In my previous posts, I have discussed about the Mahavidyas and Chakras and some other aspects of Hinduism. And when I re-read my own posts, I realized that I have never mentioned the Yoginis in any of my posts. How foolish of me to do such a grave blunder. Without the guidance of the Yoginis, one cannot step a single foot into the world of Tantra, and here I am, a fool not even mentioning their names. In this post, I will talk about the Yoginis and would share as much information as possible about their nature and their significance in our day-to-day lives.
But before starting, I must apologize to the Divine Mother for forgetting the Yoginis and not mentioning them before. If Tantra is to be considered an institute of occult studies, then the Yoginis are the teachers who run this institute. And without their blessings and support, one cannot expect to discover the real meaning of Tantra. So, let us take a deep dive into the world of Yoginis.
To understand the Yoginis, one needs to know the meaning of the word ‘Yogini’. In simple words, an Yogini is a female practitioner of Yoga.
So is that it? Does that mean that any female practitioner of Yoga is a Yogini? The answer to it is Yes and No.
Technically, Yes, a female practitioner of Yoga is a Yogini. But when we are talking about the Yoginis as mythological deities, then the matter is a little, no, a lot complicated.
So, who are these Yoginis anyway?
As previously mentioned, the word Yogini comes from ‘Yoga’ meaning ‘union’. This union refers to ones union with the divine as well as union of the ones conscious self with their higher self.
The Yoginis are a group of female mythological deities, generally believed to be 64 in number, who are considered to be the divine mothers friends and sometimes parts of her manifestations. These women were believed to have fought alongside Durga, Kali and the Asta Matrikas in the battle between the Goddess and the Demons.
The exact number of Yoginis in Hinduism is a topic of debate amongst scholars. And so are their names and forms. Some texts mention the existence of 64 yoginis, some say there are 84 yoginis, some reduce it to just 8, whilst others believe it to be 72,000. Still, most people think, or rather know of the 64 Yoginis.
Yoginis hold immense magickal powers. They are said to bestow gifts of immense value to their devotees. They can reveal hidden knowledge of the cosmos to who they take a liking to. They can turn a beggar into a king overnight and vice-versa.
There are many temples dedicated to the Yoginis but the most famous one is the Hirapur 64 Yogini temple in Orissa. This temple, believed to be built by Queen Hiradevi of the Bramha dynasty during the 9th century, is one of the last remaining shrines dedicated to the Yoginis. My post is centered around the lore of the Hirapur Yogini Temple.
If you observe closely, you will notice that the temple looks like a Shiva-Lingam from the top. This is because Lord Shiva is said to be the founder of the Tantrick traditions. He is the first Sadhak who received the blessings of the divine mother and then he passed this knowledge to his disciples.
Bird’s Eye View of the temple 
The main presiding deity “Mahamaya” 
Main Entrance of the Temple 
Design Plan of the temple resembling a Yoni Pedestal
Also, notice how the design of the Indian Parliament house is based around this temple. It is unclear if the parliament house was based around this temple, but there will be nothing wrong with doing that. For, the yoginis do maintain a hierarchal order of power in their community.
In the Hirapur Shrine, the central stage is occupied by Lord Shiva. He is like the Principal of this institute. Surrounding him are 4 yoginis, who, we can assume are the Vice-Principal, Secretary and Headmistress of this institute. Surrounding them are 60 yoginis, who, we can think of as the respective subject teachers.
The worshiping of Yoginis is forbidden in homes. This is because, the Yoginis represent nature in her free and untamed form. They cause draughts as well as floods, and also they are the ones who bring fertility to the land. They prefer to be worshipped along the banks of the river, preferably a cremation ground, or a deep forest with little to human contact.
Devi Mahamaya, or Adi Shakti, is the main primordial energy from which the entire cosmos was created. She manifests as the divine feminine and takes multiple forms – both destructive as well as constructive.
The Yoginis are some of the most important aspects of Devi Mahamaya. For they, are what holds her divine power and equally distributes it. Previously, I have mentioned Tantra as an institute and Yoginis being the teachers. Amongst these teachers, 8 of them are the Heads of 8 different departments. And under their guidance, 8 more yoginis teach in each department. Thus the total number of Yoginis being 8*8= 64. Lord Shiva is the Head of the Institute and the 8 HODs are the main Asta Yoginis. These Yoginis are said to be more ferocious but also somewhat higher in rank than the other Yoginis. the names of the Asta Yoginis are :
- Surasundari
- Natini
- Kanakvati
- Madhumati
- Kamakshi
- Manohara
- Padmini
- Rati
Now, the Names of the 64 Yoginis:
- Bahurupa
- Tara
- Narmada
- Yamuna
- Shanti
- Varuni
- Kshemankari
- Aindri
- Varahi
- Ranveera
- Vanara-Mukhi
- Vaishnavi
- Kalaratri
- Vaidyaroopa
- Charchika
- Betali
- Chinnamastika
- Vrishabahana
- Jwala Kamini
- Ghatavara
- Karakali
- Saraswati
- Birupa
- Kauveri
- Bhaluka
- Narasimhi
- Biraja
- Vikatanna
- Mahalakshmi
- Kaumari
- Maha Maya
- Rati
- Karkari
- Sarpashya
- Yakshini
- Vinayaki
- Vindya Balini
- Veera Kumari
- Maheshwari
- Ambika
- Kamiyani
- Ghatabari
- Stutee
- Kali
- Uma
- Narayani
- Samudraa
- Brahmani
- Jwala Mukhi
- Agneyei
- Aditi
- Chandrakanti
- Vayubega
- Chamunda
- Murati
- Ganga
- Dhumavati
- Gandhari
- Sarva Mangala
- Ajita
- Surya Putri
- Vayu Veena
- Aghora
- Bhadrakali
Now coming to the Mantra and Yantras of the 64 Yoginis. One can always offer flowers on a Shree Yantra or Shree Chakra for the Yoginis. However, if one wishes to do a full-fledged Puja/Sadhana of the Yoginis, they need to use the 64 Yogini Yantra. Such a Sadhana should only be done under the guidance of a Guru.
Mantra : oṁ aiṃ klīṃ śrīṃ hsauḥ catuḥṣaṣṭayoginebhyo namaḥ
If one wants, they may chant the Namavali of the 64 Yoginis to get the blessings of the Yoginis. This Namavali can be chanted by anyone irrespective of caste, creed or gender:
- 1. Om Kali Nitya Siddhamata Swaha
- 2. Om Kapalini Nagalakshmi Swaha
- 3. Om Kula Devi Svarnadeha Swaha
- 4. Om Kurukulla Rasanatha Swaha
- 5. Om Virodhini Vilasini Swaha
- 6. Om Vipracitta Rakta Priya Swaha
- 7. Om Ugra Rakta Bhoga Rupa Swaha
- 8. Om Ugraprabha Sukranatha Swaha
- 9. Om Dipa Muktih Rakta Deha Swaha
- 10. Om Nila Bhukti Rakta Sparsha Swaha
- 11. Om Ghana MahaJagadamba Swaha
- 12. Om Balaka Kama Sevita Swaha
- 13. Om Matra Devi Atma Vidya Swaha
- 14. Om Mudra Poorna Rajatkripa Swaha
- 15. Om Mita Tantra Kaula Diksha Swaha
- 16. Om Maha Kali Siddhesvari Swaha
- 17. Om Kameshvari Sarvashakti Swaha
- 18. Om Bhagamalini Tarini Swaha
- 19. Om Nityaklinna Tantraprita Swaha
- 20. Om Bherunda Tatva Uttama Swaha
- 21. Om Vahnivasini Sasini Swaha
- 22. Om Mahavajreshvari Rakta Devi Swaha
- 23. Om Shivaduti Adi Shakti Swaha
- 24. Om Tvarita Urdvaretada Swaha
- 25. Om Kulasundari Kamini Swaha
- 26. Om Nitya Jnana Svarupini Swaha
- 27. Om Nilapataka Siddhida Swaha
- 28. Om Vijaya Devi Vasuda Swaha
- 29. Om Sarvamangala Tantrada Swaha
- 30. Om Jvalamalini Nagini Swaha
- 31. Om Chitra Devi Rakta Puja Swaha
- 32. Om Lalita Kanya Sukrada Swaha
- 33. Om Dakini Madasalini Swaha
- 34. Om Rakini Papa Rasini Swaha
- 35. Om Lakini Sarvatantresi Swaha
- 36. Om Kakini Naganartaki Swaha
- 37. Om Sakini Mitrarupini Swaha
- 38. Om Hakini Manoharini Swaha
- 39. Om Tara Yoga Rakta Poorna Swaha
- 40. Om Shodashi Latika Devi Swaha
- 41. Om Bhuvaneshwari Mantrini Swaha
- 42. Om Chhinnamasta Yoni Vega Swaha
- 43. Om Bhairavi Satya Sukrini Swaha
- 44. Om Dhumavati Kundalini Swaha
- 45. Om Bagla Muki Guru Moorthi Swaha
- 46. Om Matangi Kanta Yuvati Swaha
- 47. Om Kamala Sukla Samsthita Swaha
- 48. Om Prakriti Brahmandri Devi Swaha
- 49. Om Gayatri Nitya Chitrini Swaha
- 50. Om Mohini Matta Yogini Swaha
- 51. Om Saraswathi Svarga Devi Swaha
- 52. Om Annapoorni Shiva Samgi Swaha
- 53. Om Narasimhi Vamadevi Swaha
- 54. Om Ganga Yoni Svarupini Swaha
- 55. Om Aprajita Samaptida Swaha
- 56. Om Camunda Parianganatha Swaha
- 57. Om Varahi Satya Ekakini Swaha
- 58. Om Kaumari Kriya Shaktini Swaha
- 59. Om Indrani Mukti Niyantri Swaha
- 60. Om Brahmani Ananda Moorthi Swaha
- 61. Om Vaishnavi Satya Rupini Swaha
- 62. Om Mahesvari Para Shakti Swaha
- 63. Om Lakshmi Monoramayoni Swaha
- 64. Om Durga Satchitananda Swaha
If you observe carefully, you will notice, that the Namavali Mantra doesn’t really follow the names previously mentioned. The reason for this is that the Sadhana of the Yoginis is an extremely higher level Sadhana that can only be practiced under the guidance of a proper Guru. However, the Namavali Mantra of the 64 Yoginis has been made available for the common people to chant without getting in trouble with them. This mantra can be recited by anyone – whether they are initiated or not. The best time to chant this mantra is during Navaratri.
The Namavali contains names of the most common forms of the Goddess in arranged in a specific pattern. It starts with Kali and her 15 Nitya Devis, then Lalita and her 15 Nitya Devis, then the 10 Mahavidyas, then the ruler of the 7 chakras, the 7 Matrikas, and 8 other common Goddesses.
Also, notice each mantra follows a specific formula/structure. The mantra starts with an “Om”, followed by the name of the Goddess/Yogini, then a title assigned to her, and ends with a Swaha. For example, “Om Kameshvari Sarvashakti Swaha”. Here, Kameshvari, is the name of the Goddess/Yogini and Sarvashakti is the title assigned to her.
I should stop writing here. There is nothing more that I can write about when it comes to the Yoginis. Neither am I a guru, nor do I claim to be a mythological expert. However, Mythology intrigues me and I love studying Mythology. I started my blog as a personal journal but it has now become a mostly mythological blog. And I am not complaining. I like it this way.
Thank You So Much for reading.
Blessed Be.
The Rudy Phoenix 