Shri Chakra, Śrī Chakra, Śrī Cakra, Sri Chakra: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Shri Chakra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

General definition (in Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Shri Chakra in Buddhism glossary
Source: Google Books: Buddhist Tantra: A Philosophical Reflection and Religious Investigation

Śrī Cakra symbolizes the cosmos and its divine cause. There are two sets of ttriangles, one composed of four males (Śiva) triangles and other of five females (Śakti). From the macrocosmic point of view, the Śakti triangle satnds for the five vital funtions, the census of knowledge, the five census of action and the five subtle and five gross forms of matter and the mind. Śiva triangles represent the four higher tattvas, i.e. Māyā, Śudhavidyā, Maheśvara and Sadāśiva.

In the centre of Śrī Cakra, which is represented by a point (bindu), reside Śiva (Kāmeśvara) and Śakti (Lalitā) in an undifferentiated (abheda) union. Enclosing the bindu is an inverted triangle which symbolizes will (icchā), action (kriyā) and knowledge (jñāna) aspects of Śakti. The three guṇas and the deities preside over them. The other cakras are the Aṣṭakoṇa (eight triangles), Daśāra-yugma (two cakras, each of ten triangles), Manvasra (fourteen triangles), Aṣṭadala (eight lotus petals), Ṣoḍaśadala (Sixteen lotus petals), Vṛttatraya (three circles and three squares). These nine cakras are ruled over by yoginis (divinities) presiding over forms of mind, snese and matter. Yoginis are called Āvaraṇa Devatās (veiling deities), because they veil the pure consciousness (cit) and create the appearance of the world of mind, sense and matter and limited and differentiated (apūrṇa).

Śrī Cakra is the mansion of Devī. The realization of Devī (Śakti) and consequent bliss for the yogi comes from meditation and visualization of Vajramaṇi that can be attained through piercing the different nerve plexus (Padamas). From the above enumeration of Buddhist esotericism without visualizing the Bindu residing at the centre of Uṣṇīṣa-Kamala one cannot attain the state of perfection and enlightenment. This is known as Sahajāvasthā the state of choiceless awareness.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Shri Chakra in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

Śrī cakra (श्री चक्र) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—poet. Quoted by Kṣemendra in Aucityavicāracarcā 25, in Suvṛttatilaka 2, 41. 3, 22.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Discover the meaning of shri chakra in the context of Sanskrit from relevant books on Exotic India

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