Dr.P.V. Viswanathan Nampoothiri
Reader(Dept. of Sanskrit)
Baselios College,Kottayam
All sorts of knowledge of India have their roots in Vedas. Rigveda imparts basic knowledge of everything in the universe. Yajurveda transforms this knowledge to its respective practical form ( work or karma). Samaveda converts this karma to the level of ecstacy. It is undoubtful that work/ karma supported by proper knowledge leads man to perfection. All the living beings including human beings, engage themselves in works from birth to death. When and only when this works (karmas) become pure and dedicated to the Almighty, the goal of moksha is achieved. Yajurveda differentiate karmas into three: 1. Nithya Karma 2. Naimithika karma and 3. Kamya Karma When all these three types of karmas are done with purity of mind and due dedication, life becomes sacred. Thanthra vidya is an inevitable part of Karmayoga. Here, man with due presence of mind leads spiritual life with the help of magic spells and symbolic forms of the almighty. Magic spells (manthras) have two functions 1. Mananam and 2. Thrananam Mananam (Repeat manthras orally) One who does mananam properly gets protection from harms Thrananam. Yanthras give this type of protection ‘Manoradha kharanyathra Niyanthryenthe thapodhana Kamakrodhadi doshanva Deergha dukha niyanthranath This is the definition given for yanthra in the book ‘Sharadathilakam’ In the word ‘Yanthra’, the sound ‘ya’ represents Yamanam (control) and ‘nthra’ represents Thrananam (protection). From this it is clear that ‘yanthra’ performs two types of functions. It controls the mental activities of a person. It also gives him protection from all sorts of evil effects. Yanthradharma is very much same to ‘Easwaradharma’ or ‘Vigrahadharma’. In Saradathilakam the target of yanthra is described in the following verse. Vigraho havisham bhoga Iswaryam cha prasannatha Phaladana meethyed panchakam vigrahabhikam Accept haviss (food offerings) give wealth and prosperity and give result pleasingly. These the panchakas of vigrahaphalam (Function of Idol) Yanthras also can be considered as vigrahas or Idols. They can be regarded as vessels storing divine power. Yanthra controls mind and deity- this is Yanthraphalam (function of yanthra). Yanthra vidya is a part of Thanthra vidya, a derivation of karmapadhathi originated from the science of meemamsa. Yanthra vidya is based on a particular god concept called ‘Apoorvam’, which says gods shower blessings to those perform ritualistic sacrifice and dedicated offerings. Men offer poojas to gods with naturally available things. Gods in turn grace men with plenty of wealth and physical comforts. We can observe a miniature of this god concept in Yanthra vidya. Among the various yanthras, ‘Sreechakram’ is the most important one. Varying Saktheya powers are unitedly brought in to a chakra (circular carving) and worshipped. Powerful presence of Devi is obvious at each corner of Sreechakra. Presence of lalitha Parameswari, goddess showering all prosperities, make Sreechakra more powerful and effective. Sudarshana chakra manifests the divine power of Lord Vishnu. Yanthras belong to various classes in concern with the deity. There are Saktheya Yanthras like Vishnu yanthra, Shiva yanthra, Ganapathy yanthra, Sree yanthra, Thara Yanthra, Bala Yanthra and Aswarooda yanthra, Mruthyunjaya and Aghora belong to Shaiva class. Santhana gopala, Narasimha are Vaishnava Yanthras, Vasheekarana, Marana (death) yanthras are also popular. Yanthras inscribed on copper, silver or golden sheets, offered with magic spells of concerned deity and wearing or installing in the proper way, undoubtedly bring great results. Yanthras materialise humanly desire and bring ultimate ‘moksha’ to the devotee. All the hundred verses ‘Soundarya Lehari’ represent hundred yanthras. In the explanatory notes for ‘Soundarya Lahari’ by Kantiyoor Mahadev Sasthri, there are descriptions of all such yanthras and way of wearing them in detail. Yanthras are much utilized in Kerala as a part of Manthravada. They are also worn by devotees for the easy recovery from deadly deceases. Yanthras have undoubtedly the capability to control mind. For a pious person, wearing appropriate yanthra, offering worship with due dedication and leading a sacred life, it is possible to attain both physical and spiritual prosperity. Ohm Shanthi : Shanthi : Shanthi :