Chausath Yogini Temple

Bhubaneswar Tour Packages for sightseeing include various religiously significant sites, including temples like the famous Chausath Yogini Temple. This temple is also known as the Mahamaya Temple. Situated 20 kilometers from the city, it is devoted to worshiping ‘yoginis’ or goddess-like figures. It resides in an area called Hirapur. The temple is religiously related to the ‘Tantra’ tradition. That is why it attracts tourists as one of the exciting places to visit in bhubaneshwar.

Chausath Yogini Temple Architecture

The architecture of this place is fascinating, unlike the other known temples of Bhubaneshwar. The structure of this temple is hypaethral or roofless as tantric prayer rituals often involve the worship of the five elements of nature or ‘bhumandala,’ which are – fire, water, earth, air, and ether, and the ‘yoginis’ were capable of flight. The temple consists of Sandstones. The idols of these yoginis consist of female figures standing on an animal, demon, or even a human head, depicting a victory of Shakti (feminine power) overall. The idols are so intricate that one can find that they express almost all kinds of emotions ranging from rage, happiness, sadness, pleasure, etc.

History

A certain Queen, Hira Devi, who belonged to the Brahma dynasty, built the Chausath Yogini Temple in the 9th century. According to legends and local priests of the place, Goddess Durga took the form of sixty-four (Chausath) Demi Goddesses to defeat a demon. After the fight was over and won, the 64 Goddesses asked Durga to commemorate them in the form of a temple, which is why the temple exists today.

The temple faced attempts at severe destruction at the hands of Kalapahad, a converted Muslim general. History knows him as the destroyer of Puri and Konark Temples. Thus, Kalapahad broke several wall parts and ‘murtis’ (idols) of the Chausath Yogini Temple. Yet, the temple still stands as one of the few examples of temples belonging to the Yoginis. And the Archaeological Survey of India maintains this.