Trikona is a
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
word which signifies a triangle and is one of the widely used
mythical geometric symbol. It is used to assist in
meditation
Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique to train attention and awareness and detach from reflexive, "discursive thinking", achieving a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state, while not judging the meditat ...
, and in different
yantras. Different positions of trikona (triangle) are believed to impart different types of properties and attributes to the symbol. Such properties and attributes include the following:
*tri means "three" and "kon" means angle. Trikon literally translates to triangle and not to equilateral triangle
*A trkona, which points upward, indicates
agni
Agni ( ) is the Deva (Hinduism), Hindu god of fire. As the Guardians of the directions#Aṣṭa-Dikpāla ("Guardians of Eight Directions"), guardian deity of the southeast direction, he is typically found in southeast corners of Hindu temples. ...
,
linga
A lingam ( , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. The word ''lingam'' is found in the Upanishads and epic literature, wher ...
and
purusha.
*A trkona, which points downward, indicates water,
yoni and
prakriti.
*In another configuration, two trkonas are depicted interpenetrating each other and one points upwards while the second points downwards. This symbolized purusha and prakriti.
*When trikonas are united in such a way that they form a six-pointed star, they represent creative activity from which the
cosmos
The cosmos (, ; ) is an alternative name for the universe or its nature or order. Usage of the word ''cosmos'' implies viewing the universe as a complex and orderly system or entity.
The cosmos is studied in cosmologya broad discipline covering ...
springs forth.
*When a circle surrounds a hexagonal figure, it is symbolic of revolving time, in which purusha and prakriti manifest themselves in the form of creation. The hexagon is also used in
Shakti
Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; 'energy, ability, strength, effort, power, might, capability') in Hinduism, is the "Universal Power" that underlies and sustains all existence. Conceived as feminine in essence, Shakti refer ...
cult.
*When the trikonas are represented in a disjointed manner and separated from each other, they symbolize the cession of time and the cosmos ceases to exist.
It is also used to describe astrological houses located in a triangular relationship to one another in
Vedic astrology: the first house, the fifth house and ninth house, which are all 120 degrees from one another.
See also
*
Yantra
References
*''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'' () by Anna Dhallapiccola
{{HinduMythology
Meditation
Tantric practices