Myths, symbols & folklore
yantra: a graphic aid to meditation, going back to ancient India and still esteemed in the modern era, consisting of geometrically balanced signed, organized symmetrically around a single center. A yantra is usually constructed from successively inscribed triangles, squares, and circles, which are significant to those who are aware of certain conventions but can also communicate directly through the unconscious through archetypal structures of the psyche. The best known is the "Shri" yantra, consisting primarily of artfully arranged triangles, some pointing up and some down in reference to a philosophical duality; they are encircled by rings of lotus leaves within an extended quadratic structure. This yantra is believed to facilitate meditation upon the unity that transcends the polarity of opposites and thus to lead to a feeling of personal empowerment in the face of temporary conflicts. (Biedermann)