yantra (Painting)

About this object

History of use

Yantras are geometric paintings, forms of symbolic art with high spiritual content. Essentially, these Hindu tantric paintings are tools for contemplation and visualization practices, serving as substitutes for anthropomorphic images of Hindu deities. The tantrika or sadhaka, the practitioner, performs sadhana, or worship, that consists of repeated rituals and meditations using tantric texts, ritual chants (mantras) and yantra paintings. Essential to these images is the notion that by meditation on anything as the self, one becomes that, this yantra is not secular artwork but a path toward truth and self-realization both for the maker and spectator.

Narrative

This yantra is from the Kali mandir, or temple, in Harinagar, Bihar.

Iconographic meaning

A yantra for Vashi Karan.

Physical description

Hindu Tantric painting, or yantra. Square shaped painting of a red circle in the centre with concentric yellow then blue rings, both edged with black crosshatching. These three concentric forms are placed within an orange square with low t-shaped horizontal appendages. Bright purple forms the negative area about the orange square with appendages forming L-shapes at right angles. Hindi script written on the back.