to the nature of their sex. In these ideologies lib-
eration (MOKSHA) is possible to humans within this
lifetime, but only through ritual sexual practices
and the worship of the yoni, female sexual fluids,
and menstrual blood.
In the first section of the Yoni Tantra, Shiva
tells DEVI, the Goddess, that all gods and their
power of creation, maintenance, and destruc-
tion originate in the yoni. In the Yoni Tantra the
Mahavidyas, 10 tantric goddesses of spiritual
liberation, are each associated with different parts
of the yoni.
The tantric Sri Chakra cult also gives special
importance to the yoni. The main iconic emblem
of the Goddess, the SRI YANTRA, is composed of
interlocking triangles. Five of these, symbolizing
the yoni, point downward; the other four, symbol-
izing the LINGAM, point upward, in reference to
the union of feminine and masculine qualities
and representing the mysteries of creation and
destruction.
Further reading: Arthur Avalon, The Serpent Power: The
Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga, 7th ed. (New York:
Dover, 1974); N. N. Bhattacharya, History of the Tantric
Religion (New Delhi: Manohar, 1999); Carol Radcliffe
Bolon, Forms of the Goddess Lajja Gauri in Indian Art
(Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1997); Madhu Khanna,
Yantra: The Tantric Symbol of Cosmic Unity (London:
Thames & Hudson, 1979); Michael Magee, The Yoni
Tantra, Vol. 2 (Harrow, England: Worldwide Tantra
Project, 1995); Ajit Mookerjee, Kali: The Feminine
Force (New York: Destiny Books, 1988); David Gordon
White, Kiss of the Yogini (Chicago and London: Univer-
sity of Chicago Press, 2003).
Yudhishthira
Yudhishthira, “he who is steadfast in war,” is the
oldest of the five PANDAVAS brothers of the MAHAB-
HARATA story. He is the son of Kunti by the god
Dharma. Yudhisthira has a prominent place in the
story. He is addicted to gambling and, therefore,
the source of sorrow for his brothers and their
mutual wife DRAUPADI. Twice he loses in dice to
the brothers’ rivals the KAURAVAS; on the second
occasion he loses everything, forcing the Pandavas
and their wife into 13 years of exile. Generally,
however, Yudhishthira is regarded as wise, righ-
teous, and pure and is given the title “king of the
right” (dharmaraja).Further reading: Peter Brook, director, The Mahab-
harata (videorecording), produced by Michael Prop-
per (Chatsworth, Calif.: Image Entertainment, 2002);
William Buck, The Mahabharata (Berkeley: University
of California Press, 1973); J. A. van Buitenen, The
Mahabharata, 3 vols. (Chicago: University of Chicago
Press, 1973–78); E. Washburn Hopkins, Epic Mythology
(Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1986).Yuga
In Hindu cosmology a Yuga, or “Age,” is the
smallest unit of cosmological time. Four Yugas
make up one MAHAYUGA, or Great Age: the
Golden Age (KRITA, or Satya, YUGA), the Silver
Age (TRETA YUGA), the Bronze Age (DVAPARA
YUGA), and the Iron Age (KALI YUGA, no con-
nection with the goddess Kali). The Yugas are
named after an ancient dice game, in which a
1, or kale, was the worst throw and a 4, or krita
(literally, the one that makes it!), is the best.
The Yugas decrease in duration: Satya Yuga
lasts 1,728,000 years, Treta 1,296,000 years,
Dvapara 864,000 years, and Kali 432,000 years.
The figures are sometimes given in “god-years,”
each divine year equal to 360 human years.
Then the Satya Yuga is 4,800 divine years; the
Treta Yuga 3,600 divine years; the Dvapara Yuga
2,400 divine years; and the Kali Yuga 1,200
divine years. Each Mahayuga totals 12,000
divine years.
As the Yugas follow one another, every aspect
of human life suffers a decline, including human
height, longevity, and morality. We are currently
in the Kali Yuga, the most corrupt of the ages. At
its end, a new Satya Yuga will begin. MahayugasYuga 517 J