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The History of 64 Yogini temple of Hirapur, Odisha
(A Thread)
We know that mother goddess worship is the oldest form of religious practice of man. And India is perhaps the only place where this prehistoric tradition is not lost.
(A Thread)
We know that mother goddess worship is the oldest form of religious practice of man. And India is perhaps the only place where this prehistoric tradition is not lost.
@Go_Movie_Mango @Redhotpedia @ImsomethingnU @DalrympleWill But temples dedicated to her are of a relatively new age when compared to those dedicated to Shiva or Vishnu. The earliest indian goddess sculptures are of yakshis or tree spirits . Even today cult goddesses are often thought to reside under or within a particular tree .
@Go_Movie_Mango @Redhotpedia @ImsomethingnU @DalrympleWill But efforts of thousands of years have failed to provide a homogenous identity to the goddess. Even today a huge number of goddesses remain outside mainstream hindu fold. Modern day historians of indian art are baffled to see the sheer diversity of excavated goddess images.
@Go_Movie_Mango @Redhotpedia @ImsomethingnU @DalrympleWill In ancient india , worship of the seven matrikas and the yoginis were fairly common . The yogini cult was popular all across a large part of northern india. There are quite a few 64 yogini temples around northern india, most of them in ruins.
@Go_Movie_Mango @Redhotpedia @ImsomethingnU @DalrympleWill The layout suggests chakra sadhana must have been part of the rituals. Animal sacrifices are known to have been practiced here. Given its time period the site may have served for more gorier practices, maybe human sacrifice.
@Go_Movie_Mango @Redhotpedia @ImsomethingnU @DalrympleWill Unfortunately many of the figures are damaged by the ‘sword of Islam‘, as has been the fate of almost all ancient heritage sites. But still the whole place reeks of mystery & absolute secrecy. Most of the yoginis are ferocious, with skull cups, arms and extreme countenance.
@Go_Movie_Mango @Redhotpedia @ImsomethingnU @DalrympleWill It is a 9th century place of worship which is dedicated to 64 different forms of mother goddess. And condensed between the layers of the stones are stories of mystery and history.
@threadreaderapp Pls unroll.. Thanks.
@threadreaderapp Pls unroll.. Thanks.
