Since childhood, many of us have seen Kali, the fierce goddess, standing tall and mighty with two fearsome-looking female figures flanking her: Dakini and Yogini. These figures are often portrayed as wild, almost ghostly beings. But are they really these bloodthirsty, terrifying entities that folklore often depicts? Unfortunately, cultural misconceptions have distorted their true nature over the centuries, masking the profound wisdom, strength, and compassion they actually represent.
In Hinduism, Buddhism, and Tantra, Dakini and Yoginis are not only divine but play crucial roles as guides, protectors, and fierce embodiments of feminine energy. This article digs deep into their origins and associations with the goddess Kali, bringing clarity to who they truly are.
Who are Dakinis?
The term "Dakini" often brings to mind eerie, ghostly, or even demonic imagery. However, the true meaning of Dakini goes far beyond these superficial depictions. In Tibetan, Dak refers to “knowledge,” making the Dakini a feminine representation of wisdom and spiritual liberation. In Tantric Buddhism, especially Vajrayana, Dakinis are revered as wise and fierce spiritual guides. In early Tantric Buddhist texts, Dakinis held the honorific title of "Dak," designating knowledgeable female teachers. Over time, this title evolved into a symbol of deep spiritual power, found within several key texts like the Charyapada and the tales of the 84 Mahasiddhas. Figures like Naropa’s consort, Niguma, were revered Dakinis, embodying wisdom and spiritual mastery, guiding practitioners on their path.
An essential source for understanding the Dakini’s historical significance in Bengal’s Tantric Buddhism is Hara Prasad Shastri’s research on Charyapada, the earliest known collection of mystical Buddhist verses in Bengali and Assamese. Shastri’s work was instrumental in revealing how Dakinis in Charyapada represented respected female practitioners who guided others through complex spiritual practices. In this text, they are portrayed as mystical figures who bridge the realms of human and divine, and are admired as protectors of esoteric knowledge. Shastri’s study helped highlight the original spiritual connotation of Dakinis before their image was overshadowed by fear-based folklore. This early Buddhist context portrays Dakinis not as evil spirits but as enlightened guides, deeply respected within the Tantric Buddhist tradition.
Dakinis also connect with Tantra's intricate spiritual physiology, embodying the Muladhara, or root chakra, at the base of the spine. Here, Dakini energy is said to rest with the Kundalini—latent, coiled energy awaiting awakening. This positioning reinforces the Dakini’s role as a spiritual guide and protector, supporting the practitioner’s transformative journey toward enlightenment. Her association with this chakra reveals her purpose: she serves as both an initiator and a fierce protector on the spiritual journey, driving the practitioner to confront and overcome their inner fears.
Who are Yoginis?
Yoginis have an equally rich and ancient history. The word “Yogini” originates from "Yoga," a term with deep roots in Indian spirituality, meaning the union of self with the divine. While today “yoga” may bring to mind fitness, this practice began as an advanced spiritual discipline that enabled self-mastery and deep mental concentration. In India, we find evidence of Yoga’s antiquity in seals from the Indus Valley Civilization, where we see early depictions of yogic postures. Over thousands of years, Yoga evolved through numerous paths and traditions, each seeking a way to transcend human limitations and attain spiritual knowledge. Yoginis were female practitioners on this path, embodying the devotion, wisdom, and power needed to unlock higher
consciousness.
Within Tantra, Yoginis represent an expanded version of the yogic quest. Their presence in temples, particularly the 64 Yogini temples of Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, suggests their revered status as protectors and guardians of divine wisdom. Often depicted encircling central deities, typically Shiva and Shakti, they signify the cosmic balance between divine masculine and feminine energies. As Vidya Dehejia explains in Yogini Cult and Temples: A Tantric Tradition, the circular, open-roofed design of these temples allowed Yoginis to move freely between earthly and celestial realms, symbolizing their transcendent nature. These temples became places of intense worship, celebrating the Yogini as a powerful, mystical force.
The Yoginis are unique in that they embody different aspects of the feminine, representing everything from nurturing figures like Bhadrakali to fierce warriors like Kali. This complexity is seen in the concept of Shakti, which underlies Tantric spiritual practice. In essence, Yoginis serve as both guides and protectors, accompanying the practitioner as they strive for unity with the divine. In the Sharada Tilaka Tantra, it is said that the highest form of Yoga is the union of the soul with the divine. The Yogini, as a female adept, serves as an embodiment of this union, attaining wisdom through dedication and reverence toward the divine feminine.
Association with Kali
Now, let’s dive into the big question: how do Dakini and Yoginis connect to Kali? Kali, especially in Bengali Tantric tradition, stands as the fierce mother goddess, a symbol of time, change, and ultimate reality. Around the 8th-12th centuries CE, under the rule of the Pala dynasty, Kali worship gained prominence as Tantric practices flourished. Dakinis and Yoginis began to appear in artistic representations of Kali, positioned as her attendants or companions, symbolizing different facets of her power and protection.
David Kinsley, in Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine, explains how Dakinis and Yoginis became deeply embedded in Kali’s iconography. The fierce image of Kali with Dakini and Yogini by her side was intended to convey Kali’s dominion over both light and dark forces, showing that she, along with her companions, consumes anything that threatens cosmic balance. The common image of these two fierce attendants devouring demon blood alongside Kali conveys the idea of purifying or transforming negative energies. In this context, Dakini and Yoginis are not just assistants but are inseparable extensions of Kali’s own power, representing her protective and transformative forces.
It was around this time, particularly under Tantric influences, that Dakinis and Yoginis started appearing as fierce protectors rather than solely benevolent beings. This fierce aspect, however, is misunderstood. Instead of perceiving them as mere scary figures, it's essential to see them as guardians of spiritual energy, forces that scare off harmful influences and guide practitioners on the Tantric path. Their fearsome appearances are symbolic, meant to remind worshippers of the depth and seriousness of spiritual practices, not to represent malevolent forces.
The journey of understanding Dakini and Yoginis reveals much about India’s complex spiritual history. From misunderstood ghostly figures to symbols of wisdom and fierce compassion, Dakini and Yoginis embody a profound aspect of feminine power. In the Buddhist and Hindu Tantric traditions, they play roles as protectors, warriors, guides, and teachers, pushing practitioners to achieve enlightenment. Their association with Kali brings out the true nature of these beings—fierce yet compassionate, protective yet transformative.
Over time, societal fears and misconceptions turned these powerful feminine archetypes into misunderstood figures, associating them with ominous qualities. But traditional texts and temples remind us that they were originally revered as divine entities, integral to both Hindu and Buddhist practices. Understanding their roles offers a refreshing perspective, restoring them to their rightful place as symbols of knowledge, power, and liberation.
Through the fierce imagery of Kali, Dakini, and Yoginis, we are reminded of a profound truth in Indian spirituality: destruction and transformation go hand in hand. True spiritual growth often requires confronting fears, shedding old identities, and embracing the unknown—an undertaking these fierce divine beings inspire us to pursue.
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References
Simmer-Brown, Judith. Dakini’s Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism. Shambhala Publications, 2002.
Allione, Tsultrim. Women of Wisdom. Snow Lion Publications, 2000.
Dehejia, Vidya. Yogini Cult and Temples: A Tantric Tradition. National Museum, New Delhi, 1986.
Kinsley, David. Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The Ten Mahavidyas. University of California Press, 1998.
McDermott, Rachel Fell, and Kripal, Jeffrey J. Encountering Kali: In the Margins, at the Center, in the West. University of California Press, 2003.
Shastri, Hara Prasad. Charyapada and Tantric Buddhism. Asiatic Society, Kolkata, 1916.