THE 80 YOGINIS

The Speech Mandala contains a total of 116 deities.

There are 80 Yoginis who are placed on eight lotuses; each eight-petalled lotus is placed on the back of an animal. Each of the eight lotus petals holds one Yogini, and in the center there is a Yogini embraced by a Yogi.

A detail from the beautiful book 'Kalachakra' by Tibet Domani:



'In the southeast, on the back of a Garuda, is a white eight-petalled lotus, in the center of which stands black Vaishni (Pervading Engaging Female) with one face and four arms. In her right hands she holds a wheel and a club. In her left hands she holds a lotus and a conch. She is embraced by yellow Brahma (Pure One) with four faces and four arms. In his right hands he holds a needle and a rosary. In his left hands he holds a lotus and a pitcher. Standing on the petals are eight black female petal-deities, each with one face and four arms. In their right hands they hold a wheel and a club. In their left hands they hold a lotus and a conch.'

Animal	Location	Central Yogini	Consort	On Lotus Petals (clockwise)
Hungry Ghost	E	Charchika	Indra	Bhima, Ugra, Kaladamshtra, Jvaladanalamukha, Vayuvega, Pracanda, Raudrakshi, Sthulanasa
Garuda	SE	Vaishnavi	Brahma	Shri, Maya, Kirti, Lakshmi, Suparamavijaya, Shrijaya, Shrijayanti and Shrichakri
Buffalo	S	Varahi (Shukaridevi)	Rudra	Kinkali, Kalaratri, Pratupitavadana, Kalajihva, Karali, Kali, Ghora, Virupa
Peacock	SW	Kumari	Ganapati	Padma, Ananga, Kumari, Mrgapatigamana, Ratnamala, Sunetra, Klina, Bhadra
Bull	N	Raudri	Yama	Gauri, Ganga, Nitya, Suparamaturita, Totala, Lakshmana, Pinga, Krishna
(Snow) Lion	NE	Mahashri (Laksmi)	Kumara- kartikeya	Shrishveta, Chandralekha, Shashadharavadana, Hamsavarna, Dhrtis, Padmesha, Taranetra, Vimalashashadhara
Elephant	W	Vajrahasta (Indira)	Nairitya	Vajrabha, Vajragatra, Varakanakavati, Urvashi, Chitralekha, Rambha, Halya, Sutara
Goose	NW	Vedavaktri (Brahmani)	Vishnu	Savitri, Padmanetra, Jalajavati, Buddhi, Vagishvari, Gayatri, Vidyuddeva, Smriti

These 80 Yoginis represent for example the 80 Minor Marks of a Buddha and correspond to the development of the embryo during the 6th and 7th month. The 64 Yoginis on the lotus petals refer to the navelcakra with its 64 channels.

 

OFFERING GODDESSES

On the white ledge just outside the walls, 36 Desire Offering Goddesses are standing. In the mandala they are often depicted as Sanskrit seed syllables.

In the Speech Mandala, an Offering Goddess is drawn in each of the four Mandala Gates, but is is not clear if these belong to the Speech Mandala or if they belong above and below the mandala.
The White Outer Ledge further holds lamps in the corners behind the gates, shaped like a white moon crescent and a double vajra on top.

See also our Interactive Mandala for an overview of the full Body, Speech and Mind Mandala.