Amuletsthe gallery← amulets.guru
South Asia · c. 300 BCE – today

Yantras & mantra plates

Meaning

A yantra ('instrument') is a geometric diagram of a deity or cosmic force: squares with gates (bhupura), lotus petals, circles and interlocking triangles. The Sri Yantra's nine interlocking triangles represent the union of Shiva and Shakti and the whole of creation.

Intent

It is used in meditation and worship as the deity's dwelling, and worn engraved on metal plates or drawn on birch bark and rolled into amulet cases for protection, wealth, health and success. It must be ritually charged (prana pratishtha).

Significance

Yantras are the South Asian equivalent of the Western planetary seal and one of the sophisticated geometric traditions of the world. The Sri Yantra is a mathematical puzzle that has attracted modern researchers.

History

Yantras are described in Tantric texts from about the 7th century CE onward and spread across Hindu, Jain and Buddhist practice. Printed and engraved yantras have been popular from the 19th century to today.

Making yours
Engrave or etch a copper plate 3–15 cm square. Draw the geometry with a compass: bhupura square gates, lotus petals and interlocking triangles.
South Asia: the tradition

India combines the protective systems of several religions. Hindu kavacha ('armour') prayers and yantras, Jain and Buddhist charms, Muslim ta'wiz and Sikh symbols are often worn by the same people. Planetary astrology (jyotisha) gave rise to the navaratna nine-gem jewel and to gemstones prescribed to balance the planets. Tigers' claws, rudraksha seeds and black thread against nazar (the evil eye) are pan-Indian. Mughal and Rajput courts made these amulets into jewellery of gold and precious stones, and British India turned the tiger claw into a Victorian fashion.

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A charm of unusual form, representing a "Yantra", carved and polished rock crystal, Nepal, early 19th centuryA charm of unusual form, representing a "Yantra", carved and polished rock crystal, Nepal, early 19th centuryNepal · early 19th centuryMystical Diagram (Yantra)Mystical Diagram (Yantra)Rajasthan · 19th centurycircular, inscription in Sanskrit; Religion, copper, incised, Rajasthan, C19circular, inscription in Sanskrit; Religion, copper, incised, Rajasthan, C1919th centuryChinese numismatic charm hangers at the Yantra, Groningen (2019)Chinese numismatic charm hangers at the Yantra, Groningen (2019)NANG KWAK67NANG KWAK67ThailandCharm (chakra) , representing "Sri Yantra", carved rock-crystal, possibly Nepal, early 19th centuryCharm (chakra) , representing "Sri Yantra", carved rock-crystal, possibly Nepal, early 19th centuryNepal · early 19th centurysquare, star inscription; Religion, copper, incised, Rajasthan, C19square, star inscription; Religion, copper, incised, Rajasthan, C1919th centuryChinese numismatic charm coin at the Yantra, Groningen (2019)Chinese numismatic charm coin at the Yantra, Groningen (2019)Nang Kwak in Bangkok49Nang Kwak in Bangkok49ThailandYantra, Nepal, 18th-19th centuryYantra, Nepal, 18th-19th centuryNepal · 18th century -19th centuryplateau slightly convex, inscriptions; Religion, copper, engraved, Indiaplateau slightly convex, inscriptions; Religion, copper, engraved, IndiaPurushkara Yantra, Rajasthan, 18th centuryPurushkara Yantra, Rajasthan, 18th century18 th century date QS:P,+1750-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Pha KrapPha KrapThailandYantra, Nepal, 18th-19th centuryYantra, Nepal, 18th-19th centuryNepal · 18th century -19th centuryPlateau, slightly convex, inscriptions; Religion, copper, engraved, IndiaPlateau, slightly convex, inscriptions; Religion, copper, engraved, IndiaYan Takrut (ยันต์ตะกรุด) - Thai 19th century yantra and amulet manuscriptYan Takrut (ยันต์ตะกรุด) - Thai 19th century yantra and amulet manuscript19th centuryYantra, Nepal, 18th-19th centuryYantra, Nepal, 18th-19th centuryNepal · 18th century-19th century02022 Shree Yantra Mandir, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh02022 Shree Yantra Mandir, Amarkantak, Madhya PradeshYantra, Nepal, 18th-19th centuryYantra, Nepal, 18th-19th centuryNepal · 18th century-19th centuryShri yantraShri yantra19 th century date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Chinnamasta yantra colorChinnamasta yantra colorDurga YantraDurga YantraInside view of Shree Yantra TempleInside view of Shree Yantra TempleJain YantraJain YantraJain Yantra plates in Silver or Brass 6Jain Yantra plates in Silver or Brass 6Kali yantra colorKali yantra colorPaiting on the wall of Kyichu LhakhangPaiting on the wall of Kyichu LhakhangRam Yantra, shadowRam Yantra, shadowSiam Society - Bangkok - 2017-07-25 (080)Siam Society - Bangkok - 2017-07-25 (080)Siam Society - Bangkok - 2017-07-25 (086)Siam Society - Bangkok - 2017-07-25 (086)Sri Chakra 3DSri Chakra 3DSri Yantra Temple 1, Amarkantak, M.PSri Yantra Temple 1, Amarkantak, M.PYantra1Yantra1Yantra meditation plaque, India, 1801-1900Yantra meditation plaque, India, 1801-1900Индийская ЯнтраИндийская ЯнтраDharani-Sutra-Quilt -Red- Buddhist -BlanketDharani-Sutra-Quilt -Red- Buddhist -BlanketDiagrammatic representation of the human head.Diagrammatic representation of the human head.Ganesha YantraGanesha YantraHevajrayantraHevajrayantraHindi Manuscript 189, folio 5aHindi Manuscript 189, folio 5aIMAG2496IMAG2496Jain Yantra plates in Silver or Brass 2Jain Yantra plates in Silver or Brass 2Kamala yantra colorKamala yantra colorMadhubani MahavidyasMadhubani MahavidyasSiam Society - Bangkok - 2017-07-25 (082)Siam Society - Bangkok - 2017-07-25 (082)Sree ChakramSree ChakramSri SuktaSri SuktaSri Yantra copper2Sri Yantra copper2Tripura-sundari yantra colorTripura-sundari yantra colorUBAYAKATHIRGAMAMUBAYAKATHIRGAMAMYantra Mandir, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh 20160704- DSC2824-EditYantra Mandir, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh 20160704- DSC2824-EditYantric Matrices04Yantric Matrices04रतिप्रियाधनदायक्षिणीयन्त्रम् Ratipriya Dhanada Yakshni yantramरतिप्रियाधनदायक्षिणीयन्त्रम् Ratipriya Dhanada Yakshni yantramBhagalamukhi yantra colorBhagalamukhi yantra colorBhuvaneswari yantra colorBhuvaneswari yantra colorBronze yantra meditation plaque, India, 1801-1900Bronze yantra meditation plaque, India, 1801-1900CHAKREN YANTRASCHAKREN YANTRASDevipuramDevipuramHari Parbat GateHari Parbat GateJain Yantra plates in Silver or Brass 4Jain Yantra plates in Silver or Brass 4

More from South Asia: Tiger-claw & tooth amulets · Amulet cases & kavacha · Navaratna (nine-gem) amulets · Deity pendants & sacred seeds · Other & unsorted South Asia
Every type in the gallery

Anything in the gallery can be made: any piece, any tradition, in its own material or yours, by hand from the documented original. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted before anything is made. I reply within one business day.