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Chausath Yogini Temple | Mitaoli

The yoginis are at once, both alluring and fearsome. They had special, circular temples built for their worship, the nature of which remained esoteric. But about a thousand years ago, the cult of Yogini worship completely disappeared from public knowledge. What do we know about this strange cult of goddess worship in India?

Image attributions:


1.Drone Footage courtesy @twin.studio_works  


2.Chausath Yogini Temple

Dinesh Sharma, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chausath_Yogini_temple.jpg  


3.Kundalini Tantra painting (Rajasthan, 18th century)

Unknown 18th century Indian painter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kundalini_Tantra_painting_(Rajasthan,_18th_century).png 


4.Yogini of Chausathi Yogini Temple at Hirapur, Odisha 

M Mohanty, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yogini_01.jpg  


5.Chausath Yogini temple, Hirapur, Odisha. 

Dey.sandip, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:64_Yogini_Temple,_Hirapur.jpg 


6.Mottai Amman 2023

Dillipan, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mottai_Amman_2023_festival.jpg 


7.Female figure, possibly a fertility goddess, Indus Valley Tradition, Harappan Phase, c. 2500-1900 BC – Royal Ontario Museum – DSC09701.JPG 

Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Female_figure,_possibly_a_fertility_goddess,_Indus_Valley_Tradition,_Harappan_Phase,_c._2500-1900_BC_-_Royal_Ontario_Museum_-_DSC09701.JPG 


8.Tribal deities.jpg

Nnr2025, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tribal_deities.jpg 


9.0112421 Saptamatrika Caves, Badoh-Pathari Madhya Pradesh 114.jp

Ms Sarah Welch, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:0112421_Saptamatrika_Caves,_Badoh-Pathari_Madhya_Pradesh_114.jpg   


10.Indian – Kali as the Supreme Deity – Walters W897.jpg

Walters Art Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Indian_-_Kali_as_the_Supreme_Deity_-_Walters_W897.jpg  


11.Kalighat Shitala.jpg 

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons  

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kalighat_Shitala.jpg 


12.The Seven Mother Goddesses (Matrikas) Flanked by Shiva (left) and Ganesha (right).jpg

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Seven_Mother_Goddesses_(Matrikas)_Flanked_by_Shiva_(left)_and_Ganesha_(right).jpg 


13.A Tantric Form of the Hindu Goddess Indrani (?) LACMA M.81.206.11

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Tantric_Form_of_the_Hindu_Goddess_Indrani_(%3F)_LACMA_M.81.206.11.jpg 


14.“Sri Mariamman Temple” by Xiquinho Silva, CC BY 2.0 


15.Chausath Yogini Temple, Bhedaghat Madhya Pradesh

Ms Sarah Welch, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:0010322_Chausath_Yogini_Temple_and_Gowri_Shankar_Temple,_Bhedaghat_Madhya_Pradesh_171.jpg 


16.Chausathi Jogini Temple, Hirapur, Odisha

Paramanu Sarkar, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chausathi_Jogini_Temple,_Hirapur,_Odisha_05.jpg 


17.Chausathi Jogini Temple, Hirapur, Odisha

Paramanu Sarkar, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chausathi_Jogini_Temple,_Hirapur,_Odisha_06.jpg 


18.Chausathi Jogini Temple, Hirapur, Odisha

Paramanu Sarkar, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chausathi_Jogini_Temple,_Hirapur,_Odisha_04.jpg 


19.Idols at Yogini temple

Neilsatyam, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Idols_@_Yogini_temple.JPG 


20.Yogini Vrishanana – National Museum, New Delhi

Amrit Sufi, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yogini_Vrishanana_-_National_Museum,_New_Delhi.jpg 


21.Chausath Yogini Temple and Gowri Shankar Temple, Bhedaghat Madhya Pradesh

Ms Sarah Welch, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:0010322_Chausath_Yogini_Temple_and_Gowri_Shankar_Temple,_Bhedaghat_Madhya_Pradesh_028.jpg 


22.Yoginis in a circular format

Soumendra Barik, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yoginis_in_a_circular_format.JPG 


23.Yogini, South India, Tamil Nadu, Kaveripakkam, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yogini,_South_India,_Tamil_Nadu,_Kaveripakkam,_10th_century_AD,_granite_-_Arthur_M._Sackler_Gallery_-_DSC05990.JPG 


24.Yogini, Detroit Institute of Arts

https://dia.org/collection/yogini-48791 


END OF STORY

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