Thread by @Hiddenheritage

Have always found the Yoginis a fascinating aspect of Indian history, the isolation of their shrines adding to the theme. And now, artist Seema Kohli has created a Yogini sculpture exhibition at Sunder Nursery heritage park, around a Lotus Pool.

Traditions survive, evolve over time. Like Gauri - also called Ksemankari & Ajita. Depicted as a 9th cen Yogini sculpture (replica) frm Hirapur, #Odisha. Contemporary Gujarat has Khodiyar Mata, a goddess whose shrine is a stepwell. Both have a croc as vehicle. The same goddess?

And guess which creature happened to enter the Khodiyar Mata ni vav one day. A crocodile, which got mighty upset when locals put vermilion on it. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/…

The 64-Yogini temple at #Mitaoli. Incredible likeness to the Indian parliament. A place where much began for me.

The ruined Yogini temple at Dudhai, #Lalitpur, #ExploreUP. Lies in a forest, locals tend to avoid it after dark.

My quest for the Yogini shrines has been perhaps the most fascinating of all my heritage exploration. Sharing an old blog post on the Yogini shrine at #Hirapur, #Odisha. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/HiddenHe…

The Yoginis never disappoint! Sharing some pics of Ranipur-Jharial, #Bolangir, #Odisha. The superb Yogini temple stands on a rocky hill. Finally explored a place that has been on my list for 8 yrs.

Temples, albeit mostly empty ones, are everywhere in Ranipur-Jharial, #Bolangir, #Odisha. A pity so little has been mentioned about this place.

The focal point of Ranipur-Jharial is the still-in-worship Someshwara Temple.

Ranipur-Jharial is a museum of temple architecture. Like this superb brick temple, called the Indralat.

#ExploreUP: The Yogini that returned! Vrishanana Yogini, 10th cen CE, Lokhari, Banda. The head of a buffalo, a swan as her vehicle. Stolen from its hilltop temple, the sandstone Yogini surfaced in Paris. Returned from a private collection, it came back to India in 2013.