Gorakhnath and the Kanphata Yogis c5.78

c5.78

Women who wear the mudrā are numerous. They are chiefly widows who have become Yogīs, and initiated wives of Yogīs. However, not all women whose husbands are Yogīs, have their ears split. Widows often take the vows, are initiated into the sect and then go on pilgrimage. Some of these are in charge of temples.³ Married women who are Yogīs and who wear the mudrā are not uncommon in Kumaon and Garhwāl. But it is not according to rule that wives of householders wear the ear-rings.⁴