|
About
Me
The
Kali Yantra
Articles
Workshops & Training
Calendar
of Events
Free
Meditations & Techniques
Meditation
CD's
Preferred
Sites
Contact
Me |
 -
PDF Version
 |
The
Yantra is a geometric symbol existing in the external
world as well as a subject to be internalized within
human consciousness. Kali is the Hindu Goddess of time,
of change. She is the power of action, of the breath
and of transformation (kriya-shakti). Kali's essence is
Divine Love. Through
time, breath and Divine Love all things are accomplished.
If
we surrender to Her essence, She creates the energy and all
is possible. The
Kali Yantra, then, contains within it the transformative
energy of change. |
When
we internalize this energy and surrender to its sweet transformative
power of love, we begin our inward journey toward
healing and spiritual growth. According to the Tantric tradition,
the 36 corners of the Yantra represent the 36 principles (tattvas)
of creation, from the Most Transcendent to the most minute
expression of Materiality. The bindu is the central point,
the seat of the soul, the Atman; the internal link with Brahman
the Absolute. The bindu is also Kali, and all the phenomenal
world emanates out from Her. In the Tantric tradition, Kali
as the energy (Shakti) aspect of material nature is united
with the Absolute (Shiva) for the sake of creation
Five (5) inverted concentric triangles, 2 circles and 8
lotus petals enclose the bindu.
The 5 inverted concentric triangles represent the 5 kosas
or sheaths of the human condition, with soul (bindu) in the
middle:
Annamayakosa (physical), Pranamayakosa (life force), Manomayakosa
(mental/emotional), Vijnanamayakosa (wisdom) and Anandamayakosa
(bliss). The 15 corners of the 5 inverted concentric triangles
represent the 15 principles of experience (tattvas); the
5 organs of sense - smell, taste, sight, touch, hearing;
5 organs
of action - procreation, excretion, locomotion, handling,
speaking; and 5 tanmatras - odour, flavour, colour, feeling,
sound. The
inverted position of the triangle represents the female regenerative
power.
The
2 circles symbolize the cycle of birth and death, which we
must pierce through the bindu in the centre in order to
reach the Absolute Reality.
The 8 lotus petals are symbols of Prakriti, the cause of
the manifesting universe. The 8 lotus petals refer to the
8 principles
(tattvas) of Prakriti - The 5 principles of materiality
or nature (Prakriti) are Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether.
And with the 3 principles of the inner instrument (antahkarana),
the Lower Mind (manas), the Higher Mind (buddhi) and the
Ego-sense
(ahamkara), these 8 tattvas compose the phenomenal or relative
world.
Kali
as the power of action is inherent in the element air or
wind, Vayu. In human body Kali exists as Prana,
the breath
or life-force. Kali holds the five vital airs: prana
(upward air); apana (downward air); vyana (air within the
body);
udana (air leaving the body); and samana (air at the
navel which
helps to digest food). Kali emphasizes inner action,
which generates the internalizing force of so' ham, the rhythm
of the breath, the sound of the breath: I am that, I
am
Spirit, I am Kali. Like the wind, she is mobile, subtle
and transformative.
Kali relates to lightning (vidyut-shakti), the electrical
force
that pervades the universe as the power of transformation.
Like the electrical storm, She acts quickly. Kali grants
a lightning-like illumination and transformation. She
is located
in the spiritual heart, the anahata chakra. She is the
pulsating of the physical heart, the blood that gives
us life; in this
action She is called Rakta-Kali or the Red Kali.
Red
in the Kali Yantra is the colour of the heart's lifeblood,
filling us with vitality. Black is the colour of the
night; but as we approach Kali, She becomes as bright
as the sun.
Grey is the emerging light into the black, the midworld
existing between the earthly plane and the realm of
heaven. Kali as
Prakriti or Shakti exists in all three realms. Bronze
is the colour of the earth, the sphere of normal consciousness.
Gold
is the colour of the alchemist, the colour of transformation
moving us into Higher Consciousness. The red and yellow
flames are the transformative fires gently cooking
us, making us
more palatable for Spirit.
Meditation on the Kali Yantra
Large
Kali Yantra image
|
