Q. With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements :

1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
2. It is the only circular temple built in India.
3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
4. 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? (UPSC Prelims 2021)
Answer: 1 and 4
Notes: The correct answer is [C] 1 and 4. The Chausath Yogini Temple at Mitawali, near Morena (Madhya Pradesh), is a unique 11th-century structure known for its circular architecture.

• Kachchhapaghata Dynasty (Statement 1 – Correct): An inscription dated to 1323 AD (Vikram Samvat 1383) confirms that the temple was built by King Devapala of the Kachchhapaghata dynasty in the 11th century.
• Not the Only Circular Temple (Statement 2 – Incorrect): While rare, it is not the only circular temple in India. Other examples include the Chausath Yogini temples at Hirapur and Ranipur Jharial in Odisha, as well as the circular temple at Bhedaghat (Jabalpur).
• Shaiva Cult, Not Vaishnava (Statement 3 – Incorrect): The temple was dedicated to the 64 Yoginis (female mystics/deities associated with Shakti). Each of the 64 small chambers around the circular courtyard originally housed a statue of a Yogini, while the central shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was a center for Tantric worship.
• Inspiration for Parliament (Statement 4 – Correct): There is a widely held popular belief that the circular design, colonnaded outer wall, and central structure of this temple served as the architectural inspiration for the old Indian Parliament House (Sansad Bhavan), designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.

The temple is also known as Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple because of the numerous Shiva Lingas present within the complex.