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SARAL Hindi and Shri Yantra

 Simplification of Hindi script
          Generally, Hindi language is written in Devanagari script which has several merits. Separate study of vowels in Devanagari is correct and scientific. The names of letters in Devanagari are in accordance with their sounds, and one symbol represents only one sound. It has enough symbols for all sounds and its reading is comparatively easy.

          However, Devanagari has some weaknesses and improvements are necessary. Its vowels have several base symbols that create confusion. To write Devanagari, one has to learn over 200 symbols. This number can be reduced. Devanagari has more than one symbol for some sounds which should be avoided. Its vowel symbols are different from vowel letters and they are placed before, after, above and under a letter. Vowel symbols should be placed systematically after the consonant base. In Devanagari, the letters change their shape when writing and make the script somewhat pictorial and non-alphabetic. The shape of symbols in writing words should be the same as it is in the alphabet. There are several rules for writing the half letters in Devanagari, which make the script complicated. It also has the complicated rules for combining half letters with other letters. Use of the symbols, other than those given in the alphabet, causes problems, which should not happen in an alphabetic script. It is also not easy to type Devanagari script and use it in the computers.

          Scholars of linguistics and phonetics have made several suggestions to overcome the shortcomings of Devanagari script. Considering those suggestions, the concept of SARAL Hindi script has been evolved. In SARAL Hindi, all the merits of Devanagari have been retained and its shortcomings have been removed. SARAL Hindi is a simple, alphabetic and rational script. (SARAL = Simple, Alphabetic and Rational Approach to Language).

          SARAL Hindi has 89 writing symbols. 55 symbols are alphabetic writing symbols (vowel base = 1, vowel symbols = 12, and consonant bases = 42). In addition, there are 34 symbols for numbers, punctuation marks, arithmetic, etc. By limiting the number of writing symbols in SARAL Hindi and by making their use systematic as in an alphabetic script, learning the script becomes easy. SARAL Hindi can also be conveniently typed and used in computers. Through SARAL Hindi, we can publish and communicate on the Internet as easily as in English. All the English language programs for computers can be used in SARAL Hindi. It can also be used for writing Urdu and some other languages.

 Shri Vidya Yantra

          Shri Vidya Yantra is considered to be a beautiful figure to depict and symbolize the secrets of the entire universe. It is regarded as the abode of the Supreme Power or Mother Goddess That creates all the elements of the universe, sustains them, and finally destroys them. The Supreme Power has been given 1000 names such as Shri Vidya, Shivaa, Saraswati, Shri Mata, etc. Shri Vidya Yantra is a symbolic representation of the mysteries of all the elements, energies, and consciousness levels of the universe. It is also a pictorial design that contains the mysteries of the origin and evolution of the language and knowledge in the universe.

          Shri Vidya Yantra has a point (bindu) in the center that is surrounded by triangles, circles, and other geometrical formations. The outer line of the Yantra, called “Bhupur”, takes 36 right angle turns. The 36 turns (angles) of Bhupur are symbols of the 36 elements of the universe. From Bhupur to Bindu, Shri Vidya Yantra has 9 Chakras (circular formations). Their names are usually given as follows:

1.   Bhupur Chakra;

2.   Trilok Vrit Chakra;

3.   Shodash-dal Chakra;

4.   Ashta-dal Chakra;

5.   Chaturdashar Chakra;

6.   Bahirdashar Chakra;

7.   Antardashar Chakra;

8.   Ashtar Chakra; and

9.   Trikon Bindu Chakra or Shiva-Shakti Chakra

These Chakras can also be counted in the reverse order. Accordingly, the Trikon Bindu Chakra or Shiva-Shakti Chakra would come first and the Bhupur Chakra would come last.

     Creation of the universe starts from the Bindu, the abode of the Supreme Sower (or Sadaa Shiva-Shakti), symbolizing the truth, the consciousness and the bliss (Sat, Chit, Anand). The Bindu also represents the Supreme Power or the Cosmic Consciousness. Through vibrations, Bindu grows into a triangle and the consciousness and power or energy elements can be identified distinctly. The three sides or corners of the triangle are symbolic of the three Powers, namely: 1. The power of will, (Icchaa Shakti), 2. The power of knowledge (Gyaan Shakti), and 3. The power of action (Kriyaa Shakti). From the knowledge point of view, the Bindu symbolizes the ultimate source or power of language (Para Vak Shakti) and the three sides or corners of the triangle are the three symbolic of the creative (Pashyanti), cognitive (madhyama), and articulate (Vaikhari) powers of the word or language. Modern psychologists have identified the Pashyanti, Madhyama, and Vaikhari powers as the creative or thinking power of the mind, the language processing power of the brain, and the articulate speaking power of the tongue respectively. The union of Bindu (symbol of Shakti or energy) and the triangle (symbol of Shiva or consciousness) forms the first syllable (xa), which is also called the seed syllable, or “Bij Akshat”. After creation of the seed syllable, there is creation of other writing symbols. Bindu is also called the sound point of the cosmos (Naad Bindu), from where all the sounds as well as all the lights originate and produce the word (mantra), and form (yantra).

         The inner circle of Shri Vidya Yantra has four Shiva triangles and five Shakti triangles. The apexes of the Shiva triangles are upwards and the apexes of the Shakti triangles are downwards. The diagrams or formations made through the intersection of the lines of these triangles are also called Chakras, and their number is 9.

The first Chakra is Trikon-Bindu or Shiva-Shakti (consciousness and energy) Chakra. Thereafter, there are four Shiva Chakras and four Shakti Chakras. The triangles of Shiva Chakras are called Shiva Sthal or the abodes of Shiva (consciousness) and the other areas of the Shakti Chakras may be called Shakti Sthal the abodes of Shakti (energy). The 9 Chakras inside the inner circle of Shri Vidya Yantra have 89 abodes or places of which 43 are Shiva places and 46 are Shakti places. The names of these 9 Chakras, their type and the number of places inside them, are given below:

Name of Chakra                                          No. Of Places      

1.   Shiva-Shakti Chakra        5 (1 Shiva + 4 Shakti)

2.   Ashtar Shiva Chakra                                8

3.   Ashtar Shakti Chakra                               8

4.   Antardashar Shiva Chakra                        10

5.   Antardashar Shakti Chakra                       10

6.   Bahirdashar Shiva Chakra                        10

7.   Bahirdashar Shakti Chakra                       10

8.   Chaturdashar Shiva Chakra                      14

9.   Chaturdashar Shakti Chakra;                    14

    The equality of number (89) and the corresponding relationship between the places in Chakras of the inner circle of Shri Vidya Yantra and the writing symbols of SARAL Hindi is a remarkable phenomenon! In the field of knowledge, this is an important element which can be an great blessing for the promotion of alphabetic literacy. It will not only facilitate the simplified learning of all the symbols of SARAL Hindi, but also help in understanding the mysteries of word, language and knowledge hidden in the Shri Vidya Yantra.

     In accordance with the formation of the triangles of the inner circle of the Shri Vidya Yantra, SARAL Hindi can be learnt in 9 very simple lessons. Each lesson shows clearly the relationship between the writing symbols being learnt and the characteristics of different Chakras of the Yantra. However, it may be clarified that the learning of the Shri Vidya Yantra is not essential for the learning of SARAL Hindi.

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