The Sri Yantra or Sri Chakra as it is sometimes called is an important symbol from the Hindu Tantric tradition. The Sri Yantra is also know as the "great object" or the "Mother of all Yantras" because of its significance.
Significance
Yantras are the Hindu version of Buddhist mandalas and typically consist of symbols or patterns contained within an enclosing geometric shape.
Identification
The Sri Yantra depicts the creative forces of the universe in their polarity of masculine and feminine with the upward facing triangles representing Shiva or male energy and the downward facing triangles representing Shakti or female energy. The center point is the origin of creation called the Bindu or the absolute, while the outer region represents the material world.
History
The Sri Yantra dates back at least several thousand years to Vedic times in India. It continues to be an important symbol today in modern Hindu Tantric traditions.
Uses
The Sri Yantra is used as a pictorial representation of the Divine in two or three dimensional form as well as a meditative tool for Hindu Tantric practitioners.
Effects
The Sri Yantra is both an artistic creation and a well-known Hindu religious symbol that is finding more exposure in the Western world as eastern religion becomes more widespread.
