Yogmaya Temple 3.95

Yogmaya Temple also known as Jogmaya temple, is a 5000 year old Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Yogmaya, the sister of Krishna, and situated in Mehrauli, New Delhi, close to the Qutb complex. According to local priests this is one of those 27 temples destroyed by Ghazni and later by Mamluks and it is the only surviving temple belonging to pre-sultanate period which is still in use. Brahmin king Hemu reconstructed the temple and brought back the temple from ruins. During Aurangzeb's reign a rectangular hall was added to the temple which is a witness of a failed attempt by Mughals to convert this ancient temple into a mosque which was later turned into a store room for Devi's vastra.Though its original(300-200 BC) architecture could never be reformed after its deconstruction but its reconstruction had been carried out repetitively by the locals. Yogmaya or Jogmaya is considered, an aspect of Maya, the illusionary power of God. The temple is also venue of a large congregation of devotees during the Navratri celebrations.The present temple was built in early 19th century and may be descendant of a much older Devi shrine. Adjacent to the temple lies, a water body, johad, known as 'Anangtal', after King Anangpal Tomar, and covered by trees from all sides The temple is also an integral part of an important inter-faith festival of Delhi, the annual Phool Walon Ki Sair.