--> Skip to main content


How to Worship Yoginis in Hinduism: A Comprehensive Guide

By

Worshipping Yoginis—divine feminine forces—holds a sacred place in Hindu spiritual practice. Yoginis represent powerful energies, particularly associated with the Tantric tradition. Through their worship, devotees seek blessings for prosperity, protection, spiritual empowerment, and divine wisdom.

This guide provides a step-by-step process for Yogini worship, focusing on eco-friendly, traditional practices.

Benefits of Worshipping Yoginis

  1. Spiritual Upliftment: Yoginis are considered embodiments of Shakti (feminine power). Their worship can help balance energies within oneself.
  2. Protection: Yoginis are revered for their ability to protect against negative forces and guide one toward a path of righteousness.
  3. Inner Transformation: Worship brings purification of the mind and heart, clearing negative emotions.
  4. Prosperity and Success: Yoginis are known to bless devotees with success in endeavors, prosperity, and good health.

Best Time to Worship

  • Early Morning (Brahma Muhurta): The best time to conduct the puja is during the early morning hours, just before sunrise. This is considered an auspicious time when the environment is serene, and the mind is clear.
  • Specific Days: Some choose to worship Yoginis on Ashtami (eighth day of the lunar cycle) or on Fridays, dedicated to the goddess. However, daily puja can also be performed.

Clothes to Wear

  • Color: Light and soothing colors are ideal for worship. White, yellow, or saffron-colored clothes symbolize purity, devotion, and spiritual energy. Wearing eco-friendly, organic cotton or handloom fabrics is recommended.
  • Clothes Material: Avoid synthetic materials; instead, opt for biodegradable, natural fibers like cotton, linen, or silk.

Cleanliness and Preparation

  1. Personal Hygiene: Before beginning the puja, take a bath to purify yourself physically and spiritually.
  2. Puja Space: The area where the puja is to be conducted should be cleaned and ideally located in a peaceful part of the house. You may sprinkle Gangajal (holy water) or clean the space with a mixture of water and turmeric to purify it.
  3. Eco-Friendly Setup: Use only natural products for cleaning and setting up the puja.

Eco-Friendly Puja Items Required

  1. Diyas (Oil Lamps): Traditional clay diyas with pure cow ghee or sesame oil.
  2. Incense (Agarbatti): Organic incense sticks made of natural resins and essential oils.
  3. Flowers: Use fresh, locally sourced flowers (marigold, lotus, jasmine, etc.). Avoid plastic flowers.
  4. Fruits: Banana, apple, pomegranate, and coconut—use organic and locally grown fruits.
  5. Offerings (Naivedyam): Simple offerings like jaggery, coconut, organic milk, and homemade sweets like rice pudding (kheer).
  6. Natural Materials: Organic cotton wicks, turmeric powder, sandalwood paste, and kumkum made of natural ingredients.

Simple Steps for Worshipping Yoginis

  1. Purify the Space: Clean the area where the puja will be performed. Sprinkle Gangajal or clean water to sanctify the space.

  2. Set Up the Altar:

    • Place a clean, white cloth on the altar.
    • Arrange images or idols of Yoginis. If you don’t have Yogini idols, you can use a depiction of the goddess Shakti.
    • Light the oil lamps (diyas) using eco-friendly cotton wicks and cow ghee.

  3. Offer Flowers and Incense:

    • Offer fresh flowers to the Yoginis while chanting their names or general prayers to Shakti.
    • Light eco-friendly incense sticks to purify the atmosphere.

  4. Chanting of Mantras:

    • Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Vichche: A powerful mantra invoking divine feminine energy.
    • Yogini Gayatri Mantra:
      Om Yoginiye Cha Vidmahe 
Mahayoginyai Dhimahi 
Tanno Devi Prachodayat

  5. Offer Prasad (Naivedyam): Offer fruits, coconut, sweets (kheer or halwa), and water as Prasad. Ensure that these items are organic and locally sourced. Place them in clean, natural clay or metal bowls.

  6. Meditation and Silent Prayer: After offering the puja items, sit in silence for a few moments. Meditate on the energies of the Yoginis. Invoke them for protection, guidance, and spiritual transformation.

  7. Aarti (Light Worship): Perform an Aarti using a camphor or ghee lamp, moving it in a circular motion in front of the deity. Chant "Om Hreem Yoginyai Namah" as you do this.

Prasad to be Prepared

  • Kheer (Rice Pudding): A simple preparation using rice, milk, and jaggery or sugar.
  • Fruits: Fresh fruits like banana, pomegranate, or seasonal fruits.
  • Coconut: Break a coconut, offering one half to the deity.
  • Sweet Offerings: Prepare eco-friendly sweets like ladoos using jaggery and sesame or coconut.

Ensure that all ingredients used for preparing Prasad are organic and chemical-free.

Mantras and Prayers

  • Yogini Invocation Mantra:

    Om Yoginyai Namah

  • Shakti Stuti: Recite any hymn in praise of Shakti, such as the Devi Suktam or Durga Chalisa.

  • 108 Yogini Mantra: If familiar, you may recite individual mantras dedicated to the 64 or 108 Yoginis.

Concluding the Puja

  1. Concluding Prayer: Thank the Yoginis for their blessings and protection.
    • Recite: "Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti" (Peace invocation).
  2. Distribute Prasad: Distribute the offered food and fruits among family members and guests as sacred offerings.
  3. Light Dispersal: After the puja, let the lamps extinguish naturally.

What to Do with Puja Leftover Items

  1. Flowers: Compost the flowers, or immerse them in a water body, ensuring no plastic is used.
  2. Ashes from Diyas and Incense: The ashes can be sprinkled around plants in your garden, as they provide nutrients to the soil.
  3. Prasad: Share leftover Prasad with neighbors, family, or donate to those in need. Avoid wastage.
  4. Water: Offer the water from the puja to plants in your home, symbolizing the recycling of sacred energy.
  5. Eco-Friendly Disposal: Ensure that all items used during the puja are biodegradable or can be reused.

Importance of Yogini Worship

  • Connection to Divine Feminine Power: Yoginis represent the cosmic feminine force, enabling devotees to access divine energies for personal and spiritual growth.
  • Environmental Respect: By using eco-friendly and natural items, you honor both the divine and nature, ensuring the puja remains in harmony with the environment.
  • Holistic Development: The practice promotes inner balance, spiritual empowerment, and growth in both material and spiritual spheres.

By observing these simple yet profound rituals using eco-friendly materials, devotees can practice Yogini worship in a way that respects tradition and protects the environment.