Ḍākinī

Ḍākinī · ḍākinī, “a harmful being”

Grammar: feminine noun.

Meaning: a class of harmful beings, named with śākinīs, bhūtas, pretas and piśācas.

In the scriptures: the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa names ḍākinīs in three places. On the path of Yamaloka, in places ḍākinīs, śākinīs, diseases and very cruel rākshasas give pain (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 5–6). Bhūtas, pretas, piśācas, grahas, ḍākinīs and enemies flee on seeing the tilaka (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 8). For one who keeps a vrata of Bhagavān Sūrya, pretas, piśācas, ḍākinīs, śākinīs and grahas give no trouble (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 117).

Related terms: Śākinī · Bhūta · Preta · Piśāca · Graha

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 5–6, 8, 117