Yakshi (or Yakṣī, the feminine form of Yakṣa) has deep layers of meaning in Hinduism, Buddhism, and local Kerala traditions. Let’s explore it systematically from both the pan-Indian Hindu and the Kerala cultural perspectives.
1. Yakshis in Hinduism: Origins and Nature Etymology and Concept The word Yakṣa (यक्ष) comes from the Sanskrit root yakṣ, meaning to worship, to honor, or to protect. In early Vedic texts (like the Taittiriya Samhita), Yakshas are semi-divine beings associated with nature, fertility, and wealth. In later Hinduism, they are considered attendants (gaṇas) of Kubera, the god of wealth and ruler of the northern quarter (uttara dikpāla). Yaksha and Yakshi Duality Yaksha = male spirit; Yakshi (Yakshini) = female counterpart. They inhabit trees, groves, caves, and water bodies — especially sal trees (śāla-vṛkṣa), figs, and ponds. In literature and sculpture, Yakshis represent the abundance and sensuality of nature — fertility, growth, and feminine energy (śakti). 2. Yakshis in Classical Texts and Iconography a. In Epics and Puranas Mahabharata: The famous Yaksha Prashna (Yaksha’s riddles to Yudhishthira) shows Yakshas as moral guardians and wise nature spirits. Puranas (like Vishnu Purana, Padma Purana) describe them as attendants of Kubera living in Alaka (the Himalayan city). Sometimes benevolent, sometimes fearsome — their nature depends on the context and their relationship to humans or gods. b. In Art and Temple Sculpture The Yakshi figure is one of the oldest motifs in Indian art (even before fully anthropomorphic depictions of gods). Famous early examples: Didarganj Yakshi (3rd century BCE, Patna Museum) — polished Mauryan sculpture symbolizing grace and fertility. Sanchi, Bharhut, Amaravati stupa reliefs — Yakshis shown embracing trees, symbolizing the tree of life and prithvi (earth goddess). 3. Yakshis in Kerala Tradition a. Local Belief and Folklore In Kerala, the Yakshi becomes a distinct cultural and psychological archetype — blending Vedic, tribal, and *tantric elements*. The Yakshi is often depicted as: A beautiful woman in white, adorned with jasmine flowers, appearing at twilight or beneath trees (often pala or peepal trees). A seductress spirit who lures men — particularly arrogant or immoral ones — and drains their life-force or blood. Both dangerous and divine — sometimes worshipped, sometimes feared. b. Origin Myths in Kerala Local tales describe Yakshis as women who died violently or unjustly, later transformed into spirits with both vengeful and protective powers. Some are deified, becoming local goddesses (grama devatas). In temples, Yakshis are often represented as subsidiary deities — guardians of the temple compound or attendants of Bhadrakali. c. In Theyyam and Temple Rituals In northern Kerala’s Theyyam tradition, Yakshis appear as ritual personae, where they are propitiated to ensure fertility, health, and protection. In some Bhagavati temples, Yakshi shrines (Yakshi kavu) exist within the temple grounds — often represented by a tree, stone, or anthill (valiyachan kavu). d. Symbolic Duality In Kerala’s spiritual psychology: The Yakshi represents uncontrolled feminine energy (prakriti in her wild form). The tantric and temple systems aim to balance or pacify this energy through ritual, symbolizing integration of nature’s power with human consciousness. 4. Yakshis in Malayalam Literature and Arts Vallathol, Kumaran Asan, and Sanatkumāra have used Yakshi imagery to explore love, death, loneliness, and liberation. In Kathakali and Koodiyattam, Yakshis are portrayed with layered emotional states — beauty, anger, yearning. Modern Malayalam films (e.g., Yakshi by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan) reinterpret her as a psychological metaphor — the haunting of guilt, desire, and repression. 5. Philosophical Interpretation Aspect Symbolic Meaning Yaksha Guardian of nature’s wealth — protective and ethical force Yakshi Feminine creative power — beauty, fertility, and danger combined In Tantra Unrefined Shakti, to be awakened and harmonized In Kerala folk mind Manifestation of the Earth’s vitality and the unconscious feminine In Hindu cosmology, the Yakshi is not merely a ghost or goddess — She is the threshold between the seen and unseen, The wild pulse of nature, personified as woman. In Kerala, she becomes the local earth-spirit, at once nurturing and destructive, demanding reverence, not fear. Yaksha gana might be related more from Sanskrit literatures. KR IRS 131025 On Mon, 13 Oct 2025 at 07:44, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > YAKSHI > > Introduction > > The concept of a Yakshi in temples revolves around an *ancient female > nature deity embodying fertility, beauty, and abundance*. However, > Yakshis have a dual nature, also representing power, enchantment, and a > potential for malevolence. Their presence in temples can range from > decorative motifs in architecture to full shrines, often connected with > trees and nature, or acting as *guardian deities*. > > Key aspects of the Yakshi concept > > Origin and symbolism: > > Ancient origins: Yakshis predate formal Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain > traditions, likely originating with the early Dravidians. > > Nature deities: They are seen as personifications of the earth's > fertility, connected to trees, forests, and water. > > Symbol of beauty and fertility: They are often depicted with an idealized > feminine beauty and are symbols of prosperity, wealth, and abundance. > > Dual nature: > > Benevolent aspect: They can grant wishes, provide fertility, and act as > protective spirits. > > Malevolent aspect: *They can also be destructive, powerful, and quick to > anger*. Some folklore portrays them as spirits that can drain life force > or inflict misfortune. > > Role in temples: > > Decorative elements: They are frequently used as decorative motifs 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 Yakshi Kavu, can be > found under trees, especially banyan trees, and are specific centers of > worship. > > Regional variations: > > Kerala: In Kerala, the concept rarely includes the more terrifying, > vampire-like enchantress aspect, sometimes associated with spirits of women > who died tragically. > > Other regions: In other parts of India, they are often depicted as > symbols of wealth and prosperity, with statues found at the entrances of > buildings like the Reserve Bank of India > > *Q What is the reason behind worshipping of yakshi/rakshas as > sub-deity across the temples in Kerala which is uncommon in other 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 sects of people > apart from people called “deva” or divine ones. *Lesser divine sects like > Gandharva, yaksha and kinnara are among the people of heaven*. There > objective is to protect and provide service to Indra, the king of Deva’s. > > Gandhrva is a singer and Kinnera is one who play musical instruments. > Yaksha is the generic name of all other sects in devaloka who protects > wealth and safeguard Lord Indira. > > *All divine beings are believed to be having higher conscious than human > and have supernatural powers.* *The female version of Yakshak is yakshi*. > There are yakshis who are good and bad. Good yakshis do benefits to mankind > and evil ones harm to mankind. Due to their powers people worship good > Yakshis to accomplish certain wishes from them. *Due to lesser divine, > and also having rajo guna, these yakshis can be easily made happy by > praising, chanting mantra and also by doing* sacrifices. A devotee will > get faster results by worshiping such lesser divine Yakshis and Rakshas. > Because of this reason they widely worshiped to attain material benefits. > > A Arun Mohan ,Lives in Kerala, India (2016–present)Updated 7y > > However in reality, Yakshi concept of past is quite different. > > She is a celestial being, females of Yaksha tribe *(Lord Kubera, the God > of Wealth being the king of Yakshas).* > > Generally Yakshi as a concept indicates for those celestial ladies > 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 and > abundance of celestial pleasure. In Tantric concept, such Yakshis, *if > able to install as within a temple as a deity, she blesses worshipers with > fertility and prosperity.* > > Across India, in Vedic times, Yakshi indicates for Prosperity and > abundance of wealth and fertility. Thats why in front of Reserve Bank of > India, its two large statues of Yaksha and Yakshi who guards the entrance > as a symbol of Wealth and treasure. However across India, Vedic Hinduism > has got heavily dilutated, hence many are unaware of Yakshi concept today > > > > *In Kerala, Yakshis are normally worshiped in temples either in natural > settings like under Banyan trees or in proper sanctum sanatorium > sub-shrines*. Yakshi shrine located under Banyan trees or natural > settings are known as Yakshi Kavu (Groves of Yakshi) > > *In Kerala version, Yakshi represents the epitome of Malayalee classical > beauty*. This is because they are enchantress those celestial beauty > attracts men. The basic description of Yakshi Beauty includes ultra long > jet-black hair, long drawn eyes, golden complexion and fragrance that > equals to flowers of Pala (Alstonia scholaris, Saptaparni in Hindi). A > Yakshi resides in Pala tree which is popularly known across India as Devil > Tree due to its traditional association with Yakshis. > > A pictorial concept of Yakshi in Malayalee beliefs. > > As a tribute to Yakshi cult in Kerala, Kerala Government has commissioned > one of most reputed sculptor of Kerala-Kanayi Kunhiraman to put up his > version of Yakshi in the gardens of Malampuzha Dam. And thus today the > Yakshi Statue of Malampuzha is one of the most iconic feminine statues in > the state, *though it doesn’t conform to traditional concepts* > > > > 2. Gandharvas > > Like Yakshis, Gandharvas are also a celestial being, a heavenly tribe who > are in service of Lord Indra as celestial singers. Legends say, if > Gandharvas commits a wrong, he shall be banished to earth and Gandharva due > to their natural beauty attracts earthly woman and lure them into his > sexual sphere.eg-Film “*Jnan Gandharvan”* in Malayalam. > > *The same Gandharva, if installed as a deity can bless virgins for good > marriages as well as bless for a healthy sexual life and longevity of > marital relationship etc.* Owing to this, in tantric customs, if a place > has a Gandharva 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 of Gandharva temples are installed. > > There are many small temples, groves etc for Gandharvas. > > Both Gandharvas and Yakshis represent the sexual energies in Masculine and > Feminine versions respectively and hence they are worshiped primarily for > longevity of sexual life by opposite sexes. > > Rakshas > > > > Rakshas are generally of two kinds, Normal Rakshas and Brahmarakshas. > > Rakshas means spirits and its basically those spirits who have been > haunting others. *Typically those who didn’t have a natural death and > have vengeance, normally become Rakshas*. If a Brahmin soul becomes > Rakshas, it become Brahmarakshas. Both are haunting spirits and its > common in Kerala to using tantric rites to control them and in many *cases > convert them into deities as part of pacifying the soul, if it can’t attain > Moksha or other eternal means.* > > In such cases, once a Rakshas becomes a deity, they becomes a protective > figure. Normally if a soul becomes rakshas, it is common for the family > members to convert them into a deity and installed within Family grove in > the house as to protect the family. The concept is something similar to > Holy spirits (if not the same). > > *Whereas Brahmarakshas are normally installed in some temples as > sub-deities*. Mostly in groves near to Nagas or separate areas. In some > places, a proper shrine as such be developed with regular poojas. > Brahmarakshas are heavily worshiped as protectors of a region where the > temple is located. It common to find such sub-shrines within a main temple > dedicated to Brahmarakshas in many places across Kerala…. > > Now the main question, why such deities who are not Gods, being worshiped? > > The massive absorption of Buddhist and Jain deities into their equivalent > into Hindu Pantheon has resulted in creating a worship cult of such demi > gods not seen elsewhere in India. > > In North India/Central India, Jainism and Buddhism is still alive. It’s > never absorbed purely into Hindu identity. And even if some Jain deities or > temples got into Hindu realms, it still maintains its separate identity > outside the main Hindu fold / Pantheon. > > However in Kerala, Buddhism has completely got extinct and Jainism remains > as a negligible minority group limited for few hundreds. > > *So the deity which was worshiped 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 next parts 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 > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1756976433.1399000.1760321542071%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- 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]. 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