In Hindu mythology, dakinis are female imps that serve the goddess Kali. They feed on human flesh. They are also called asrapas, ‘blood drinkers’.

In Tibetan Buddhism, dakinis are elemental beings that evoke the movement of energy in space. The Tibetan term for these spirits is khandro, which means ‘sky-goers’ or ‘sky-dancers’. A dakini may have various forms - she may appear as a goddess, or as a human being, she may be peaceful or wrathful, nurturing or fierce. Or she may just be seen as the play of pure energy in this world.