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INDIAN TRAVELOGUE<br />
cults responsible for these<br />
temples worshipped Yogini<br />
Goddesses in expectation<br />
of the direct acquisition<br />
of supernatural powers.<br />
The Yoginis were thought<br />
to be able to confer on<br />
their devotees the power<br />
to become microscopic or<br />
gigantic in size, to control<br />
the body and mind of oneself<br />
and of others, to fly, become<br />
invisible, and myriad other<br />
useful abilities.<br />
74<br />
Locally known as Maha<strong>may</strong>a<br />
Mandir, this hypaethral shrine<br />
facing east was discovered<br />
in 1953 by Kedarnath<br />
Mahapatra of the Orissa<br />
state Museum. The circular<br />
shrine measures 27.4 metre<br />
in circumference and 2.4<br />
metre in height, have a frontal<br />
projection resembling “Yoni”<br />
(Vagina) female reproductive<br />
organ. The inner parts of the<br />
temple is made of locally<br />
available coarse sandstone,<br />
it harbours images of Yoginis.<br />
The pillar like structure in<br />
the middle of the temple<br />
represents the Penis – male<br />
reproductive organ. The<br />
image of Ten-armed presiding<br />
deity of the pitha is worshiped<br />
as Maha<strong>may</strong>a and is the<br />
largest among the Yoginis.<br />
Whereas in the centre exists<br />
a lately restored Chandi<br />
Mandap displaying 4 Saivite<br />
figures and Yoginis, the<br />
entirely delicately rendered<br />
imagery notable for feminine<br />
beauty is carved in chlorite<br />
brought from elsewhere.<br />
The projected niches on<br />
the exterior of the edifice<br />
are studded with icons of<br />
Nava Katyayinis made of<br />
sandstones. It is assignable to<br />
circa ninth century AD.<br />
Nandan Kanan<br />
Nandan Kanan means<br />
‘”garden of pleasure”, and this<br />
combination of zoo, botanical<br />
garden and sanctuary 20<br />
km from Bhubaneswar, in<br />
the splendid environs of the<br />
Chandaka Forest, along the<br />
rippling waters of the Kanjia<br />
lake, fits the description.<br />
The zoo has created history<br />
in many ways. In 1967, a wild<br />
female tiger came to Nandan<br />
Kanan, scaling a high fence;<br />
she crept around until she<br />
found the tiger enclosure. She<br />
then climbed up a concrete<br />
The zoo has<br />
also given a new<br />
lease of life to<br />
one of the rarest<br />
creatures of the<br />
world - the white<br />
tiger. Currently<br />
Nandan Kanan<br />
has one of<br />
the largest<br />
collections in the<br />
world with over<br />
34 white tigers.<br />
WWW.WISHESH.COM | MAY <strong>2016</strong>
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