Yogini Cults

The Yogini Cult is the simple tribal and folk tradition concentrated on the 'Sakta-Tantric' form, the worship of shakti combined with certain magical rituals. This cult is believed to be originated in the 7th-8th centuries. According to history, Yoginis are the consorts of Yogis, and they even practiced yoga with their male companions to gain mastery over science and acquire magical powers. They were considered to be able to confer their devotees with the power to become small or gigantic in size, to control one's body and mind of others, to fly, become invisible, and other useful abilities. Later inscriptions indicate that the Yogini temples were in worship even in the early 16th century. Nine Yogini temples were discovered from Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The famous of them are Yogini Temple at Hirapur and Yogini Temple at Ranipur-Jharial.