Category:Chausath Yogini Temple, Khajuraho

Object location	24° 50′ 58.64″ N, 79° 55′ 05.27″ E	View all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap	24.849623; 79.918130

Chausath Yogini Temple, Khajuraho 

temple in Khajuraho, India
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Instance of	Hindu temple
Part of	Khajuraho Group of Monuments
Location	Khajuraho, Chhatarpur district, Sagar division, Madhya Pradesh, India
Heritage designation	part of UNESCO World Heritage Site (Chausath Jogini Temple. Western Group, Khajuraho Group of Monuments, 1986–) Monument of National Importance
24° 50′ 55″ N, 79° 55′ 05″ E
Authority file  Q15108724 World Heritage Site ID: 240-002 Reasonator Scholia Wikidocumentaries PetScan statistics WikiMap Locator tool KML file WikiShootMe OpenStreetMap Search depicted

The Chausath Yogini temple of Khajuraho is a part of the Western group of monuments. It is the oldest surviving monument in Khajuraho, dated to the 9th century. The small square plan shrines made of granite are arranged in a rectangle, and they together sit on approximately 18 feet high platform. Steps lead up to them. Many of the shrines are lost, reduced to a pile of stones and ruins. About thirty five of them still stand, some more complete than others. Of those that stand, one shrine is noticeably larger – this was the main Yogini temple for Hinghalaja (Durga Mahisasuramardini). The earliest verifiable roots of Hinghalaja Durga are in Hinglaj (Hingula, Hingulata) in Baluchistan's Makran coast (now in Pakistan). Her shrines are found throughout Gujarat (e.g. Bhuj, Kutch) and north Maharashtra coastal area, but the historical links to Khajuraho are unclear given the evidence available.

When Khajuraho came to the attention of western archaeologists in the 19th century, the Durga statue was still here with local Hindus visiting it. Additionally the shrines on either side also had statues, one of yogini Brahmani and the other of yogini Maheshwari. In front, outside the rectangular complex was a shrine for dancing Ganesha – he is associated with yoginis and matrikas since at least the 6th century. All four of these statues have now been relocated into the Khajuraho ASI museum, for preservation. These statues are made of sandstone, though the shrines are entirely made from granite.

The Chausath Yogini temple of Khajuraho is notable for its rectangular symmetry, instead of the typical circular plan in other parts of India. It is also unusually aligned off the cardinal axis, and appears crude compared to the circular yogini temples such as in Odisha.