Sri Chakra

A Yantra is a symbolic representation of a god/goddess. Sri Chakra is a representation of the Devi Lalita/Tripura Sundari. At the creation of the universe, Lord Shiva delivered 64 Yantras for the materialistic and spiritual welfare of the creatures. For His consort Devi Parvati, He provided, Sri Chakra (Yantra), that combines all the Yantras into one. As such worship of Sri Chakra is considered as one of the highest forms of worship of the Devi.

It is worshipped by considering the Sri Chakra as composed of nine parts, called Avarnas, each represented by various forms of the Devi. It comes in various forms such as a flat plate (copper, gold) or as a pyramid (Meru) of crystal/Panch Dhatu (five metals).

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The Structure of Sri Yantra

Triangles
Five downward pointing triangles representing Devi intersect with four upward pointing triangles representing Siva, forming 43 triangles including the central triangle. From the five Shakti triangles comes creation and from the four Shiva triangles comes the dissolution. The union of five Shaktis and four Fires causes the Chakra of creation to evolve. At the centre of the bindu of the Shri Yantra is Kamakala, which has three bindus. One is red, one is white and one is mixed. The red bindu is Kurukulla the Female form, the white bindu is Varahi the Male form, and the mixed bindu is the union of Shiva & Shakti the individual as the potential Shri Cakra.

Petals
Surrounding the 43 triangles formed by the intersection of the nine triangles are 16 petals, and 8 petals circles. Each petal in these circles represent a form of the Devi.

Lines
After petals circles are the three circles and three lines at the outermost part. These lines represent various forms of the Devi.

Bindu (dot)
Represents the union of Shiva and Shakti.

Avarna means ‘uncover’ or discover the secret. There are nine Avarnas that are formed as shown below.

Avarna means ‘uncover’ or discover the secret. There are nine Avarnas that are formed as shown below. 

The Ist Avarna 

The 3 lines of the 1st Avarana & the position of the various deities 

The outermost 3 lines known as Bhupura form the first Avarana of the Sri Yantra. This is known as the Trilokya Mohana Chakra and the worshiper knowing its inner secrets  mesmerises the three worlds.

The 1st line: (Outermost) has 10 Devis known as Siddhi Devis. Their positions as shown in above diagram are:

The 2nd line: The 2nd or Middle line has eight Matruka Devis. Their positions in the diagrams are:

The 3rd line: The innermost third line has 10 Mudra Shaktis. They bestow spiritual boons to the worshiper. Their positions are:

The 2nd Avarana
16 petals circle known as Sarvaash Paripooraka Chakra, the fulfiller of all desires. The presiding form of Lalita in this Avarana is Tripureshi. The 16 Devis of this Avarana are called by various names such as the Nitya Kalas, Nitya Devis, Akarshana Devis, and Gupta Yoginis. By worshiping them one gets power over mind, ego, sound, touch, sight, taste, smell, intellect, steadiness, memory, name, growth, etheric body, rejuvenation, and physical body.

The 16 Yoginis, one in each petal, represent the 16 vowels of Sanskrit language from a to ah. Their positions are:

The 3rd Avarana:
The 8 petal circle known as Sarva Sankshobhana Chakra. The presiding form of Lalita in this Avarana is Tripura Sundari. They represent speech, holding, walking, excreting, pleasure, abandoning, concentration and detachment.

The eight Devis, one in each petal,

The 4th Avarana:
This Avarana of 14 triangles (Outer blue triangles in picture) represents the 14 worlds and the 14 main Nadis in the human body. It is called Sarva Soubhagya Dayak Chakra, presided by the Devi Tripura Vasini. Each form of the Devi is represented in above triangles is:

The 5th Avarana:
This Avarana of 10 triangles (red triangles in the picture), called Bahirdasaram, is Sarvarth Sadhaka Chakra, represented by Tripurasri. They represent the Dasavataras (ten incarnations of God) and the 10 Vital Fires. Each form of the Devi represented is:

The 6th Avarana:
This inner 10 triangle chakra (shown in red in the picture) called Antardasardam is Sarva Rakshakara Chakra, presided by Tripura Malini. They are the saktis of the 10 Vital Fires, represented as:

The 7th Avarana:
This inner 8 triangle chakra (shown in Green in the picture) is called Sarva Rogahara Chakra, presided by the Devi Tripura Siddhamba. These forms of the Devis rule cold, heat, happiness, sorrow, desire, and the three gunas Sattvas, Rajas, Tamas. Each form of the Devi represented is:

The 8th Avarana:
This inner three triangle chakra (shown in green in the picture) is called Sarva Siddhiprada Chakra, presided by Tripuramba. Each form of the Devis represented here is:

The 9th Avarana:
This Avarana is the Bindu the Cosmic Union of Shiva & Shakti as Kameswari & Kameswara. It is called Sarvanandamaya Chakra, represented by Rajarajeshvari.