The Chakra Puja Mantra refers to the set of mantras employed in the ritual worship of the Sri Chakra (also known as Sri Yantra), the foremost yantra in the Sri Vidya tradition. The Sri Chakra is described in the Lalita Sahasranama (verse 100) as the abode of the goddess Tripura Sundari, composed of nine interlocking triangles (nava chakra) around a central bindu. These mantras are primarily drawn from the Tantric corpus, especially the Vamakeshvara Tantra and the Yogini Hridaya, which detail the nyasa, mudra, and mantra sequences for each of the nine enclosures (avarana). The primary beej-akshara associated with the Sri Chakra is the panchadashi mantra (fifteen-syllable) or the shodashi mantra (sixteen-syllable), with the central bindu representing the goddess herself.
Phonetically, the mantras often incorporate the bija 'Hreem' (ह्रीम्), which combines the fire (ra) and sun (ha) energies with the feminine creative power (i). According to the Mantra Mahodadhi (chapter on Sri Vidya), the Chakra Puja Mantras are chanted to invoke the presence of Tripura Sundari in each layer of the yantra, from the outermost square (bhupura) to the innermost bindu. The traditional purpose includes spiritual attainment (siddhi), cosmic alignment, desire fulfillment, and ultimately liberation (moksha). The Devi Mahatmya (chapter 11) extols the worship of the yantra as a means to attain the goddess's grace.
Recommended chanting context includes daily practice during the bright fortnight (shukla paksha), especially on full moon days, with a minimum of 108 repetitions per enclosure. The ritual setting requires a consecrated Sri Chakra, preferably drawn on metal or Bhojpatra, and the practitioner should observe purity, celibacy, and vegetarianism. Cautions: The Chakra Puja Mantra should only be chanted after initiation (diksha) from a qualified guru, as improper recitation may lead to spiritual imbalance. The Yogini Hridaya warns that without proper nyasa and visualization, the mantra remains ineffective.
The practitioner must also perform the prescribed purashcharana (tenfold repetition with homa) to activate the mantra.
Salutations to the king of the Sri Chakra, with the seed syllables Hrīm, Śrīm, Klīm.
The mantra contains three seed syllables: Hrīṃ (ह्रीम्) combines ha (sun), ra (fire), ī (feminine energy), and bindu (completeness); Śrīṃ (श्रीम्) combines śa (auspiciousness), ra (fire), ī (feminine), bindu; Klīṃ (क्लीम्) combines ka (desire), la (attraction), ī (feminine), bindu. These bijas invoke the goddess's creative, prosperous, and attractive aspects.