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Yogini

 

 

The Myths of the Yoginis:

The culture of 64 Yoginis was the exuberant expression of extreme form of

tantricism in about 8th century A.D. when occult and esoteric worship reached

its highest peak. 9 such temples have been discovered so far in India. However

most of the temples have been destroyed and the sculptures of the yoginis have

very little is left of them. They represent not only mysticism but potrays the

excellence of Indian sculpture.

 

Origin of the 64 Yoginis is shrouded in mystery. Ancient Indian texts that are

the source for ancient cults, Puranas and Upa-puranas, have been referred to

discover the true origin of the 64 Yoginis. There, it is said the Yoginis are

basically the mother-goddesses. The markendeya Purana tells us the gods created

goddesses from their own POWER OR STRENGTH or SHAKTI to assist them in killing

the demon Raktavirya.

 

Raktavirya was the ally of Sumbha and had the power to multiply into demons from

the drop of blood oozing from his wounds before the blood even touched the

ground. The Yoginis were said to drink the blood of the demon before it could

fall to the ground.

 

A similar story is recorded in the Mahabhagavata Purana. In order to kill the

demon Andhaka, who also had the power to create numerous demons from his oozing

blood, Yoginis were created to drink the blood.

 

Lord Shiva's pasupata weapon had proved futile against Andhaka. Having no

alternative Shiva propitiated Nrusimha to come to his rescue. Lord Nrusimha

created 108 fierce goddesses to help Ambika to kill the demon Andhaka.

 

After Andhaka was killed the new goddesses went on to campaign for the

destruction of the Universe. To subdue them Nrusimha created 32 mothers more

powerful than the 108. The earlier mothers, out of fear, took refuge in

Nrusimha, who asked all the created mothers to look after the living beings of

the Universe as mothers. Yet in another reference, the Yoginis are also believed

to be originally women or priestesses, who were possessed by the spirit of

goddesses and thus became Yoginis. Hence there are many versions available on

the yogini myths.

 

Twelve lists of 64 yoginis collected so far and none confirm the other! Nor do

the Yogini temples show uniformity in iconography. In Hirapur Yogini Temple the

images are all standing on their Vahana or animals, whereas at Ranipur Jharial

they are in dancing poses. The images of Bheraghat temple of Madhya Pradesh are

seated in meditation or Lalitasana. Hence the myths and legends of the Yoginis

are plenty and conflicting, but makes for interesting reading. However one can

conclude that the Yoginis were created from the powers of the gods to destroy

evil and all the powers of the gods finally combined into one Shakti or Mahamaya

or Mother Durga and the Yoginis were Her assistants in the war against the evil.