It is located in Lakhanpahari hamlet, about 2 kilometres from Pathergama, and has a religious significance.
Tuesday and Saturday are considered fortunate days, and thousands of devotees travel long distances to attend. The shrine exudes a supernatural sublimity that gives worshipers peace of mind and restores their faith.
Maa Yogini Temple is located in Pathargama block of Godda district in Jharkhand. It is located at Barkop, just 15 kms from the district headquarter. This ancient temple of Maa Yogini is very popular among Tantra seekers. Its history is very old. According to historical and religious books, this temple dates back to Dwapara Yuga and the Pandavas spent many days of their unknown year here. It is also discussed in Mahabharata. Then this temple was famous as ‘Gupta Yogini’.
According to religious scriptures, when Lord Shiva, enraged by the humiliation of his wife Sati, took her burning body and started a tandava, Lord Vishnu cut the body of Mother Sati into several pieces to save the world from destruction.
According to folklore, Lord Shiva began Tandava Nirtya while carrying Sati’s burnt body, and wherever a limb of Sati dropped, a temple of Shakti arose in due order. Sati Uma’s thigh is said to have fallen here during the operation. With intense devotion, a symbolic stone imprint is worshiped. But this place was kept secret. Scholars say that 51 Siddha Peeths are described in our Puranas, but Yogini Purana has given 52 Siddha Peeths.
Situated amidst the forests, this temple is equivalent to Kamakhya in terms of Tantra Sadhana. The practice of worship is the same in both the temples. Both the temples have three doors. Pind is worshiped in the place of Yogini. In Kamakhya also, the pind is worshipped. It is said that earlier male sacrifices were done here. But it was closed during the British rule. There is a butt tree in front of the temple. According to popular beliefs, sadhaks used to do spiritual practice sitting on this butt tree and attained siddhi.
The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is a special center of attraction. The sanctum sanctorum of the mother is situated on a high mountain 354 steps above the right side of the Maa Yogini temple. To enter the sanctum, one has to pass through a cave. Seeing it from outside, I do not dare to go inside, because it is completely dark. But as soon as you enter inside the cave, you see light, while there is no electricity.
Seeing the narrow entrance of the cave from outside and the sharp stones all around, people are unable to muster the courage to go inside the cave, but with the blessings of the mother, even the fattest person can easily come out of it. Even inside the sanctum sanctorum, sadhus remain absorbed in their spiritual practice. Manokamna Temple is on the hill on the right side of Maa Yogini Temple. Those who come for the darshan of Maa Yogini, they do not forget to visit Manokamna Temple.
Yogini Temple came under the Barkop State, where the Nat kings once ruled. They used to celebrate Durga Puja, but they were so free and extravagant that there was a hindrance in the worship tradition. The Brahma Raj family of the tenth century drove them out of the region and they ruled for a long time, but when the Zamindari system started, then the entire princely state was lost from the hands of the Khetori kings. Even today the descendants of Brahma and Khetori kings reside in this area.
The head priest Professor Ashutosh Baba told that the story about the place of Yogini place is that there was once a tradition of male sacrifice here. Which was closed by the British and for this a king was also sentenced to death.
How to Reach:
By Air
Nearest airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport, Kolkata and Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi which are approx 370 Km and 350 Km respectively from here. Recently Deoghar airport has also become operational.
By Train
It is situated at Pathargama Block and lies in Hasdiha Railway Route. It is at a distant of 35 Km from Godda and 60 Km from Jashidih Railway Station.
By Road
It is situated on Jasidih – Deoghar state Highway at a distance of 15 Km from the district headquarter Godda.