While Ayodhya and Gyanvapi hog the limelight, a filmmaker and painter is set to embark on a countrywide tour to draw attention of the government for revival and restoration of temples dedicated to Yoginis.
S. Beena Unnikrishnan will soon be embarking on a unique exhibition of her paintings of 64 Yoginis across the country to seek popular attention to the temples lying in a state of ruin.
Beena describes Yoginis as manifestations of divine feminine energy. She will publish a book – Whispers of The Unseen – to chronicle her spiritual journey by way of painting the 64 Yoginis, and her pursuit of realization of the feminine energy. Unnikrishnan said that Old Parliament is also modeled on the common architecture of Yogini temples.
“It’s my wish to draw attention of the government to the prevailing conditions of temples dedicated to Yoginis. I wish that at least one of the Yogini temples is restored to the full structure,” said Beena.
Bibek Debroy, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to PM, also spotlighted the prevailing state of ruins of the temples dedicated to Yogini in his foreword to the book. “There are 64 Yogini temples in various states of disrepair and disuse…Down the years, several temples have been plundered and looted,” wrote Debroy.
Beena said that she will hold exhibitions of her paintings on 64 Yoginis in all parts of the country and also come out with a documentary. “The people should know about the Yoginis and more people should travel to these temples. This way the government will think of restoring them to full structures. Such temples are also without proper facilities, including for the people,” said Unnikrishnan.
Beena has held exhibitions of her painting at various international stages, while she is also a filmmaker. She is also president of WICCI Arts Leadership Council while also being a Curator of ‘Economically Independent Women Artists’ and Global chair of G100 art leadership and Films which is an international network.
The filmmaker also has stated that she seeks to dispel misconceptions about Yoginis. “There are misconceptions about Yoginis among the people. Yoginis are various expressions of the divine power. It’s wrong to believe that Yoginis are all just about Tantra cult. It’s not just about Yogini temples, it’s about Yoginis, the culture, it’s about co-existence, ” added Unnikrishnan.
She argued that people hold on to fearful stories about Yoginis, and she is trying to counter such popular narrative. “There are fearful stories about Yoginis. Such tales emanate from the ‘Ugra (ferocious)’ forms of Yoginis. But the people should know that they are expressions of divine feminine energy. They also have compassionate expressions,” added Beena.
Her book is set for release across the country soon as she plans to build the popular awareness about the Yogini temples. In his foreword to the book, Debroy wrote: “…in better states of preservation are two in Odisha (Hirapur and Ranipur-Jharial). The one in Mitaoli, Morena (Madhya Pradesh) is also worth mentioning, although the statue of the sixty-four yoginis are missing there. In addition, there are Khajuraho and Bhedaghat.”
Beena said that she hopes that the book and her upcoming exhibitions as well as documentary would inspire somebody to come up with a plan for the revival and restoration of the Yogini temples. She argues that while goddess ‘Kali’ is seen in an ‘Ugra (ferocious)’ form, the people need not be afraid if they have not committed any mistakes. The filmmaker said that ‘Bhakti (complete surrender)’ was her way in pursuit of the realisation of the feminine divine energy by way of painting 64 Yoginis.
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