Yantra = sacred geometry - the diagrammatic body of a devata. Mudra = sealed hand-gesture used in puja, dhyana, dance. Mandala = the drawn ground on which deities are invoked. 8 yantras · 16 mudras · 5 mandalas catalogued below.
Major Yantras
Sri Yantra · श्री यन्त्र
Deity: Lalita Tripurasundari
Geometry - Nine interlocking triangles (4 upward Shiva + 5 downward Shakti) around a central bindu. Surrounded by an inner 8-petalled lotus, an outer 16-petalled lotus, and three concentric squares with four T-shaped doors (one in each direction). 9 chakras total.
Bija: ॐ (Pranava) at the bindu
Purpose - Supreme yantra of Sri-Vidya. Worshipping it grants wealth, wisdom, beauty, and ultimate moksha. The bindu is the supreme reality; the unfolding chakras are the manifest cosmos.
Installation - Study-table. North-facing for ideal direction. Light a ghee lamp before exams.
Sri Durga Yantra · श्री दुर्गा यन्त्र
Deity: Durga (Mahishasura-mardini)
Geometry - Nine concentric triangles (representing nine forms of Durga in Navaratri) with the central bindu containing the deity-bija.
Bija: दुं (Dum)
Purpose - Protection from enemies, fear, lawsuits, dark forces. Mahishasura-mardini protection.
Installation - Above the main door (lintel) of homes. Active during all 9 nights of Navaratri.
Maha Mrityunjaya Yantra · महा मृत्युञ्जय यन्त्र
Deity: Mrityunjaya Shiva
Geometry - Central bindu with the Maha Mrityunjaya bija (Hauṃ) inside a six-pointed star (two interlocking triangles), enclosed by concentric lotus rings and three protective squares.
Bija: हौं जूं सः (Haum-Jum-Sah)
Purpose - Healing, longevity, conquest of death + chronic illness. Combined with Mrityunjaya japa.
Installation - Above the bedside of the chronically ill. Also worshipped at hospitals + during operations.
Hanuman Yantra · हनुमान् यन्त्र
Deity: Hanuman
Geometry - Central image of Hanuman (some traditions: only his bija) inside an 8-petalled lotus inside three squares with directional gates.
Bija: हनुमते नमः (Hanumate namah) at the bindu
Purpose - Courage, removal of fear (especially of black-magic + ghosts), travel safety, victory over enemies.
Geometry - A 3x3 grid with the nine grahas in fixed positions (Sun at centre, Moon NW, Mars S, Mercury N, Jupiter NE, Venus E, Saturn W, Rahu SW, Ketu SE).
Bija: Each cell carries its graha bija - Surya: ह्रां, Chandra: श्रां, etc.
Purpose - Removes planetary doshas - Mangala dosha, Shani dosha, Rahu-Ketu kala-sarpa, etc. Used in astrological remediation.
Installation - Worshipped at the navagraha shrine of every Shiva temple. Saturday + Tuesday peak observance.
Mudras
Pooja mudras
Avahana mudra · आवाहन मुद्रा
How - Both hands cupped together, palms upward, drawing inward from in front of the deity towards the heart.
Use - Invocation. The first upachara of the 16-step pooja - invites the deity into the murti.
Sthapana mudra · स्थापना मुद्रा
How - Palms facing downward; gently push down towards the deity. Both thumbs touching middle fingers.
Use - Installation. After avahana, requests the deity to be seated.
Sannidhapana mudra · सन्निधापन मुद्रा
How - Both fists clenched with thumbs upright, then crossed and opened sideways at the deity's seat.
Use - Requesting the deity's presence. Third of the 16 upacharas.
Anjali mudra · अञ्जलि मुद्रा
How - Both palms joined at the heart, fingers pointing upward. The classical "namaste".
Use - Pranama (salutation). Both at start + end of any worship. Greets the divine in another.
Abhaya mudra · अभय मुद्रा
How - Right hand raised to shoulder height, palm facing outward, fingers extended upward.
Use - Granting fearlessness. Held by Rama, Vishnu, Buddha murtis. "Do not fear, I protect."
Varada mudra · वरद मुद्रा
How - Right hand at waist, palm facing outward, fingers extended downward.
Use - Boon-giving. Companion to abhaya. Held by Lakshmi, Shiva, every benevolent deity.
Vitarka mudra · वितर्क मुद्रा
How - Right hand raised, thumb-tip touching index-tip, other fingers extended.
Use - Teaching. The "discourse gesture". Held by Saraswati + teacher-form deities.
Dhyana & Yoga mudras
Chin mudra · चिन् मुद्रा
How - Tip of thumb touching tip of index finger; other three fingers extended. Palms facing upward on knees while seated.
Use - Meditation. The "consciousness gesture". Index = jiva, thumb = paramatma. Their meeting = realisation.
Jnana mudra · ज्ञान मुद्रा
How - Same finger configuration as chin mudra, but palms face downward on knees.
Use - Meditation. The "knowledge gesture". Channels prana inward.
Dhyana mudra · ध्यान मुद्रा
How - Both hands rest in the lap, palms up, right hand on left, thumbs lightly touching forming an oval.
Use - Deep meditation. The Buddha posture. Stillness.
Yoni mudra · योनि मुद्रा
How - Both hands interlocked with thumbs pointing up and index fingers extended downward, forming a triangle.
Use - Tantric / Shakta worship. Represents the source of creation (yoni-pitha) - the supreme womb of Shakti.
Linga mudra · लिङ्ग मुद्रा
How - Both palms interlaced with one thumb extended straight up between the others.
Use - Shiva worship. Represents the linga. Practised in pranayama to increase pranic fire - caution in summer.
Bharatanatyam hastas (asamyukta)
Pataka · पताक
How - Flat palm, fingers extended, thumb tucked at the base.
Use - Bharatanatyam - flag, denial, river, doorway, blessing, slap. The most-used single-hand mudra in dance.
Tripataka · त्रिपताक
How - Like pataka but ring finger bent.
Use - Bharatanatyam - crown, arrow, lamp, tree, deer. Used to depict Krishna's flute angle.
Hamsasya · हंस्यास्य
How - Thumb + index + middle fingers joined; ring + little fingers spread.
Use - Bharatanatyam - swan's beak. Picking up a flower, applying tilak, threading garland.
Mukula · मुकुल
How - All five fingertips joined together, palms hollow.
Used in homas + abhishekas. Multi-square diagram for the seat of multiple devatas around a central kalasha.
Navagraha Mandala · नवग्रह मण्डल
Foundation for navagraha-shanti. 9 grahas drawn in chalk/rice-powder in fixed positions.
Panchayatana Mandala · पञ्चायतन मण्डल
For Smarta-puja of the 5 deities - Vishnu (centre), Shiva, Devi, Surya, Ganesha (4 corners).
Vastu Mandala · वास्तु मण्डल
64- or 81-grid of the Vastu-Purusha - divides the building plot for the 45 devatas of vastu-shastra. Foundation of bhumi-pooja before construction.
Rangoli / Kolam · रङ्गोली / कोलम्
Daily threshold mandala - invites Lakshmi into the home. Various geometric patterns based on lunar phases + festivals.
Related references - Read /wisdom/pooja for the 16-upachara procedure that uses these mudras. Read /wisdom/sciences for vastu-shastra (the mandala that governs building plots).
Accuracy:Tantric / yogini / Bhairava sadhana is traditionally esoteric (Kaula tradition) and requires formal initiation (diksha) from a qualified guru.
Caution:Content here is EDUCATIONAL only - not a self-initiation manual. Improperly attempted tantric practices can cause physical or psychological imbalance. Seek qualified guru initiation before any formal sadhana.
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