Yantra & its Puja – Shiva Purana

The Sannyasi shall get up in the Brahma Muhurta and think about the preceptor Shiva seated in the thousand-petalled lotus on the head. He shall bow to the preceptor with palms joined in reverence and worship him with scents, fragrant flowers etc. created by his imagination. He shall enter inside the Maṇḍapa and shall draw the mystic diagram in due order.

Drawing of Yantra:
The Yantra illuminating the meaning of the Praṇava shall be written inside the pericarp. The pedestal shall be drawn beneath. Srikantha shall be drawn above it. Amaresha shall be drawn above it and Mahakala in the middle. On the top of it the staff and beyond that Ishvara shall be drawn. The Pitha shall be coloured blue. Srikaṇṭha in yellow, Amaresha in red, and Mahakala in black. The scholarly ascetic shall make the staff smoky coloured and Ishvara white in colour. After drawing the Yantra the red one (Amaresa) shall be encompassed by Sadya. Only through the Nada Ishana shall be known. The rows of its residence shall be taken in order from the south-east one. The four squares at the four corners shall be painted white. The first four letters “a”, “aa”, “i” and “ī” shall be written with red minerals and these four are conceived as doors. The two squares adjacent to each of these four shall be painted yellow. In the yellow square in between the south-east squares a lotus of eight petals shall be drawn red in colour with yellow pericarp. With purity of mind, he shall draw the letter “ha” in the middle along with the Bindu. In the south-west square of this lotus, he shall draw another red lotus with yellow filaments and pericarp. The third letter of the class of “sa” along with the sixth vowel and the fourteenth vowel decorated with Bindu and Nada is, the excellent Bija which shall be written in the middle of the lotus. In the north-cast square of the lotus another lotus shall be drawn with the third letter of the class of “ka” along with the fifth vowel. In its middle Bindu and Kaṇṭha shall be decoratively written. In the three columns outside it, beginning with the eastern one five squares shall be taken. The pericarp shall be taken in the middle painted yellow with a red circle. The leaves red in colour. Outside the leaves the cavities shall be filled with black colour. The south-east square and others, four in number, shall be filled with white paint. With six Bindus a six-sided figure shall be drawn in black in the east. To the south it shall be painted red. In the north a triangle is painted in white. In the west a crescent moon is painted in yellow. The four Bijas shall be written in the squares in order. The Bindu shall be drawn in the cast in white. In the south is painted in black the letter “u”; in the north, letter “ma” is painted in red; in the west letter “a” is painted yellow; thus, the four letters are written.

In the second row from the top, the first four squares are respectively painted yellow, white, red and black. Below that the four are painted white, blue, yellow and red respectively. Below that in the triangle it shall be painted red white and yellow. From the south to the north the same procedure shall be adopted. In its external row it shall be painted from the east to the middle. The colours are yellow, red, black, blue, white and yellow. From the south-east onwards colours are red, blue, white, red, black and red. Thus, the colours of the six squares are mentioned: from the south to the cast; from the south-west to the south-east; from the west to the south; from the north-west to the south-west; from the north to the west; from the north-east, to the north-west. Thus, the procedure of the diagram has been mentioned to you. Having drawn the diagram thus the ascetic with restrained mind shall worship the sun with devotion.

Worship of Yantra & Nyasa:
After uttering the Praṇava, Adhara and the Shaktikamala, Sanyasi shall sit facing north. After performing the Pranayama, he shall smear the body with the ashes with the mantras “Agniriti”. After bowing to lord Shiva, he shall arrange the diagram again. Outside he shall adore in order the diagrams of triangle circle and square repeating Om. He shall fill the conch with fragrant pure water repeating the Praṇava. He shall place the conch on the diagrams and worship it with scents, flowers etc. repeating the Praṇava seven times. After repeating the mantra, he shall show the Dhenumudra and Shankhamudra. He shall sprinkle it with the Astra mantra. He shall sprinkle himself and the scents, flowers and other materials of worship. After performing Pranayama thrice, he shall utter the names of the sages etc.
Of this mantra of the glorious sun the sage is Devabhaga, the metre is Gayatri, the deity is the sun. The six-organed Nyasa shall be made with “hram” etc. Then he sprinkles the Padma not within the purview of Agni.
The learned ascetic shall worship in it Prabhuta, Vimala, Sara from the former to the latter in order. Then he shall worship Kalagnirudra, Adhara, Shakti, Ananta, Pṛthivi, Ratnadvipa, imaginary trees and garden a house of jewels and the gemset scat at the feet; beginning with the east the gods of virtue, knowledge, detachment and supremacy shall be worshipped. He shall also worship the gods of evil etc. in the corner quarters such as south-east and others.

He shall worship the lower lid of Maya and and the upper lid of Vidya. Thereafter Sattva, Rajas and Tamas shall be worshipped in order. In the quarters beginning with the east and in the middle, he shall worship the following: — Dipta, Sukṣma, Jaya, Bhadra, Vibhuti, Vimala, Amogha, Vaidyuta, Sarvatomukhasaṃjna, Kandanala, Suṣira, then Tantukantakas, then the root lid, filament, (light) and Sakalatman, the five-knotted pericarp and the petals, then the filaments, Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and Atman. After worshipping the inner Atman in the great Atman of knowledge he shall worship the Yogapitha called the Saura. The knower of the root shall conceive the idol as stationed on the pedestal.
The ascetic sits checking the vital breath with the root from the root. With the power of its splendour, he raises the Shakti through the path of the Pingala nerve of the sun stationed in the circle. He causes it to come out with the handful of flowers. Of Shiva whose body is as red as the vermillion, who has his wife as his left half, who is wearing Rudraksha garland and holding a noose, a club called Khaṭvanga, a skull, a goad, a lotus a conch and a discus; who has four faces, twelve eyes and a spear within the lotus of his heart, he utters the Pranava first and then Hram, Hrim and Sah.
Thereafter he invokes the sun along with the light and power saying “I invoke obeisance”. He shows the mystic signs of Sthapana etc. After performing the Nyasa of the limbs with the mantra Hram, Hrim, Hrum and conceiving the five services, he shall worship thrice the six organs in the filaments of the lotus.
In the second covering the four deities shall be worshipped in the south-east, north-east south-west and the north-west. From east to north at the roots of the petals Aditya, Bhaskara, Bhanu and Ravi shall be worshipped in order. In the third covering, Arka, Brahma, Rudra and Vishnu shall be worshipped in the north-east and other quarters. In the middle of the leaves from the east onwards he shall worship the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and Rahu. Or he shall worship the twelve Adityas in the second covering and worship the twelve signs of zodiac in the third covering. He shall worship the seven oceans and seven Gangas on its outer side and then the Sages, Gods, Gandharvas, Serpents, Celestial damsels, the village chiefs, the Yakṣas, Yatudhanas, the seven horses in the form of the Vedas and the Balakhilyas.

After worshipping the sun of three coverings and then arranging the square diagram with pious attention he shall place a copper vessel that can hold a prastha of water on its stand. He shall fill it with pure water rendered fragrant with flowers. He shall worship it with scents, flowers and kneel on the ground. The arghya vessel shall be lifted upto the middle of the eyebrows. He shall recite the hymn to the sun-God yielding all accomplishments. It yields worldly pleasures and salvation always.
He shall recite to accept this holy arghya offered to the sun-God along with the red powder, coloured water, garland, vermilion, kuśa grass, flowers and a golden pot. “Obeisance to shiva accompanied by Parvati and the Ganas. Obeisance to you the primordial cause, of the form of Trinity, Rudra, Vishnu and Brahma”. After saying this and bowing he shall seat himself. He shall mention the names of the sages etc. again and wash his hands with water. He shall apply the ashes again as mentioned before. He shall then perforin Nyasas expressive of his devotion to Shiva. After worshipping lord Shiva with bent head and fivefold services he shall bow to the Pranava in the dative case ending with Namah. He shall meditate upon the Praṇava consisting of five letters including the Bindu and fifth vowel “u” without the fifth vowel and with the Bindu. After uttering this with Bindu he shall utter the composite unit. With these Bijas duly uttered the scholarly ascetic shall bow to the preceptor and the lord of Ganas stationed on the arms and thighs. He shall bow to Durga and Kṣetrapala also, with palms joined in reverence. He shall repeat “Om Astraya Phat” six times and wipe off his hands. He shall recite the mantra “Apasa pantu” and repeat “Astraya Phaṭ”. Clapping the palms thrice and kicking thrice he shall remove the obstacles; he shall gaze at the heaven-dwellers, the skyfarers. He shall restrain the vital breath and remember the Haṃsa mantra. Through the Brahma Naḍi he shall then bring about the living consciousness in the heart. He shall meditate on the supreme god of the form of cit in the middle of lunar sphere of cit within the great lotus of thousand petals, full-blown and stationed in the twelve. For sixteen, sixty-four and thirty-two seconds he shall perform Puraka, Kumbhaka and Recaka through Shosa Daha and Plava.

After retaining the breath as mentioned in his particular Veda through wind, fire, water etc. he shall bring the nerve which is at the Mula to the cerebral aperture. When the body is bathed in the exquisite nectarine current issuing from the lunar sphere of Chit, within the lotus of thousand petals within the twelve, it is purified and thrilled with good emotions. He makes the Atman descend to the lotus of the heart realising “I am he”. He thrusts the Atman into the Atman through the nectarine current. Thus, he shall piously stabilise the vital breath duly.

The Yogi with mental concentration shall ponder over the Matṛka. He shall fix the developed Matṛka through the Praṇava externally. He shall carry out nourishment etc. with restricted vital breath. Thinking upon Shiva in the mind he shall dedicate himself quietly. The sage of Praṇava is Brahma, the metre is Gayatri and the deity is the great Atman, Sadashiva. The letter “A” is the seed; the letter “U” is shakti; the letter “M” is Kilaka. It is used for the sake of liberation.

Beginning with the two thumbs and ending with the palms, the hands are wiped off. Saying “Om” he shall begin the Nyasa of the hands. He shall perform the Nyasa starting with the thumb of the right hand and ending with the little finger of the left hand. Everywhere “A”, “U”, “M” with the Bindu, and the mantra ending with Namaḥ shall be uttered and the Nyasa of the hand in the heart etc. be performed. After uttering “A” at the outset the identity of Brahman and Atman shall be practised. The mantras ending with “De” and “Namaḥ” shall be utilised in the heart. The Nyasa of “U” along with Vishnu is made on the head; that of “M” along with Rudra in the tuft. The sage practising the mantra shall make the Nyasa of the Kavaca in the eyes and the forehead with an attentive mind. The different organs, faces and digits shall be fixed in the five Brahmans. Ishana’s five digits shall be fixed in the head, face, heart, private parts and the feet. The four digits of the Puruṣa shall be fixed in the four faces. Aghora’s eight digits shall be worshipped in the heart, neck, shoulders, navel, belly, back and the chest. Vamadeva’s thirteen digits shall be fixed in the anus, penis, thighs, knees, calves, buttocks, waist and the sides. Sadya’s eight digits shall be fixed in eight eyes. The most excellent of the knowers of kalpa shall fix these digits in the feet, hand, vital breath, head and arms.

Thus, making the Nyasa of the thirty-eight Kalas the intelligent knower of Praṇava shall proceed with the Nyasa of Praṇava. After making the Nyasa in the arms, elbows, wrists, sides, belly, calves, feet and the back, the devotee, an expert in the Nyasa, shall perform Haṃsanyasa.

The devotee shall make the square diagram to his left and worship it with Om. He shall place the conch and the missile, with its stand and worship it with the Praṇava after filling it with the water scented with the sandal paste. He shall worship it with the scents and flowers and repeat Praṇava seven times. He shall show the mystic sign of the cow and the conch making a square diagram in front and a semicircle in the middle, a triangle, hexagon and a circle within each in order. After worshipping the diagram with scents, and flowers, he shall place within it the vessel of Arghya on its stand and worship it with scents, repeating the Praṇava. He shall pour holy water and fill it. In the vessel, tips of Kusha grass, raw rice grains, barley, other grains, gingelly seeds, ghee-fried object, flowers and ashes too shall be put. It shall be worshipped with scents, flowers and the “Sadyojata mantras” with their six ancillaries, Praṇava and the Varma mantras. After veiling it with the Astramantra he shall show the mystic sign of the cow for the sake of protection. The water within it shall be used for sprinkling himself and the materials of worship—scents, flowers etc., repeating the Astramantra. After saying “Obeisance to the seat of the preceptor” he shall assign the lotus to the north-east of the diagram as seat repeating the Praṇava. As enjoined the idol of the preceptor too shall be conceived there itself.
After saying “Oṃ guṃ gurubhyaḥ namaḥ” he shall invoke the preceptor and meditate on him as seated facing the south, with a delightful face, looking gentle and crystal pure, showing the mystic gestures of boons and protection with his hands in the form and features of Shiva but with two eyes.

After meditating thus, he shall worship Gaṇapati with scents, flowers etc. in the proper order assigning him a scat on the lotus to the south-west of the mystical diagram with the mantra “Gaṇanantva” etc. After invoking the lord, he shall meditate on him with concentration.
He shall be conceived as red in complexion with a huge body bedecked in ornaments holding a noose, a goad, boons and teeth, with elephantine face destroying the hindrances and obstacles of his devotees. After meditating thus, he shall worship him with scents, flowers and other services. After offering him the Naivedya of plantain fruits, coconuts, mango fruits and sweet balls he shall make obeisance to the god.

In the lotus to the north-west of the diagram the devotee shall conceive the form of Skanda and invoke him too. Repeating Skandagayatri he shall meditate on Kumara shining as the rising sun, seated on the peacock, with four arms and splendid limbs, bedecked in coronet holding mystic signs of boons and protection, a spear and a cock as well.
After meditating thus and worshipping with scents and other services, he shall worship Nandi, the chief of the harem in the right wing of the eastern doors, with the lustre of the golden hill bedecked in ornaments with the crescent moon constituting his coronet, of gentle aspect, with three eyes and four arms, holding a trident, a hind, an axe and a golden staff, with his face lustrous as the moon’s disc or as the face of a monkey. To his north he shall worship his wife Suyasha, the daughter of the Maruts of good rites, engaged in bedecking mother Shiva’s feet duly with scents, flowers and other services.
On the ground beneath he shall conceive the holy Adhara Shakti of dark blue complexion. In front of her he shall conceive the serpent-chief with lifted five hoods and coiling shape, licking the sky as it were with hoods. He shall conceive above it the dignified seat with four lion’s feet symbolical of virtue, knowledge, detachment and prosperity. They shall be worshipped beginning with the southeast corner in colours white, yellow, red and dark-blue.

Adharma etc. shall be conceived from the east to the north in due order. He shall conceive its body with the lustre of the jewel Lajavarta. The lower and upper lids, the bulbous root, the stem, the neck, the petals and the pericarp shall be conceived in order and worshipped. He shall conceive the eight Siddhis in the petals, the Shaktis in the filaments, the eight Rudras, Vama and others from the east, all round in order; the Vairagya in the pericarp and the nine Shaktis in the Bijas, Vama and others alone beginning with the cast and ending with Manonmani, the Dharma of Shiva in the bulbous root, the Shaivite knowledge in the stem and the zones of fire, sun and the moon above the pericarp.

The science of the Ātman, and the trio of principles named Shiva shall be conceived thereafter. Above these seats he shall conceive the scat of the deity shining with the flowers of various colours and brilliance due to the Lore Paravyomavakasha. From the Adhara Shakti to the scat of the sacred lore the devotee shall repeat the mantra, “oṃ Shivaya namaḥ”.

As before, the five Brahmans shall be conceived in the idol in view of the difference due to limbs, faces and digits. The devotee, expert in the mystic signs shall invoke the lord standing with a handful of flowers. Uttering the mantra beginning with “I resort to Sadyojata” and ending with Om repeating the Nada arising from the Adhara and concluding at the Brahmarandhra, along with the twelve knots he shall meditate on the lord in Oṅkara, pure as crystal, the unsullied, the imperishable, the cause of creation, identical with the worlds, stationed within and without, pervading all, smaller than the smallest and greater than the greatest, visible to the devotees without strain, the unchanging incomprehensible to the gods, Brahma, Indra, Vishnu, Rudra and others, the essence of the Vedas, declared as invisible, by the learned devoid of beginning, middle and end and the panacea for all worldly ills.

After meditating on him thus with concentration, the devotee shall perform obeisance after showing different mystic signs and performing the rites of invocation, installation, concentration and observance. He shall meditate on lord Shiva himself, of Sakala and Niskala forms.
After meditating on Shiva and his attributes, he shall meditate on Prvati as Manonmani to the left of Shiva. Repeating the mantra “Gaurirmimaya” preceded by the Praṇava he shall invoke Parvati as before and perform the rites ending with prostration. The sage of pious concentrated mind shall meditate on her.

After meditating on them, the ascetic of restrained mind shall perform ablution with the water in the manner of Pranava—prokṣana. He shall offer Padya repeating mantra “Bhave bhave natibhave”. He shall offer water for Acamana by uttering “Vamaya namaḥ”. He shall offer a fresh piece of cloth saying Jyeṣṭhaya Namaḥ” (obeisance to the eldest). He shall offer the sacred thread saying Shresthaya Namaḥ (obeisance to the most excellent). He shall offer water for Acamana once again saying “Rudraya Namaḥ” (obeisance to Rudra). He shall offer well consecrated scent saying “Kalaya Namaḥ”; raw grains saying “Kalavikaraṇaya Namaḥ”;flowers, saying “Balavikaraṇaya Namaḥ”; incense assiduously saying “Balāya Namaḥ”; oiler good lamp saying “Balapramathanāya Namaḥ.”
Along with the Vedas including their six ancillaries, Matṛka, Praṇava and Shiva joined with Shiva, he shall show mystic signs to Shiva and to Parvati. After performing meditation and worship duly in accordance with the rules the expert devotee shall begin the Avaraṇa Puja.