Yoginis are a class of propitiatory goddesses that are associated with various forms of apotropaic Śakta-tantric practices. Their appearance in the Indian religious landscape was marked by construction of open-air shrines, roughly dating from 8th century till the 13th century, before they completely vanished. As a result, the yoginis have remained enigmatic and often prone to misguided interpretations, that largely surrounds tantra in general. Out of the twelve extant yogini temples, the Chausathi Yogini temple of Hirapur in Odisha, is considered one of the earliest of such shrines dedicated to the worship of yoginis.
