Britannica AI Icon

shrichakra

religious symbol
Also known as: shriyantra

Quick Summary

The term "shrichakra" refers to the shriyantra, a sacred diagram in Tantric Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddhism. It is also known as the "wheel of Shri". This yantra is composed of nine interlocking triangles, five pointing downward (representing the vulva) and four pointing upward (representing the phallus).1

The shrichakra symbolizes the dynamic interplay of cosmic manifestations, originating and culminating in union at its center, visualized as a dot. This concept is related to the broader idea of chakras as psychic-energy centers in Hinduism and Tantric Buddhism, which are focal points where psychic forces and bodily functions merge. The dharmachakra, or "wheel of dharma," is a separate Buddhist symbol representing the doctrine taught by the Buddha, often depicted with eight spokes symbolizing the Eightfold Path.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.