Everything about 64 Yogini
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Who are 64 Yoginis?
Today’s topic is 64 Yogini. Before we begin the topic, a few things must be clarified to help us to better understand the topic.
Firstly, yoginis are crores and crores in number; they aren’t restricted to just 64; the 64 yoginis are the main yoginis or the primary ones; they are so due to being the consorts of the 64 Bhairavas.
Like the 64 Bhairavas, which originated from the 8 main Bhairavas, the 64 yoginis, who are the main yoginis, originated from the 8 matrikas, who in turn are the consorts of the 8 Bhairavas.
Due to originating in this way, they have greater powers and knowledge, along with being prioritized in yogini worship, thus making them the main yoginis.
What is the meaning of 64 Yogini?
Yoginis are worshipped compulsorily in a set of 64; the list of names varies in certain traditions, but worshipping them in a set is seen as a prevalent practice. This, however, doesn’t rule out the possibility of worshipping an individual yogini or multiple yoginis in isolation.
In order to truly understand the nature and functions of yogini, we also need to know the meaning of the term in this specific context. While the term yogini in the general case would refer to a female yogi, that’s not the case for the shaktis in discussion.
The term yogini, with respect to the companions of Devi, refers to the entities that originated from the 8 matrikas and later expanded themselves into crores of yoginis.
The companions of Devi, known as Yoginis, are called so as they are the experts and teachers of yoni mudras. This doesn’t imply that they don’t know any other mudras, yogas, or vidyas. It’s simply that their primary purpose is to practice and teach yoni mudra and its secrets.
They are said to externally serve Devi and become devoid of upadhi bhava by means of practicing yoni mudra. Upadhi here denotes the essence of something, like richness is the upadhi of the rich, jivatva is the state of jiva, and poorness is the state or essence of the poor. The yoginis are beyond this all.
Power of 64 Yogini
Yoginis are essentially in the state of jivanmukta, as they are the adepts of yoni mudra and are serving Devi; they obtain knowledge constantly and always remain enlightened.
Yoginis are one of the many companions of Devi and are classified as Avarana devatas, meaning yoginis have deity status as they are hailed as devatas.
However, the question remains: what is meant by avaran?
Avarana denotes veil; Devi likes to remain veiled and not show her actual nature to most people. The Yoginis thus act as one of the many groups of Avarana devatas keeping devi veiled.
The yoginis have immense powers similar to the devatas of svarga, and even more, they are experts in yoni mudra and yoni tantra. The yogini clan of Maa Kamakhya tradition is based entirely on these yoginis along with Kali.
The yoginis came into being when the 8 matrikas manifested them to accompany the 64 Bhairavas who were manifested by the 8 Bhairavas. The purpose of having the yoginis is threefold: firstly, they serve as Avarana devatas for the Mahavidyas; secondly, they work as Kshetrapalas, with a set of eight yoginis presiding over one of the eight directions; and thirdly, they serve as teachers of yoni tantra to help Sadhakas.
What does SHASTRAS Say?
Different shastras, such as the 64 yoginis Tantra, Agni Purana Adhyaya 52, Brihannandikeshwar Puran, and Kalika Puran Adhyaya 63, have a list of 64 yoginis. The contents of the list vary from shastra to shastra, and the names are different owing to Kalpabheda and Achara Bheda. For instance, the list of Kalika Puran gives the names with respect to the avarana devatas of Sri Vidya, while the Yogini Tantra discusses the names of the mandala and Agni Purana to the kshetras.
This, however, shouldn’t amount to confusion. The list we shall take up for our discourse today is from the 64 yogini stotram, which runs parallel to the 64 Bhairava stotram. Both being from the same tradition, it’ll be easier for the people here to grasp what’s being written.
The list of the 64 yogini Stotram gives the following names for the 64 yoginis:
- Divyayogini
- Mahayogini
- Siddhayogini
- Ganeshvari
- Pretakshi
- Dakini
- Kali
- Kalaratri
- Nisachari
- Hunkari
- Rudravaitali
- Kharpari
- Bhutayamini
- Urdhvakeshi
- Virupakshi
- Suskagni
- Mamsabhojini
- Phetkari
- Virabhadrakshi
- Dhumrakshi
- Kalahapriya
- Raktakshi
- Ghoraraktakshi
- Vishvarupa
- Bhayankari
- Chaurika
- Marika
- Chandi
- Varahi
- Mundadharini
- Bhairavi
- Chakrini
- Krodha
- Durmukhi
- Pretavahini
- Kantaki
- Dirghalambosthi
- Malini
- Mantrayogini
- Kalagni
- Mohini
- Chakri
- Kankali
- Bhuvaneshwari
- Kundala
- Talaki
- Lakshmi
- Yamaduti
- Karalini
- Kaushiki
- Bhakshini
- Yaksi
- Kaumari
- Yantravahini
- Vishala
- Kamuki
- Vyaghri
- Yakshini
- Pretabhusani
- Durjata
- Vikata
- Ghora
- Kapali
- Vishalagni
This list is about the 64 Bhairavas named in the Rudrayamala Tantra; the names of these yoginis are also from the same tantra.
Since the discourse on yoginis is going on, I’ll also cover the list of Brihon Nandikeshwar Puran, Agni Purana, and Kalika Puran so that you people can have some more information with respect to the topic. Once this is done, I will explain the actual theories on how the Yogis came into existence in each of these various systems.
64 Yogini in Agni Puran
The list of 64 Yoginis, along with their kshetras, is given in Agni Puran Adhyaya 52:
Asthayoginis of Purva:
Akṣobhyā, Ruksakarni, Rakshasi, Kṛpaṇā, Pingakshi, Kashayā, Tara, and Akṣayā
Astha yoginis of Paschim:
Raktaakshi, Suprasiddhā, Vidyujjihvā, Karankini, Meghanaadā, Prachandogrā, Kaalakarni, and Varapradā
Astha Yoginis of Uttar:
Dhamani, Taapani, Raagini, Vikratananā, Vaayuvegā, Bṛhatkukṣi, Vikṛtā, and Visvarupikā
Astha Yoginis of Dakshin:
Hutas, Visalakshi, Hunkar, Vadavaamukhi, Mahaakrur, Krodhan, Bhayankari, and Mahaanan
Astha yoginis of Agni (south east):
Ksemā, Ilā, Lilā, Layā, Laktā, Balaakeśī, Laalasā, and Vimalā
Astha Yoginis of Ishana (northeast):
Yamajihvā, Jayanti, Durjayā, Jayantikā, Vidaalā, Revati, Putanā, and Vijayaantikā
Asthayoginis of Vayu (northwest):
Chandrā, Chandraavali, Prapancā, Pralayaantikā, Sisuvaktrā, Pisaaci, Pisitaashā, and Lolupā
Astha yoginis of Nirrta (southwest):
Sarvajnā, Taralā, Ṛgvedā, Hayānanā, Saraakhyā, Rudrasngraahi, Sambarā, and Taalajanghikā
64 Yoginis in Brihon Nandikeshwar Puran
The list of 64 yoginis given in Brihannandikeswar Puran is:
- Narayani
- Gauri
- Shakambhari
- Bhimā
- Raktadantika
- Bhramari
- Parvati
- Durga
- Katyayini
- Mahadevi
- Chandraghanta
- Mahavidya
- Mahatapa
- Savitri
- Brahmavadini
- Bhadrakali
- Visalakshi
- Rudrani
- Krishnapingala
- Agnijwala
- Raudramukhi
- Kalaratri
- Tapaswini
- Meghaswana
- Sahasrakshi
- Vishnumaya
- Jalodari
- Mahodari
- Muktakeshi
- Gorarupa
- Mahabala
- Sruti
- Smriti
- Dhriti
- Tushti
- Pushti
- Medha
- Vidya
- Lakshmi
- Saraswati
- Aparna
- Ambika
- Yogini
- Dakini
- Sakini
- Harini
- Hakini
- Lakini
- Tridaseswari
- Mahashasti
- Sarvamangala
- Lajja
- Kaushiki
- Brahmani
- Maheswari
- Koumari
- Vaishnavi
- Aindri
- Narasimhi
- Varahi
- ChAmunda
- Shivaduti
- Vishnumaya
- Matrika
Yoginis in Kalika Puran
The 64 Yoginis, according to Kalika Puran Adhyaya 63, are:
- Brahmani
- Chandika
- Raudri
- Gauri
- Indrani
- Kaumari
- Vaishnavi
- Durga
- Narasimhi
- Kalika
- Chamunda
- Shivaduti
- Varahi
- Kaushiki
- Maheshvari
- Shaankari
- Jayanti
- Sarvamangala
- Kali
- Kapalini
- Medha
- Shivà
- Shakambhari
- Bhimaa
- Shantaa
- Bhrāmari
- Rudrani
- Ambika
- Kshama
- Dhatri
- Svaha
- Svada
- Aparna
- Mahodari
- Ghorarupa
- Mahakali
- Bhadrakali
- Bhayankari
- Kshemrika
- Ugrachanda
- Chandogra
- Chandanayika
- Chandā
- Chandavati
- Chandi
- Mahamoha
- Priyankari
- Balavikarini
- Balapramathini
- Madanonmathini
- Sarvabhutasya damani
- Uma
- Tara
- Mahanidra
- Vijaya
- Jaya
- Shailputri
- Brahmcharini
- Chandraghanta
- Kushmandi
- Mahagauri
- Siddharatri
- Skandamata
- Katyayani
64 Yoginis in different traditions:
There’s an additional list of 64 yoginis in another tradition with entirely different names, which are as follows:
- Gaja
- Simhavaktra
- Griddh
- Kakatundika
- Ustra
- Svakhagriva
- Varaha
- Sivanana
- Ulukakshi
- Ghoravarna
- Mayuri
- Sharabhanana
- Kotarakshi
- Chastavaktra
- Kubjika
- Vikatanana
- Sushkodari
- Lalajjihva
- Svadamastra
- Vanaranana
- Rakshasi
- Kekarakshi
- Brihattunda
- Surapriya
- Kapalahasta
- Raktakshi
- Suki
- Syeni
- Kapotika
- Pashahasta
- Dandahasta
- Prachanda
- Chandavikrama
- Sishughni
- Pashantri
- Kali
- Rudhirapayini
- Vasapana
- Gharbhabhaksha
- Savahasta
- Ntramalika
- Rakshakeshi
- Mahakuksringa
- Pretaprashtaka
- Dagdhasukadhara
- Kraunchi
- Mrigashringa
- Vrisānana
- Phatatita
- Dhumra ashva
- Vyompadrodhvardristika
- Tapini
- Soshini
- Sthulaghono
- Kotari
- Vidyullola
- Balaksha
- Marjari
- Katupana
- Attahasya
- Kamakshi
- Mrigakshi
- Cheti
- Matah
These yoginis are originally the yoginis of Guhyakali, which is evident as there are several animal-headed and destructive shaktis present in the list.
There’s yet another list in the yogini tantrum that I’m not discussing here for certain reasons; however, I’ll tell you one thing: the yogini tantrum has a different story for the yoginis.
Yogini Tantra
According to the yogini tantra, the yoginis came out of the yoga shakti of Parvati while she was doing tapasya, and the moment they manifested, they were taught the secrets of yoga and yoni mudra, along with yoni tantra prayogam, by Devi herself, thus earning them the name yogini.
Now, if you have observed, there are certain names that are common to all lists and some that are different. There are also names of yoginis that also resemble the names of other things; for instance, the names of Tara and Kali, who are Mahavidyas; even Rigveda is named, which is technically supposed to be a shastra, yet we come across these names.
These aren’t to be confused with the Mahavidyas, the Shastras, or the animals I’ve named. The Yoginis are given these names on account of their semblance to nature and appearance. The yoginis and Mahavidyas are different entities, having different yonis despite the same name; they are distinctly different.
Here ends the discourse on 64 yoginis. Those of you who have questions can ask them in the comment box.
Article credit: Tara Peeth Aghor Acharya Swords_of_shiva