How to Draw an Optimal Sri Yantra

The Optimal Sri Yantra The optimal Sri Yantra is the result of many years of research. Even though Sri Yantras look all the same they rarely are. There are hundreds if not more different varieties of this very popular figure. We have done extensive research to find what we think is closest to an ideal configuration. For more information on this research please read the article "The optimal Sri Yantra" on our site sriyantraresearch.com

The drawing method All you will need to draw a Sri Yantra using this method is a pen, a ruler, and a compass. This method will produce a precise figure of any size. The drawing sequence will ensure among other things that the errors at the intersections will be small and will only show at two of the triple intersections. This method follows a logical and natural sequence to minimize the number and amount of errors. If you need to have a figure with absolute precision then we recommend you to get the vector Sri Yantra product from our site. When drawing the figure by hand there will always be a certain amount of error but in the case of this method the error is very small and quite hard to see, unless you are planning to draw it on a big scale.

There are many methods out there to draw the Sri Yantra. We have tried and tested most of them (See the section on construction methods at sriyantraresearch.com) and found them to be often incomplete, flawed and imprecise. The few ones that are precise (concurrency) don't produce a figure that is concentric (centered) and with a symmetrical (equilateral) inner triangle.

Draw a circle of any size with a compass. Make sure to mark the position of the center of the circle for later use.

This step and the next three will require the use a compass.

We are now done with the first step of dividing the circle in 12 equal parts. We can now start drawing the Sri Yantra.

The grey lines are guides that will be used to locate some of the key lines of the Sri Yantra. They will not be part of the final drawing, so you can draw them very lightly and erase them later.

Here the exact length of the line is no known yet so draw it a little longer. It will get trimmed at a later step.

Here the exact length of the lines are no known yet so draw them a little longer and they will get trimmed later.

Here the exact length of the line is no known yet so draw it a little longer and it will get trimmed later.

Here the exact length of the lines are no known yet so draw them a little longer and they will get trimmed later.

We can now trim the base line that was drawn earlier.

We can now trim the lines that were drawn earlier.

This step requires the use a compass.

We can now trim the base line that was drawn earlier.

We can now trim the lines that were drawn earlier.

This is where the mistakes, if any will show up (red circles). Notice that for the first time the line is drawn over a double intersection without using it as a reference point. So far we have used the double intersections as a reference point which made sure that there was no cross over mistakes when creating a triple intersection. This is why a mistake (however small) can appear at these two intersections. When drawing these lines try to have them, as much as possible go through the center of the double line crossing indicated by the red circles.

This step completes the central part of the Sri Yantra.

Sri Yantra Enclosure (Bhupura) We will now draw the enclosure for the Sri Yantra. The proportions and configuration of the enclosure are not as critical as they are for the central figure. We offer here one way of doing it but feel free to modify the proportions to your liking. The four gates on the outside can be extended as is commonly done in the modern version of the Sri Yantra. In this approach we make use of the proportions in the central figure to build the outer enclosure.

This step and many of the following ones will requires the use of a compass.

Divide the inner square in three equal parts on each side.

Petals To draw the petals we will need to divide the circle in 32 equal parts. To do that we will use the method shown below to bisect an angle using ruler and compass only.

First use a compass and make two arcs at equal distance from the center.

Now relocate the compass to go from the arc to the outer circle. Make a new arc between the two lines to bisect.

Make a second arc from the other line.

Trace a line from the center to the intersection point of the two arcs.

How to draw a petal

A petal can be drawn by using a compass and ruler by joining two arcs with a straight line.

Divide the figure in 8 equal parts.

Subdivide each section in two equal parts to obtain 16 divisions that we use as guides to draw the first row of 8 petals.

Once more we subdivide each section in two equal parts to obtain 32 divisions.

We use these divisions as guides to draw the second row of 16 petals.

You have now completed the figure. Congratulation.

A close-up of the final result with the three characteristics of an Optimal Sri Yantra shown graphically.

Concurrency: All the triple intersections match precisely

Concentricity: The center of the innermost triangle is aligned with the center of the outside circle.

Symmetry: The innermost triangle is equilateral.