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Customs and Traditions:Yantras

2007-06-06

Name: Editor What do you think about the practice of yantras? Have you ever used one? Do you know anybody who has benefited from yantras?

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What do you think about the practice of yantras? Have you ever used one? Do you know anybody who has benefited from yantras? donna replied. I am mexican - so nobody asked cause I was a brownie too. Koushik replied. Think closer to home, look at Mughal architecture you will find lot of symbols there, but here we are mainly thinking of symbols in religions and not necessarily symbolic things are we? Jack Bauer replied. A really interesting article. Remembered all those things I' d read about Symbology after reading the Da Vinci Code. Such symbols exist in quite a few religions each having different and sometimes similar meanings... Raghu replied. Even Tibetans Buddhists use these yantras in rituals and ceremonies. they are called mandalas.

Thet are intricately created over days using differnt kinds of grains etc. And at the ennd of the ceremony, they are always ritually destroyed or erased. This is supposed to be symbolic of the ephemeral nature of existence, where everything is in a constant cycle of change. James Turner replied. It' s indeed strange how different cultures across the world discover the same symbols and reinvent them. But all great symbols, the Star of David, the swastika, and even the cross, were first used in India, unless there is a civilization that predates the ancient Vedic civilization.

The Swastika, meaning good luck or purity, is highly revered by Hindus. Sadly, the Nazis have misused the symbol, and now, people only view it as a symbol of hatred.

The great Star of David finds a lot of mention in the Bible. It is believed the symbol was given by heaven to David. donna replied. hi, I was in your country a while back and went o many of your spiritual places in the South. I have seen this temple in orissa you spoke about. Surprisingly, there was no mention of this yantra business. This article made me wonder about the complex symmetries that mystified me in the temple. Would like to know if people from other cultures (like me) can incorporate this sacred part of indian culture in our lives. chao

2007-06-11

Name: donna
Subject:

secret to temple

I am mexican - so nobody asked cause I was a brownie too.

2007-06-07

Name: Koushik
Subject:

Symbols in architecture

Think closer to home, look at Mughal architecture you will find lot of symbols there, but here we are mainly thinking of symbols in religions and not necessarily symbolic things are we?

2007-06-07

Name: James Turner
Subject:

Miserable Monk

Well, it´ s not always random. Symbols are a way of looking into ourselves, into our dreams a mirror to our darkest desires, thoughts, and feelings. A symbol could have one meaning for you, but a totally different meaning for some one else.

Say, if you meditate on the yantrik Star of David, and also view it as a union of Shiva and Shakti. Over time, the repeated focus enters the subconscious where it unlocks the true meaning of the design. This sounds too spiritual, but one has to try it to know what I´ m talking about.

2007-06-07

Name: Misreable Monk
Subject:

What is a symbol anyway?

I think there are symbols everywhere. If you want to interpret something in some way then I´ m sure you will be able to do so. You want to call a spade a spade or get all symbolic?

2007-06-07

Name: Jack Bauer
Subject:

Signs everywhere

A really interesting article. Remembered all those things I' d read about Symbology after reading the Da Vinci Code. Such symbols exist in quite a few religions each having different and sometimes similar meanings...

2007-06-07

Name: Raghu
Subject:

Tibetan yantras

Even Tibetans Buddhists use these yantras in rituals and ceremonies. they are called mandalas.

Thet are intricately created over days using differnt kinds of grains etc. And at the ennd of the ceremony, they are always ritually destroyed or erased. This is supposed to be symbolic of the ephemeral nature of existence, where everything is in a constant cycle of change.

2007-06-07

Name: James Turner
Subject:

The Mystery of Yantras

It' s indeed strange how different cultures across the world discover the same symbols and reinvent them. But all great symbols, the Star of David, the swastika, and even the cross, were first used in India, unless there is a civilization that predates the ancient Vedic civilization.

The Swastika, meaning good luck or purity, is highly revered by Hindus. Sadly, the Nazis have misused the symbol, and now, people only view it as a symbol of hatred.

The great Star of David finds a lot of mention in the Bible. It is believed the symbol was given by heaven to David.

2007-06-07

Name: Shyam
Subject:

Swastik differences

There is a difference in the original Swatika and Hitler´ s version.

The original rests on one of the outer arms so that lies hotizontal whereas the nazi symbol stands on one of its corners formed by the inner and outer arms.

Also, apparently the Swastika moves in the clock-wise direction (which is essentially believed to be auspicous) whereas the other symbol moves in the anti-clockwise - apparently denoting the antitheses of all that Swastik stands for.

This is what a friend explained to me once. don´ t know whether this is true. Anyone can shed some light here?

2007-06-07

Name: Muthuselvan
Subject:

Aliens

There is a theory by Erich Von Daniken that " heaven" could possible mean aliens from a superior civilization who came and helped ancient hominids to become human. Over centuries, they gave a lot technologies--agriculture, fire, wheel helped them build huge buildings.. Yantras could be a vestige of such a past... What do you think?

2007-06-07

#10

Name: Muthuselvan
Subject:

Hi James

I believe that too. The ancient Aztecs had a strange set of symbologies too. See the ancient pyramids of Tenochtitlan. Is it possible that their pyramids were based on some yantra-type design?

2007-06-07

#11

Name: donna
Subject:

I didn´ t know!!

hi, I was in your country a while back and went o many of your spiritual places in the South. I have seen this temple in orissa you spoke about. Surprisingly, there was no mention of this yantra business. This article made me wonder about the complex symmetries that mystified me in the temple. Would like to know if people from other cultures (like me) can incorporate this sacred part of indian culture in our lives. chao

2007-06-07

#12

Name: Ashwin Patnaik
Subject:

Greg

Yes, Hinduism is secular, but what happens often is that people misuse this freedom of thought and speech. In older times, Jagannath Temple was vandalized often by foreign invaders. As a reaction to that, the temple does not allow non-Hindus.

2007-06-07

#13

Name: greg
Subject:

Jagannath temple

Hi Ashwin, I belive have read something to the effect that non-hindus cannot enter Jagannath temple.

But this surprises me because. as far as my knowledge goes, Hinduism is surpirisingly secular in such matters.
A friend whose traveled in India mentions that he was always warmly welcomed in temples or shrines that he visited. So why is it so different in the case of Jagannath temple?

2007-06-07

#14

Name: Ashwin Patnaik
Subject:

Huh?

Donna, no offence, but I heard Jagannath temple doesn´ t allow non-hindus. Makes me wonder how you entered unless you look Indian.

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