Ketu: Ganesha You can also personalize the deity mantra for each individual based upon the signs and the Sanskrit vowels which are associated with the rashis, but these calculations are beyond the scope of this article. Let�s look at a few chart examples and how we could prescribe a yantra and mantra: Female: 28 years old This person has experienced ongoing difficulties in relationships.
The mantra to accompany the Moon yantra could be a graha mantra like Aum Som Somaya Namah; or the maha mantra for Krishna, �Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare: Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare�. (Moon Yantra Sculpture 36� x 36� - artists Mick and Pamela McDonough) Female Native: 43 years old This person has had ongoing challenges regarding decision making and feeling clear about her choices in life, particularly as they relate to romantic partners. The person often goes back and forth in the decision making process and questions her own choices, which dramatically affects her personal happiness (4th house).
(Rahu Yantra Sculpture 42� x 42� - artists Mick and Pamela McDonough) My recommendation would be for Rahu yantra and a mantra for Rahu or for Durga. Aum Rang Rahuve Namah, or Aum Dum Durgayei Namah. Secondarily she could also work with Moon yantra and a mantra to strengthen her mind, support inner peace and happiness, and develop more trust in her own intuition. Yantras are ancient, beautiful and powerful tools for transformation. As with other remedial measures, not everyone will connect with yantras. Who might be drawn to working with yantra? AIAC Guru Souvik Dutta says �Jala Grahas in Dharma Kona in Rasi or Navamsa shows inclination towards art and visual remedies. Agni Grahas in the same places would like to �see� the remedy he/she is using.� This topic would be very interesting research for a future article. But for those who are innately drawn to practicing with them, they can find them very literally life changing! Pamela McDonough's Biography
|
 |
 |
 |
|
||
 |
|
 |
|
||
| Jyotish Star Copyright 2015 C. C. Collins - All Rights Reserved |