Ten Jagadgurus Launch ‘The Dharmic Renaissance: Chronicles of Devi’ in Athens Summit
Athens, April 25 – Ten Jagadgurus and Acharyas, representing prominent dharmic traditions, gathered in Athens yesterday to sign the ‘Athens Declaration’ and officially inaugurate ‘The Chronicles of Devi,’ a groundbreaking cinematic franchise. This initiative aims to present Bharat’s sacred histories to a global audience through large-scale storytelling.
International Summit Unites Spiritual Leaders
The international summit brought together senior spiritual leaders from diverse traditions including Shaiva, Advaita, Dvaita, Shakta, Swaminarayan, Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, and Yoga. The event culminated in a ceremonial lighting of a sacred lamp, followed by the formal announcement of ‘The Chronicles of Devi: Chapter 1 – Mahishasura.’ This first installment is part of an ambitious eight-part cinematic series, produced by Baweja Studio and Mediente Films.
The ‘Devi’ project has been meticulously developed in collaboration with the Bharatiya Santa Maha Parishad (BSMP). Scholars and spiritual custodians from the BSMP have provided invaluable guidance on the narrative and visual direction, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of the sacred histories presented.
Shashank Acharya, Founding Trustee of the Dharmic Renaissance Trust and Coordinator of BSMP, highlighted the unprecedented collaboration: “For the first time, the custodial wisdom of multiple dharmic traditions has come together to support a cinematic work of this scale. The guidance provided by senior spiritual authorities reflects the responsibility to ensure that sacred histories are presented with integrity and authenticity.”
‘Mahishasura’ – The First Chapter
‘The Chronicles of Devi: Chapter 1 – Mahishasura’ draws inspiration from the sacred history of Vaishnodevi and scriptural sources such as the Markandeya Purana and the Devi Mahatmyam. The film tells the story of Vaishnavi, a young heroine who must confront the formidable Asura Mahishasura when even the gods are powerless. This marks the beginning of a planned series dedicated to bringing sacred narratives to life through grand cinematic productions.
Principal photography for ‘Mahishasura’ is slated to commence in mid-2026, with a targeted release in 2027.
Producers Emphasize Authenticity and Global Reach
Producer Harman Baweja, speaking in Athens at the project launch, emphasized the profound impact of sincere storytelling. “‘Chaar Sahibzaade’ showed us what happens when sacred history is told with sincerity. It does not just reach audiences, it moves them. ‘Chronicles of Devi’ carries that understanding forward, at a scale that we believe has never been attempted for dharmic cinema, and we could not be prouder to be part of it. When ten Jagadgurus leave India and gather in Athens to launch a film, that is not a publicity event. That is a signal. And we intend to honour it.”
Director and producer Manu Kumaran added, “Our culture and civilisational values have survived multiple rounds of marauding invasions because of the power of our stories and the oral tradition that kept our sacred histories alive. The mutation of our family structures has put this oral tradition at risk. ‘The Chronicles of Devi’ and the overall ‘Dharmic Renaissance Film Universe’ is an attempt to restore that thread in a language and format that energises the young and also to tell our glorious stories to the world.”
Producer Parul Yadav noted the meticulous preparation involved: “We have waited years for this. The story was always ready. We were not ready until the scale, the budget and the people were all in place to do it justice. A film of this responsibility cannot be rushed. The alignment of our Jagadgurus tells us the time is now.”
Greek Government Support and Filming Locations
The film has received formal approval from the Greek government’s audiovisual incentive body EKOME, securing an approved grant of EUR 11,999,404. Filming will take place across various picturesque locations in Greece.
‘Chronicles of Devi’ is directed by Manu Kumaran and produced by Harman Baweja, Parul Yadav, and Manu Kumaran for Baweja Studio and Mediente Films.
