Karmandir 
About
The Ganesh Yantra is a yantra of Ganesh ji, the remover of obstacles, who is worshipped first in every puja. A common form, seen on metal plates and in prints, has a dot at the centre, a six-pointed star inside an upward triangle, a circle with eight lotus petals, and a square frame with four gates. Many families keep it in the puja place or near the main door and remember Ganesh ji before starting studies, a journey or new work. Its lines lead the eye inward to the dot at the centre, which is seen as the seat of the deity.
Parts of the yantra
Bindu: the dot at the centre, the seat of Ganesh ji. Shatkona: two crossing triangles forming a six-pointed star; in the full avarana puja its six corners are honoured with six mantras. Trikona: the large upward triangle around the star, whose sides the star touches at their middle points. Two circles with a lotus of eight petals between them; in the avarana puja eight devis such as Vidya and Punya are honoured on the petals. Bhupura: the outer square of three lines with a gate on each side, marking the boundary of the sacred space.
How to use it
Place the yantra on a clean cloth in the puja place, upright as drawn, with the big triangle pointing up. Light a diya and incense, and offer durva grass, a red flower or a modak. Sit facing it, rest your eyes gently on the centre dot and chant ॐ गं गणपतये नमः 11 or 21 times. Many families do this on Wednesdays, on Chaturthi and before beginning something new. Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth to keep it clean.
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
Om Gan Ganapataye Namah →
Drik Panchang's Vakratunda Ganesha Yantra has no big triangle: its six-pointed star sits straight inside the circle, the mantra ॐ वक्रतुण्डाय हुम् is written at the centre, and the numbers 1 to 42 may be added only as a guide for the avarana puja. Metal plates often write names and mantras on the petals and around the frame; this drawing keeps only the lines and the bindu.
