Representations of yoginis dancing on dead bodies repeatedly occur at the 12th century Buddhist temple at Phimai in East Thailand. Also they are depicted on many bronze and terracotta votive plaques and some other ritual objects from Thailand and Cambodia (see Boeles 1966: 14-29; Boisselier 1966: pl. 58 (2)). They usually play the part of subsidiary figures and attendants to powerful, protective deities. These last, played important roles in the late phase of Mahayana Buddhism. Seductive but aggressive in appearance, the yoginis are constantly depicted in dynamic dancing poses. Swirling along in the violent rhythm of their movement, the yoginis raise their right hand in the attitude of adoration to the presiding deity. At the same time crushing under their feet the dead bodies which represent the World of Transmigrations (for isolated bronze images of yoginis in similar pose, see Griswold 1960: cat. 71; Bowie, Griswold and Diskul 1972: cat. 38; Wattanawrangkul 1975: pl. 75).

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