The tantric sites of 64 Yogini temple at Ranipur-Jharial in Balangir district. Telegraph pictures

Balangir, July 29: The tantric site of Chausathi Yogini temple at Ranipur-Jharial in the district needs urgent repairs as the 9th century monument, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), was vandalised by some unidentified criminals.

The goons had ventured into the protected temple and illegally installed two feminine idols made up of concrete in the circular temple that is protected by iron grill.

As the matter came to light one official from the ASI, Bhubaneswar hurriedly went there and removed the concrete idols with the help of locals. Though the incident took place two weeks ago, neither the administration nor the police have any information about it.

The incident poses serious questions about safety of one of the oldest monument in the state.

When one reaches the ruins of Ranipur-Jharial about 110km from Balangir, he is welcomed by a message on a signboard just outside the entrance of the hypaethral temple of 64 yoginees that reads:

“This monument has been declared to be of national importance and protected under the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. Any one inflicting any kind of damage to this monument is liable for prosecution”.

But, there is no arrangement of protection and maintenance for the monument. Such callous attitude of the ASI, state government as well as district administration towards these rare and ancient monuments has invited widespread concern of scholars, historians and researchers.

In the rocky outcrop of Ranipur-Jharial remains the ruins of the stone temples and 64 Yoginee temples that bear the testimony of a glorious bygone era and combined a cross-section of religious faiths like Shaivism, Buddhism, Vaishnavism and tantrism. The archaeological site has now only 52 temples that once boasted of at least 120 miniature temples.

Most of the existing temples are in a dilapidated state and need immediate attention of the archaeologists.

Thirteeen of the 64 images of yoginees made up of sandstone are missing and some damaged beyond recognition. Eminent historian Sadananda Agrawal, who has done extensive study on the Ranipur-Jharial monuments, told The Telegraph that the 64 Yoginee temple of Ranipur-Jharial was the earliest among the nine such yoginee temples in India.

“Most of the images of these monuments are weather bitten, but they have also suffered due to human vandalism. During my research, I visited the monument a number of times, but never saw any one taking care of it,” Agrawal said. He said that the government was neither taking up any renovation work, nor doing anything for the safety of the monument.

Though some people entered the monument site and installed concrete idols there, the administration has no knowledge about it till today.

“I still have no knowledge about the vandalism to the monument,” said Navin Nayak, block development officer (BDO) of Bangomunda. Similarly, the police have no idea about the mischief.

“No one has given us any information about the incident,” said Jatindra Dash, inspector in-charge of Sindhekela police station.