YAKSHI Introduction
The concept of a Yakshi in temples revolves around an ancient female nature deityembodying fertility, beauty, and abundance. However, Yakshis have adual nature, also representing power, enchantment, and a potential formalevolence. Their presence in temples can range from decorative motifs inarchitecture to full shrines, often connected with trees and nature, or actingas guardian deities. Key aspects of theYakshi concept Origin and symbolism: Ancient origins: Yakshis predate formal Hindu, Buddhist, andJain traditions, likely originating with the early Dravidians. Nature deities: They are seen as personifications of theearth's fertility, connected to trees, forests, and water. Symbol of beauty and fertility: They are often depicted withan idealized feminine beauty and are symbols of prosperity, wealth, andabundance. Dual nature: Benevolent aspect: They can grant wishes, provide fertility,and act as protective spirits. Malevolent aspect: They canalso be destructive, powerful, and quick to anger. Some folkloreportrays them as spirits that can drain life force or inflict misfortune. Role in temples: Decorative elements: They are frequently used as decorativemotifs in temple architecture, often in the form of shalabhanjikas, or"tree maidens" who cause trees to blossom with their touch. Guardian deities: In some traditions, particularly Jainism,Yakshis are seen as guardian deities who protect the Tirthankaras. Dedicated shrines: Dedicated shrines, sometimes called YakshiKavu, can be found under trees, especially banyan trees, and are specificcenters of worship. Regional variations: Kerala: In Kerala, the concept rarely includes the more terrifying, vampire-likeenchantress aspect, sometimes associated with spirits of women who diedtragically. Other regions: In other parts of India, they are often depicted as symbols of wealth and prosperity, withstatues found at the entrances of buildings like theReserve Bank of India Q What is the reason behind worshipping ofyakshi/rakshas as sub-deity across the temples in Kerala which is uncommon inother states? A Madhu Thekkeettil,Religion is a way of life.7y Yakshi and Rakshas are considered to be spirits having supernatural powers. As per mythology in Devaloka(heaven) there are several sectsof people apart from people called “deva” or divine ones. Lesser divine sects like Gandharva, yakshaand kinnara are among the people of heaven. There objective is toprotect and provide service to Indra, the king of Deva’s. Gandhrva is a singer and Kinnera is one who play musicalinstruments. Yaksha is the generic name of all other sects in devaloka whoprotects wealth and safeguard Lord Indira. All divine beings arebelieved to be having higher conscious than human and have supernatural powers. The female version of Yakshak is yakshi. Thereare yakshis who are good and bad. Good yakshis do benefits to mankind and evilones harm to mankind. Due to their powers people worship good Yakshis toaccomplish certain wishes from them. Due to lesser divine, and also having rajo guna, theseyakshis can be easily made happy by praising, chanting mantra and also by doingsacrifices. A devotee will get faster results by worshiping such lesser divineYakshis and Rakshas. Because of this reason they widely worshiped to attainmaterial benefits. A Arun Mohan ,Lives inKerala, India (2016–present)Updated 7y However in reality, Yakshi concept of past is quitedifferent. She is a celestial being, females of Yaksha tribe (Lord Kubera, the God of Wealthbeing the king of Yakshas). Generally Yakshi as a concept indicates for those celestialladies banished from Alakapuri, the capital of Yaksha. They live in earth,looking for young men to enjoy their days as they are epitome of fertility andabundance of celestial pleasure. In Tantric concept, such Yakshis, if able to install as within atemple as a deity, she blesses worshipers with fertility and prosperity. Across India, in Vedic times, Yakshi indicates forProsperity and abundance of wealth and fertility. Thats why in front of Reserve Bank of India, its twolarge statues of Yaksha and Yakshi who guards the entrance as a symbol ofWealth and treasure. However across India, Vedic Hinduism has got heavilydilutated, hence many are unaware of Yakshi concept today In Kerala, Yakshis arenormally worshiped in temples either in natural settings like under Banyantrees or in proper sanctum sanatorium sub-shrines. Yakshi shrine located under Banyan trees or naturalsettings are known as Yakshi Kavu (Groves of Yakshi) In Kerala version, Yakshirepresents the epitome of Malayalee classical beauty. This is because they areenchantress those celestial beauty attracts men. The basic description ofYakshi Beauty includes ultra long jet-black hair, long drawn eyes, goldencomplexion and fragrance that equals to flowers of Pala (Alstonia scholaris,Saptaparni in Hindi). A Yakshi resides in Pala tree which is popularly knownacross India as Devil Tree due to its traditional association with Yakshis. A pictorial concept ofYakshi in Malayalee beliefs. As a tribute to Yakshi cult in Kerala, Kerala Government hascommissioned one of most reputed sculptor of Kerala-Kanayi Kunhiraman to put uphis version of Yakshi in the gardens of Malampuzha Dam. And thus today theYakshi Statue of Malampuzha is one of the most iconic feminine statues in thestate, though itdoesn’t conform to traditional concepts 2. Gandharvas Like Yakshis, Gandharvas are also a celestial being, aheavenly tribe who are in service of Lord Indra as celestial singers. Legendssay, if Gandharvas commits a wrong, he shall be banished to earth and Gandharvadue to their natural beauty attracts earthly woman and lure them into hissexual sphere.eg-Film “JnanGandharvan” in Malayalam. The same Gandharva, ifinstalled as a deity can bless virgins for good marriages as well as bless fora healthy sexual life and longevity of marital relationship etc. Owing to this, in tantric customs, if a place has aGandharva presence, tantric rites are done to make the gandharva as a diety.Placing a Gandharva as a deity are rare within a family grove, but lot ofGandharva temples are installed. There are many small temples, groves etc for Gandharvas. Both Gandharvas and Yakshis represent the sexual energies inMasculine and Feminine versions respectively and hence they are worshipedprimarily for longevity of sexual life by opposite sexes. Rakshas Rakshas are generally of two kinds, Normal Rakshas andBrahmarakshas. Rakshas means spirits and its basically those spirits whohave been haunting others. Typicallythose who didn’t have a natural death and have vengeance, normally becomeRakshas. If aBrahmin soul becomes Rakshas, it become Brahmarakshas. Both are hauntingspirits and its common in Kerala to using tantric rites to control them and inmany cases convert theminto deities as part of pacifying the soul, if it can’t attain Moksha or othereternal means. In such cases, once aRakshas becomes a deity,they becomes a protective figure. Normally if a soul becomes rakshas, it is common for the family members to convert theminto a deity and installed within Family grove in the house as to protect thefamily. The concept is something similar to Holy spirits (if not the same). Whereas Brahmarakshas arenormally installed in some temples as sub-deities. Mostly in groves near to Nagas orseparate areas. In someplaces, a proper shrine as such be developed with regular poojas.Brahmarakshas are heavily worshiped as protectors of a region where the templeis located. It common to find such sub-shrines within a main temple dedicatedto Brahmarakshas in many places across Kerala…. Now the main question, why such deities who are notGods, being worshiped? The massive absorption of Buddhist and Jain deities intotheir equivalent into Hindu Pantheon has resulted in creating a worship cult ofsuch demi gods not seen elsewhere in India. In North India/Central India, Jainism and Buddhism is stillalive. It’s never absorbed purely into Hindu identity. And even if some Jaindeities or temples got into Hindu realms, it still maintains its separateidentity outside the main Hindu fold / Pantheon. However in Kerala, Buddhism has completely got extinct andJainism remains as a negligible minority group limited for few hundreds. So the deity which wasworshiped a Buddhist Yaki in 4th century, may today worship as Hindu Yakshi.Essentially the worship continues in a different identity. Compiled from Google search, Quora answers. In the nextparts I will continue with Yakshis in Hinduism Gopalakrishnan 13-10-2025 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1756976433.1399000.1760321542071%40mail.yahoo.com.
