9 interlocking triangles (5 shakti + 4 shiva) around the central bindu, surrounded by 2 lotus-rings + 3 concentric squares with 4 cardinal-gateway doors. 9 chakras (avaranas) total — each with its presiding shaktis + siddhi-type. The supreme Sri-Vidya tantra.
The Sri Yantra is generated by 9 large interlocking triangles — 5 downward-pointing (shakti / female / yoni) + 4 upward-pointing (shiva / male / linga). The 9 triangles interlock + create 43 smaller triangles + the central bindu = total 44 areas.
From outermost (1) to innermost bindu (9). In daily Sri-Vidya puja, the upasaka worships each chakra in order, then offers everything at the central bindu.
Shape: The 3 outer protective squares with 4 cardinal-gateway doors (the bhupura)
Shaktis: 10 Siddhi-devis + 8 Matrikas + 10 Mudra-shaktis = 28 outer-shaktis
Yogini type: Prakata-yogini chakra — manifest yoginis
★ Significance — "Enchanter of the 3 worlds". The outermost protective barrier. To enter this chakra is to begin Sri-Vidya. Houses the 28 prakata-yoginis who attract the seeker.
Shape: 16-petalled lotus (one petal per vowel A-AH)
Shaktis: 16 Kala-shaktis (one per petal)
Yogini type: Gupta-yogini chakra — hidden yoginis
★ Significance — "Fulfiller of all wishes". The 16 kala-shaktis correspond to the 16 vowels of Sanskrit + the 16 phases of the moon. Activation grants completion of any worldly desire.
Shape: 8-petalled lotus (one petal per group of consonants — KA-varga, CHA-varga, etc.)
Shaktis: 8 Ananga-shaktis
Yogini type: Guptatara-yogini chakra — more-hidden yoginis
★ Significance — "All-agitating". Disturbs the world's normal patterns to reveal the underlying tattva. Activated when the upasaka begins to see the cosmic pattern.
Shape: 14 triangles formed by the outer-most 4 of the 9 big triangles
Shaktis: 14 Sampradaya-yoginis
Yogini type: Sampradaya-yogini chakra — lineage yoginis
★ Significance — "Granter of all good-fortune". The first of the inner-chakras. Granted only to those formally initiated into a sampradaya.
Shape: 10 outer triangles
Shaktis: 10 Kulottirna-yoginis
Yogini type: Kulottirna-yogini chakra
★ Significance — "Accomplisher of all goals". The 10 kulottirna-yoginis transcend kula (clan + tradition) — they are the universal yoginis.
Shape: 10 inner triangles
Shaktis: 10 Nigarbha-yoginis
Yogini type: Nigarbha-yogini chakra
★ Significance — "Protector of all". The 10 nigarbha-yoginis (the womb-yoginis) protect the upasaka from all directions.
Shape: 8 inner triangles
Shaktis: 8 Rahasya-yoginis
Yogini type: Rahasya-yogini chakra
★ Significance — "Remover of all diseases". The 8 secret yoginis cure all forms of vyadhi — bodily, mental, karmic.
Shape: The central up-triangle (the 9th of the 9 big triangles)
Shaktis: 3 Atirahasya-yoginis (Kameshvari + Vajreshvari + Bhagamalini)
Yogini type: Atirahasya-yogini chakra
★ Significance — "Bestower of all siddhis". The supreme. The 3 yoginis here are the 3 supreme shaktis — Will (Iccha) + Knowledge (Jnana) + Action (Kriya).
Shape: The central bindu (point)
Shaktis: 1 — Lalita Mahatripurasundari herself
Yogini type: Parapararahasya-yogini chakra
★ Significance — "The supreme bliss-form chakra". The very centre. Lalita Mahatripurasundari herself dwells here. Reaching this bindu = ultimate moksha. Beyond all chakras + siddhis.
The supreme mantra of Sri-Vidya. 15 syllables grouped in 3 kutas (clusters): Vagbhava-kuta (5), Kamaraja-kuta (6), Shakti-kuta (4).
क ए ई ल ह्रीं | ह स क ह ल ह्रीं | स क ल ह्रीं॥
ka e ī la hrīṃ — ha sa ka ha la hrīṃ — sa ka la hrīṃ
Kuta 1 (Vagbhava) — Vagbhava-kuta (5 syllables) — speech-source. Activates vak-shakti. Worshipped from muladhara to manipura.
Kuta 2 (Kamaraja) — Kamaraja-kuta (6 syllables) — desire-king. Activates ananda-shakti. Worshipped from manipura to anahata.
Kuta 3 (Shakti) — Shakti-kuta (4 syllables) — pure power. Activates jnana-shakti. Worshipped from anahata to sahasrara.
⚠ Caution — REQUIRES diksha. Reciting Panchadashi without initiation is said to be inert at best, harmful at worst. Approach only through a guru in the unbroken Sri-Vidya parampara (Sringeri / Kanchi / Tripura traditions).
Author: Adi Shankaracharya (~8th C)
Size: 108 verses
Two parts: Verses 1-41 = Ananda Lahari (Wave of Bliss — the upasana of Sri Yantra + the 9 chakras). Verses 42-108 = Soundarya Lahari proper (description of Devi's beauty from head to toe).
Why unique — The supreme stotra of Sri-Vidya. Each of the first 41 verses corresponds to a yantra-form that grants a specific siddhi (the 41 chakras of Sri-Vidya practice). Recited daily by Sri-Vidya upasakas.
शिवः शक्त्या युक्तो यदि भवति शक्तः प्रभवितुं न चेदेवं देवो न खलु कुशलः स्पन्दितुमपि। अतस्त्वामाराध्यां हरिहरविरिञ्चादिभिरपि प्रणन्तुं स्तोतुं वा कथमकृतपुण्यः प्रभवति॥
Only when united with Shakti does Shiva become capable of creating. Without her, even a god cannot stir. Therefore — how can one who has done no punya even prostrate, even praise, you whom Hari + Hara + Brahma themselves worship? (Verse 1 — the SUPREME opening line of all Shakta literature.)