Yantra.

Haridas guruji was a popular figure in and around the mystic place of Lord Krishnas
pass-times, Brindaavan. Many people would throng his satsang-s, which comprised
singing of devotional songs and tatva jnyaan (the spiritual knowledge) discourses.
Guruji just provided an excellent feast of divine leela-s (pass-times) of the Lord to
the eager devotees who had assembled to obtain the nectar from Guruji.
After most of the devotees walked away, some devotees keen on getting more
insights, were seated on the mat laid in front of the dias, upon which Guruji sat. This
was a daily routine.
Guruji, could you tell us something about yantra vigyaan? What are yantra-s and
how are they used? queried one devotee.
Guruji smiled upon hearing the question. He always loved those questions coming
from devotees who were keen seekers of spiritual knowledge.
He started, a Yantra is a gadget or a device which stores Praanic energy in its
geometric representation. A device in which Praanic energy is infused by way of
rituals in which specific mantra-s are chanted either in a yagna (sacrificial fire) or
just through mantra siddhi of a Siddha purusha, the Yantra-s are sanctified with the
requisite mantra-s. As a mantra is mananaat traayate iti mantra or manam traayate
iti mantra (protects by repeated contemplation or chanting of which protects our
mind) yantra is yam tra (yam protected or preserved in device)
Aksharas are letters in Sanskrit. There are 51 of them. Each letter when added a
beeja am becomes a beeja akshara or seed letters. These are called beeja or
seed, as they have the potential to bestow siddhi-s on a person, akin to a seed
capable of growing into a tree with fruits and flowers.
So is yam formed from ya plus am asked another devotee.
Yes, you are right. When a letter ya is added a beeja am, it becomes yam beeja
askshara. Yam is called the vaayu (air) beeja or the seed that contains the power of
vaayu, which bestows long life and health to a person. Therefore securing (tra) this
yam in a device then becomes a Yantra. Each of the five main elements of nature
or the pancha bhootas have a beeja askhara associated. Earth is lam, water is
vam, fire is rum, air is yam and space is ham. A yantra is generally called with
an air beeja, as Vaayu is considered as the deity who manifests activity in souls
and matter and is also called as praana or prakrishtena anati or inspires or creates
activity in an exemplary manner
Why would one make a yantra? sought a devotee.
Smiling, Guruji replied. Our ancestors used to create yantra-s so that they could
invite various devata-s or deities that guard various powers in the universe, into a
yantra, so that they could worship them in the yatra and seek blessings by pleasing
that deity

What then is Shri yantra one more devotee wanted to understand.

Shri yantra is a yantra which has the Shri, a devata who is the controller of
primordial matter or prakriti. Shri also denotes the Purusha or the Lord of prakriti,
who is also invited in the yantra. This combination of prakriti and purusha is
depicted by means of two triangles super imposed, with the triangle pointing
upwards denoting purusha and the triangle pointing downwards depicting prakriti or
the female devata. As this yantra depicts the coming together of prakriti and
purusha, it depicts the act of creation of this entire universe by means of the
primordial matter. These aspects makes the Shri yantra extremely powerful yantra
and bestows bounty, power, health and progeny to the worshipper of the yantra.
After this quick powerful session on yantra, Guruji gets with devotees prostrating at
his feet. Smilingly he takes up leave from them saying that they would meet up
again tomorrow for a jnyaana session and slowly proceeds go to his retreat, where
he would soon dissolve into a dhyaana or meditation upon the beautiful Lord of the
universe!