Book Title: Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra
Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
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TANTRIK SADHANA: MANDALA
Yantra and Devata is that between the body and the self. Mantra is Devată; and Yantra is Mantra, in that it is the body of the Devata who is Mantra. Yantras again vary as they are Pūjā or Dharana Yantras. Although represented generally by a drawing on the flat Yantras are three-dimensional.
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"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 (Prana) of the Devata are infused therein by the Pranapratishtha ceremony, Mantra and Mudră (see for ritual Mahānirvana VI, 63 et seq.). The Devata 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 Devata, a Yantra is appropriate to a specific Devata only."Sarvatobhadra-Mandala is a Mandala commonly used in the worship of any Devată. Agni Purana, as well as Nirvanakalika, the latter an ancient Jain work on Daily worship, Initiation and Installation ceremonies by Sri Pädaliptasüri (edited with an Introduction by the present writer) mention it. Nirvanakalikä also mentions a Nandavarta Mandala. There are also mandalas appropriate to each of the five Mahabhūtas* viz, Prithivi, Ap, Tejas, Vayu and Akäs'a or the four Pithas. The
* अर्द्धचंद्रनिभं पार्श्वद्वये पद्मद्वयांकितम् ॥ जलस्य मंडलं प्रोक्तं प्रशस्तं शांतिकर्मणि ।
त्रिकोणं स्वस्तिकोपेतं वश्ये वस्तु मंडलम् ।
वृतं दिवस्तद्विद्वेषे बिंदुकितं तु तत् ॥
वायुमंडलमुच्चाटे मारणे वह्निमंडलम् ॥ - मंत्रमहोदधौ २५ तरंगे लो० २३-२६
* उड्डीयानं चतुरखं कामरूपं च वर्तुलम् ।
जालन्धरं च चन्द्रार्द्ध यत्रः पूर्णगिरिर्भवेत् ॥ कुलार्णवे ६ उल्हासे लो० २५
