Temple of Yoginis, Bhedaghat, Madhya Pradesh

 

Introduction

Yogini temples of India, scattered across middle country are unique and  mystical. Various Yogini idols, their worship, their place in divine pantheon and their earthly abodes have all been intriguing to the researchers and seekers alike.

The holy Narmada River, after plunging through Dhuandhar, runs slowly and majestically through tall cliffs of marble at Bhedaghat near Jabalpur. At the  Bhairavi Ghat, on the northern bank and on top of a hill stands one of the largest Yogini temple.

The structure is circular in plan as all Yogini temples are and hypaethral meaning, open to sky. The circular stone wall has niches for each of the yoginis. Most of the Yogini temples have 64 distinct Yogini idols. However, Bhedaghat Yogini temple as 81 Yogini idols

Yogini by definition implies women master practitioners in the path of spiritual progress. They are ascetics who have renounced the world and are following a ‘Yogic’ path to attain the highest goal of Moksha.

Yogini temple and its circular plan implies a circle or Mandal of Yoginis. Circle is supposed to enclose whatever it holds within, be it energy or power. The yogini temples are hypaethral in nature i.e. they are open to sky. No roof to cover or shield the energy flow that can originate from the circle. It is mentioned in texts that Yoginis could fly out into different realm through this portal and would come back in flocks once their space sojourn is over.

We have known about eight Matruka (sometimes seven too), nine Durga and in the same vein, there are sixty-four Yogini. Sometimes there are sixteen or at times eighty-one Yoginis too as mentioned in some scriptures. Yogini are also manifestations of Shakti, the ultimate goddess and power within in the Shakta tradition.

Now as per some scriptures, Yogini are those who have achieved various siddhis as they have progressed on the path to attain Moksha. And these Yoginis help you achieve these Sidhhi, paranormal powers, if you follow their path. Several ‘Tantra’ followers worship Yoginis as part of rituals and in their path of spiritual advancement.

History

The Yogini temples are generally found in remote areas, isolated from human footfall, perched on hill, or hidden in woods.

This Yogini temple is located on a small hill near Bhairavi Ghat. After climbing about 200 steps, the circular outer courtyard of the temple can be seen. The outer diameter of this special temple is 132 feet and the inner diameter is 116 feet.

The central shrine here is slightly off the centre. It is named as Gauri-Shankar temple and it has a very peculiar roof. The outer round wall of this largest yogini temple has 81 niches and each niche has a life size yogini. Unfortunately, every beautiful sculpture has been broken and mutilated by the attacks of medieval invaders.

This temple was built by King Yuvraj II of the Kalachuri dynasty between about 980 and 1025 AD. The capital of these Kalachuri kings was Tripuri, across the Narmada river, about seven kilometers from the Yogini temple.  

 The original name of Bhedaghat was Bhairavghat because this Yogini temple had a Bhairav idol in the middle. Bhairav is always present with the Yoginis. In 1155 AD, the kings of the Gurjar Pratihar dynasty built the Gaurishankar temple in the centre of the Chausat temple here. Therefore, the Bhairav and Nataraja idols placed in the middle are currently seen in circular temples. At present Chausat Yogini temple is popularly known as ‘Golki Math’ in the villages around.

 An inscription slab was found in Gauri-Shankar temple, stating that a temple was built by queen Alhandevi in 1120 AD. Now we do not know if this refers to outer Yogini enclosure or the Gauri-Shankar Temple.

Overall, the cult practiced several unpleasant rituals like eating raw flesh and drinking blood, they would also indulge in corpse rituals and sexual methods, all to attain the powers. Kapalik, Kaul are some of the Shaiva sects who included these practices in their fold. As per experts, local smaller deities and their rituals also merged in these practices and sects.

Yogini cult must have grown in stature around sixth century and became active during 9 to 12’th century as per experts. It received quite a lot of royal patronage and hence we see temples coming up in present day Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, generally eastern India. Intricately linked with paranormal powers, possible the royals became disciples to achieve greater powers and greater protection from others.

There are other celebrated yogini temples too ,Hirapur in Odisha, Mitaoli near Gwalior,  Khajuraho and another in Ranipur-jharial.    

Architecture

By placing the deity idol in the centre, we consider it as the form of Parabrahman. It is stated in Vastu Shastra that the centre of the temple is the Brahmasthan - Brahmapad of the temple. By placing the Brahmasthan - Brahmapad in the centre, a circle is drawn around on the sides. The circle is a symbol of eternal infinity. It is not understood where the circle begins and where it ends! This is a symbol of the 'Purusha' principle in nature. If one wants to build a temple around it, a geometric, angular structure is required. For this, it was necessary to design the Vastupurush Mandala. If one keeps the Brahmapada in the middle, marks the four cardinal points and draws a square connecting them, the mandala is created.

 Since all the sides are equal, the square was considered a symbol of balance of knowledge and wisdom. The total eight points of the main and secondary directions are eight squares. To build large temples, a large number of angles are required. In other temples, there are idols of various gods and goddesses at these angles. These angles go up to the very peak in the form of vertical strips on the Shikhara. But in the Chausat Yogini temple, a circular temple is seen built from these various angles.

Sixty-four concentric squares were arranged for the design of the circular temple, but the top was not built in any form as a flat roof or as a Shikhara. One Yogini image is installed at each angle. This temple is connected to the open sky because the Yoginis in this temple are the energy personified! The Shiva temple in the middle is the male principle and around it are the Yoginis with various forms of power and energy! Energy - Shakti  is everywhere in various forms. Energy is always sacred, indestructible. The sun in space is an important source of energy. No roof or spire is built when these Shakti temples are built, which explain the connection between space energy and earth energy.

 All over the country we have thirteen temples dedicated to sixty-four Yoginis. These temples have been found in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu so far.     

 The Matottara Tantra text found in Nepal states that there are nine Yoginis in the Mulchakra. Therefore, if we assume the number of nine Yoginis in each group of nine mothers, there are 81 Yoginis. The same tradition seems to be followed here.

 The Yogini in each temple here is shown with her individual characteristics. All the Yoginis who are very beautiful, graceful, attractive and full of youth are shown along with ghosts, corpses or flesh-eating wolves. There are no scenes of sexual intercourse with any of these Yoginis. Seeing the intricate ornaments and hairstyles of the mysterious smiling Yoginis, they do not seem like graveyard dwellers and they do not seem scary either.

The mysterious and equally beautiful Yogini temple of Bhedaghat, which puzzles scholars, tourists and devotees, is a must-see. Yoga is essential for attaining salvation through Tantra. With the help of Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Meditation and Samadhi, Kundalini will awaken and you will realize the Parabrahman principle within you. The soul can merge with the Supreme Soul. People used to practice yoga. They used to worship Yoginis.

In a religion that also gave women the right to knowledge and salvation, the power that runs the world was seen as a woman. Due to helplessness during the time of foreign invasions, witchcraft became more prevalent than the path of yoga, and the worship of yoginis became distant from the common people. We should bring such temples to a state of vigor by understanding our religion and philosophy.

Literature

These illusive Yoginis do visit us through the pages of some old texts, like ‘MalatiMadhav’ , an eighth century play by Bhavbhuti. There is a character of Yogini named Kapalkundala of Kapalic sect

Somdeva’s ‘Katha Saritsagar’ or the Ginadhya’s ‘Brihtkatha’, has several mentions of Yoginis, their lifestyle, their belief system. We also see references to queens performing these magical rituals.

 Rituals and Festivals 

The famous Saint  of Maharashtra, Ramdas Swami has described the various forms of the Goddess Durga in one of his Abhangas. This composition is sung as the Aarti of the Goddess during the Navratri festival in Maharashtra.

द्वितीयेचे दिवशी मिळती चौसष्ट योगिनी हो । सकळामाजी  श्रेष्ठ परशुरामाची जननी हो । कस्तुरी मळवट भांगी शेंदूर भरुनी हो । उदोकार गर्जती सकळ चामुंडा मिळुनी हो ।। उदो म्हणा उदो ।।

 In this verse he mentioned about 64 Yoginis who took part in the battle with Goddess Durga to kill the demon named Raktabeej.

When the Gods were tired of defeating the fierce demons, they created female deities from their power. Each God gave her one of his weapons. The goddess killed the fierce demons like Shumbha, Nishumbha, Raktabija, Mahishasura. The stories of her prowess are narrated in the Markandeya Purana, which is famous as Saptashati.

Yoginis came to help the goddess to kill this demon Raktabeej! There were  64 yoginis. In some places, their number is considered to be 81, but these yoginis, who performed great feats by providing major assistance in the slaughter of the Raktabeej, are considered symbols of yoga power, valor, and strength.

These Yoginis are considered to be a form or incarnation of the Matru Shakti. They are specially worshipped in Tantra Shastra. They are considered to be minor deities and human women who practice yoga and do sadhana are also called Yoginis.

In Tantra Shastra, their form is considered strange or terrible. There are also references as they emerged from eight Matrukas.Yoginis are mentioned in texts like Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Kularnava Tantra, etc. The concept of Yoginis is associated with Shaivism and Vaishnavism and is also given an important place in the practice of the Nath sect.

ब्राह्मी माहेश्वरी चैव कौमारी वैष्णवी तथा।

वाराही चैन्द्रि चामुण्डा च महालक्ष्मीश्च ताः स्मृताः॥

एता मातृगणाः प्रोक्ता विश्वकर्मणि संस्थिताः।

सर्वे लोकहितार्थाय संहिता नित्ययोगिनः॥ Mahabharat Vanparva, 272.44-48

 

We find that the Agni Purana also describes these eight Matrikas.

It is believed that the eight main Yoginis, Sur-Sundari, Manohara, Kanakavati, Kameshwari, Rati Sundari, Padmini, Natini and Madhumati, are born from the eight main powers of Goddess Durga.

Each of them had 8 auxiliary powers. All these together are considered to be 8x 8=64 64 Yoginis. Some texts have also considered these Yoginis to be 81.

Rudrayamal is a text related to Goddess worship and Tantra Shastra . In this text, the names of 81 Yoginis are given as follows-

Anahta, Atmika, Jyeshtha, Raudri, Kali, Kalika, Bhadrakali, Mahakali, Kalyani, Bhadra, Rudrani, Kamakhya, Narayani, Kauberi, Varahi, Aindri, Vaishnavi , Kaumari, Maheshwari, Chamunda, Brahmani, Trailokyamohini, Vajreshi, Bhairavi, Durga, Bhishana, Raktdanta, Kalasanharshini, Ugratara, Mahatara, Neelasaraswati

Matangi, Bhubaneswari, Annapurna, Tripurasundari, Lalita, Sundari, Kamakshi, Tara, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Bala, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Vajravairojini, Siddha, Valamukhi, Guhyakali, Rudrani, Malini, Kameshwari

Purneshi, Mohini, Aghori, Yogini, Nagini, Shankhini, Padmini, Batuka, Kankali, Vetali, Pisachi Dakini, Shakini, Hakini, Rakini, Lakini, Yakini, Varahi, Bhuchari, Diktri, Antrikshachari

Aquachari, Agnichari, Vayuchari, Navashchari, Akashchari, Khechri, Patalka, Mantrini, Sri Mahayogini.

From their names we can see that these yoginis are considered as the power of various male deities. Their connection with the five elements will be evident if we consider their names. Tripura Sundari and Lalita are worshipped as goddesses and their hymns are famous.

Adi Shakti in the form of Dhumavati and Bagalamukhi is worshipped during the Sharadiya Navratri period. Some of these deities are considered to be protectors.

If we look at a recent example of a yogini, it is seen that the famous saint of Bengal and the guru of Swami Vivekananda, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, practiced under the guidance of Bhairavi Brahmini. She was a yogini who was familiar with Tantra sadhana and Vaishnava worship. In 1861, Sri Ramakrishna learned 64  forms of worship of Tantra sadhana from her.

 Somewhat mysterious, awe-inspiring, yet still revered, yoginis have always been a subject of fascination for everyone.

Legends and Anecdotes

•          Yogini temples by design are hypaethral that is open to sky.
•          Shri-Parvat in Andhra is mentioned as prime centre of Yoginis in several ‘Nath Sampraday’ texts.

Epilogue

The powerful pantheon in Shakta and Shaiva traditions known by names such as  Yogini, Shakini, Dakini are part of our multiverse bridging us to our ancients.