Previous Year Question
With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements:
It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
It is the only circular temple built in India.
It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is correct. The temple is situated at Mitaoli village in the Morena district of Madhya Pradesh and is also known as the Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple. Inscriptional accounts associate it with Maharaja Devapala of the Kachchhapaghata dynasty. It has a circular plan, with small chambers around the circumference and a central shrine.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Mitaoli temple is not the only circular temple in India. The Morena district administration itself describes it as one among the very few circular temples in India. Circular Yogini temples also exist at Bhedaghat-Jabalpur, Hirapur and Ranipur-Jharial. In contrast, the Chausath Yogini Temple at Khajuraho has a rectangular plan.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The temple was not constructed to promote the Vaishnava cult. It belongs to the Yogini tradition and is dedicated to the sixty-four Yoginis, a tradition associated with goddess worship and Tantric-Shakta practices. At present, many of its cells contain Shivalingas, while its central shrine is also associated with the Shiva-Shakti tradition.
Statement 4 is correct. The circular plans of both the temple and the old Indian Parliament building gave rise to a popular belief that the Parliament building was inspired by the Mitaoli temple. The statement refers only to the existence of a popular belief; it does not claim that such inspiration has been conclusively proved through historical documents.
The temple stands on a hill approximately 100 feet high. Its circular complex contains 64 small chambers. Perforations and pipelines in the stone roof that carry rainwater to an underground storage system are also notable architectural features.