subject for research through practise

Vedic Yantras

What are Yantras?

Yantras are geometrical figures intended to represent the basic energies. Just as every elementary geometrical figure, a straight line, a square, a cross or a triangle etc., has a symbolic value corresponding to the basic notions, similarly, the Yantras symbolise one or the other power or energy. In other words Vedic Yantras are the graphic representations of Mantras. Yantras can be drawn, engraved or painted on a variety of substances. The classical eight tantrik surfaces are gold, silver, copper, crystal, birch, bone, hide (which can include any type of paper), and Vishnu stone (shalagrama).

What is the function of Yantras?

The Vedic Yantras are designed to remove the afflictions to obtain a particular result eg. to have a child, to have a positive balance in the bank, or to have the awareness to control one’s temper in order to enhance one’s performance at work etc. The Yantras are inscribed with the mystical inscriptions of the afflicted beneficial planets at a particularly auspicious time to suit the individual wearer.The diagrams such as circles, triangles, squares and even a ‘dot’ are used as Yantras. All these represent cosmic energies. A dot known as bindu in Sanskrit symbolizes all pervading space-the origin of all that exists. The yantras shall be seen daily in the morning and one shall lit incense or lamp before the yantra every morning. It is auspicious and blesses the native with success and wealth by continuous puja of Yantras.

Collection of Yantra

• Shree Yantra,

• Navgraha Yantra,

• Akarshan Yantra,

• Mahakali Yantra,

• Baglamukhi Maha Yantra,

• Mahalakshmi Maha Yantra,

• Bajrang Yantra,

• Mahamritunjay Maha Yantra,

• Bhairon Yantra,

• Mangal Yantra,

• Bhom Yantra,

• Maruti Yantra,

• Brihaspati Yantra,

• Matangi Yantra,

• Budh Yantra,

• Meru Yantra,

• Chandra Yantra,

• Rahu Yantra,

• Dhumvati Yantra,

• Ramraksh Yantraj,

• Durgaambajiyan Yantra,

• Santan Gopal Yantra,

• Durga Bisa Yantra,

• Saraswati Yantra,

• Durga Yantra,

• Sampoorn Maha Lakshmi Yantra,

• Ganesh Yantra,

• Shani Yantra,

• Gayatri Yantra,

• Shiv Yantra,

• Hanuman Yantra,

• Shubh Labh Yantra,

• Kaal Sarp Yantra,

• Shukra Yantra,

• Kamdev Yantra,

• Sukh Samridhi Yantra,

• Kamala Yantra,

• Surya Yantra,

• Karya Sidhi Yantra,

• Vahan Dhurghtna Yantra,

• Ketu Yantra,

• Vastu Yantra,

• Kuber Yantra,

• Vashikaran Yantra,

• Kanakdhara Yantra,

• Vyaparvridhi Lakshmi Yantra,

• Lakshmi Narayan Yantra,

• Vighantrasnavgrah Yantra

Mid Point Review's Feedback

On Mid Point review I presented my artwork 'Trinity'. I got really nice suggestions and feedback which would help me to develop my work. I was really stuck on colouring process. My classmates saw my some fail colouring experiments and suggested me to try linework using colours or even I can use screen printing methods and get it print in different colours. It is really nice idea to work it out. Even they told me to use colour wash and draw illustration on those colours. These are some of the notes and comments I got on Mid Point review-

1. What about printing in color instead of coloring separate bits of the illustration?

2. Think about the color philosophy. Coloring brings out recognizable things within the illustration.

3. You could try random blocks of color on top of which to add your illustration instead of coloring the        illustration itself.

4. Naturalistic approach – It’s best to use your own statement instead of following traditional norms in terms of coloring especially (this will help in terms of contextualizing your piece within the modern context as well)

What if you add color to the line work itself? Might be good idea to use earthy colors instead of magical, heavenly ones

5. Might use different colors depending on the thickness of the line?

6. Blowing the piece up might change the characters, therefore it’s a good idea to blow them up and add more details afterwards (work on top of the already existing characters)

7. Screen printing? Would it affect the quality of the detail work?

8. Would it be a good idea to add a bit of breathing space between the figures, because it is a bit difficult to get the whole richness of the piece otherwise?

9. Does it need depth or would it be more like a pattern/wallpaper?

10. The artwork possesses baroque and rococo art qualities because of its richness and intensity.

11. Technically impressive/eye for detail, therefore be more ambitious and push your work even further

12. Ask yourself how can it be used for example? As murals or wallpapers maybe? 

Trinity

In Hinduism, God is thought to be made up of three gods. This holy trinity is known as the Trimurti. The three forms of this trinity are the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Hindu believe that the gods within trinity represent the following three aspects: creation (Brahma), preservation (Vishnu); and destruction (Shiva). These three are the main mythological heroes of Hindu mythological stories. None other than illustrating the 'trinity' would be a great start of this project.

The objectives to be considered were characterization of mythological heroes, symbolization of mythological terms, and the visual language. It is to be said that god is within us; within each human being. Even more 'God' is a particular nature, a quality, like Brahma is in charge of raja guna- the quality of passion, Vishnu is in charge of sattva guna- the quality of goodness and Shiva is in charge of tama guna- the quality of ignorance. For the project, I consider them the mythological heroes who are one of us, with these different qualities. Therefore, unlike traditional characterization of Hindu gods, they are illustrated as human beings who complete this whole world. Their main characteristics illustrated for their recognition. Such as Brahma has four heads which is a symbol of four Vedas. Instead of heads, eyes are being illustrated for its main reason to have a watch in all directions. Though we can see only two eyes, the third one is always behind him. Vishnu is with the huge snake behind him and Shiva is with the moon and snake around his neck. Behind all these great gods there are great goddesses that assist them in their duties. These goddess are the consorts of the trimurti; they are Sarasvati, Lakshmi, and Parvati. Goddess are the symbol of power which is always in our body in the form of tantra. It has a scientific method to bring out this spiritual power through chakras- centers of energy. These chakras are shown in a symbolically on the body of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Visual language was the major part to be considered. It was not supposed to be looked only Indian nor only western. It is a trial of Indo- western style with its minute details. Since all these objectives were focused at the first and I am still working on the colors and whichever trials I did was not satisfactory. Hence this piece was decided to be kept black and white.