Famous Temples in India

Architecture

'Yogini' is a term that is used in Buddhism as well as in Hinduism and refers to a female practitioner of Yoga who is also an enlightened guide or guru. The term is also associated with the sacred feminine force, who is considered to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. These incarnations are believed to have taken the form of eight matrikas or of 64 Yoginis. There are a number of temples across the country, which are dedicated to this feminine principle, Chausath Yogini being one of them. The Chausath Yogini temple is located on a hilltop. One has to climb 150 plus steps to reach the temple. The temple sanctum houses the idols of the Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva. The temple complex has 64 shrines, one for each yoginis, built in a circular pattern. The main shrine has idols of Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati riding on Nandi. It is believed that this statue belongs to the time of Shiv – Parvati Vivah.

Chausat Yogini Temple was constructed in North India Style of architecture. There are exactly 64 carved figures of Yoginis, each one in her own designated shrine, skirting the inner wall of the circular premises of the temple. A slab was discovered there which had inscriptions that stated that the Kalachuri Queen Alhanadevi, the widowed wife of King Gayakarna built the Gauri Shankara temple in 1155 C.E during the rule of her son Narasimhadeva. The idol is made up of black stone and the whole structure is made with local granite and the carvings are mesmerizing.

Placing the main deity in a dark and hidden chamber like a baby inside a womb has been the custom of the Hindu temples since ages. However the Yogini temples do not follow this practice and their monuments are open to sky. The Yogini temples are usually constructed with a circular cloister, except one temple, the rectangular Yogini temple at Khajuraho. In many such temples, open shrine in the center of the circle dedicated to either Shiva or Bhairava is also found. Yogini cult is a heterodox sect hence it is expected that their monuments do not follow common Hindu temple architecture. This is one of the famous hindu temple in India.