Yogmaya Temple, Delhi - Ink and colours on paper (1843)

[From 'Reminiscences of Imperial Delhi’, an album consisting of 89 folios containing approximately 130 paintings of views of the Mughal and pre-Mughal monuments of Delhi, as well as other contemporary material, with an accompanying manuscript text written by Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe (1795-1853), the Governor-General’s Agent at the imperial court. Acquired with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and of the National Art-Collections Fund.]

[The shrine of Jog Maya near the Qutb Minar. Built during the reign of Akbar II (r.1806-37) at the site of an ancient temple, the Jogmaya temple is one of the most important Hindu shrines in the city, but no trace of the original survives.]

The Shrine of Jog (‘Worship’) Maya (‘Wealth, also a name for Luchmee the goddess of wealth’) at the Kootoob dedicated to Devee an Hindoo goddess is said to have been from time immemorial the site of idolatrous worship. The two temples represented were built, the one by Rana (‘King- Chief’) Peertee or Pritvy Raj (‘Peertee or Pritvy Raj: Lord of the Earth’), and the other by his chief almoner. Rana Peertee called also Rae (‘King’) Pittorah, the latter a corruption without any meaning, was the King of Ajmere and Indra (‘God of Elements’) Put (‘Town or City’) the ancient Hindoo city of Dehly, the name being derived from Delu or Dehlu, the chief Zumundar or land proprietor of the place.

It was in Pittorah’s Reign that the Afghan Emperor Shahabooddeen (‘Strength of the Fait’) Ghoree (‘Name of Family or Dynasty’) (vide page 74 [f. 72v]) invaded India. In his first expedition A.D. 1186, he took possession of Lahore. He next turned his arms against the Hindoo Princes of Hindoostan, but was defeated in his first attempt by Rae Pittorah in A.D. 1191 at Telowree, one march from Kurnaul: but in 1193 he again returned with and immense army. Pittorah was in his turn defeated and being taken prisoner in the pursuit was put to death in cold blood.

Since the introduction of the British Rule, the shrine has been much enlarged and beautified by the Hindoo nobility of Dehly. It is held in much repute by idolaters and at annual periods is visited from afar by thousands of misguided devotees who liberally according to their several means present offerings to the Goddess and make vows of future pecuniary sacrifice on the fulfilment of their hopes or prayers.

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