SYMBOL SRI YANTRA & GUDA STEEL TONGUE DRUM

At the dawn of civilization, when people created the first percussion instruments, logical thinking, as we have come to understand it, did not yet exist. What today’s scholars call “pre-logical" thinking was distinguished primarily by synthetics, where an entire story, or at least a wealth of information, was packed into a single image rather than, say, many volumes of writing. The first synthetic information repositories  were symbols, which, due to their depth and how they were perceived on an unconscious level, are similar in their effect to rhythm. The rhythm of percussion instruments, such as the handpan, hang drum or GUDA DRUM influences a person’s psychophysical statethrough information encoded in it, exactly as painted symbols do.

Not surprisingly, the Guda meditative steel tongue drum is often adorned with ancient symbols. Thus, the symbol melds with the music of the reed drum, strengthening it, while one’s perception of the symbol itself is enhanced by the rhythm of the drum. Symbols are etched onto the instrument by hand by an artist, and when ordering a drum, you may select symbols that inspire you. The mastery of our artists is why each GUDA DRUM is unique – no two are alike, so each of our instruments is a unique "conductor" to the world of sound and self-knowledge.

One of the most popular symbols on the GUDA steel tongue drum is Sri Yantra. The depth and extraordinary impact of this symbol makes it one of the most popular all around the world.

Yantras are used as a visual instrument for concentrating one's focus. In Sanskrit the word can be translated as "instrument", "something that harnesses, strengthens, something that serves as an anchor and support." Yantras contain divine revelations that allow those who practice meditation or yoga to pass from a contemplative state to one of insight and wisdom. They are universal instruments in faiths and traditions around the world precisely because they impact archetypal elements in our consciousness.

Sri Yantra can be found in sacred geometry that is part of meditations as practiced in Buddhism, as well as in various schools of Tantrism, to be used in addition to mantras. Now, Sri Yantra is known far beyond the religious and philosophical traditions that gave birth to it. Its antecedents predate the first millennium BC.

Sri Yantra is an astonishingly powerful and dynamic image comprised of squares, triangles and circles with a central point. It is a symbolic representation of the universe, and the Soul of the Divine. At the same time, Sri Yantra is a magical design that gives birth to the soul of the meditator, leading it toward evolution and awareness.

Sri Yantra is a symbolic representation of the body of the Mother of the Universe, and the center point is the seed of the universe from which it dynamically arises. Anyone contemplating this symbol can see the dawn of creation, and feel like they were part of the creation, and this fosters a link with a creative dawn within.

A deep philosophy is embedded in the image of Sri Yantra. The five triangles directed downwards are connected with Shakti (the creative energy found in motion) and personify Prakriti (original nature and creation) and a fundamental feminine essence. They also symbolize the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether), five senses (touch, smell, sight, hearing, taste), the five senses (ears, skin, eyes, tongue, nose), and the five organs of action (arms, legs, mouth, genitals, anus).

The four triangles directed upward are a symbol of the masculine essence associated with Shiva, with consciousness, with these triangles symbolizing the four states of mind (chitta - consciousness, buddhi - intellect, manas - mind, ahamkara - ego).

The intersection of these triangles signifies a balance between the fundamental feminine and masculine essences, which, when combined, generate the entire diversity of forms in the universe. The entire picture that comes together at their intersection is the very creation of the universe embodied in dynamics, and constant formation.

Sri Yantra is seen as one of the most powerful yantras because it contains the dynamic energy underlying the entire Universe. This is why it exerts an impact on the brain’s activity. The mere contemplation of Sri Yantra has an effect on the human psyche _‑ it inhibits the left hemisphere, which is responsible for logical thinking and analysis, and activates the right, which triggers creative processes and is connected with intuition. And if we hear the meditative rhythms of a Guda steel tongue drum as we gaze at the Sri Yantra, this synthesis opens up infinite possibilities for self-realization. 

According to the Vedas, Sri Yantra has many meanings, and this makes it endlessly profound. On the one hand, it’s a graphic reflection of the evolution and structure of the universe, and when we beat on a drum on which this symbol is etched, it intertwines the rhythms in the birth and evolution of the cosmos. On the other hand, Sri Yantra is a symbolic representation of the structure of the human body. Thus, those who play a steel tongue drum with this symbol are, perhaps, impacting their very psyche and tuning their body, just like a musical instrument, in harmony with Universe. And the image of the Mother of the Universe, which is encrypted in this yantra, exposes you to the source of being.

As such, it is the combination of the meditative rhythm of percussion instruments and the symbol of Sri Yantra that allows the human soul not only to expose its depths, but also to express itself to the world. From ancient times to the present, the soul has always spoken through symbols and rhythm, and the Universe responds in the same language.