Yakshini
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Yakshinis (Sanskrit: याक्षिणि, also called yaksinis or yaksis and yakkhini in Pali) are benevolent mythical beings of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain mythology. A yakshini is the female counterpart of the male yaksha, and they both attend on Kubera (also called Kuber), the Hindu god of wealth who rules in the mythical Himalayan kingdom of Alaka. They both look after treasure hidden in the earth and resemble that of fairies. Yakshinis are often depicted as beautiful and voluptuous, having large curves and wide hips. In the Uddamareshvara Tantra, thirty-six yakshinis are described, including their mantras and ritual prescriptions. A similar list of yakshas and yakshinis is given in the Tantraraja Tantra, where it says that these beings are givers of whatever is desired.
The list of thirty-six yakshinis given in the Uddamareshvara Tantra is as follows:
- Vichitra (The Lovely One)
- Vibhrama (Amorous One)
- Hamsi (Swan)
- Bhishani (Terrifying),
- Janaranjika (Delighting Men)
- Vishala (Large Eyed)
- Madana (Lustful)
- Ghanta (Bell)
- Kalakarni (Ears Adorned with Kalas)
- Mahabhaya (Greatly Fearful)
- Mahendri (Greatly Powerful)
- Shankhini (Conch Girl)
- Chandri (Moon Girl)
- Shmashana (Cremation Ground Girl)
- Vatayakshini, Mekhala (Love Girdle)
- Vikala, Lakshmi (Wealth)
- Malini (Flower Girl)
- Shatapatrika (100 Flowers)
- Sulochana (Lovely Eyed)
- Shobha
- Kapalini (Skull Girl)
- Varayakshini
- Nati (Actress)
- Kameshvari
- Unknown
- Unknown
- Manohara (Fascinating)
- Pramoda (Fragrant)
- Anuragini (Very Passionate)
- Nakhakeshi
- Bhamini
- Padmini
- Svarnavati
- Ratipriya (Fond of Love)
[edit] In Fiction
In Christopher Pike’s novel The Last Vampire, a yakshini is an extremely powerful and evil demon that led to the creation of the vampires around 3000 B.C. in what is now present-day Rajasthan, India. A yakshini was summoned by an Aghoran priest so that it could devour a rakshasa that was causing a plague. The yakshini was summoned into the corpse of a dead woman. It took control of the woman’s body, horribly maimed and killed the priest, and then disappeared. It left the dead woman pregnant, and the yakshini was reincarnated as an Aryan baby boy who became the first vampire.
[edit] External links
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida / shivashakti.com — "Yakshinis and Chetakas"
- Encyclopædia Britannica — "Yaksha"
- RBI Monetary Museum — "Yaksha and Yakshini"
| Hinduism | Hindu mythology | Indian epic poetry |  |
|---|---|
| Female Deities: Saraswati | Lakshmi | Dakshayani | Gayatri | Parvati | Durga | Shakti | Kali | Sita | Devi | Radha | Mahavidya | more... | |
| Male Deities: Brahma | Vishnu | Shiva | Rama | Krishna | Ganesha | Murugan | Hanuman | Indra | Surya | more... | |
| Texts: Vedas | Upanishads | Puranas | Ramayana | Mahabharata | Rigveda | |
