Image: Chausath Yogini Temple, Mitavli, Morena

Description: Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple at Mitaoli (Mitavli) in Morena District of Madhya Pradesh, India (ASI entry). This is one of the rarest Hindu temples in India. Its plan is circular and it is dedicated to the Tantric sect of Chausath Yogini. Most of the Hindu temples are based on square or rectangular plan. Circular temples are very rare. It is said that the design of Indian Parliament is inspired by this temple in Morena. It is also a very rare temple as there are only about a half a dozen Chausath Yogini temples in India. A Yogini in Tantra means a practitioner of Yoga, who has controlled her desires and reached a higher stage. They are related to the Matrikas and are basically various manifestations of the Divine Durga. This association with various forms of Durga gave rise to the cult of Chausath (64) Yoginis over time. The Chausath Yogini temple of Morena has an outer circle of 64 subsidiary shrines of Shiva with a central shrine of the Yogini. According to an inscription dated Vikram Samvat 1380 (1323 CE), it was built by a king named Devapala.
Title: Chausath Yogini Temple, Mitavli, Morena
Credit: I clicked it myself
Author: PankajSaksena
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License: CC BY-SA 3.0
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