The Yogmaya Temple in Mehrauli, situated directly behind the renowned Qutub Minar complex, is likely the most ancient active temple in Delhi. Mehrauli is among the most ancient inhabited regions in Delhi. This city served as the initial capital throughout the pre-Islamic era, and all the rulers governed from this location. At a certain period, it displayed a prominent Hindu and Jain influence. The majority of them were eradicated in order to establish a distinct Muslim identity for the region. Temples were demolished in order to construct mosques and erect the most towering minarets.
The Yogmaya temple was the only temple that remained intact amidst all the devastation. While traveling from the Qutub complex to the Mehrauli bus terminal, you will notice a stone gate on your right. This gate is embellished with two lion sculptures on either side. Proceed through the entrance and continue walking approximately 150 meters till you encounter the temple situated on the left side. The Jain texts refer to the Mehrauli area of Delhi as Yoginipura, likely named after this temple. It is quite easy to establish a correlation between this, considering there are still ancient Jain temples, such as Dadabari, in this region.
The title is “Legends of Yogmaya”.
The Yogmaya temple, also known as the Jogmaya temple, is a venerable Hindu temple of great antiquity. It is said to be around 5000 years old, dating back to the Dwapar Yuga, the time period in which the Mahabharata conflict occurred. Goddess Yogmaya is said to be a manifestation of Adi Shakti Mahalaxmi. This location is classified as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. The head of the Devi has fallen here in the Pindi, taking the form of a stone. The temple strictly prohibits animal sacrifices, non-vegetarian food, and drink due to the expectation that its deity possesses a dominating Sattva Guna.
Yogmaya, the sibling of Sri Krishna, was born to his adoptive parents Yashoda and Nand. When Kamsa attempted to murder her by striking her infant head on a solid piece of stone, she swiftly escaped from his grasp. She said that the child who would ultimately cause his demise has already been born. Afterwards, she proceeded to the Vindhyachal Parvat and took up residence there as Vindhyavasini. On the hill, a temple appropriately commemorates her. In the Durga Saptashati, it is stated that she is born to Yashoda and Nanda during this particular period of time. According to certain academics, it is believed that the head of Yogmaya is located in Delhi, while her feet are situated in Vindhyachal.
The Mahabharata and Yogmaya
According to certain texts, it is mentioned that Krishna personally constructed this temple. According to the legend, Krishna and Arjun visited the Yogmaya Temple to offer prayers during the Mahabharata war. After Jayadrath killed Abhimanyu, Arjun made a solemn promise that he would either kill Jayadrath by the following evening or choose to self-immolate. On the following day, the Kauravas deliberately prevented Arjun from reaching Jayadratha, thereby ensuring that he could not be assassinated. Arjun and Krishna arrived at the temple and requested the Devi’s assistance at this moment. Together, she and Maya orchestrated a momentary celestial event, causing an eclipse, which allowed Arjuna to seize the chance to eliminate Jayadratha. According to another myth, Yudhisthira constructed this temple following the conclusion of the Mahabharata conflict. In my perspective, all these narratives just confirm the ancient origins and ongoing reverence towards Yogmaya.
The historical background of the Yogmaya Temple located in Mehrauli.
Yogmaya is the ancestral goddess worshipped by the Chauhan kings who held dominion over Qila Rai Pithora in Delhi. It is intriguing to contemplate the resilience of this old temple in withstanding several waves of attacks on the city of Delhi. It likely resided in the center of the storm for a significant period of time. The city was initially assaulted by Ghazni and thereafter by Islamic conquerors. The temple was repaired by Hindu king Vikramaditya Hemu during the mid-16th century CE.
In the late 17th century, Aurangzeb issued a command to demolish all temples, including the one in question. The army attempting to annihilate it encountered a peculiar phenomenon. Throughout the day, any objects that were broken would consistently reappear during the night. They began to lose their hands throughout the procedure. After experiencing many occurrences of this, Aurangzeb eventually relinquished, allowing it to persist and survive. A spacious chamber encircles the temple. Their objective was to transform it into a mosque. Temple constructions are often characterized by a square shape, while mosques typically feature an elongated interior. This area currently functions as a repository for the temple, serving as a storage space for the provisions that are utilized to nourish the underprivileged.
One might reasonably infer that the local community, who worship the mother Goddess, have likely consistently maintained and protected the temples. An obscure fact about this temple is that India’s significant rebellion of 1857 was orchestrated within its walls. The Yogmaya temple is said to be one of the five remaining temples in Delhi that date back to the period of the Mahabharata. Adjacent to Purana Qila, there is another ancient temple known as Bhairav Temple. This temple is located at the location of Pandava’s Indraprastha. Additional ancient temples can be found in proximity to Nigam Bodh Ghat and among the narrow streets of old Delhi, such as Khari Baoli.
The Yogmaya Temple is situated within the boundaries of Lal Kot, an ancient fortress constructed by the Tomar dynasty in the 8th century, in Delhi. There used to be a sun temple near this temple, but its location cannot be determined at present. The temple is of modest size. One is likely to overlook it until they become familiar with its extensive history. According to reports, there is a temple tank or Johad called Anang Tal located to the north of the temple.
The management of Yogmaya temple is currently entrusted to a trust. For an extensive period, if not longer, a lineage of Vatsa priests has been responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of this temple. I conversed with a senior woman who was engaged in prayer within the sacred area of the temple. She is the eldest daughter-in-law of the Vatsa family and is responsible for the maintenance and management of this temple. According to her, due to the increased size of the family, they now rotate the responsibility of performing the Pooja in the temple. This year, her specific group within the family has been assigned the task of performing the Pooja. Clutching the Durga Saptashati, she asserted that the present temple is no older than 60 years. Nevertheless, the diminutive sanctuary known as the Goddess’s Bhavan has existed for generations. The room has remained unchanged. The marble and tiles have just been installed gradually over a period of time.
Everyday Practices
The deity adorned with garments and floral decorations is merely a superficial layer that conceals the primary deity behind it. As previously stated, in Pindi Swaroop, the Devi resides within a well-like structure. She provided a detailed account of the temple’s daily customs, which involve the Devi being bathed and adorned twice a day. The water, curd, milk, and honey used for bathing the goddess are then distributed as Charnamrita to the devotees. Only males are permitted to enter the Shringar area. The sanctum is insufficiently spacious to host more than a limited number of individuals.
She elucidated that the deity known as the Goddess embodies the divine feminine energy, referred to as Shakti, and emphasized the perpetual coexistence of Shiva, the masculine counterpart, with Shakti. While demonstrating the Shivalinga, she indicated that it is positioned somewhat higher than the level at which the Goddess is set. She presented me with the elongated chamber next to the primary sanctuary, which she claimed was Aurangzeb’s endeavor to transform the temple into a mosque. She directed my attention to the exquisite fans that embellish the temple’s ceiling. The prominent one was presented by the President of India during the Phool Walon ki Sair festival. Additional enthusiasts were introduced by other government authorities.