A simple explanation of what is a yantra:

About yantras - what are yantras? (an indepth study booklet on-line)

Varieties and Types of Yantra

How Yantras are prepared & used

Simple Yantra Puja prayog (Method of seva)

Sri Yantra Mandala Sacred Geometry Crystals Feel the power of the Cosmic Grid......

Where to get yantras?

Koorm Pristhiya (Kurma Meru yantra) & Golden Meru Chakra

We hear from Bhagavad Gita that (18.61): yanträrüdhäni mäyayä. The word yantra means “carriage.” The body is given by material nature, and the driver of that body is Paramätmä, the Supersoul. The living entity is seated within the chariot. This is the actual position.(ACBSP. Srimad Bhagavatam 4:26:1-3 purport.)

éçvaraù sarva-bhütänäà
håd-deçe ’rjuna tiñöhati
bhrämayan sarva-bhütäni
yanträrüòhäni mäyayä

Éçvara, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is situated within the heart of all conditioned souls, and by His supreme will the living entity, or individual soul, gets the facility to lord it over material nature in various types of bodies, which are known as yantra, or the moving vehicle offered by the total material energy, mäyä. (ACBSP. Srimad Bhagavatam 4:23:18 purport.)

Yantras as one of the 64 arts and sciences learned by Krishna and Balaram when at Gurukula:

O King, those best of persons, Kåñëa and Balaräma, being Themselves the original promulgators of all varieties of knowledge, could immediately assimilate each and every subject after hearing it explained just once. Thus with fixed concentration They learned the sixty-four arts and skills in as many days and nights. Thereafter, O King, They satisfied Their spiritual master by offering him guru-dakñiëä.

(51) yantra-mätåkä, composing magic squares, arrangements of numbers adding up to the same total in all directions; (Srimad Bhagavatam 10:45:35-36.)

Yanträrüòhäni mäyayä. This is machine. This body is machine made by the material energy, as all other machine are made by the kñitir-äp-tejo marud-vyoma, earth, water, air, fire. These are the ingredients, any machine. Suppose it is made of iron. So iron is another form of earth. So as all other machines are made with these material elements, similarly, this body is also made with the material elements, and it is yantra. It is particularly mentioned. But this yantra is not ordinary yantra. You cannot make it. But it is yantra. It is made by somebody, and the ingredients are the material elements. So where is that technology? It is made of matter, and it is made by somebody as other machines are made with the material... [break] ...and made by somebody. So where is that advancement of technology? A motorcar, when stops, technology department can repair it and again it runs. So where is that advancement of technology that when this machine stops you run on, again repair it? This was my challenge in your institution. Can you answer this? You have got so many advancement, the nuclear energy and everything. But why you cannot give life to the machine stopped? Why?
Guest (1) (Indian man): There’s no soul in it.
(ACBSP. 9th January 1977. Bombay. Conversation on morning walk with Ramakrishna Bajaj and friends.)

In that same way the body may be created by bahiropadhik elements such as spatika crystal or metal plates of copper, silver, gold etc, and then the pran pratishtha is done in the daily puja to invoke avahan or life into the form to begin the worship of the personality we wish to reside there and accept out service or protect us or whatever the functionality of the Isthadevata is.

The following is a useful explanation:

Mantra; is from the Sanskrit prefix "MAN" (mind) and the suffix "TRA" (tool) is literally the science of using sound vibration, audible and inaudible, to bring about the physical, psychological and psychic changes. Our Guru often used to refer to Mantra as a "psychic elevator'" that changes levels of consciousness.

Yantra; is from the Sanskrit prefix "YAN" means "to conceive", a mental conception. So Yantra is also a "tool" or more accurately an "instrument" that allows us to visualise a complex geometrical form (RUPA) or trace out a two-dimensional psychic circuit, otherwise known as a "magical diagram".

Tantra; is the "tool" for dealing with Prakrit or the solid physical world as manifested by and experienced though the Annamayakosha (literally, "the food sheath or physical body"). The Sanskrit root "TAN" suggests extension and attenuation, giving us such English words as "tender". Hence, I will define Tantra as TANgible, TRAnscendence utilising Prakrit as it manifests though the five senses. In other words TAN-TRA is the sublime state that ensues when the mind [Manes], the Ego (Ahamkara and the intellect (Buddhi), become quiescent through a (W)holistic, Sattwic, aesthetic experience of sensory fusion.

What Yantra Offers
Yantra yoga is an analysis of life and people in an esoteric form. A way of discovering the answer to the three most important and misinterpreted factors of life.

http://www.yogamagik.com/yogamagik/yantra/

From this we can understand practically how the geometrical form of a mantra is physically represented symboloically for us to grasp. We often hear that the Lord's name and the Lord are the same and non-different, well yantras are the tangible proof of that. Subtly, as one recites a mantra with swara suddhi (perfect pronounciation) the subtle geometric form of the mantra is formed. This has been practically seen on a mechanical devise similar to a sonar sound testing machine. Some expert brahmins were reciting the mantra into the microphone and the sounds' physical form was being shown on the screen in the form of a series of dots, which formed the shape of a perfect yantra design.

Whether we can see it, whether we believe it, that has no bearing on the fact that these phenomenon are true. Unlike in western society we have no need of trying to question everything and analysing the very life out of everything through our puny speculative intellect, and still get it pretty much inconclusive or even wrong. No, the Vedik premise is; if you want to know who the father is, then simple ask you mother, she will know.

So similarly, Vedik devotional scientists, who through faith proven experiment have given us these processes for Deity worship in variants of forms all approved by the Lord and given appropriate guidelines by which one can gain union - yoga through that method. Our Founder Acharya and guide Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, sometimes would give the example of a mailbox, by the side of the road to show similar method of linking with the authorized process of communication with the Lord through the symbolic representation of the Lord or the Lord's representative. The approved mail-box by the side of the road transports communications to the requested destination through authorized carriers, but any old box found by the side of the road will not necessarily have that required effect.

So as mentioned in scripture, the geometric yantrik form is an approved method of representation by which to communicate with the Lord.

In the book Yantra, there are yantras that show direct forms of all manner of devatas, and for practical purposes where an Archa-vigraha form would seem inappropriate to be used such as in the foundation of an altar or foundation in the ground, or worn as a protective shield a yantra can easily surfice that function.

Vaishnava Yantras
     Vaishnava yantras are related to Vishnu and do not belong to the Mother-worshiping Shakta tradition (Yantras that represent any form of the Divine Mother are called Shakta Yantras). They include Ram Yantra, Vishnu Yantra, Shri Gopal Yantra, and Hunuman Yantra. In most cases their forms are identical to some of the Shakta Yantras, but the colors differ. This is also true of the Shaiva Yantras.

Shaiva Yantras
     Shaiva Yantras are related to Shiva and the Shaiva tradition: Bhairav Yantra, Maha Mrityunjaya Yantra, and Mritsanjivni Yantra

Architectural Yantras
     Architectural yantras are used for the ground plans of temples. They also include Mandala Yantras and Chatra Yantras. Mandala Yantras are to be engraved on the roof and Chatra Yantra on the top of the seat of the goddess.

Astrological Yantras
     Astrological yantras are used in working with the energy of the nine planets: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu (the north node of the moon, known as Dragon's Head), and Ketu (the south node of the moon, known as Dragon's Tall).

Numerical Yantras
     Numerical yantras are composed not of basic geometrical forms but of numbers. Some of them are composed as magic squares and are used as talismans. The yantras composed by numbers are most popular and are used by Tantrics for all kinds of purposes.
The yantras composed of geometrical forms are divided into two categories:

Bij Mantra Yukta: Those yantras in which the bij sound is engraved or written in the center.

Mantra Varna Yukta: Those yantras in which the Sanskrit letters are put in an order to create the mantra. In this type of yantra the alphabet can be arranged in bhupur (square form) or in the circular petals form; in the center is the Bij Mantra.
 

Then there are numerical yantras classed according to their forms:

Bhu-Prashtha Yantras: Engraved or drawn on a flat surface.

Meru-Prashtha Yantras: Three-dimensional form composed of metal or stone or gemstones and shaped like a pyramid, having a broad base and narrowing gradually toward the top like a mountain (meru).

Patal Yantra: Deeply engraved-exactly the reverse of the pyramid yantra.

Meru-Prastar Yantra: Composed of pieces that are glued or welded to each other instead of being one solid piece

Yantras are prepared under definite guidelines and with specific rituals, on an appropriate day, time & place, & energized thru’ a ‘Sidh mantra’ with utmost skill and earnestness, a process which converts them from mere geometric diagrams to a proper vehicle or recepticle through which invisible forces of energy, are invoked to begin working for the benefit of the individual.

Yantras which are prepared using specific Vedic guidelines laid down in the Shastras are called 'Sidh Yantras'. Only these yantras that have been thus installed can
yield the desired benefit to the worshipper.

Just as there are rules mentioned in shastra for creating the Archa-vigraha form of the Deity, so it is mentioned that Yantras may be drawn or etched/carved on bronze, lead, copper, silver, gold, steel or 'Bhoj Patra', i.e., "Holy bark" of a silver birch tree. Yantras can either be worn on the body in locket form, or kept in the place of worship and used for the purpose of worshipping.

How to get real benefit from Yantras

1. After being prepared, Yantras need to be duly purified, sanctified and energized with Vedic rituals. The knowledge, skill & sincerity of purpose of the 'Sadhaka' or expert who energizes the Yantra through the "Avahan", enhances the advantages & benefits that the user can get from it.

2. The Yantra needs to be installed or worn for the first time,
on a prescribed day & time in accordance with Vedik astrological Muhurthas, after recitation of specified Mantras and
following prescribed religious procedure, as mentioned here below.

3. One should pay obeisance to the Yantra regularly, as instructed, in order to maintain it's sanctity and power, multiply it's benefic effect, and continue to reap the desired benefit for the rest of one's life.

4. The rituals of worship for Yantras to be worn are different from those to be worshipped. For example, yantras that are places in a temple or on an altar never have to go out onto the street, to bathrooms, where one is sleeping etc. So rules that apply to yantras installed on an altar or temple are more strict than those for daily wearing.

It is important to get these done properly by a proficient sadhaka.

Sit on an asan facing east and keep yantra on a plate in front of you .

Place spoonfull of water on head, repeat:

Apavitrah Pavitro Va Sarva Vastan Gatopi Va Yah
Smaret Pundari Kaksham Sa Bahya Bhyantarah Shuchih
(Translation)

(May all things unholy become holy,
may all lower tendencies depart,
just as soon as we transcend
may within and without be purified!)

Om Sri Gurubhyo Namaha (I bow to guru)
Om Sri Ganeshaya Namaha  (I bow to Ganesha)
Om Sri Kula Devatabhyo Namaha (I bow to the family deity)
Om Sri Ishta Devatabhyo Namaha (I bow to my personal deity)
Om Sri Mata Pitribhyam Namaha (I bow to my parents)

Sip water after each mantra:
Om Sri Keshavaya Swaha
Om Sri Narayana Swaha
Om Sri Madhavaya Swaha

Pour one spoon of water on ground:
Om Sri Govindaya Namaha

Repeat and touch each after each next mantra, right eye, left eye, forehead:
Om Apo Jyothi
Raso Amtritam
Brahma Bhu Bhuvaha Swarom

Then chant the pranpratishtha mantra while offering yellow rice to the Yantra

Om Um Kum Chum Dhum Tum pum yum sum soham <Shree :-Name Of The Yantra>

Pranaha Eha Gacha Eha Tishtha Sum Yum Pum Tum Tum Chum Kum Um Om
Om Um Kum Chum Dhum Tum pum yum sum soham <Shree :-Name Of The Yantra>

Prana Eha Susthisha Bhavatu Sum Yum Pum Tum Tum Chum Kum Um Om
Om Um Kum Chum Dhum Tum pum yum sum soham <Shree :-Name Of The Yantra>

Prana Manasyachakshu Jibhyam Ghrani Pani Pachusthan Daso Indriyani Susthisha Bhavantu
Sum Yum Pum Tum Tum Chum Kum Um Om

Flowers be offered while reciting "Devaye Namah Avahanam Samarpayami"
Flowers be offered for Assan while reciting "Devaye Namah Aasanam Samarpayami"
Water be offered to wash to the feet of lord while speaking"Devaye Paydam Samarpayami"
Bath be offered to Deva while reciting "Devaye Snanam Samarpyami"
Panch amrit bath offered with mantra"Devaye Panchaamrit Snanam Samarpyami"
For clothes upvastar and Yajyo Paveet, recite the mantras
"Devaye Vastram Samarpyami",
"Devaye Upvastram Samarpyami",
"Devaye Yaghopavitam Samarpyami"
Ghand/Scent be applied while reciting "Devaye Gandham Samarpyami"
Unbroken rice be offered while reciting "Devaye Akshtan Samarpyami"
Flowers and garland be offered "Devaye Pushyani Samarpyami"
Dhoop be lighted and offered with mantra "Devaye Dhoopam Samarpyami"
Deep be lit and offered with mantra"Devaye Deepam Samarpyami"
Fruits and coconut and lemon  be offered while reciting"Devaye Navdam falamcha  Samarpyami"
Pan,  Supari, Clove  be offered with mantra "Devaye Tambulam Samarpyami"
Then offer Pradikshina  with mantra "Devaye Pradkshinaya Samarpyami" and walk around the Yantra three times while chanting

            "Yani Kan cha papani janmantarkirtani cha
             Tani sarvani Nashyantu Pradakshin Pade Pade"

In the end offer flowers and Namaskar with folded hands and chant a rosary of the beeja mantra of the Yantra . . Beeja mantras of each yantra are specific to the Yantra and the Diety which they represent .

Then place the Yantra on a Yellow Cloth facing North .
Pray regularly with Kukum , unbroken rice, yellow flowers, fruits and sweet offerings and Ghee lamp .
Near Yantra always keep yellow rice and yellow mustard.

Yantras come in many forms, and for many purposes. The following links give a good selection of Yantras that may be purchased on-line:
http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/  - For yantras 3" x 3" and 6" x 6" copper plate.

Now they are EVEN offering them in a wearable locket style

Wearable locket yantras:
http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/

3 inch and 6 inch copper or Silver plate yantras:
http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/

http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/ - and here for yantras made of Spatika crystal, Parad Mercury, and Yantras on Copper plate & in locket form.

I usually get mine from
http://www.divine-rudraksha.com

http://www.devshoppe.com/DivineYantra.html

As well as these there's a unique Koorm Pristhiya (Kurma Meru yantra) (made in Ashtadhatu - 8 metals - ASHTA-DHATU, an alloy of eight metals, which are gold, silver, copper, tin, zinc, mercury, lead and iron.) for more information on these contact me   See more on varieties of Yantras HERE:

Sherri Silverman, Ph.D.        Transcendence Design

I am Sherri, a Vastu consultant and sell the Gold Meru Chakra, the Gold and Bronze Vastu Pyramid, the 12 Vastu yantras, and the Vastu chant CD. MY book on Vastu will be published next year. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.
All best wishes,
Sherri

cell: 505.660.9333       studio: 505.984.0108
e-mail  sherri@transcendencedesign.com

http://www.transcendencedesign.com

mail: P O Box 2461, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2461 USA

Vastu, the Yoga of Design: Ancient India's Vedic Tradition of Design, Architecture, and Sacred Space
Vastu consultations for homes, gardens, and businesses
yantras (sacred geometry) for spatial rectification & sumptuous natural products for the home
art studio by appointment: abstract art, imaginary landscapes, evocative color and symbolism
Sherri's art is featured in 100 Artists of the Southwest  (D. Bullis, Schiffer Books, 2006).
Watch for the fall 2007 publication of The Transcendental Home: Vastu, the Yoga of Design (Gibbs Smith Publishers).
 
 

Go to Articles page to find more information on kinds of pujas

The sixty-four activities in fine arts and crafts are the following: (1) géta—art of singing. (2) vädya—art of playing on musical instruments. (3) nåtya—art of dancing. (4) näöya—art of theatricals. (5) älekhya—art of painting. (6) viçeñakacchedya—art of painting the face and body with colored unguents and cosmetics. (7) taëòula-kusuma-balé-vikära—art of preparing offerings from rice and flowers. (8) puñpästaraëa—art of making a covering of flowers for a bed. (9) daçana-vasanäìga-räga—art of applying preparations for cleansing the teeth, cloths and painting the body. (10) maëi-bhümikä-karma—art of making the groundwork of jewels. (11) çayyä-racana—art of covering the bed. (12) udaka-vädya—art of playing on music in water. (13) udaka-ghäta—art of splashing with water. (14) citra-yoga—art of practically applying an admixture of colors. (15) mälya-grathana-vikalpa—art of designing a preparation of wreaths. (16) çekharäpéòa-yojana—art of practically setting the coronet on the head. (17) nepathya-yoga—art of practically dressing in the tiring room. (18) karëapätra-bhaìga—art of decorating the tragus of the ear. (19) sugandha-yukti—art of practical application of aromatics. (20) bhüñaëa-yojana—art of applying or setting ornaments. (21) aindra-jäla—art of jugglery. (22) kaucumära—a kind of art. (23) hasta-läghava—art of sleight of hand. (24) citra-çäkäpüpa-bhakñya-vikära-kriyä—art of preparing varieties of salad, bread, cake and delicious food. (25) pänaka-rasa-rägäsava-yojana—art of practically preparing palatable drinks and tinging draughts with red color. (26) sücé-väya-karma—art of needleworks and weaving. (27) sütra-kréòä—art of playing with thread. (28) véëä-òamuraka-vädya—art of playing on lute and small x-shaped drum. (29) prahelikä—art of making and solving riddles. (29-a) pratimälä—art of caping or reciting verse for verse as a trial for memory or skill. (30) durvacaka-yoga—art of practicing language difficult to be answered by others. (31) pustaka-väcana—art of reciting books.  (32) näöikäkhyäyikä-darçana—art of enacting short plays and anecdotes. (33) kävya-samasyä-püraëa—art of solving enigmatic verses. (34) paööikä-vetra-bäëa-vikalpa—art of designing preparation of shield, cane and arrows. (35) tarku-karma—art of spinning by spindle. (36) takñaëa—art of carpentry. (37) västu-vidyä—art of engineering. (38) raupya-ratna-parékñä—art of testing silver and jewels. (39) dhätu-väda—art of metallurgy. (40) maëi-räga jïäna—art of tinging jewels. (41) äkara jïäna—art of mineralogy. (42) våkñäyur-veda-yoga—art of practicing medicine or medical treatment, by herbs. (43) meña-kukkuöa-lävaka-yuddha-vidhi—art of knowing the mode of fighting of lambs, cocks and birds. (44) çuka-çärikä-prapälana (praläpana)?—art of maintaining or knowing conversation between male and female cockatoos. (45) utsädana—art of healing or cleaning a person with perfumes. (46) keça-märjana-kauçala—art of combing hair. (47) akñara-muñöikä-kathana—art of talking with letters and fingers. (48) mlecchita-kutarka-vikalpa—art of fabricating barbarous or foreign sophistry. (49) deça-bhäñä-jïäna—art of knowing provincial dialects. (50) puñpa-çakaöikä-nirmiti-jïäna—art of knowing prediction by heavenly voice or knowing preparation of toy carts by flowers. (51) yantra-mätåkä—art of mechanics. (52) dhäraëa-mätåkä—art of the use of amulets. (53) samväcya—art of conversation. (54) mänasé kävya-kriyä—art of composing verse mentally. (55) kriyä-vikalpa—art of designing a literary work or a medical remedy. (56) chalitaka-yoga—art of practicing as a builder of shrines called after him. (57) abhidhäna-koña-cchando-jïäna—art of the use of lexicography and meters. (58) vastra-gopana—art of concealment of cloths. (59) dyüta-viçeña—art of knowing specific gambling. (60) äkarña-kréòä—art of playing with dice or magnet. (61) bälaka-kréòanaka—art of using children’s toys. (62) vainäyiké vidyä—art of enforcing discipline. (63) vaijayiké vidyä—art of gaining victory. (64) vaitäliké vidyä—art of awakening master with music at dawn.