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''Yakshinis'' or ''yakshis'' (यक्षिणी sa, yakṣiṇī or ''yakṣī''; pi, yakkhiṇī or ''yakkhī'') are a class of female nature spirits in
The three sites of Bharhut,
The sadhak can take yakshini as mother, sister or wife before commencing it. Proper mantra dikshaa from guru can speed up the mantra siddhi. They can be invoked with mantra "Om hreem shreem nityadravae mada (yakshini name) shreem hreem". The list of thirty six yakshinis given in the ''Uddamareshvara Tantra'' is as follows, along with some of the associated legends:
# Vichitra (The Lovely One)
# Vibhrama (Amorous One): She is a tamas yakshini and should be worshipped naked by lighting camphor, ghee, and her mantra should be recited 20,000 times. Her mantra should be written with dust from Cremation Ground. After that 20,000 times havan need to be performed with cow ghee.
# Hamsi (The one with Swan)
# Bhishani (The Terrifying)
# Janaranjika (Pleasuring Men)
# Vishala (Large Eyed)
# Madana (Lustful)
# Ghanta (Bell)
# Kalakarni (Ears Adorned with Kalas): Recite her mantra 10000 times with blade of grass. She gives a shakti.
# Mahabhaya (Greatly Fearful)
# Mahendri (Greatly Powerful): Gives the person the ability to fly. One obtains Patala Siddhi.
# Shankhini (Conch Girl ): Fulfilment of any desire.
# Chandri (Moon Girl):
# Shmashana (Cremation Ground Girl ): She is a Tamas yakshini.
# Vatayakshini: She resides in the banyan tree.
# Mekhala (Love Girdle): She gives magical unguent which when smeared subjugated women. The sadhak has to go to madhuka tree in blossom on 14th day of lunar cycle and must chant her mantra. "Om Drim hum madanamekalayai madanavidhambanayai namah svaha".
# Vikala
# Lakshmi (Wealth)
# Malini (Flower Girl )
# Shatapatrika (100 Flowers )
# Sulochana (Lovely Eyed)
# Shobha
# Kapalini (Skull Girl)
# Varayakshini: She bestows boons to sadhak.
# Nati (Actress):
# Kameshvari: She gives gems,clothes and secrets of alchemy to the sadhak.
# Dhana yakshini: She is used to provide knowledge on past,present.She is a sattva yakshini.She also provide riches to the sadhak.The sadhak should climb and sit on banyan tree and chant 10000 times "Om Aim hreem shreem dhana kuru kuru swaha" during daytime.
# Karnapisachi: She is a tamas yakshini.She is used by aghori to know about past and present life of person by whispering in ear of person who has attained siddhi.It is mentioned that sadhak should leave this Siddhi else the karnapisachi takes soul of sadhak for serving it for 1000 years.Her mantra is "Om arvinde swaha" which needs to be chanted 10000 times within 21 days.
# Manohara (Fascinating)
# Pramoda (Fragrant): For one month rise at midnight and pronounce the mantra for 1000 times. "Om hrim pramodyai swaha".
# Anuragini (Very Passionate)
# Nakhakeshi: She gives fruit on Siddhi.
# Bhamini: She gives an wonderful unguent which smeared alludes women and helps find treasure. Recite her mantra at the time of an of eclipse. "Om hrim yakshini bhamini ratipriye swaha".
# Padmini: She is mentioned in (35).
# Svarnavati: She gives Anjana Siddhi.
# Ratipriya (Fond of Love): She is a Satva yakshini.Her image should be drawn in yellow silk cloth with beautiful women Adorned with jewels and worshipped with ghee lamp,one unbroken nutmeg.She should be invoked with mantra "Om hrim ratipriya swaha" or "Om agacchh ratipriye swaha" each night(from 11.30 am to 3.30 am)till the yakshini manifests. During the time of sadhana,the sadhak should not eat Non veg, betel leaves. It is not suitable for married men.
In the literature and folktales of Kerala, Yakshis are generally not considered benevolent. Many folk stories feature murdered women reborn as vengeful yakshis, some of which are listed below. Aside from those mentioned below, yakshis are also featured in
Mangalathu Sreedevi or Chiruthevi, also known as Kanjirottu Yakshi is a yakshi from the folklore of Kerala. According to legend, she was born into a Padamangalam Nair tharavad by name Mangalathu at Kanjiracode in 
Sundara Lakshmi, an accomplished dancer and consort of HH 
Encyclopædia Britannica — "Yaksha"Huntingdon Archive
{{HinduMythology Buddhist legendary creatures Non-human races in Hindu mythology Indian folklore Female buddhas and supernatural beings Female legendary creatures Mythological hematophages Yakshas Harvest goddesses Jainism
''Yakshinis'' or ''yakshis'' (यक्षिणी sa, yakṣiṇī or ''yakṣī''; pi, yakkhiṇī or ''yakkhī'') are a class of female nature spirits in Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
, Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
, and Jain
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...
religious mythologies that are different from deva
Deva may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Deva'' (1989 film), a 1989 Kannada film
* ''Deva'' (1995 film), a 1995 Tamil film
* ''Deva'' (2002 film), a 2002 Bengali film
* Deva (2007 Telugu film)
* ''Deva'' (2017 film), a 2017 Marathi film
* Deva ...
s and asuras
Asuras (Sanskrit: असुर) are a class of beings in Indic religions. They are described as power-seeking clans related to the more benevolent Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhist context, the word is sometimes translated ...
(classes of power-seeking beings), and gandharva
A gandharva () is a member of a class of celestial beings in Dharmic religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, whose males are divine performers such as musicians and singers, and the females are divine dancers. In Hinduism, they are ...
s or apsara
An apsaras or apsara ( sa, अप्सरा ' lso ' pi, अक्चरा, translit=accharā) is a type of female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hinduism and Buddhist culture. They figure prominently in the sculpture, dance, litera ...
s (celestial nymphs). Yakshinis and their male counterparts, the yaksha
The yakshas ( sa, यक्ष ; pi, yakkha, i=yes) are a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, but sometimes mischievous or capricious, connected with water, fertility, trees, the forest, treasure and wilderness. They appear in ...
s, are one of the many paranormal
Paranormal events are purported phenomena described in popular culture, folk, and other non-scientific bodies of knowledge, whose existence within these contexts is described as being beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding. Not ...
beings associated with the centuries-old sacred groves of India. Yakshis are also found in the traditional legends of Northeastern Indian tribes, ancient legends of Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Ca ...
, and in the folktales of Kashmiri Muslims
Kashmiri Muslims are ethnic Kashmiris who practice Islam and are native to the Kashmir Valley in Indian-administered Kashmir. Quote: "Jammu and Kashmir: Territory in northwestern India, subject to a dispute between India and Pakistan. It has b ...
. Sikhism
Sikhism (), also known as Sikhi ( pa, ਸਿੱਖੀ ', , from pa, ਸਿੱਖ, lit=disciple', 'seeker', or 'learner, translit=Sikh, label=none),''Sikhism'' (commonly known as ''Sikhī'') originated from the word ''Sikh'', which comes fro ...
also mentions yakshas in its sacred texts.
The well behaved and benign ones are worshipped as tutelaries, they are the attendees of Kubera
Kubera ( sa, कुबेर, translit=Kuberā) also known as Kuvera, Kuber and Kuberan, is the god of wealth, and the god-king of the semi-divine yakshas in Hinduism. He is regarded as the regent of the north (''Dikpala''), and a protecto ...
, the treasurer of the gods, and also the Hindu god of wealth
Wealth is the abundance of valuable financial assets or physical possessions which can be converted into a form that can be used for transactions. This includes the core meaning as held in the originating Old English word , which is from an I ...
who ruled Himalayan kingdom of Alaka. There are also malign and mischievous yakshinis with poltergeist
In ghostlore, a poltergeist ( or ; German for "rumbling ghost" or "noisy spirit") is a type of ghost or spirit that is responsible for physical disturbances, such as loud noises and objects being moved or destroyed. Most claims or fictional desc ...
-like behaviours, that can haunt and curse humans according to Indian folklore.
The ashoka tree is closely associated with yakshinis. The young girl at the foot of the tree is an ancient motif indicating fertility on the Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent is a physiographical region in Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian Ocean from the Himalayas. Geopolitically, it includes the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, In ...
. One of the recurring elements in Indian art
Indian art consists of a variety of art forms, including Indian painting, painting, sculpture in the Indian subcontinent, sculpture, Indian pottery, pottery, and textile arts such as Silk in the Indian subcontinent#Origin, woven silk. Geographica ...
, often found as gatekeepers in ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples, is a yakshini with her foot on the trunk and her hands holding the branch of a stylized flowering ashoka or, less frequently, other tree with flowers or fruits.
Yakshinis in Buddhism
The three sites of Bharhut, Sanchi
Sanchi is a Buddhist complex, famous for its Great Stupa, on a hilltop at Sanchi Town in Raisen District of the State of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is located, about 23 kilometres from Raisen town, district headquarter and north-east of Bh ...
, and Mathura
Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located approximately north of Agra, and south-east of Delhi; about from the town of Vrindavan, and from Govardhan. ...
, have yielded huge numbers of Yakshi figures, most commonly on the railing pillars of stupa
A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation.
In Buddhism, circum ...
s. These show a clear development and progression that establishes certain characteristics of the Yakshi figure such as her nudity, smiling face and evident (often exaggerated) secondary sexual characteristics that lead to their association with fertility
Fertility is the capability to produce offspring through reproduction following the onset of sexual maturity. The fertility rate is the average number of children born by a female during her lifetime and is quantified demographically. Ferti ...
. The yakshi is usually shown with her hand touching a tree branch, in a sinuous ''tribhanga
Tribhaṅga or Tribunga is a standing body position or stance used in traditional Indian art and Indian classical dance forms like the Odissi, where the body bends in one direction at the knees, the other direction at the hips and then the ot ...
'' pose, thus some authors hold that the young girl at the foot of the tree is based on an ancient tree deity.
Yakshis were important in early Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
monuments as a decorative element and are found in many ancient Buddhist archaeological sites. They became Salabhanjikas ( sal tree maidens) with the passing of the centuries, a standard decorative element of both Indian sculpture
Sculpture in the Indian subcontinent, partly because of the climate of the Indian subcontinent makes the long-term survival of organic materials difficult, essentially consists of sculpture of stone, metal or terracotta. It is clear there was a ...
and Indian temple architecture.Hans Wolfgang Schumann (1986), ''Buddhistische Bilderwelt: Ein ikonographisches Handbuch des Mahayana- und Tantrayana-Buddhismus.'' Eugen Diederichs Verlag. Cologne. ,
The sal tree ''(Shorea robusta)'' is often confused with the ashoka tree ''(Saraca indica)'' in the ancient literature of the Indian Subcontinent. The position of the Salabhanjika is also related to the position of Queen Māyā of Sakya when she gave birth to Gautama Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism.
According to Buddhist tradition, he was born in L ...
under an asoka tree in a garden in Lumbini, while grasping its branch.
List of yakshini found in Buddhist literature
Below is a nonexhaustive list of yakshinis found in Buddhist literature: * Hārītī *Ālikā *Vendā *Anopamā *Vimalaprabhā *Śrī *Śankhinī *Meghā *Timisikā *Prabhāvatī *Bhīmā *Haritā *Mahādevī *Nālī *Udaryā *Kuntī *Sulocanā *Śubhru *Susvarā *Sumatī *Vasumatī *Citrākṣī *Pūrnasniṣā *Guhykā *Suguhyakā *Mekhalā *Sumekhalā *Padmocchā *Abhayā *Jayā *Vijayā *Revatikā *Keśinī *Keśāntā *Anila *Manoharā *Manovatī *Kusumavatī *Kusumapuravāsinī *Pingalā *Vīramatī *Vīrā *Suvīrā *Sughorā *Ghorā *Ghorāvatī *Surāsundari *Surasā *Guhyottamārī *Vaṭavāsinī *Aśokā *Andhārasunarī *Ālokasunarī *Prabhāvatī *Atiśayavatī *Rūpavatī *Surūpā *Asitā *Saumyā *Kāṇā *Menā *Nandinī *Upanandinī *Lokāntarā *Kuvaṇṇā (Pali
Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or '' Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of '' Theravāda'' Buddh ...
)
*Cetiyā (Pali
Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or '' Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of '' Theravāda'' Buddh ...
)
*Piyaṅkaramātā (Pali
Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or '' Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of '' Theravāda'' Buddh ...
)
*Punabbasumātā (Pali
Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or '' Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of '' Theravāda'' Buddh ...
)
*Bhesakalā (Pali
Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or '' Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of '' Theravāda'' Buddh ...
)
Yakshinis in Hinduism
In the ''Uddamareshvara Tantra'', thirty-six yakshinis are described, including theirmantra
A mantra ( Pali: ''manta'') or mantram (मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words in Sanskrit, Pali and other languages believed by practitioners to have religious, ...
s and ritual
A ritual is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects, performed according to a set sequence. Rituals may be prescribed by the traditions of a community, including a religious community. Rituals are characterized ...
prescriptions. A similar list of yakshas and yakshinis are given in the ''Tantraraja Tantra'', where it says that these beings are givers of whatever is desired. They are the guardians of the treasure
Treasure (from la, thesaurus from Greek language ''thēsauros'', "treasure store") is a concentration of wealth — often originating from ancient history — that is considered lost and/or forgotten until rediscovered. Some jurisdictions le ...
hidden in the earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's sur ...
.They can be Sattvik, Rajas, Tamas in nature.
36 Yakshinis
The sadhak can take yakshini as mother, sister or wife before commencing it. Proper mantra dikshaa from guru can speed up the mantra siddhi. They can be invoked with mantra "Om hreem shreem nityadravae mada (yakshini name) shreem hreem". The list of thirty six yakshinis given in the ''Uddamareshvara Tantra'' is as follows, along with some of the associated legends:
# Vichitra (The Lovely One)
# Vibhrama (Amorous One): She is a tamas yakshini and should be worshipped naked by lighting camphor, ghee, and her mantra should be recited 20,000 times. Her mantra should be written with dust from Cremation Ground. After that 20,000 times havan need to be performed with cow ghee.
# Hamsi (The one with Swan)
# Bhishani (The Terrifying)
# Janaranjika (Pleasuring Men)
# Vishala (Large Eyed)
# Madana (Lustful)
# Ghanta (Bell)
# Kalakarni (Ears Adorned with Kalas): Recite her mantra 10000 times with blade of grass. She gives a shakti.
# Mahabhaya (Greatly Fearful)
# Mahendri (Greatly Powerful): Gives the person the ability to fly. One obtains Patala Siddhi.
# Shankhini (Conch Girl ): Fulfilment of any desire.
# Chandri (Moon Girl):
# Shmashana (Cremation Ground Girl ): She is a Tamas yakshini.
# Vatayakshini: She resides in the banyan tree.
# Mekhala (Love Girdle): She gives magical unguent which when smeared subjugated women. The sadhak has to go to madhuka tree in blossom on 14th day of lunar cycle and must chant her mantra. "Om Drim hum madanamekalayai madanavidhambanayai namah svaha".
# Vikala
# Lakshmi (Wealth)
# Malini (Flower Girl )
# Shatapatrika (100 Flowers )
# Sulochana (Lovely Eyed)
# Shobha
# Kapalini (Skull Girl)
# Varayakshini: She bestows boons to sadhak.
# Nati (Actress):
# Kameshvari: She gives gems,clothes and secrets of alchemy to the sadhak.
# Dhana yakshini: She is used to provide knowledge on past,present.She is a sattva yakshini.She also provide riches to the sadhak.The sadhak should climb and sit on banyan tree and chant 10000 times "Om Aim hreem shreem dhana kuru kuru swaha" during daytime.
# Karnapisachi: She is a tamas yakshini.She is used by aghori to know about past and present life of person by whispering in ear of person who has attained siddhi.It is mentioned that sadhak should leave this Siddhi else the karnapisachi takes soul of sadhak for serving it for 1000 years.Her mantra is "Om arvinde swaha" which needs to be chanted 10000 times within 21 days.
# Manohara (Fascinating)
# Pramoda (Fragrant): For one month rise at midnight and pronounce the mantra for 1000 times. "Om hrim pramodyai swaha".
# Anuragini (Very Passionate)
# Nakhakeshi: She gives fruit on Siddhi.
# Bhamini: She gives an wonderful unguent which smeared alludes women and helps find treasure. Recite her mantra at the time of an of eclipse. "Om hrim yakshini bhamini ratipriye swaha".
# Padmini: She is mentioned in (35).
# Svarnavati: She gives Anjana Siddhi.
# Ratipriya (Fond of Love): She is a Satva yakshini.Her image should be drawn in yellow silk cloth with beautiful women Adorned with jewels and worshipped with ghee lamp,one unbroken nutmeg.She should be invoked with mantra "Om hrim ratipriya swaha" or "Om agacchh ratipriye swaha" each night(from 11.30 am to 3.30 am)till the yakshini manifests. During the time of sadhana,the sadhak should not eat Non veg, betel leaves. It is not suitable for married men.
Yakshinis in Jainism
InJainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle bein ...
, there are twenty-five yakshis, including Panchanguli, Chakreshvari
In Jain cosmology, Chakeshvari or ''Apraticakra'' is the guardian goddess or Yakshini (attendant deity) of Rishabhanatha. She is the tutelary deity of the Sarawagi Jain community.
Iconography
The color of the goddess is golden. Her Vehicle i ...
, Ambika
Ambika may refer to:
Mythology
* Ambika (goddess), an avatar of the Hindu goddesses Durga, Parvati, and Shakti
* Ambika (Jainism), a Jain Yakshini goddess
* Ambika (Mahabharata), the wife of Vichitravirya was also the mother of Dhritarashtra, th ...
, and Padmavati
Padmāvatī may refer to:
Deities
* Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of fortune
* Alamelu, or Padmāvatī, a Hindu goddess and consort of Sri Venkateshwara of Tirupati
* Manasa, a Hindu serpent goddess
* Padmavati (Jainism), a Jain attendant goddess ( ...
, who are frequently represented in Jain temples. Each is regarded as the guardian goddess of one of the present tirthankar Shri Simandhar Swami and twenty-four Jain ''tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a ' ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the '' dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable pass ...
''. The names according to Tiloyapannatti
''Tiloya Panatti'' or ''Trilokaprajnapati'' is one of the earlier Prakrit texts on Jain cosmology composed by Acharya Yativrshabha.
The subject matter
Jain cosmology has a unique perception of the Universe. It perceives different solar and lu ...
(or Pratishthasarasangraha) and Abhidhanachintamani are:
* Panchanguli
*Chakreshvari
In Jain cosmology, Chakeshvari or ''Apraticakra'' is the guardian goddess or Yakshini (attendant deity) of Rishabhanatha. She is the tutelary deity of the Sarawagi Jain community.
Iconography
The color of the goddess is golden. Her Vehicle i ...
* Rohini, Ajitbala
* Prajnapti, Duritari
* Vajrashrankhala, Kali
Kali (; sa, काली, ), also referred to as Mahakali, Bhadrakali, and Kalika ( sa, कालिका), is a Hindu goddess who is considered to be the goddess of ultimate power, time, destruction and change in Shaktism. In this tra ...
* Vajrankusha, Mahakali
Mahakali () is the Hindu goddess of time and death in the goddess-centric tradition of Shaktism.
Similar to Kali, Mahakali is a fierce goddess associated with universal power, time, life, death, and both rebirth and liberation. She is the cons ...
* Manovega, Shyama
* Kali, Shanta
Shanta is a character in the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. She is the adoptive daughter of King Romapāda of Aṅga and wife of R̥śyaśr̥ṇga. In northern recensions of the ''Rāmāyaṇa'' and later Indian literature, she is the daughter of Daśara ...
* Jwalamalini, Mahajwala
* Mahakali, Sutaraka
* Manavi, Ashoka
* Gauri, Manavi
* Gandhari, Chanda
* Vairoti, Vidita
* Anantamati, Ankusha
* Manasi, Kandarpa
* Mahamansi, Nirvani
* Jaya, Bala
Bala may refer to:
Places
India
* Bala, India, a village in Allahabad, India
* Bala, Ahor, a village in the Jalore district of Rajasthan
* Bala, Raebareli, a village in Uttar Pradesh, India
Romania
* Bala, Mehedinți, a commune in Mehedin ...
* Taradevi, Dharini
* Vijaya, Dharanpriya
* Aparajita, Nardatta
* Bahurupini, Gandhari
* Ambika
Ambika may refer to:
Mythology
* Ambika (goddess), an avatar of the Hindu goddesses Durga, Parvati, and Shakti
* Ambika (Jainism), a Jain Yakshini goddess
* Ambika (Mahabharata), the wife of Vichitravirya was also the mother of Dhritarashtra, th ...
or Kushmandini
* Padmavati
Padmāvatī may refer to:
Deities
* Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of fortune
* Alamelu, or Padmāvatī, a Hindu goddess and consort of Sri Venkateshwara of Tirupati
* Manasa, a Hindu serpent goddess
* Padmavati (Jainism), a Jain attendant goddess ( ...
* Siddhayika
Legendary Yakshis of South India
In the literature and folktales of Kerala, Yakshis are generally not considered benevolent. Many folk stories feature murdered women reborn as vengeful yakshis, some of which are listed below. Aside from those mentioned below, yakshis are also featured in Malayatoor Ramakrishnan
K. V. Ramakrishna Iyer, better known by his pen name, Malayattoor Ramakrishnan (27 May 1927 – 27 December 1997), was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature, cartoonist, lawyer, judicial magistrate, and Indian Administrative Service (IAS) o ...
's 1967 novel ''Yakshi'', which describes their world as having a blue sun, carpets of crimson grass, streams of molten silver, and flowers made of sapphires, emeralds, garnets, and topaz. In the novel, young yakshis fly around on the backs of giant dragonflies. According to Ramakrishnan's novel, adult yakshis are required to enter the land of the living once a year to feed on the blood of human men.
Chempakavally Ammal and Neelapilla Ammal
According to a legend from Thekkalai, next toNagercoil
Nagercoil, also spelt as Nagarkovil ("Temple of the Nāgas", or Nagaraja-Temple), is a city and the administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu state, India. Situated close to the tip of the Indian peninsula, it lies on ...
in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...
, a pair of beautiful sisters named Chempakavally and Neelapilla turned into vengeful yakshis after becoming victims of an honor killing by their father. Since their father killed them to keep them from the clutches of the lustful raja
''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested ...
of the region, the sister yakshis tortured and killed everyone in the palace, and their father as well. The two yakshis haunted the place where they were killed until they were placated somewhat by many poojas and rituals the construction of a temple on the site. Idols of the sister yakshis are present inside. The older sister, Chempakavally, eventually transformed into a benevolent deity and traveled to Mount Kailash
Mount Kailash (also Kailasa; ''Kangrinboqê'' or ''Gang Rinpoche''; Tibetan: གངས་རིན་པོ་ཆེ; ; sa, कैलास, ), is a mountain in the Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It has an altitude of ...
to worship Lord Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one o ...
, while the younger sister, Neelapilla, remained ferocious. It is said that some of Neelapilla's devotees offer her the fingernail clippings or locks of hair from their enemies, beseeching her to destroy them.
Kalliyankattu Neeli
One of the most famous stories of legendary Yakshis of Kerala is that ofKalliyankattu Neeli
''Kalliyankattu Neeli'' is a 1979 Indian Malayalam-language horror film, directed by M. Krishnan Nair and produced by M. Mani. The film stars Madhu, Jayabharathi, Jagathy Sreekumar and Sudheer in the lead roles. The film has musical score by ...
, a powerful demoness who was fabled to have finally been stopped by the legendary priest Kadamattathu Kathanar. The Yakshi theme is the subject of popular Keralite tales, like the legend of the Yakshi of Trivandrum
Thiruvananthapuram (; ), also known by its List of renamed Indian cities and states, former name Trivandrum (), is the Capital city, capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the most populous city in Kerala with a population of 957,730 as ...
, as well as of certain movies
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...
in modern Malayalam cinema
Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, '' Elippathaya ...
.
South Travancore
The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At ...
. She was also known as Chiruthevi. She was a ravishingly beautiful courtesan who had an intimate relationship with Raman Thampi, son of King Rama Varma and rival of Anizhom Thirunal Marthanda Varma. Made arrogant by her beauty and the adoration heaped on her by men, she enjoyed toying with men's lives and driving them to financial ruin.
However, Chiruthevi was truly in love with Kunjuraman, her palanquin-bearer, who was already married and uninterested in her romantically. In frustration, Chiruthevi arranged to have Kunjuraman's wife killed. Kunjuraman finally agreed to sleep with Chiruthevi, but then murdered her to avenge his wife.
Immediately after her death, Chiruthevi was reborn as a yakshi in the village of Kanjirottu, where she magically transformed into a beautiful woman mere moments after her birth. She terrorized men and drank their blood, and continued to harass Kunjuraman. Her frenzy only subsided after she made a deal with her brother Mangalathu Govindan, a close associate of Kunjuraman and a great upasaka of Lord Balarama
Balarama ( Sanskrit: बलराम, IAST: ''Balarāma'') is a Hindu god and the elder brother of Krishna. He is particularly significant in the Jagannath tradition, as one of the triad deities. He is also known as Haladhara, Halayudha, Bala ...
. According to their agreement she would cohabit with Kunjuraman for a year on the condition that she would become a devotee of Narasimha
Narasimha ( sa, नरसिंह, lit=man-lion, ), sometimes rendered Narasingha, is the fourth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. He is regarded to have incarnated in the form of a part-lion, part-man being to slay Hiranyakashipu, to end rel ...
after the year was up.Nair, Balasankaran. 'Kanjirottu Yakshi'. Sastha Books, 2001. The yakshi was installed at a temple which later came to be owned by Kanjiracottu Valiaveedu, though this temple no longer exists.
Sundara Lakshmi, an accomplished dancer and consort of HH Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
( ml, സ്വാതി തിരുനാള് രാമവർമ്മ) (16 April 1813 – 26 December 1846) was the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Travancore. He is also considered as a brilliant music composer and is credited with over 4 ...
, was an ardent devotee of Kanjirottu Yakshi Amma.
The Kanjirottu yakshi is now said to reside in Vault B of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple
The Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple located in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state of Kerala, India. The name of the city of 'Thiruvananthapuram' in Tamil and Malayalam translates to "The City of Lord Ananta" (The City ...
in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram (; ), also known by its former name Trivandrum (), is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the most populous city in Kerala with a population of 957,730 as of 2011. The encompassing urban agglomeration populati ...
, Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Ca ...
, which supposedly also contains an enormous treasure. The enchanting and ferocious forms of this Yakshi are painted on the south-west part of Sri Padmanabha's shrine. The vault remains unopened due to ongoing legal issues and the legend of the Yakshi, whom some believe will wreak havoc on the world if her prayers to Lord Narasimha within Vault B are disturbed by opening the vault.
See also
*Apsara
An apsaras or apsara ( sa, अप्सरा ' lso ' pi, अक्चरा, translit=accharā) is a type of female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hinduism and Buddhist culture. They figure prominently in the sculpture, dance, litera ...
* Salabhanjika
*Shitala
Sheetala (, IAST: ) , also spelled as Shitala and Seetla, is a Hindu goddess venerated primarily in North India. She is regarded to be an incarnation of the goddess Parvati. She is believed to cure poxes, sores, ghouls, pustules, and diseases, ...
* Nariphon
*Nymph
A nymph ( grc, νύμφη, nýmphē, el, script=Latn, nímfi, label=Modern Greek; , ) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Different from Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are ...
*Fairy
A fairy (also fay, fae, fey, fair folk, or faerie) is a type of mythical being or legendary creature found in the folklore of multiple European cultures (including Celtic, Slavic, Germanic, English, and French folklore), a form of spirit, ...
* Houri
*Yogini
A yogini ( Sanskrit: योगिनी, IAST: ) is a female master practitioner of tantra and yoga, as well as a formal term of respect for female Hindu or Buddhist spiritual teachers in Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Greater Tibet ...
*List of tree deities
A tree deity or tree spirit is a nature deity related to a tree. Such deities are present in many cultures. They are usually represented as a young woman, often connected to ancient fertility and tree worship lore.Heinrich Zimmer, ''Myths and Sym ...
*Succubus
A succubus is a demon or supernatural entity in folklore, in female form, that appears in dreams to seduce men, usually through sexual activity. According to religious tradition, a succubus needs male semen to survive; repeated sexual activi ...
References
External links
{{HinduMythology Buddhist legendary creatures Non-human races in Hindu mythology Indian folklore Female buddhas and supernatural beings Female legendary creatures Mythological hematophages Yakshas Harvest goddesses Jainism