Cauṣaṭ Yogini Temples
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
(Redirected from Causat Yogini Temples)
By Swami Harshananda
Cauṣaṭ Yogini Temples literally means ‘temples of 64 yoginis’.
Yoginis are minor goddesses also referred to as aspects of Śakti or Durgā. They are often the grāmadevatās or village deities which are supposed to protect the people of the village when propitiated. It is a belief that they even bring evil and disaster when offended. Their number is variously stated as 8, 60, 64 or even 65.
The Cauṣaṭ Yogini Temples are temples of that class where these deities are placed in niches on a circular or rectangular wall with a temple in the center for the main deity.
Most of these temples were built between the 9th and 12th centuries. They are found in:
- Bheraghat near Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh)
- Ranipur Jhorial near Patna (Bihar)
- Dudhati near Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh)
- Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh)
- Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore