Chausath Yogini Temple - Haripur - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 10 km from Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Chausath Yogini Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Hirapur, Bhubaneswar. Of the four Chausath Yogini temples surviving in India, the Hirapur temple is the only active one. Situated on the bans of Bhargavi River, it is one of the famous places to visit near Bhubaneswar.

Also known as Mahamaya Temple, the temple is believed to be built by the Queen Hiradevi of Bhauma dynasty during the 9th century. The Hirapur Temple is the smallest of the Yogini temples in India. It measures only thirty feet in diameter, and is hardly eight feet high. It is built in a circular fashion with blocks of sand stone. The Yogini traditions are tantric in nature and therefore have strong connections to rural and tribal traditions.

Adorned in red cloth and vermilion, Mahamaya is the presiding deity of the temple. The interior walls of the temple contains 60 niches, one each for the Yogini statues, two feet tall, sculpted from fine grey chlorite stone. Three yoginis adorn the central pillar or Chandi Mandap along with four Bhairavas. While three of the Bhairavas are sculpted in sitting posture, one of them is standing and is termed as Ekapada Bhairav. The Chandi Mandap by design contained a statue of Lord Shiva as dancing Nataraja, but is currently missing.

The Hirapur Yoginis are extraordinary beautiful figures with exquisite features and sensuously formed bodies. All the 64 yoginis have been depicted wearing necklaces, garlands, armlets, bangles, anklets, earrings and other ornaments. Some of the Yoginis of the temple have also been portrayed as huntresses with bows and arrows, whereas others balancing on a pair of wheels, or playing a drum. The deities of the temple are still worshipped by the locals of Hirapur.

Timings: 6 AM to 7 PM