Yoginis : 64 Warrior Goddesses
64 Yoginis are fierce and beautiful forms of Mother Parvathi , these are warrior Goddesses who are the army women of Mahadevi Parvathi .
It's said by scholars that these Yoginis are much much older than what we know as hinduism today , and it's said these Yoginis are the original mothers who were worshiped with a son-lover with a elephant head and this was non other than Lord Ganesha the beloved son of Mother Parvathi .
They were also worshiped as grama devis. They are mentioned in the Skanda Purana variously as yoginis, dakinis, shaktis or bhairavis. In the Devi Mahatmayem they are described as the army of Goddess Chandika who fought with demons , these fierce warriors used to kill and eat the monster demons .
Another legend associated with them is when Lord Shiva beheaded Lord Ganesha , Goddess Parvathi was filled with anger as her son was killed and many Devis began to appear from her body these were the Goddess groups like Mahavidyas , Nava Durgas , Matrikas and 64 Yoginis .
The female manifestations of Parvati asked for their orders, in front of the Trinity and the huge army of Gods. Seeking retribution for her son's death, Parvati ordered all of her forms to attack the Gods.
The Goddesses obeyed their Mother's orders and attacked. The fierce Yoginis blew storms out of their mouths, burned the Gods alive, beheaded them, decapitated them by eating their skin, ate them alive, scratched them, choked them, impaled them through their chests, drank their blood, broke their bones and their necks, twisted their hands and legs, and swung them away. The Gods were getting slaughtered.
Mother Parvathi demanded the Trinity of Gods to resurrect her son by sunset or she would destroy all of gods army and all the Gods including the Trinity.
Lord Shiva somehow made Ganesha alive with an elephant head and presented him in front of the Supreme Mother . This is the reason Ganesha is the most beloved Son-lover of the Yoginis and is present with each of them in their temples .
The names of the 64 Goddesses include :
Bahurupa,
Tara,
Narmada,
Yamuna,
Shanti,
Varuni,
Kshemankari,
Aindri,
Varahi,
Ranveera,
Vanara-Mukhi,
Vaishnavi,
Kalaratri,
Vaidyaroopa ,
Charchika,
Betali,
Chinnamastika,
Vrishabahana,
Jwala Kamini,
Ghatavara,
Karakali,
Saraswati,
Birupa,
Kauveri,
Bhaluka,
Narasimhi,
Biraja,
Vikatanna,
Mahalakshmi,
Kaumari,
Maha Maya,
Rati,
Karkari,
Sarpashya,
Yakshini,
Aghora, Bhadrakali,
Vinayaki,
Vindya Balini,
Veera Kumari.
Maheswari,
Ambika,
Kamiyani,
Ghatabari,
Stutee,
Kali,
Uma,
Narayani,Samudraa,
Brahmini,
Jwala Mukhi,
Agneyei,
Aditi,
Chandrakanti,
Vayubega,
Chamunda,
Murati,
Ganga,
Dhumavati,
Gandhari,
Sarva Mangala,
Ajita,
Surya Putri,
Vayu Veena.
Among the 64 Yoginis Chamunda is considered to be the chief among them and is the commander in chief of Yogini army .
۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩ ۩
- Hymn to the Yoginis -
We honour the women who lived
Who were skillful and wise
Who held the great knowledge
Bringing together heaven and earth.
We honour the women who breathed
Who became sky borne Goddesses
Who were uncompromising in their fierce wisdom.
We honour the women who laughed
Rumbling like thunder
Teeth flashing like lightning
Across a monsoon sky.
We honour the women who loved
Who bled and birthed and sang
Who taught and brought forth jewels of desire.
We honour the women who speak
Even now in whispers through the ages
To those children of the source
Who become quiet and listen.
( by : Kulasundari Devi )
May the 64 Mothers bless us all .
Om Shakti !