Comparative Study of Mantrashastra

Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab

Page 80

TANTRIK SADHANA: MANDALA
71
Yantra and Devatā is that between the body and the self. Mantra is Devatā; and Yantra is Mantra, in that it is the body of the Devatā who is Mantra. Yantras again vary as they are Pūjā or Dhārana Yantras. Although represented generally by a drawing on the flat Yantras are three-dimensional.
"As in the case of the image certain preliminaries precede the worship of Yantra. The worshipper first meditates upon the Devata and then arouses Him or Her in himself. He then communicates the Divine Presence thus aroused to the Yantra. When the Devata has by the appropriate Mantra been invoked into the Yantra, the vital airs (Prāna) of the Devată are infused therein by the Prānapratishthā ceremony, Mantra and Mudrā (see for ritual Mahānirvāna VI, 63 et seq.). The Devatã is thereby installed in the Yantra which is no longer mere gross matter veiling the spirit which has always been there, but instinct with its aroused presence which the Sadhaka first welcomes and then worships."
MANDALA “The difference between a Mandala (which is also a figure, marked generally on the ground) and a Yantra is that whilst a Mandala may be used in the case of any Devatā, a Yantra is appropriate to a specific Devatā only."Sarvatobhadra-Mandala is a Mandala commonly used in the worship of any Devatā. Agni Purāna, as well as Nirvā nakalikā, the latter an ancient Jain work on Daily worship, Initiation and Installation ceremonies by Sri Pādaliptasūri (edited with an Introduction by the present writer) mention it. Nirvanakalikā also mentions a Nandāvarta Mandala. There are also mandalas appropriate to each of the five Mahabhūtas* viz, Prithivi, Ap, Tejas, Vāyu and Âkās'a or the four Pithas.* The
* अर्द्धचंद्रनिभं पार्श्वद्वये पद्मद्वयांकितम् ॥ • जलस्य मंडलं प्रोक्तं प्रशस्तं शांतिकर्मणि। त्रिकोणं स्वस्तिकोपेतं वश्ये वह्वेस्तु मंडलम् । वृत्तं दिवस्तद्विद्वेषे बिंदुषटांकितं तु तत् ॥ वायुमंडलमुच्चाटे मारणे वहिमंडलम् ॥—मंत्रमहोदधौ २५ तरंगे श्लो० २३-२६ * उड्डीयानं चतुरस्र कामरूपं च वर्तुलम् । जालन्धरं च चन्द्रार्द्ध व्यस्रः पूर्णगिरिभवेत् ॥-कुलार्णवे ६ उल्लासे श्लो० २५