The Bhavana Upanishad is a minor Upanishad attached to the Atharvaveda, but it is one of the most important texts in the Sri Vidya tradition. It is a short text of 25 verses that expounds the inner meaning of the Sri Yantra and the worship of the goddess Lalita Tripura Sundari. The dhyana mantras from this Upanishad are used for meditation on the Sri Yantra, focusing on the nine enclosures (navavarana) and the presiding deities. The term 'bhavana' means contemplation or creative imagination, and the Upanishad teaches how to visualize the Sri Yantra as a manifestation of the goddess. According to the Bhavana Upanishad (verse 1), 'The supreme goddess, who is consciousness itself, is to be contemplated as the Sri Yantra.' The beej-akshara 'Om' is central, and the mantra 'Om Bhavana' is often chanted.
The phoneme 'Bha' represents the goddess's creative power, 'Va' her sustaining power, and 'Na' her dissolving power. The traditional purpose is to attain realization of the non-dual nature of the goddess and the universe. The Bhavana Upanishad states that by contemplating the Sri Yantra with devotion, one achieves liberation (moksha). The recommended chanting context is during the worship of the Sri Yantra, especially in the morning or evening, with a count of 108 repetitions using a rudraksha or sphatika mala. The ritual setting includes a clean space, a Sri Yantra image or yantra, and offerings of flowers and incense.
Cautions: This mantra should be chanted only after receiving initiation (diksha) from a qualified guru in the Sri Vidya tradition, as improper practice may lead to confusion. The Lalita Sahasranama also references the Bhavana Upanishad in its description of the goddess's form. The Mantra Mahodadhi (chapter on Sri Vidya) elaborates on the nyasa and mudras associated with these dhyana mantras. The practice is particularly observed during the festival of Sri Vidya upasana, which includes Navaratri and other auspicious days. The Bhavana Upanishad Dhyana Mantra is thus a profound tool for inner transformation, aligning the practitioner's consciousness with the cosmic geometry of the Sri Yantra.
Salutations to the goddess Bhavana (the creative power of consciousness).
The mantra contains the seed 'Bha' (भ) representing the goddess's creative power, 'Va' (व) her sustaining power, and 'Na' (न) her dissolving power, though not as explicit bija syllables.