Sri Chakra

     Sri-Chakra or Sriyantra is adopted here as the object of upasana and  it (the Sriyantra) is used as the visual representation a symbol of Divine Mother, Goddess Shakti Ma. This Sriyantra is a replica of the brahmanda), the upasaka (pindanda/ Kundalini), as well as, the Yantra (trikona) - a 3-in-1 technology (Tantra). This Trikona is of great significance in upasana since it is of esoteric importance. It is the moon-sun-fire triad complex; it is also desire (icCA), power of action (kriyA-Sakti), and Knowledge (jnyan-shakti); it is also Shiva, Shiva-Shakti, and Lalita (Shive). The three corners of the triangle are Bindu, Nada, and Bija. Bindu is Shiva/Surya, Nada is soma/chandra/shabda, i.e., sound, and Bija is Fire/Agni/Seed. Sage Agastya is supposed to be instrumental in creating this trikona (triangle) as an embodiment, icon, replica of Divine Mother, Lalita. It is also Atmavidya or Brahmajnyan that leads to unity consciousness or Shivasamavesha or sAdAKya. Lalita is identical with Brahman.

    There are similarities or ideas that go parallel in Srividya studies and Sankhyans philosophy. Bindu is paraBrahman, parA Sakti. (parA bimdu) or Shabda brahman or nada brahman from which svara (sixteen vowels emanate), transcending the articulate speech or the manifest triangle. What Vedantins or Sankhyans call it Brahman is lalitAmahAtripurasuMdari, Aruna Bhagavati, trailokya sundari, or ‘tripurAsundarI’ here in Srividya. Similarly Maya is KAmakalA (bindu-traya). Shabda-brahman or nAda Brahman is para, pashyanti, and madhyama. The mantra ‘hamsah” (‘ham’-Shiva/Purusha and ‘sah’- Prakruti/ Shakti) is the mantra of KAmakalA (Desire/Brahman).

   Similarly, the first alphabet of Samskrutam ‘A’ is Brahman (Ekakshara Brahma) of Vedantins and is Shiva of Samayins and Koulas. AM is Shiva-Shakti combine and Om of Vedantins is hrIm of Shakti upasakas (Tantrics). The lines of Triangle in Sri Chakra (Sriyantra) constitute the varnamala (garland of letters) and cover all syllables (aksharas) ‘a’ - ksha’- ‘numbering fifty, and is called mAtrikA (Mother).

     This SrI-vidyA- the Evolution of Planes of Consciousness, makes a very interesting study particularly in the light of recent findings in the field of science and technology. It needs a very different kind of approach since the terms used here are esoteric- full of symbols, imageries, and icons. It is also important to note here that we the mortals living in the Kaliyuga of the Seventh Vaivasvata Manvantara  (six kali yugas have gone by so far in 4.56 billion years) and this subject matter of Sri-Vidya pertains to the beginning of the creation before the first Manvantara started with Vivasvan, the Sun, as the first Manu. Studying the spiritual aspects of creation before matter is created that dates back to Day-1 when even the first Star was not born, let alone the Earth and its living creatures, is not so easy. It is the beginning of all other beginnings. Let’s be aware that our mind, intellect, and the senses are of no avail in understanding this abstract science that is beyond our comprehension. However, the soul that was present at the beginning and that continues to exist forever knows all these! The ancient Rishis realized this fact and visualized the sequence of creation in their state of deep contemplation and meditation. Thus, we know that the secrets of creation can be realized by the same methods of Yoga adopted by the Rishis.  

   Creation begins here- first, it is all silence. It is absolutely silent (niravata or nihshabda); then there is spanda (anyonyabhava) or vibration due to impulses and waves of sound (shabda) travel far and wide. The waves and vibration of sound in different amplitudes, wavelengths, frequencies, etc. create all the paraphernalia of this objective world. Varnas, aksharas, colors, alphabets (letters and symbols), vowels and consonants, words, numbers, dot and line, squares and rectangles, angles, triangles and circles emanate from this source. Even gods and goddesses have their home here! Sri-Vidya, thus, unveils the portrait of the Universe.

  Thus, Sri-Vidya incorporates all knowledge in a nut-shell- the science, the art and the technology of creation. It emerges as the single source of all creation at the cosmic level (Brahmanda), the terrestrial level (Pindanda level), and the micro level of cells and atoms (micro/andanda or cell level), rather, the macro-, meso-, and the micro- levels in short. It begins with a small dot (space-less space or a circle without a diameter) and ends with a series of big circles and squares that constitute the boundless universe.

     Whoever knows the secret of Sri-Vidya is liberated from the cycle of rebirth. People since times immemorial have developed this as an occult science and use different methods such as mantropasane, puja, dhyana (meditation) to redress their sufferings and have found relief.