Abstract:
Yantra, defined as a ‘mystic energy diagram’, is a simple composition of lines, triangles,
squares, circles, lotus petals, a trident and with a dot of seed syllable in the centre. Amongst
the numerous thinker saints of India, Shankara of the 8th century has integrated religious
thought, rituals, spirituality, philosophy, poetry and the art of drawing yantras in his composition
of one hundred hymns of Saundarya Lahari. The uniqueness of this composition is
that each of the hymn has a yantra complimenting it. Two Indian artists GR Santosh and KV
Haridasan drew inspiration from Saundarya Lahari and depicted the yantras vividly in their
paintings. GR Santosh a poet artist and who was adept in yoga, born in Kashmir, often visited
Shankara’s shrine in Srinagar which kindled an interest in the philosophy of Shankara.
These impressions from his early life reflected in his paintings were compositions of human
silhouettes juxtaposed with yantras. Born and brought up in a traditional Hindu family, Haridasan
was introduced to the philosophy of Shankara early in his life. His paintings were
an exploration and creative visual representations of Shankara’s yantras. The present paper
inquires the influence of Shankara’s yantras on two Indian Tantric artists GR Santosh and
KV Haridasan illustrating relevant examples of their paintings.
