The Indian budget every year has always been an eagerly awaited event. For many decades, the best minds in economics, finance, tax, business and industry throng the media house to analyze the provisions shared by the Financial Minister.
Sometimes major events completely disconnected may be data points for the plans of the different powers around the world. The challenge is to discern what purpose they serve? More critically, what are we moving towards?
When the US Ambassador threatened India's "Strategic Autonomy" policy over India's friendship with Russia - much more than meets the eye was at stake. Let us unpack how the Ukraine war has fundamentally changed the US and the world. And why are we here anyway?
There is a special place for the feminine in Indian psyche. Understanding and experience of divinity necessarily include both, the masculine and the feminine. As much as the Yogis have enriched this land, so have the Yoginis. Not only have the Yogis attained to level of consciousness of Vishnu and Shiva, but the Yoginis have also attained to the consciousness of Kali, Saraswati and Katyayani. There is a proliferation of shrines to 64 (Chausanth) Yoginis around the country. And all bear an uncanny resemblance to one of the most central modern day shrine of Indian polity – the Sansad Bhawan. Or the Parliament House.
This underscores how the consecrated feminine divine plays the most critical role in the running of the Indian state even today.
The most prominent being a temple at Mitaoli in Madhya Pradesh, near Gwalior called Chausanth Yogini temple. It is a temple, which is believed to have inspired the Indian Parliament. The temple is also known as Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple (source). The temple was built by Devapala, the Kachchhapaghata king.
The temple is on a hill that has a height of about 100 feet with 100 steps leading upto it. It has a 40 m diameter circular wall with 64 chambers, a circular courtyard and an open mandapa with a shrine to Shiva in the center. IN each of the 64 chambers, Shiva’s image has been carved out.
The Central Sanctorum of the 64 Yogini templeInner circle of the temple 64 Yogini temple at Morena
It is said that it was the center of learning in astrology, astronomy, and mathematics in ancient times.
Other Chausanth Yogini Temples
Interestingly, this is not the only Chausanth Yogini temple. There are others as well.
Chausath Yogini Temple of Bhedaghat is seen as one of the oldest heritage sites in India. It was built in the 10th Century AD by the Kalachuri kingdom
Chausath Yogini temple in JabalpurThe sanctrum sanctorum of the 64 Yogini temple near Jabalpur
Chausanth Yogini temple at HIrapur (Wikimedia \ Rohit Agarwal)The circle structure at Hirapur with the idols of the yoginisThe yogini Kameshvari at Chausath Yogini Temple, Hirapur
The Indian budget every year has always been an eagerly awaited event. For many decades, the best minds in economics, finance, tax, business and industry throng the media house to analyze the provisions shared by the Financial Minister.
When the US Ambassador threatened India's "Strategic Autonomy" policy over India's friendship with Russia - much more than meets the eye was at stake. Let us unpack how the Ukraine war has fundamentally changed the US and the world. And why are we here anyway?
This visit of India left me with many questions. Many observations and inputs from different people and sections. Food for thought that I have tried to contemplate on and make sense of. Sharing all that with you.
When you analyze the last 60 years of the economic miracles of Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia versus the continued impoverished Indian economy, you get very interesting lessons. Can Indians have the wherewithal in them to do in one generation so that the coming generations may rise?
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