Ranipur Jharial Chausath Yogini Temple, Odisha

Address

Ranipur Jharial Chausath Yogini Temple, Ranipur Jharial, Dumerpara, Odisha 767040

Deity

Shiva Amman: Parvati

Introduction

The Chausath Yogini Temple of Ranipur Jharial in Balangir District, Odisha, is a significant ancient temple dedicated to the 64 Yoginis.

Puranic Significance:

The Chausath Yogini Temple is an open-air temple believed to date back to the 9th or 10th century AD.
It is dedicated to the 64 Yoginis, and it is one of the circular Yogini temples in India. The temple is made of sandstone and is approximately 50 feet in diameter.
The temple holds immense historical and architectural importance, as its design and surviving sculptures provide insights into the culture of the time when it was constructed.
The central shrine of the temple houses an image of Nateshwar, a form of Lord Shiva as the Lord of Dance. This Shiva image is three-faced and eight-armed and is depicted with an urdhva linga (erect linga). The base of the image includes representations of Ganesh, with an elephant head, and Nandi, the bull associated with Shiva.

Special Features:

The uniqueness of the Ranipur Jharial Yoginis lies in the fact that all of them are depicted in a dancing posture, specifically the karana pose, which is part of Indian classical dance.
Unlike other Yogini temples, there are no Matrikas (mother goddesses) among the Yoginis at this temple.
Among the Yoginis, 14 are depicted with animal heads, including a cat, elephant, snake, horse, buffalo, antelope, and possibly a leopard and a sow. The imagery of the leopard-headed goddess holding a human corpse reflects aspects of the Yogini cult’s practices.
The temple doesn’t feature haloes or attendant figures commonly found in later Yogini temples, suggesting that it was built relatively early in the Yogini temple tradition.

The Chausath Yogini Temple of Ranipur Jharial is not only a place of historical and artistic significance but also offers a glimpse into the ancient Yogini cult and its unique iconography.