In reference to the sixty four yoginis liberated by Goddess Durga during her epic battle with the asuras, there are four major extant yogini temples in India, two in Odisha and two in Madhya Pradesh. The iconographies that one gets to see in the Yogini temples aren’t uniform. While in the Ranipur Jharial Temple, the images and sculptures are in dancing postures, those in the Hirapur Yogini Temple all the images are with their vahanas and in standing postures. One who visits the Hirapur Chausat Shrine will be able to see the 64 yoginis.
Confusion with Matrikas
Yoginis in Sanskrit literature are attendants of Durga when he was waging a war against the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. The principle yoginis are identified with Matrikas. The other Yoginis are born out of these Matrikas. In total there was a derivation of 64 yoginis from 8 matrikas, as per tradition. In total there are as many as 81 Yoginis resulting from a single matrika who is associated with eight yoginis.
Confusion with Matrikas
Yoginis in Sanskrit literature are attendants of Durga when he was waging a war against the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. The principle yoginis are identified with Matrikas. The other Yoginis are born out of these Matrikas. In total there was a derivation of 64 yoginis from 8 matrikas, as per tradition. In total there are as many as 81 Yoginis resulting from a single matrika who is associated with eight yoginis.
Comments
Post a Comment