Yoginis
In some contexts, yoginis are female practitioners of Tantra and Yoga, in Buddhism and Hinduism. In Tantric Buddhism, yoginis were the seekers of the path to enlightenment. In Hindu traditions, Yoginis are a group of wild and erotic attendants of the Goddesses, who have divine powers. They are often associated with Matrikas, describing yoginis as being born from Matrikas goddesses.
In temples, Yoginis appear in groups, frequently of 64 or 81. Hence, the origin of 64 yoginis from 8 Matrikas or 81 yoginis from 9 Matrikas, became a tradition. Although there’s no list of yoginis with constant names, their iconographies vary with different temples with different sets of Yoginis. These yoginis can be the folk goddesses who were adopted by Hindu traditions. In most of the temples, the yoginis are grouped together with the Puranic goddesses or Matrikas. Many of them retained their original local name and rituals but iconographically they resemble the popular Hindu goddesses. They are depicted with either a fierce or an erotic appearance and sometimes with animal heads or a human body of flesh and blood. The Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana provides a list of the sixty-four animal-faced Yoginis. In an early 10th-century lost yogini temple of Lokhari, Uttar Pradesh, twenty statues have been found with nearly all having the heads of animals.
Animal-faced Yoginis
The Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana provides a list of the sixty-four animal-faced Yoginis. Following is a list of yoginis with animal names mentioned Kasi Khanda:
In an early 10th-century lost yogini temple of Lokhari, Uttar Pradesh, twenty statues have been found, nearly all having animals' heads. Some of them are named Ajanana, Sharpamukhi, Rksanana, Shashanana, Gomukhi, ; Hayagriva, Hayanana, Mrigashira, and Vrishanana.
Yoginis in Ranipur-Jharial temple
In the Ranipur-Jharial temple, located in Odisha, many Yogini are portrayed as female human figures in various dancing postures. These yoginis are grouped together with some multiple-armed goddesses, animal-headed yoginis, and yoginis carrying war weapons, all in dancing posture. This can be a product of puranic or tribal rituals. The Padma Purana mentions a dance of 64 yoginis with Shiva after killing the demon Jalandhar.
Yoginis in Shahdol temple
Yogini statues from the Shahdol district in Madhya Pradesh are elaborately carved with local and tribal elements. They are shown seated or standing on animals, ghouls, and corpses. Names of some Yoginis are Badari, Naini, Krishna Bhagavati, Jyoti, Vasabha, Narasita, Tarala, Tarini, Varahi, Mahismardini, Kapalini, Hayavadana, Chapala, Tamaka and Thabha. Some of these Yoginis are goddesses mentioned in Hindu literature while others can be the local deities and have a fearsome depiction.
Yoginis in Hirapur temple
Hirapur temple is located near Bhubneshwar, in Odisha, and is the smallest Yogini temple. In the temple, all the yoginis are depicted with their vahanas or mounts and in a standing posture. The yoginis here are puranic Hindu goddesses and the main yogini in this temple is Mahamaya. Four Bhairavas along with four yoginis are installed in the inner circuit of the temple. The outer wall of the temple has nine Katyayanis, all standing on severed heads.
Nine Katyanis outside of the Hirapur Temple
Photo by Manidvipa
Following is a list of the sixty-four yoginis of the Hirapur Temple and their mounts:
Yoginis in Bhedaghat temple
The Yogini temple in Bhedaghat in Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh, has eighty-one yoginis installed. The statues here are big and Yoginis are depicted in sitting posture excepting two in standing posture. These yoginis depict the puranic goddesses attributes but they are labeled with local names. Some yoginis of this temple are Varahi, Aingini, Thakini, Vaishnavi, Kshatradharmini, Rushini, Erudi, Sarvatomukhi, Teramva, (a form of Mahishasuramardini), Chamunda, Phanendri, Pimgala, Tokari, Ranjira, Ganeshini, Kamada, Nandini, Amtakari, Brhmani, Vibhatsa, Padmavati, Satanusamvara, Jhangini and Indrajali.
There are a few other temples, mostly in Central India. Many of these temples are with no or damaged figures of Yoginis. Almost all of them are circular and have an idol of Bhairava or Shiva in the center. Yoginis in these temples represent different aspects of the divine feminine, from bloodthirsty warriors to motherhood. The yoginis of different temples never followed similar directions and inherited regional ideas. The temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, is exceptionally rectangular while in Badoh, Madhya Pradesh, the shrines have 42 Yoginis.
Rudrayoginigana
According to the Matsya-purana, to control this plague of Andhaka, Shiva created around two hundred matrikas or yoginis and ordered them to drink the blood of the Andhaka. These goddesses are called Rudrayoginigana or Rudrashaktis. They are Maheavari, Brahmi, Kauberi, Anali, Sauparni, Vayavya, Aakri, Nairrti, Sauri, Saumya, Aivaduti, Camunda, Varuni, Varahi, Narasimhi, Vaisnavi, Lalantika, Aatananda, Bhagananda, Picchala, Bhagamalini, Bala, Atibala, Rakta, Surabhi, Mukhamandika, Matrnanda, Sunanda, Bidali, Aakuni, Revati, Maharakta, Pilipicchaka, Jaya, Vijaya, Jayanti, Aparajita, Kali, Mahakali, Kaladuti, Subhaga, Durbhaga, Karali, Dehani, Aditi, Diti, Malini, Mrtyu, Karnamotini, Yamya, Uluki, Ghatodari, Kapali, Vajrahasta, Piaaci, Raksasi, Bherundi, Hunkari, Canda, Aaiva, Kataki, Ghanta, Sulocana, Dhumra, Ekavali, Kapalini, Viaala, Drstika, Ayama, Trijati, Kukuhu, Vinayaki, Vaitali, Unmatta, Aubhana, Siddhi, Lelihana, Kekara, Gardabhi, Tarkati, Bahuputra, Pretayana, Vitampura, Kaunci, Sukaramukhi, Vitata, Sarama, Danu, Usarambha, Vasat, Svaha, Dhrti, Jyestha, Kapardini, Maya, Vicitra, Kamarupa, Vaaangama, Svakambila, Sinjika, Mahanasa, Mahamukhi, Kaumari, Rocana, Bhima, Sadahasa, Madoddhata, Araktaksi, Kalakarni, Bhartukarni, Mahasvani, Keaini, Aikhni, Lamba, Pingaksi, Lohitamukhi, Ghantarava, Damstrala, Locana, Kakajanghika, Gokarna, Gomukhi, Mahagriva, Mahamukhi, Ulkamukhi, Dhumraaikha, Kavana, Parikampita, Mohini, Kundini, Ida, Nirbhaya, Bahuaalini, Aurpakarni, Ekaksi, Viaoka, Nandini, Ruca, Jyotsnamukhi, Varapara, Nikumbhila, Raktakampana, Sudaraana, Mahacitra, Citrasena, Manorama, Sudaraana, Haratpapa, Matangi, Lambamekhala, Subala, Balakartari, Pramoda, Langalavati, Citta, Vitta, Jada, Kona, Aantika, Bhasitaaana, Lambastani, Lambhaghanta, Vamacudini, Svalati, Dirghakeai, Sulata, Sundari, Sama, Adhomukhi, Katumukhi, Krodhini, Vasuvaaini, Aravini, Auktika, Candika, Balamohini, Mamsasyahasini, Lamba, Govidari and Samagadhi.
However, they couldn’t defeat the asuras till Suskarevati, a ferocious form of shakti created by Narasimha, drank the blood of all the asuras. After defeating all the asuras, including the original Andhakasura, the Matrikas created by Shiva, began to attack the three worlds, devouring devas and humans. Narasimha again created a group of thirty-two gracious yoginis led by Suska Revati to calm down the terrible Matrikas. This group of 32 yoginis is called Narasimha yoginis. The thirty-two yoginis in the Somamandala in Kubjikamata-tantra are also called Suskarevati. (Read: Kubjikamata Sect)