A 10th century sculpture of a yogini from the Smithsonian Institute

A yogini (Sanskrit) is the female origin of a practicing male yogi: having a steadfast mind cultivated by the disciplined pursuit of transcendance through Yoga. In the Hindu tradition, mother is first guru (teacher) and in the Yoga tradition, proper respect of yoginis is a necessary part of the path to liberation. A yogini is the sacred feminine force made incarnate, an enlightened woman with exuberant passion, spiritual powers and deep insight, capable of giving birth to saints, peacemakers, and yogis.^[1] Tantric scholars have written about yoginis as independent, outspoken women with a gracefulness of spirit without whom Yoga can fail in its purpose and remain sterile. ^[2] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1339x1920, 1966 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1339x1920, 1966 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... The Smithsonian castle, as seen through the garden gate. ... A sculpture of a Hindu yogi in the Birla Mandir, Delhi A yogi (Sanskrit feminine: yogini) is a term for a male who practices various forms of the path of Yoga, maintaining a steadfast mind, the process of transcending the lower self. ... For other uses, see Guru (disambiguation). ...

Usage

A woman dedicated to the pursuit of spiritual knowledge and mystical insight, or a yogini, has many faces: from devotional to demure, and from fiery to fierce; all of these can be embraced under the rubric of a yogini. Yogini is a term that finds reference in several texts related to Hinduism and Buddhism where its literal meaning is "shaman" or wisdom seeker, a definition that could just as easily be interpreted as “alchemist,” or "angel of mercy." In some branches of tantra yoga, ten wisdom goddesses (or dakinis) serve as models for a yogini's disposition and behavior. Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... A statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Tawang Gompa, India. ... The shaman is an intellectual and spiritual figure who is regarded as possessing power and influence on other peoples in the tribe and performs several functions, primarily that of a healer ( medicine man). The shaman provides medical care, and serves other community needs during crisis times, via supernatural means (means... In Hinduism, the ten mahavidyas (Great Wisdoms) are aspects of Devi. ... A dakini (Sanskrit: sky dancer; Chinese language: 空行女) is a Tantric priestess of ancient India who carried the souls of the dead to the sky. This Buddhist figure is particularly upheld in Tibetan Buddhism. ...

In the mythological context, the word yogini may indicate an advanced yoga practitioner who is one or more of the following: Hindu mythology is a term used by modern scholarship for a large body of Indian literature that details the lives and times of legendary personalities, deities and divine incarnations on earth interspersed with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse. ...

• A female who is an associate or attendant of Durga.
• In several Tantric cults, the term refers to an initiated female sexual partner, who may take part in tantric rituals.

In a wider and general context, a yogini is a woman who may possess supernatural powers, including the ability to transcend the normal aging process via internalization of the reproductive power known as urdhva-retas (upward refinement of the seed-force) and even death, attaining divya sharira (immortal divine body). During Durga’s battles with the demons (asuras) eight yoginis are described emanating from the body of Durga, and they assisted her in the battle. In later texts, the number of yoginis increased to sixty-four. All these yoginis represented forces of vegetation and fertility, illness and death, Yoga and magic. All yoginis are worshipped collectively and together, each one is enshrined in an individual position in a circular temple open to the sky (Sri Yantra). In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: ) is a form of Devi, the supreme goddess. ... This article is an overview of Tantra and an in-depth look at the Tantra of Hinduism. ... Look up Supernatural in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Divya is an Indian female name. ... // In Hinduism In Hindu mythology, the Asura (Sanskrit: असुर) are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes misleadingly referred to as demons. ... In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: ) is a form of Devi, the supreme goddess. ... For other uses, see Yoga (disambiguation). ... The Sri Chakra. ...

Yogini as tantrika

According to the Hatha-Yoga-Pradipika text, a yogini is more specifically a woman initiate who can preserve her own genital ejaculate (rajas) and contain the male semen (bindu) by means of the practice of the vajroli-mudra, also practiced in reverse by advanced yogis. ^[3]

The sixty-four yogini temples

There are four major extant sixty four yogini temples in India, two of them are in Orissa and the other two are in Madhya Pradesh. One of the most impressive yogini temples in Orissa is the 9th century CE hypaethral Chausathi yogini (sixty-four yogini) temple located at Hirapur in Khurda district, 15 km south of Bhubaneshwar. Another hypaethral sixty-four yogini temple in Orissa is the Chausathi yogini pitha in Ranipur-Jharial, near Titilagarh in Balangir district. Presently only 62 images are found in this temple^[4]. , Orissa   (Oriya: ଓଡ଼ିଶା), is a state situated on the east coast of India. ... , Madhya Pradesh (abbreviated as MP)   (HindÄ«: मध्य प्रदेश, English: , IPA: ), often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. ... As a means of recording the passage of time the 9th century was the century that lasted from 801 to 900. ... Khordha is an administrative division of the state of Orissa, India. ... Bhubaneswarଭୂବନେଶ୍୊଒଍୅ଵର is the capital of the state of Orissa (ancient Kalinga). ... Balangir District, also called Bolangir District, is a district in the western part of Orissa, India. ...

Two notable yogini temples in Madhya Pradesh are the 9th century CE Chaunsath yogini temple to the southwest of the western group of temples in Khajuraho, near Chhatarpur in Chhatarpur District^[5] and the 10th century CE Chaunsath yogini mandir in Bhedaghat, near Jabalpur in Jabalpur district^[6]. , Madhya Pradesh (abbreviated as MP)   (HindÄ«: मध्य प्रदेश, English: , IPA: ), often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. ... As a means of recording the passage of time the 9th century was the century that lasted from 801 to 900. ... , Khajuraho (Hindi खजुराहो) is a village in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District, about 385 miles (620 kilometres) southeast of Delhi, the capital city of India. ... Chhatarpur District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state of central India. ... Bhedaghat is a town and a nagar panchayat in Jabalpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. ... , Jabalpur (Hindi: जबलपुर) is a city in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India. ... Jabalpur District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. ...

The iconographies of the yogini images in four yogini temples are not uniform. In Hirapur yogini temple, all yogini images are with their vahanas (vehicles) and in standing posture. In Ranipur-Jharial temple the yogini images are in dancing posture. In Bhedaghat temple yogini images are seated in Lalitasana^[7].

Yoginis and matrikas

Yoginis are described as belonging to or born from one or other Matrikas. The derivation of 64 yogini from 8 matrikas became a tradition. By mid- 11th century, the connection between yoginis and matrikas had become common lore. The Mandala (circle) and chakra of yoginis were used alternatively. The 81 yoginis evolve from a group of nine Matrikas, instead of seven or eight. The Saptamatrika (Brahmi, Maheshvari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani (Aindri) and Chamundi) joined by Candika and Mahalakshmi form the nine Matrika cluster. Each Matrika is considered to be a yogini and is associate with 8 other yoginis resulting in the troupe of 81(nine times nine). ^[8] Matrikas, that is, the mothers, are a band of divinities, which always appear in a group. ... Chandika is the one of the many allies Super Commando Dhruva has. ...

Notes

References

• Chopra, Shambhavi. Yogini: The Enlightened Woman, Wisdom Tree Press, India, 2006
• Dehejia, Vidya. Yogini Cult and Temples: A Tantric Tradition, National Museum, New Delhi, 1986.
• Feuerstein, Georg. The Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga, Shambhala Publications, Boston, 2000
• Muktananda, Swami. Nawa Yogini Tantra: Yoga for Women, Yoga Publications Trust, Bihar, 2004
• Shaw, Miranda. Passionate Enlightenment: Women in Tantric Buddhism, Princeton University Press, 1994
• Wangu, Madhu Bazaz. Images of Indian Goddesses, Abhinav Publications, New Delhi, 2003

External links

• "Yogini Roots: Did Women Invent the Ancient Art of Yoga?"

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