Hi @ernst and anyone,
In various astrological texts, numerical yantras are mentioned for each graha. I've come across descriptions of how these numbers are arranged, but I'm curious about their practical application. How does one effectively work with these yantras in spiritual sadhana, especially in combination with mantras?
I'm also seeking recommendations for good sources where I can delve deeper into this topic. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Namaste,
Kaspar
@ernst Thank you for sharing your experience - engraving the yantras in silver, energizing them with mantras, and wearing them as pendants sounds like a beautiful and potent practice.
I’m curious though - are you mainly using them as protective talismans, or have you also explored working with them more meditatively, beside creating them? My original intention was to understand how these numerical yantras might be used as objects of meditation within spiritual sadhana, perhaps by contemplating their structure or integrating them with mantra japa.
I'm especially wonder if there’s a deeper layer of meaning in the number arrangements themselves - like a numerological logic or symbolism that can be studied or meditated upon.
And finally, could they potentially be used in a predictive way, similar to how mewa numbers function in Tibetan astrology?
I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I’d really appreciate it if anyone could point me to sources that explore these aspects in more depth.
I'm familiar with yantras like the example attached.
It seems like you are talking about something different. I've never heard of this but I'm curious. Could you give an example and/or tell exactly where they are described?
Sure! These are called Navagraha Yantras - I’ve attached a picture of them below.
If you're interested in learning more, here are some books I found helpful:
> "Astrology of the Seers" by David Frawley - This is where I first came across them. He explains how the numbers are arranged so that each row and column adds up to the same total, but doesn’t go into the numerology.
> "Tools for Tantra" by Harish Johari - Offers a great overview of how yantras relate to their corresponding deities, though it only briefly touches on numerical yantras.
> "Navagraha Yantras" (eBook by Achala Sylwia & Govindadas Igor Mihajlović) - This dives a bit more into the numerological background but mainly focuses on the meditative process of creating the yantras.
> "The Yantras of Deities and their Numerological Foundations" by Fredrick W. Bunce – This one explores the structure and hidden meanings behind various yantras in more detail. It also covers the planetary yantras, though his approach to numerology differs somewhat - for example, he links Jupiter with the number 3, which is different from what Ernst teaches.
Hope this is helpful! I'm now looking to go deeper into the numerological side of these yantras - especially how the number patterns might relate to meditation or even prediction.