Toshali Sands

An Ancient Tantric Centre: Sixty Four Yoginis Temple of Hirapur

Hirapur is a small village situated about 10 kms eat of the temple City Bhubaneswar. River Bhargabi is near the temple site. IN the year 1953 famous historical Lake Kedarnath Mahapatra discovered the hypaethral temple of Sixty Four Yogins and assigned the time period of the shrine to the 9th Century AD. This temple is important for its architectural variation from the main Orissan architectural genre. The temple is open to the sky (hypaethral). Only four such temples have been found in India and Orissa, has the distinction of having two such temples.

The Sixty Four Yoginis temple at Hirapur is a circular enclosure with a narrow doorway to the eastern side. There is no roof over the enclosure. The diameter of the enclosure is 7.62 meters or 25 feet and height of the wall on the paved floor inside is 1.87 metres or 6 feet 2 inches. The round wall is made out of locally available Khondalite or Sand Stone and the foundation is with Laterite stones. Inside the temple there are 60 niches and in every niche there is a figure of a Yogini. The other four Yoginis who were perhaps housed in the Pillared Mandap in the centre of the Shrine cannot be seen now.

All the Yogini images stand and are carved on black chlorite stone. Almost all the figures are beautiful, seductive and full of charm in an exquisite variety of poses. On the outer side of the circular enclosure there are nine beautifully sculpted female figures set in nine niches. In the center of the enclosure there is a small Shrine, which has no images.

Yoginis are various forms of Goddess Durga who are attendant on her. The scholars opine that the Sixty Four Yoginis temple in Hirapur is an outcome of the Brahminical Tantric cult prevalent in Orissa during 8th and 9th Century A.D.

How to go:

Air Port
There is no airport at Konark. Bhubaneswar (65 km) is the nearest airhead. Indian Airlines, Jet air, and Sahara connect Bhubaneswar to Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai, Hyderabad and Nagpur

By Road
Orissa state Road Transport Corporation and private buses provides links with all parts of the state by road. Deluxe coach services from Calcutta, Bijapur, Bhubaneswar, Puri and Vishakhapatnam are available. Taxis, air-conditioned tourist cars, minibuses and deluxe coaches can be used for sightseeing. For short distances, it is advisable to use cycle rickshaws and three wheelers.

More Info:
The God who Stole Kheer
Magha Poornima
Joranda Mela: A Mythological celebration
Textiles Sarees in Orissa
Orrissa: Tribal Dances
Rayagada A Small Scenic Wonder of Orissa
Gupteswar: The Hidden Cave Temple of Lord Shiva
Significant of the Temple in Orissa
Rumbling Tummy
Orissa: Skin Treatment in Summer
Orissa: Line Colour and Form
Lip Smacking Dishes to Tickle Your Taste-Buds

An Ancient Tantric Centre: Sixty Four Yoginis Temple of Hirapur

Hirapur is a small village situated about 10 kms east of the temple City Bhubaneswar. River Bhargabi is near the temple site. In the year 1953 famous historian Late Kedernath Mohapatra discovered the hypaethral temple of Sixty Four Yogins and assigned the time period of the shrine to the 9th Century AD. This temple is important for its architectural variation from the main orissan architectural genre. The temple is open to the sky (hypaethral). Only four such temples have been found in India and Orissa, has the distinction of having two such temples.

The Sixty Four Yoginis temple at Hirapur is a circular enclosure with a narrow doorway to the eastern side. There is no roof over the enclosure. The diameter of the enclosures is 7.62 meters or 25 feet and height of the wall on the paved floor inside is 1.87 metres or 6 feet 2 inches. The round wall is made out of locally available Khondalite or Sand Stone and the foundation is with Laterite stones. Inside the temple there are 60 inches and in every niche there is a figure of a Yogini. The other four Yoginis who were perhaps housed in the Pillared Mandap in the center of the Shrine cannot be seen now.

All the Yogini images stand and are carved on black chlorite stone. Almost all the figures are beautiful, seductive and full of charm in an exquisite variety of poses. On the outer side of the circular enclosure there are nine beautifully sculpted female figures set in nine niches. In the center of the enclosure there is small Shrine, which has no images.

Yoginis are various forms of Goddess Durge who are attendant n her. The scholars opine that the Sixty Four Yoginis temple in Hirapur is an outcome of the Brahminical Tantric cult prevalent in Orissa during 8th century A.D.