I had planned to take it slow today. But the morning had other ideas.
By 8:00 a.m., I was ready, and the driver and I sat down for tea and a call. He reached out to a friend of his, Professor Sanjay Mishra, a lecturer here in Kantabanji. Within minutes, Professor Mishra came out to meet me. I was deeply touched by his warmth. He simply said, “This is your blessing, to witness these sacred spaces.”
He told me of a powerful tantric stone near Ranipur Jhariyal, tucked into its backside. Charged by this unexpected encounter, I decided to make the visit. So much for a rest day!!!
Professor Sanjay Mishra also spoke of his own professor who has written a tome on the Yoginis. Another professor, well-known in this region, has also authored a book on the Yoginis of Ranipur Jhariyal. Professor Mishra himself has published articles on the site and offered to share them.
Following his advice, we drove a small deviation from the main Ranipur road, through Jhariyal block.
Arriving in Ranipur, we saw what can only be described as a Stonehenge-like site. Gigantic stone slabs, some stacked, some fallen, stood in this silent village, tucked behind the Yogini Mandir. Rohitji, the driver, kept wondering aloud: “how did people place these here centuries ago without machinery?” I wondered what the place was used for, or why it was built. We stood there silently for a few moments, dwarfed by mystery.
One large stone, partially embedded in the earth, is locally called the “lucky stone”. A name without explanation, the energy was palpable.
Nearby, under a tree, we found an eerie collection of Devi murtis, likely Durga and Mahishasura. Local villagers we met confirmed our guess. One of the statues, carved in stone, has a hand seemingly resting above a face that resembles Ganesha’s. Perhaps it was my imagination, or perhaps something else, but I saw it move, reaching out towards me. Tomorrow, I plan to return there alone and sit in meditation.
