Dr. Yuko Yokochi is currently a professor of Sanskrit Literature and the head of the department of Indological Studies at Graduate School of Letters / Faculty of Letters at Kyoto University. She acquired her PhD degree in Indology at Univ. of Groningen in 2005. Her main research subject is the early history of Hinduism, especially the goddess worship and Śaivism, as well as the Sanskrit poetry and narratives. She has been a core member of the Skandapurāṇa project, which is currently organised jointly with Prof.Bisschop at Leiden Univ.
The Rise of the Warrior Goddess in Ancient India: A Study of the Myth Cycle of Kauśikī-Vindhyavās... more The Rise of the Warrior Goddess in Ancient India: A Study of the Myth Cycle of Kauśikī-Vindhyavāsinī in the Skandapurāṇa. University of Groningen, 2004.
Koṭīvarṣa/Koṭivarṣa, alias Devīkoṭa and Śoṇitapura, in North Bengal is known to be one of the ear... more Koṭīvarṣa/Koṭivarṣa, alias Devīkoṭa and Śoṇitapura, in North Bengal is known to be one of the early centres of Tantric Śaivism. In this paper, the history of Śaivism at the site up to the twelfth century will be examined, using textual, archaeological and epigraphical sources, of which the two recensions of the Skandapurāṇa are the main material. The study reveals a strong local tradition of goddess worship throughout the period. The site was subsumed under Śaivism possibly by the fourth century; thereafter, diverse streams of Tantric Śaivism—goddess-oriented followers of the Yāmala scriptures and the orthodox Saiddhāntikas—took hold there in different periods and interacted with the local tradition of goddess worship.
South Asian Classical Studies, Volume 3 (2008), 2008
This article presents a first edition and translation of the commentary of the tenth-century Said... more This article presents a first edition and translation of the commentary of the tenth-century Saiddhāntika theologian Bhaṭṭa Rāmakaṇṭha II, an older contemporary of the Kashmirian theologian Abhinavagupta, on the Tattvatrayanirṇaya of Sadyojyotiḥ. Sadyojyotiḥ was probably active between 675 and 725 CE and is the first systematising theologian of the Śaivasiddhānta of whom works survive. The three entities alluded to in the work’s title are God, souls and primal matter (māyā), but much of the work is devoted to determining the nature of a fourth entity, an innate impurity (mala) that afflicts all souls (except Śiva himself) and that determines the relations between the three entities of the title.
This is the doctoral thesis submitted to Univ. of Groningen in 2004 Dec. Chapter 2 of Study Part,... more This is the doctoral thesis submitted to Univ. of Groningen in 2004 Dec. Chapter 2 of Study Part, as well as Parts 2 (Synopsis) and 3 (Text), is thoroughly revised and contained in the Skandapurāṇa volume 3, the Vindhyavāsinī Cycle, published in 2013.
The Rise of the Warrior Goddess in Ancient India: A Study of the Myth Cycle of Kauśikī-Vindhyavās... more The Rise of the Warrior Goddess in Ancient India: A Study of the Myth Cycle of Kauśikī-Vindhyavāsinī in the Skandapurāṇa. University of Groningen, 2004.
Koṭīvarṣa/Koṭivarṣa, alias Devīkoṭa and Śoṇitapura, in North Bengal is known to be one of the ear... more Koṭīvarṣa/Koṭivarṣa, alias Devīkoṭa and Śoṇitapura, in North Bengal is known to be one of the early centres of Tantric Śaivism. In this paper, the history of Śaivism at the site up to the twelfth century will be examined, using textual, archaeological and epigraphical sources, of which the two recensions of the Skandapurāṇa are the main material. The study reveals a strong local tradition of goddess worship throughout the period. The site was subsumed under Śaivism possibly by the fourth century; thereafter, diverse streams of Tantric Śaivism—goddess-oriented followers of the Yāmala scriptures and the orthodox Saiddhāntikas—took hold there in different periods and interacted with the local tradition of goddess worship.
South Asian Classical Studies, Volume 3 (2008), 2008
This article presents a first edition and translation of the commentary of the tenth-century Said... more This article presents a first edition and translation of the commentary of the tenth-century Saiddhāntika theologian Bhaṭṭa Rāmakaṇṭha II, an older contemporary of the Kashmirian theologian Abhinavagupta, on the Tattvatrayanirṇaya of Sadyojyotiḥ. Sadyojyotiḥ was probably active between 675 and 725 CE and is the first systematising theologian of the Śaivasiddhānta of whom works survive. The three entities alluded to in the work’s title are God, souls and primal matter (māyā), but much of the work is devoted to determining the nature of a fourth entity, an innate impurity (mala) that afflicts all souls (except Śiva himself) and that determines the relations between the three entities of the title.
This is the doctoral thesis submitted to Univ. of Groningen in 2004 Dec. Chapter 2 of Study Part,... more This is the doctoral thesis submitted to Univ. of Groningen in 2004 Dec. Chapter 2 of Study Part, as well as Parts 2 (Synopsis) and 3 (Text), is thoroughly revised and contained in the Skandapurāṇa volume 3, the Vindhyavāsinī Cycle, published in 2013.
Skandapurāṇa V presents a critical edition of Adhyāyas 92-112 from the Skandapurāṇa, with an intr... more Skandapurāṇa V presents a critical edition of Adhyāyas 92-112 from the Skandapurāṇa, with an introduction and annotated English synopsis. The text edited in this volume includes the extensive myth of Viṣṇu’s manifestation as the Boar (Varāha), who conquers Hiraṇyākṣa and wins back the Earth for the gods; its aftermath, which involves the birth of Varāha’s son Vṛka and Skanda’s finishing of Viṣṇu’s Boar manifestation; Devī’s instructions to the goddesses about donations, fasts and penances; and the continuation of the Andhaka cycle. The introduction addresses the incorporation of Vaiṣṇava mythology in the text, the composition and revision of Adhyāya 112 in the different recensions, and the Dharmanibandha citations of Devī’s teachings.
Skandapurāṇa IV presents a critical edition of Adhyāyas 70-95 from the Skandapurāṇa, with an intr... more Skandapurāṇa IV presents a critical edition of Adhyāyas 70-95 from the Skandapurāṇa, with an introduction and annotated English synopsis.
The text edited in this volume includes the myths of Viṣṇu’s manifestation as the Man-Lion (Narasiṃha), the birth of Skanda, the birth of Andhaka, and Hiraṇyākṣa’s battle with the gods culminating in his victory and capture of the Earth.
The Skandapurana, ascribed to the sixth to the seventh century, is one of the oldest Saiva Purana... more The Skandapurana, ascribed to the sixth to the seventh century, is one of the oldest Saiva Puranas. This is a volume of a series of new critical edition of the text, published as Supplement of Groningen Oriental Studies. The main part of Volume III consists of the edition and synopsis of Chapters 34.1--61, 53--69, which relates the Myth Cycle of Vindhyavasini `the Goddess who abides in the Vindhya mountains.' She is a bellicose goddess who played a significant role in the development of `the Goddess' in Ancient India. Her myth cycle edited here provides the earliest full account of her myth from her birth to consecration after completing her task of destroying demons. In addition, an Introduction includes an analysis of the Cycle, some discussions on the Manuscripts, text critical problems and the date of the text. This text, especially this Vindhyavasini myth cycle, was probably a significant source of the famous scripture dedicated to `the Goddess', Devimahatmya. Thus it is indispensable to investigate the developing process of myths and worship of `the Goddess'.
Skandapurāṇa IIb presents a critical edition of Adhyāyas 31-52 from the Skandapurāṇa, with an int... more Skandapurāṇa IIb presents a critical edition of Adhyāyas 31-52 from the Skandapurāṇa, with an introduction and English synopsis. The text edited in this volume includes central myths of early Śaivism, such as the destruction of Dakṣa's sacrifice and Śiva acquiring the bull for his vehicle. Also included is an extensive description of the thirteen hells (Naraka).
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Papers by Yuko Yokochi
The text edited in this volume includes the extensive myth of Viṣṇu’s manifestation as the Boar (Varāha), who conquers Hiraṇyākṣa and wins back the Earth for the gods; its aftermath, which involves the birth of Varāha’s son Vṛka and Skanda’s finishing of Viṣṇu’s Boar manifestation; Devī’s instructions to the goddesses about donations, fasts and penances; and the continuation of the Andhaka cycle.
The introduction addresses the incorporation of Vaiṣṇava mythology in the text, the composition and revision of Adhyāya 112 in the different recensions, and the Dharmanibandha citations of Devī’s teachings.
https://brill.com/view/title/59532
The text edited in this volume includes the myths of Viṣṇu’s manifestation as the Man-Lion (Narasiṃha), the birth of Skanda, the birth of Andhaka, and Hiraṇyākṣa’s battle with the gods culminating in his victory and capture of the Earth.
The Open Access E-book is also available for free download here: https://brill.com/view/title/39245
Chapters 34.1--61, 53--69, which relates the Myth Cycle of Vindhyavasini `the Goddess who abides in the Vindhya mountains.' She is a bellicose goddess who played a significant role in the development of `the Goddess' in Ancient India. Her myth cycle edited here provides the earliest full account of her myth from her birth to consecration after completing her task of destroying demons. In addition, an Introduction includes an analysis of the Cycle, some discussions on the Manuscripts, text critical problems and the date of the text. This text, especially this Vindhyavasini myth cycle, was probably a significant source of the famous scripture dedicated to `the Goddess', Devimahatmya. Thus it is indispensable to investigate the developing process of myths and worship of `the Goddess'.