India's Forgotten Yoginis: Unveiling the Mystery of Ancient Roofless Temples and Stolen Idols

• A Vrishanana Yogini idol, stolen from Uttar Pradesh between 1979-1982, was returned from Europe in 2013, highlighting the plight of India's forgotten divine sisterhood.
• Yogini temples, unique roofless and circular structures, emerged between the 9th and 12th centuries CE, often in secluded spots for Tantric rituals.
• Notable sites include Mitaoli's Chaunsath Yogini Temple, believed to be a prototype for India's old Parliament, and Hirapur's intricately carved shrine in Odisha.
• These powerful female divinities, manifestations of Shakti, were associated with transformation and occult knowledge, with villagers still avoiding their shrines after dark.
• Many Yogini idols, like those from Lokhari and Mitaoli, have vanished, but the return of the Vrishanana Yogini offers hope for other lost artifacts.