Introduction
The 64 Yoginis: India’s Forgotten Goddesses of Power hold a place both ferocious and mystical in Indian mythology.
Born from Goddess Durga’s rage and divine will, these shadowy warrior goddesses danced through cremation grounds, drank demon blood mid-air, and vanished into silence. Who were they? Why were they worshipped in roofless temples open to the stars?
Today, these fierce feminine spirits are nearly forgotten — yet their story reveals a hidden world where Tantra, Shakti, and sovereignty fused.
Table of Contents
- Mythic Origins of the 64 Yoginis
- Tantra and the Shakta Traditions of Yogini Worship
- Temples of the 64 Yoginis: From Hirapur to Bhedaghat
- Forgotten Goddesses: Legacy and Rediscovery
- FAQ – The 64 Yoginis in Myth and History
- Conclusion
- Resources
Mythic Origins of the 64 Yoginis
According to Devi Mahatmya, Durga faced Raktabija — a demon whose blood birthed more demons. To defeat him, she created 64 fierce emanations from her body. These Yoginis flew in all directions, devouring every drop of his blood before it could touch the earth.
Their mission was protection. Their form, terrifying.
Another tradition traces them to the Ashta Matrikas — eight divine mothers. Each gave rise to eight Yoginis, forming the sacred 64-fold circle of power. These Yoginis weren’t gentle goddesses. They danced in cremation grounds, held skull cups, and embodied both death and rebirth.
They were the limbs of Shakti — cosmic, chaotic, liberating.
Tantra and the Shakta Traditions of Yogini Worship
In Tantric paths, especially Shakta Tantra, the 64 Yoginis held divine status.
They were not mere deities but initiatory forces, invoked by adepts seeking spiritual mastery and siddhis. Worship occurred at night, often at cremation grounds or atop remote hills. Rituals included:
- Wine (madya)
- Meat (mamsa)
- Offerings of blood
- Incantations whispered under full moons
Each Yogini had a unique name, form, and power. Some had animal heads, representing shape-shifting. Others wielded weapons, riding tigers or jackals.
Texts like the Yogini Tantra and Kularnava Tantra describe Yoginis as:
“Mothers of Mantras… who roam the skies and ride the winds.”Their circular arrangement in temples reflected the Yogini Chakra, the mystic circle of feminine force, both protective and dangerous.
Temples of the 64 Yoginis: From Hirapur to Bhedaghat
Unlike traditional temples, Yogini shrines are roofless, circular, and open to the elements. Perhaps the Yoginis, being aerial and free, demanded no ceilings. Or perhaps it was to allow moonlight rituals and astral rites.
Notable temples include:
- Hirapur, Odisha (9th c.): Small but stunning, 64 Yoginis carved in basalt. Each stands fierce, dancing or seated, in a circular hypaethral temple.
- Bhedaghat, Jabalpur (10th c.): Built by Kalachuri rulers. 81 cells encircle a hilltop shrine, with dramatic views of the Narmada valley.
- Khajuraho (9th c.): The oldest of the Khajuraho group. Though rectangular, its Yoginis are fierce and graceful — some with bird or boar heads.
- Mitaoli, Madhya Pradesh: A stunning circular temple, later reused as a model for India’s Parliament design.
- Ranipur-Jharial, Odisha: Remote and haunting, nestled among rocky hills with Yoginis still intact.
All these temples lie isolated, far from towns — fitting for goddesses who never conformed.
Forgotten Goddesses: Legacy and Rediscovery
By the 16th century, Yogini worship faded.Orthodox traditions labeled them as witches. Locals told tales of curses and hauntings. Some temples were buried under vines. Others fell to ruins.
It wasn’t until the 19th and 20th centuries that archaeologists rediscovered them. Historians like Vidya Dehejia and Shaman Hatley traced their Tantric roots. Feminist scholars recognized them as India’s earliest goddesses of sovereignty.
Today, artists and seekers alike are returning to these temples, meditating beneath their gaze.The Yoginis are re-emerging — not as curiosities, but as symbols of freedom, feminine power, and sacred rebellion.
The 64 Yoginis: Fierce Goddesses Lost in Time
Q1: What are the 64 Yoginis in Indian mythology?
A: They are fierce Tantric goddesses created by Durga or descended from the Ashta Matrikas, each symbolizing a form of divine feminine power.
Q2: What is the role of the 64 Yoginis in Tantra?
A: Yoginis represent initiatory energy. In Tantra, they grant siddhis (powers) and guide the aspirant through transformation, often in secret rituals.
Q3: Where are the 64 Yogini temples located?
A: Surviving temples exist in Odisha (Hirapur, Ranipur-Jharial) and Madhya Pradesh (Bhedaghat, Mitaoli, Khajuraho). All are open-air and mostly circular.
Q4: Were the 64 Yoginis worshipped by royalty?
A: Yes. Kalachuri and Chandela kings built Yogini temples. They supported Tantric rites for protection, rain, and power.
Q5: Why were the Yoginis forgotten?
A: As Brahmanical traditions rose, Tantric deities were marginalized. The Yoginis, being wild and independent, fell out of favor and were feared.
Conclusion
The 64 Yoginis: India’s Forgotten Goddesses of Power are returning to our awareness — not just as myths, but as archetypes of feminine agency. They fought beside Durga. They danced through fire. They blessed kings and warned cowards.
They were mothers, sorceresses, rebels. To know the Yoginis is to remember that power can be sacred, and the sacred can be wild.
They remain in circles of stone, waiting — not to be worshipped, but to awaken something fierce, wise, and beautiful in us.
🙏 Om Aim Hreem Yoginyai Namah.
Enjoyed the journey? Share your thoughts below or explore our articles on “Shakti Worship in Tantra” and “Sacred Circles in Hindu Architecture.”
Resources
- 🔗 Dehejia, Vidya – Yogini: Cult and Temples
- 🔗 Hatley, Shaman – The Brahmayāmala Tantra and Yogini Worship
- 🔗 ASI Report on Yogini Temples of India
- 🔗 Yogini Temples of Hirapur and Bhedaghat (HeritageIndia)
- 🔗 UNESCO Tentative Listing for Yogini Temples