What is Chid Ākāśa or Chidakasha in meditation?

Chid Ākāśa (or Chidakasha) is described as the 'space of consciousness'—the infinite, subtle field in which all thoughts, visions, and experiences arise during deep meditation. It is sometimes referred to as the 'inner sky' and is the focal point for advanced meditative practices, representing the conscious canvas upon which all mental phenomena appear.

What is a Yantra and how is it used in meditation?

A Yantra is a sacred geometric diagram used as a meditation tool in Tantric traditions. It is a cosmic doorway and living map of consciousness. Practitioners gaze softly at the Yantra to focus the mind, imprinting its form, and then internalize it to access deeper states of awareness. The Yantra serves as a bridge from outer form to inner formlessness.

How do I practice Yantra meditation step-by-step?

Step 1: Sit comfortably and place the Yantra at eye level. Step 2: Gaze gently at the center (bindu) for 3-10 minutes, letting the image settle in the mind. Step 3: Close the eyes and visualize the afterimage on the 'black screen' within. Step 4: Immerse attention in this inner form. Step 5: Let the image dissolve as you become aware of the space of consciousness itself (Chid Ākāśa).

Why do I see blackness or darkness behind closed eyes in meditation?

The blackness is considered the 'threshold' or gateway to deeper awareness—seen as the creative void or the 'cosmic womb' (Yoni Ākāśa) in Tantric terminology. This darkness is Devī's hidden form (Mahāmāyā), the veil from which all form emerges. With sustained practice, this blackness can reveal subtle forms, lights, or become luminous with awareness.

What is the purpose of mantra chanting during Yantra contemplation?

Chanting a mantra such as 'Oṁ Hrīṁ Śrīṁ Bhuvaneśvaryai Namaḥ' while visualizing the inner Yantra energizes the practice, merges sound and form, and helps awaken the presence of the Divine within. In Nāda Yoga, sound serves as the bridge between form and formlessness, with the mantra vibrating through the inner space to make the Yantra alive with Devī's presence.

What sensations or experiences might arise during Chid Ākāśa meditation?

Practitioners often report seeing colored lights, mandalas, or experiencing the Yantra vibrating, rotating, or radiating light. They may also hear subtle inner sounds (nāda) such as high-pitched ringing, bells, flute-like tones, or deep hums. These are nāda threads guiding awareness deeper into unity with the space itself.

What is the difference between Bahya Dṛṣṭi and Antar Dṛṣṭi in Yantra meditation?

Bahya Dṛṣṭi (External Seeing): Gazing softly at the physical Yantra with open eyes, focusing on the bindu while peripheral geometry sinks into awareness. This phase imprints the form into Manas. Antar Dṛṣṭi (Internal Seeing): Closing the eyes and visualizing the Yantra's afterimage on the inner 'screen' of consciousness (Chid Ākāśa), allowing the inner form to stabilize and become alive.

Is Chid Ākāśa associated with a specific chakra?

Chid Ākāśa is often linked to the ajna (third eye) chakra, and meditative focus is generally placed in the space behind the mid-brow or between the eyebrows. However, in advanced understanding, Chid Ākāśa transcends physical chakra systems and represents the infinite field of awareness itself, not limited to any particular location.

What is Chidakasha Dharana and how is it different from other meditative techniques?

Chidakasha Dharana is the practice of focusing awareness on the inner space or 'screen' of consciousness. It differs from other meditative techniques by emphasizing the formless and spacious aspects of mind, rather than concentration on external objects or breath. It specifically cultivates the witness consciousness that perceives all phenomena arising in the inner sky of awareness.

Why is Yantra meditation considered a direct path to inner awareness in Tantra?

Yantra meditation systematically moves attention from outer form to inner subtle experience, culminating in realization of the pure, luminous field of consciousness (Chid Ākāśa). It is considered direct because it uses geometric forms that match the vibratory structure of higher reality, serving as a precise technology for moving from the outer eye to the inner sky, from visible geometry to infinite awareness.

From Yantra to Inner Sky: Entering Chid Ākāśa Through the Blackness Within

In the Tantric path, a Yantra is not just a diagram to be looked at — it is a cosmic doorway, a living map of consciousness. The journey it invites you to take is one that moves from the outer eye to the inner sky, from visible geometry to the infinite Chid Ākāśa — the space of pure awareness.

This article explores the precise process of how to transition from open-eye Yantra contemplation to inner absorption in the blackness behind closed eyes, and how this blackness itself transforms into the luminous field of consciousness.

1. Manas and the Role of the Mind in Yantra Practice

In the Vedantic and Tantric view, the Manas is the inner instrument that receives sensory impressions, holds them, and reflects upon them. In Yantra practice, the Manas serves as a mirror that first captures the outer form of the Yantra and then projects it inward.

When you gaze at a Yantra with open eyes, you are feeding the Manas with the geometry of divinity — lines, curves, bindu (point), and proportions that are said to match the vibratory structure of higher reality.

“Yantraṁ darśayataḥ cakṣur na sādhakaḥ bahirbhavet”
– Kāmikāgama: The gaze upon the Yantra is itself a step toward inwardness.

2. Chid Ākāśa – The Conscious Inner Sky

Chid Ākāśa (also called Chittākāśa) is not physical space. It is the subtle, infinite field of awareness in which all mental images and perceptions appear. In Yogic language, it is the canvas upon which the Manas paints.

When the Manas becomes still, the Chid Ākāśa is revealed as clear, unbounded presence. In advanced practice, this inner sky is not blank — it is alive, shimmering with potential, and capable of revealing deeper layers of reality.

3. The Blackness Behind Closed Eyes

When you close your eyes after gazing at a Yantra, you first encounter blackness. To the ordinary mind, this blackness may seem like absence, but to the Tantric adept, it is Devī’s hidden form — the veil of Mahāmāyā, the Cosmic Womb (Yoni Ākāśa) from which all form emerges.

In the Tripurārahasya, this is described as the state beyond name and form, where Devī dwells invisibly.

“Yatra nāsti nāma rūpaṁ, tatra devī svayam sthitā”
– Tripurārahasya

This darkness is a threshold — a liminal zone where the sensory mind dissolves and the awareness begins to perceive subtle vibration and light.

4. The Two Phases of Yantra Contemplation

Tantric practice divides Yantra contemplation into two essential stages:

Phase 1 – Bahya Dr̥ṣṭi (External Seeing)

Sit with the Yantra placed at eye level.
Gaze softly and steadily, focusing on the bindu or central triangle.
Avoid strain; let the Yantra “enter” the mind.
This phase imprints the form into Manas.

Phase 2 – Antar Dr̥ṣṭi (Internal Seeing)

Close your eyes after steady gazing.
You will see an afterimage on the blackness — sometimes glowing, sometimes shifting.
Instead of chasing clarity, let it stabilize naturally.
This black canvas is the Chid Ākāśa, and the Yantra’s subtle form now resides there.

In this inner seeing, the Yantra becomes alive. With sustained practice, it may begin to vibrate, rotate, or radiate light — signs of activation in the inner space.

5. The Role of Nāda (Inner Sound)

When the Yantra settles in the Chid Ākāśa, the Nāda (inner sound) often awakens. In Nāda Yoga, sound is the bridge between form and formlessness.

The Nāda-Bindu Upaniṣad says:

“Nāda is the bow, the Self is the arrow, Brahman is the target.”

As you contemplate the inner Yantra, listen into the silence. You may hear:

A high-pitched ringing
Bells
A flute-like tone
A deep hum

These are nāda threads, guiding the awareness deeper into unity with the space itself.

6. Entering the Inner Sky – Step-by-Step Guide

Preparation:

Choose a Yantra (e.g., Śrī Yantra or specific Devī Yantra).
Sit comfortably, spine erect.

Step 1 – Outer Gaze (Open Eyes)

Gaze at the Yantra for 3–10 minutes.
Keep attention on the bindu, letting peripheral geometry sink into awareness.

Step 2 – Transition to Inner Sky (Eyes Closed)

Gently close eyes; notice the afterimage.
Place attention on the blackness itself — not avoiding it, but letting it be the support for the Yantra.

Step 3 – Stabilization

Allow the inner Yantra to glow or pulse.
If it fades, gently recall its outline and let it reappear.

Step 4 – Nāda Integration

Begin silent listening.
If a sound arises, let it merge with the vision.

Step 5 – Dissolution

In advanced stages, the Yantra will dissolve into pure Chid Ākāśa.
Remain in that formless awareness.

7. Why the Blackness is the Gateway

The blackness when the eyes are closed is:

The threshold between sensory withdrawal and inner vision.
The Devī’s hidden form — the unmanifest.
The true canvas of meditation — Chid Ākāśa awaiting revelation.

In this blackness, Manas is quiet and the Self witnesses directly.
The journey is not to escape the blackness but to enter it fully until it reveals its luminous nature.

8. A Mantra to Energize the Inner Yantra

While contemplating the inner Yantra in blackness, silently chant:

“Oṁ Hrīṁ Śrīṁ Bhuvaneśvaryai Namaḥ”

Let the mantra vibrate through the inner space, making the Yantra alive with Devī’s presence.

9. Final Understanding – From Form to Formlessness

The essence of this journey:

Outer Form – Yantra on paper, seen with eyes.
Inner Form – Yantra impression in Chid Ākāśa.
Vibrating Form – Yantra alive with nāda and light.
Formless Awareness – Chid Ākāśa alone remains, luminous and infinite.

This is the realization: the Yantra was never outside — it was always the mind’s reflection of the Self, and the blackness was never empty, it was the Devī’s eternal body.

Closing Reflection

When you next sit with a Yantra, remember:
You are not merely looking — you are stepping into a doorway to the inner sky. The lines and curves are Śakti’s invitation to meet Her in the silence behind your eyes, where blackness is not absence but the cosmic womb, and where Chid Ākāśa shines in its own light.