Anita Korde, author of The Invincible Somnath Temple – from Jīiva to Shiva, spoke about the Symbolism in Art and Architecture of the Hirapur Chausath Yogini temple at the recently concluded Conference on Tantra
Aparna Sridhar : - Aparna M Sridhar is Chief Editor - Outreach & Conversations, INDICA.
Anita Korde : Anita is an alumnus of Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies and a Master in Indology from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune. She is a management professional turned Indologist. She is passionate about the symbolism embedded in the art and architecture of Hindu temples. She is a certified Brahmavidya ancient yogic science spiritual teacher. Most importantly a Vegan who leads a compassionate lifestyle. 1. Anita Led the setting up of the Somnath Exhibition Gallery aka Somnath Temple Architecture Museum, a unique museum based on the remains of the previous Somnath temples that stood in the same place as the new temple. The uniqueness of this museum is that it is based on the theme of temple architecture. Every element of the temple is explained in terms of the name of the architectural element, its position in the temple, and its intended symbolic meaning. Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi inaugurated this Exhibition Gallery in August 2021. The museum is very well received by both, the experts in the field as well as the common visitors. 2. Anita has Authored the book The Invincible Somnath Temple- Journey of Jiva to Shiva which was commissioned and published by Shree Somnath Trust and is due to be released shortly by Shri Somnath Trust. The book delves into the intricate art and architecture of the new Somnath Temple, unveiling the intended symbolism behind each element. It also guides the proper way to seek the divine blessings of Lord Somnath Mahadev within the sacred Garbhagriha. The primary aim of the book is to enable readers to experience the temple as prescribed by the Shastras and to understand the significance of the Somnath temple as a Muktidham, a sacred place for attaining liberation. 3. Actively involved in showcasing the Heritage of Gujarat state to the G20 delegates. 4. Authored and published several papers and presented them both at prestigious national and international conferences on temple architecture.
