Everything about 64 Yogini

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Everything about 64 Yogini

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?

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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:

  1. Divyayogini
  2. Mahayogini
  3. Siddhayogini
  4. Ganeshvari
  5. Pretakshi
  6. Dakini
  7. Kali
  8. Kalaratri
  9. Nisachari
  10. Hunkari
  11. Rudravaitali
  12. Kharpari
  13. Bhutayamini
  14. Urdhvakeshi
  15. Virupakshi
  16. Suskagni
  17. Mamsabhojini
  18. Phetkari
  19. Virabhadrakshi
  20. Dhumrakshi
  21. Kalahapriya
  22. Raktakshi
  23. Ghoraraktakshi
  24. Vishvarupa
  25. Bhayankari
  26. Chaurika
  27. Marika
  28. Chandi
  29. Varahi 
  30. Mundadharini
  31. Bhairavi
  32. Chakrini
  33. Krodha
  34. Durmukhi
  35. Pretavahini
  36. Kantaki
  37. Dirghalambosthi
  38. Malini
  39. Mantrayogini 
  40. Kalagni
  41. Mohini
  42. Chakri
  43. Kankali
  44. Bhuvaneshwari 
  45. Kundala
  46. Talaki
  47. Lakshmi
  48. Yamaduti
  49. Karalini
  50. Kaushiki
  51. Bhakshini
  52. Yaksi
  53. Kaumari
  54. Yantravahini
  55. Vishala
  56. Kamuki
  57. Vyaghri
  58. Yakshini
  59. Pretabhusani
  60. Durjata
  61. Vikata
  62. Ghora 
  63. Kapali
  64. 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:

  1. Narayani
  2. Gauri
  3. Shakambhari
  4. Bhimā
  5. Raktadantika
  6. Bhramari
  7. Parvati
  8. Durga
  9. Katyayini
  10. Mahadevi
  11. Chandraghanta
  12. Mahavidya
  13. Mahatapa
  14. Savitri
  15. Brahmavadini
  16. Bhadrakali
  17. Visalakshi
  18. Rudrani
  19. Krishnapingala
  20. Agnijwala
  21. Raudramukhi
  22. Kalaratri
  23. Tapaswini
  24. Meghaswana
  25. Sahasrakshi
  26. Vishnumaya
  27. Jalodari
  28. Mahodari
  29. Muktakeshi
  30. Gorarupa
  31. Mahabala
  32. Sruti
  33. Smriti
  34. Dhriti
  35. Tushti
  36. Pushti
  37. Medha
  38. Vidya
  39. Lakshmi
  40. Saraswati
  41. Aparna
  42. Ambika
  43. Yogini
  44. Dakini
  45. Sakini
  46. Harini
  47. Hakini
  48. Lakini
  49. Tridaseswari
  50. Mahashasti
  51. Sarvamangala
  52. Lajja
  53. Kaushiki
  54. Brahmani
  55. Maheswari
  56. Koumari
  57. Vaishnavi
  58. Aindri
  59. Narasimhi
  60. Varahi
  61. ChAmunda
  62. Shivaduti
  63. Vishnumaya
  64. Matrika

Yoginis in Kalika Puran

The 64 Yoginis, according to Kalika Puran Adhyaya 63, are:

  1. Brahmani
  2. Chandika
  3. Raudri
  4. Gauri
  5. Indrani
  6. Kaumari 
  7. Vaishnavi
  8. Durga
  9. Narasimhi
  10. Kalika
  11. Chamunda
  12. Shivaduti
  13. Varahi
  14. Kaushiki
  15. Maheshvari
  16. Shaankari
  17. Jayanti
  18. Sarvamangala
  19. Kali
  20. Kapalini
  21. Medha
  22. Shivà
  23. Shakambhari
  24. Bhimaa
  25. Shantaa
  26. Bhrāmari
  27. Rudrani
  28. Ambika
  29. Kshama
  30. Dhatri
  31. Svaha
  32. Svada
  33. Aparna
  34. Mahodari
  35. Ghorarupa
  36. Mahakali
  37. Bhadrakali
  38. Bhayankari
  39. Kshemrika
  40. Ugrachanda
  41. Chandogra 
  42. Chandanayika
  43. Chandā
  44. Chandavati
  45. Chandi
  46. Mahamoha
  47. Priyankari
  48. Balavikarini
  49. Balapramathini
  50. Madanonmathini
  51. Sarvabhutasya damani
  52. Uma
  53. Tara
  54. Mahanidra
  55. Vijaya
  56. Jaya
  57. Shailputri
  58. Brahmcharini
  59. Chandraghanta 
  60. Kushmandi
  61. Mahagauri
  62. Siddharatri
  63. Skandamata
  64. 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:

  1. Gaja
  2. Simhavaktra 
  3. Griddh
  4. Kakatundika
  5. Ustra
  6. Svakhagriva
  7. Varaha
  8. Sivanana
  9. Ulukakshi
  10. Ghoravarna
  11. Mayuri
  12. Sharabhanana
  13. Kotarakshi
  14. Chastavaktra
  15. Kubjika
  16. Vikatanana
  17. Sushkodari
  18. Lalajjihva
  19. Svadamastra
  20. Vanaranana
  21. Rakshasi
  22. Kekarakshi
  23. Brihattunda
  24. Surapriya
  25. Kapalahasta
  26. Raktakshi
  27. Suki
  28. Syeni
  29. Kapotika
  30. Pashahasta
  31. Dandahasta
  32. Prachanda
  33. Chandavikrama
  34. Sishughni
  35. Pashantri
  36. Kali
  37. Rudhirapayini
  38. Vasapana
  39. Gharbhabhaksha
  40. Savahasta
  41. Ntramalika
  42. Rakshakeshi
  43. Mahakuksringa
  44. Pretaprashtaka
  45. Dagdhasukadhara
  46. Kraunchi
  47. Mrigashringa
  48. Vrisānana
  49. Phatatita
  50. Dhumra ashva
  51. Vyompadrodhvardristika
  52. Tapini
  53. Soshini
  54. Sthulaghono
  55. Kotari
  56. Vidyullola
  57. Balaksha
  58. Marjari
  59. Katupana
  60. Attahasya
  61. Kamakshi
  62. Mrigakshi
  63. Cheti
  64. 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

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