64 Joginis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
64 Joginis Temple (Chausath Jogini Mandir) is situated in a hamlet called Hirapur, 20 Km outside Bhubaneswar (the capital of Orissa, a state in Eastern India).
The temple is supposed to be at least 2700 years old, dating back to the pre-Vedic worship rituals era.
It's built in a circular fashion, completely put together with blocks of stone. The inside of the circular wall has cavities, each housing the statue of a Goddess. There are almost 56 such idols inscribed within the wall cavities, centring on the main idol which is the Goddess Kali, who stands on a human head representing the triumph of the heart over the mind. The temple houses a central altar (cuboid) which has the remaining 8 Goddess idols on all 4 sides.
64 Joginis Temple is a tantric temple, and is completely open on the top, as tantric prayer rituals involve worshipping the 'bhoomandal' (environment consisting all the 5 elements of nature - fire, water, earth, sky and ether).
The legend behind the temple according to local priests is of the Goddess Durga taking the form of 64 demi-goddesses in order to defeat a demon. After the fight the 64 goddesses (Joginis) asked Durga to commemorate them in the form of a temple structure.
The Jogini idols are generally representing a female figurine standing on an animal, a demon or a human head depicting the victory of Shakti (Feminine power). The Idols express everything from rage, sadness, pleasure, joy, desire and happiness.
