Yogmaya Temple in Mehrauli, south Delhi, stands about 260 yards from the Iron Pillar of the Qutub complex and is dedicated to the goddess Yogmaya, revered as the sister of Krishna. Tradition holds it to be the only temple from before the Delhi Sultanate still in worship. Entry is free; dress modestly and take your shoes off at the step.
A small temple in Mehrauli, a few steps from the Qutub complex, dedicated to the goddess Yogmaya, revered as the sister of Krishna. Tradition holds it to be the only temple in Delhi predating the Sultanate that is still in living worship; it has been rebuilt more than once, notably under Hemu and again in the 19th century. Each autumn it becomes the heart of Phool Walon Ki Sair, when Hindu and Muslim processions carry floral pankhas here and to the nearby Sufi dargah. Free; dress modestly, shoes off at the step.
Possibly Delhi's oldest temple still in worship, and the heart of its shared autumn festival
Yogmaya, or Jogmaya, is understood as an aspect of Maya, the power of divine illusion. In the Krishna story she is born to Yashoda on the night Krishna is born to Devaki and is switched for him. When King Kamsa tries to kill the child, she escapes and foretells that Kamsa will die at the hands of her brother Krishna. That is why she is worshipped here as Krishna's sister and as a form of Durga.
Mehrauli appears as Yoginipura in 12th-century Jain texts, a name linked to this temple. The temple lies within the walls of Lal Kot, the first fortified citadel of Delhi. Local tradition says it was among the temples destroyed by the early Sultanate rulers and later restored by Hemu. The present building dates from 1827: a simple sanctum with a 42-foot tower and a copper-plated pinnacle, inside a walled enclosure.
The image of Yogmaya is of black stone, set in a small marble well and dressed in cloth and sequins, with two small fans hanging above it. The goddess is considered austere: bells are not rung during her worship, and wine and meat are never offered.
Every autumn the temple is the centre of Phool Walon Ki Sair, the festival of the flower-sellers, held since 1812 (usually over three days in September or October). Processions carry large fans (pankhas) made of flowers to Yogmaya Temple and to the nearby dargah of the Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, which makes it one of Delhi's best-known interfaith festivals. The story goes back to the wife of Mughal emperor Akbar II, who vowed floral pankhas to both shrines if her exiled son returned.
Navratri also brings large crowds of devotees. For a quiet visit, avoid these festival days.
The temple is in Mehrauli, a short walk from the Qutub complex. The nearest metro station is Qutab Minar on the Yellow Line; the temple is not at the station exit, so walk or take an auto-rickshaw for the last stretch. It combines naturally with the Qutub complex, Zafar Mahal and the Mehrauli Archaeological Park.
The temple is free and usually quiet outside festivals. Dress modestly and leave shoes at the step. No official visiting hours are published, so the card above has none.
Yes, locally: it is believed to be Delhi's only pre-Sultanate temple still in worship, and it is the centre of the Phool Walon Ki Sair festival.
Yogmaya was born to Yashoda and switched with the newborn Krishna. When Kamsa tried to kill her, she escaped and foretold his death at Krishna's hands.
No, entry is free.
About 260 yards (some 240 m) from the Iron Pillar inside the Qutub complex.
Qutab Minar on the Yellow Line, then a short walk or auto-rickshaw ride into Mehrauli.
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