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334
Savarīpā (657 A.D.) was the originator of Vajrayogini cult where the deity worshipped is of red colour (see p. 92 ante). This would suggest that Vajrayogini cult where the deity worshipped is of other colours existed prior to Savaripă. Luipa (669 A. D.) introduced Yogini Sancarya (see p. 91 ante). This shows how Yogini worship spread amongst Buddhists. It should be noted however that in the said Buddhist Tantra Yogini is not one of the 64 Yoginis nor for the matter of that the principal Yogini but, judged from her Dhyāna and Mantra, can be identified with Chinnamasta, one of the 10 Siddha Mahavidyas of Hindu Tantrikas.
The Yoginis were however well-known during the time of Sri Jinadattasūri and Sri Hemacandracārya as can be seen from their biographies (see p. 214 and 220 respectively).
INTRODUCTION
We may note here an annecdote relating to the 64 Yoginis who having taken possession of the 64 Koṭhās or towers of the new fort built round Ahmedabad by Sultan Ahmed Shah harassed him. The Sultan having not been relieved of his trouble inspite of various remedies was advised to seek the aid of a Jain Acharya named Sri Ratnasimhasūri, a pupil of Sri Jayatilakasūri of Bṛhat Pausālika branch of Tapagaccha. Sri Ratnasimhasuri employed the mystic diagram of 65 formed with the figures 1 to 25 representing the 24 Tirthankaras and the Sangha which is considered to be the most sacred body next to the 24 Tirthankaras and therefore taken to be represented by the figure 25. The Sultan was thus saved from the harassment of the 64 Yoginis.
As Yoginītantra gives Sri Padmavati's Mantra for foreseeing the future through dreams ('ॐ ह्रीं पद्मावतीदेवि त्रैलोक्यवार्ता कथय २ स्वाहा ||' to be recited daily for 2 years), it probably considers Padmavati to be a Yogini. Similarly Mahayakṣini Tantra gives Sri Padmavati's Mantra ( ́at qurant earer') calling it Aṣṭamahasiddhi-Yakṣiņi-Prayoga, which
*
See Vṛddha Tapagaccha Pattavali and also the hymn Caturvimsati-Jina-stotram relating to the diagram of 65 commencing with the words "afafa alfa 1"
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