English: The Markandi temples complex include temples that were positively built or restored by Gond people, because they include the Gondi emblem (lion attacking and crouching over an elephant from behind). They also include deities found such as scorpion-on-belly goddess, found in several Hindu temples built by Gond kings. These are notable for the historical evidence that links the early adoption of Hinduism by Gond people of central India – one of the largest tribes in India.

The Markandi temples offer the relatively rare and beautiful depiction of Bhadrakali as Vrishchika-dhari (goddess with scorpion on her belly, Vṛścika means scorpion in Sanskrit and is one of the solar months). Vrishchikadhari form of the goddess is found in a few Hindu and a few Jain temples. She looks like Chamundi or Kali, but she isn't. She is uniquely identifiable from the scorpion on her belly. The Markandi Bhadrakali provides a key benchmark to compare her panels also found in temples of Khedbrahma temple (Gujarat), Nohta, Lanji and Un temples (Madhya Pradesh), Bhedaghat Yoginis (Madhya Pradesh), Belur (Karnataka), Ellora (Maharashtra), and the Bijolia Jain temple (Rajasthan). Some of these are linked to Gond dynasties, while others are in regions very far from any known Gondi people influence.

Overview: The Group of Temples at Markanda – also called the Markandi Temples – is a major complex of twenty four Hindu temples from the 9th to 11th century, on the western banks of Wainganga River in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, India. The village is named after this complex and called Markanda. It is about eight kilometers northwest of Chamorshi town.

The twenty four temples at Markanda were first documented and published by Cunningham in 1925. These include Shiva, Vishnu and Devi temples. Of the twenty four temples, four temples survive in a substantial form:

1. Markandeshvara Temple is the main temple; it is also called Markanda Rishi Temple, Markanda Mahadeva Temple or Markanda Deva Temple
2. Yamadharma Temple
3. Mrikunda Rishi Temple
4. Shankara Temple

These temples are notable for their architecture as well as their extensive and beautiful carvings. These narrate Ramayana and Mahabharata scenes, Vedic legends, stories from Shiva, Vishnu and Devi traditions, as well as kama and artha scenes.