Ranipur
Jharial Temples
Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/zaDuVTwIINQ
Location: Indralath Temple: “7XP9+R79 Indralath
Temple (ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଲାଠମନ୍ଦିର), Ranipur Jharial, Ranipur, Jharial, Odisha”
Chausath Yogini Temple: “64 Yogini Temple,
Ranipur Jharial, Balangir Odisha, 7XM7+5J3, Dumerpara, Bakagura, Odisha 767040”
Balikhamar Temple: “Balikhamar Temple,
7XQ6+49Q, ranipur, Jharial, Bahabal, Odisha 767040”
https://sahasa.in/2021/03/04/indralath-temple-ranipur-jharial-balangir-district-odisha/
References: http://www.titilagarhmunicipality.in/?page_id=23
https://odishatour.in/ranipur-jharial-balangir/
http://www.titilagarhmunicipality.in/?page_id=23
About Chausath Yogini: https://www.sahapedia.org/the-cult-of-chausath-yogini
Ranipur Jharial is
located at a distance of 105 km from Balangir on road
via Patnagarh. It is known as Soma Tirtha houses one among the
four existing HYPAETHRAL TEMPLES dedicated to sixty-four Yoginis in
India. It is a wonderful architecture of archaeological heritage and
cultural history of Odisha. Ranipur Jharial was a stronghold of Shakta,
Buddhism, Shaiva, Vaishnava and Tantric ideology. According to history, the
worship of Yogini began in India in the ninth century. Ranipur Jhariel is one
of the four Hindu temples in India.
There are several temples at
Ranpur Jhariel. Of these, Someshwar Shiva Temple is the largest.
The Chausathi Yogini Temple was built in
the 9th or 10th century in Ranipur – Jharial village in the district of
Balangir, Odisha. The temple is located around 33 Kms from the Titilagarh Town
and around 26 Kms from Kantabanji Town of the district of Balangir, Odisha. The
temple is a Circular, Hypaethral, 64-yogini temple made of sandstone, some
around 50 feet in diameter. In addition
to these temples, there are 56 other temples. There were several other temples
in the area before the demolition. But in the heat of the moment, they are in
ruins. According to history, the temple was built by Someshwar Gupta, king
of the Som dynasty. In this temple Shiva, Kartikeya, Gajalakshmi and Buddha are
worshipped. According to some historians, the temple was built by the
famous Jainist Shivacharya (60-420 AD), named Gaganshiva. Buddhism is said to
have influenced some Buddhist idols in the area. There are five villages in
Ranipur, Jharial, Bahabal, Balikhamar and Kanshil. It is believed that there
was a Buddhist culture here as some Buddhist idols were found at the site.
Ranipur Jharial is an ancient heritage site in Odisha. According to some sources, 32 ponds and 120
temples were built here on a 6-mile-long plain, now there are only a few of
them left. Somatirtha Ranipur Jharial is a top tourist attraction in Balangir,
Odisha.
64 Yogini Ranipur Jharial is a fascinating
destination for tourists, especially those interested in history, architecture,
and spirituality.
The story
of Chausath Yoginis:
The Chausath (64) Yoginis are ancient Tantric
goddesses representing 64 fierce feminine powers derived from Goddess Durga
(Adi Shakti) to defeat the demon Raktabija. They manifested to consume his blood before
it hit the ground, preventing the creation of new demons, and are worshipped in
unique, circular, open-air or hypetheral temples, dating from the 9th-12th centuries. The cult
flourished between the 9th and 12th centuries and was closely tied to esoteric
Tantric practices aimed at attaining siddhi (magical
powers). And another feature of the temples associated with chausath yoginis is
that they are either circular (maximum ones are circular), and we have some
which are rectangular. The icons
are sixty four in number. But even that is not steady, that is not constant.
There can be sixty four, they can be forty two, they can be eighty one. We have
found temples of varying different numbers, but somehow this term has become
generic, so even if there are eighty one yoginis in a shrine they are still
called the chausath yoginis. The Yoginis are more or less shown independent of a male consort, independent of a male deity. Normally in
Hindu iconography, goddesses are shown with male deity, like Lakshmi is
shown with Vishnu, and Parvati is shown with Shiva. But in this context we
don’t see any male consort standing with the yoginis. If at all there is a male
god, there is Bhairava who is shown in the centre of some of the temples, not
all of the temples, that too sometimes placed even a century or two after the
making of the shrine. The important thing about yogini goddess is that she is
independent, she is autonomously placed – even architecturally, sculpturally
she is shown on her own. she has all the attributes for being
divine, she is multi-limbed – she can have four heads, she can have many hands.
Also another feature is that she is very often therianthrophic i.e. she has the
head of an animal and the body of a human being. Each of the yoginis is
different from the other, their size like they are life-size and even when they
are seated they are three feet and above (most of them), some of them are of
course smaller like the ones at Hirapur. They are group divinities, the yoginis
will always be worshipped in a group, 64, 42, 81. Other group divinities like
sapta matrikas (which predate yoginis) are very often included within the
yoginis.
According to various legends, yoginis
were humans only initially and then they become divine. Another legend
says the yoginis are supposed to be the women who help the tantric
practitioner; a human woman will become a yogini who will help the tantric
practitioner to achieve moksha. So there
is a very strong human element as well as divine. They were polymorphous,
their roles were changing all the time. They had different roles to play not
only within the texts that we find them in but even in the different regions,
they are region-specific.
The idols are often depicted with animal heads or dancing on
creatures, symbolizing their control over nature and primal instincts. These
temples are unique for being circular and open-air, usually situated on hills
outside towns, representing a, "wheel of power" (Chakra) with a main
shrine (often dedicated to Shiva or Mahamaya) in the center. Famous temples
include those in Balangir (Odisha) Hirapur (Odisha), Jabalpur (Madhya
Pradesh), and Mitaoli (Morena,
Madhya Pradesh).
It is believed that They represent Shakti's protective and
destructive aspects, providing security to devotees, and are associated with
the Bhairava cult, quite often associated with the ability to grant spiritual
knowledge and siddhis. Some interpretations link the 64 Yoginis to the 64 Kalas (arts)
mentioned in ancient Indian scriptures.
The primary entrance is an opening in the circular wall
towards the east; unlike at the Hirapur yogini temple, there was once a further
opening towards the south, now filled in. Ranipur-Jharial was the first of the
Yogini temples to be discovered; it was described by Major-General John Campbell in
1853.
At the centre of the temple is the original shrine with four
pillars, holding an image of Nateshwar, Shiva as
Lord of Dance. The Shiva images is three-faced and eight-armed, and
is depicted with urdhva linga, an erection. Elephant-headed Ganesh and
the bull Nandi are shown in the image's base. The
similar-sized image of the goddess Chamunda in
the temple may once have been housed with Shiva in the central shrine.
The Ranipur Jharial Yoginis are made, like the temple walls,
of a coarse sandstone, which was weathered; they were once finely carved.
Uniquely, all the Yogini images are depicted poised about to dance, in
the karana pose of Indian classical dance; Like
the Hirapur temple, but
unlike other Yogini temples, there are no Matrikas, mother
goddesses, among the Yoginis. 14 of the Yoginis are animal-headed; among
them can be seen goddesses with the heads of a cat, an elephant, a snake, a
horse, a buffalo, an antelope, and seemingly also of a leopard and a sow. The
leopard-headed goddess is holding up a human corpse, suggestive of the corpse
rituals (shava sadhana) of the Yogini cult. The absence of haloes or
attendant figures as at later Yogini temples suggests that this temple was
built relatively earlyThe 19th century archaeologist Alexander Cunningham described
two further Yogini images. One had the attributes of the Sun-god, Surya; she had
two arms, a lotus flower in each hand, and seven horses. The other
(now only from the knees down) was dancing on a reclining male; she had 6 or 8
arms, and was depicted pulling her mouth open wide;
she held a skull-cup, a kettle-drum, and a sword
Indralath Temple
One of the prime attraction of Ranipur Jhariel is the
Indralath temple built in bricks. It is a unique temple built of sandstone, 40
feet long and 36 feet wide. It is 40 feet high. It is the highest temple in
Odisha, built in bricks. The temple is famous for being the tallest
brick temple in Odisha. It is admired for its unique architectural
style, which stands as a testament to the region’s ancient religious
practice. This large temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known for its
beautiful architecture. It attracts many visitors for both its historical value
and spiritual significance.
The temple is maintained by Archaeological
Survey of India. Being a brick temple, the time built can be traced to the
10th-11th century CE during the rule of the Somavamshi dynasty. However
Historians have been unable to conclusively determine when
and by whom this temple was conceived. One of the three namely the Nala
dynasty, Panduvamshis of Dakshina Kosala and Somavamshi dynasty who ruled over Odisha
and Chhattisgarh between the 6th – 12th century could be credited with its
construction but no inscription has been found.. Some archaeologists opine the
temple was built between the 6 – 8th century based on the brickwork. On further
observation, they found the bricks were conjoined with a paste made from rice
bran. This technique is seen in the brick temples of Vietnam built after the
8th century which has prompted archaeologists to suggest that this temple must
have been an iconic building drawing high praise from across the world. The
temple stands on an elevated sandstone platform. There might have been other
structures in the temple complex but none have survived. The main shrine
is built in the typical rekha
deula style of architecture with a shikhara which is more than
70 feet high. The original Shiva Linga made of sandstone is placed outside
indicating that this temple was desecrated at some point in time. A water
channel depicting the Ganga has been found from the original Shiva Linga in the
sanctum sanctorum. Another Shiva Linga has been placed inside the garbha griha which also
houses images of Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha, Lord Kartikeya and Hara – Parvati
among others. There are beautiful carvings of Yoga Narasimha, Lord Narasimha,
Lord Nataraja, gods and goddesses in the niches, Naga stambha and interesting
intricate decorative elephants, linear and floral motifs in the recesses and on
the shikhara.
Images of Nrisimha, Vishnu along
with Ganesh, Kartikeya clearly
proves that it was a centre for Harihara worship
sometime in the past. Hanuman are etched on the wall body.
Every year Shivaratri and
other festivals related to Shiva and Vishnu are
organised. Daily worship is done by some local priest. Kantabanji is easily
accessed by railway from Raipur and Balangir.
The only surviving brick temple of the region
has possessed the cult affinity to both Saivite & Vaisnavite which is
exhibited in the decoration of the outer wall. The scheme of architecture is
assigned to early 10th century AD.
Timings:
Ranipur Jharial
Temple open timings is Monday to Sunday Morning 7 am to Evening 6 pm
How to Reach:
By Road: The
nearest Bus stop is Bangomunda, which is located around 11 Km distance from
Somatirtha Ranipur Jharial. One would need to hire a local taxi from here.
By Train: The
Nearest Railway Station isTitlagarh Junction, which is located around 32 Km distance
from Ranipur.
By Air: The nearest
Airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport, which is located around 415 Km
distance from Balangir Somatirtha Ranipur temple and 288 km from Veer Surendra
Sai Airport, Jharsuguda
Nearby Places to visit:
1)
Harishankar Temple
2)
Pataneshwari Temple
3)
Bhima Dunguri caves
and temple
4)
Gandhamardan hills
5)
Sailashree Palace
complex
6)
Galkhal MIP and
lake
7)
Jogeshwara Mahadev
Mandir
8)
Santala Chandi
temple
9)
Turekela Wildlife
sanctuary
10) Dhabaleshwar temple, kumuda pahad
11) Dharapgarh Dashmati Sagar
Photography and Parking:
Photography is completely
allowed. Drones are not allowed.
There is no dedicated parking.
Vehicles should be parked before the hill for Chausath Yogini temple and
outside the main gate of Indralath Temple.
Stay options:
Titlagarh around 30 KMs from
Ranipur Jharial has stay options. There are few other options within a distance
of 20 KMs.
Key Festivals and
Events:
·
Maha Shivratri Mela: A
major annual festival, likely to be held at the Someswar temple or the main
temple complex, featuring a lively fair (Mela) and attracting numerous
pilgrims for worship and nightly vigils, especially during February/March.
·
Durga Puja: Celebrations
take place around the Yogini shrine, reflecting the local folklore that links
the 64 Yoginis to a manifestation of Goddess Durga.
·
Cultural
& Heritage Visits: While
not a traditional "festival," the site, also known as "Soma
Tirth," is a premier location for heritage enthusiasts, particularly
during winter and spring when its historic, open-air, circular tantric temple
is often visited.