The first Jain Tirthankar, the story of Bahubali is nothing short of amazing. It is believed that he shed all his material belongings and stood in the open for a full year to become a Digambara monk and began meditating to attain omniscience. After a year long fast, and creepers and ants growing over him,…
Tag: Karnataka
In Peace
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass the world is too full to talk about.” ~ Rumi
The Magic of Monsoon
As the monsoon showers greet us, it’s time for the rain gear to come out. Like I mentioned before, I’m no fan of rains. But when you watch it from afar or when indoors, it has an irresistible charm to it.
Divine Lessons
No, this is not a miniature from my collection. Earlier this week, I celebrated a personal milestone, which I choose not to describe in detail. I found myself at Shravanbelgola, a Jain pilgrimage spot. Dedicated to Bahubali, the first Jain Tirthankara (spiritual leader or saint), the statue is the largest monolithic sculpture in India. Outside…
The Waving Flag
WAVIN’ FLAG ~K’naan Give me freedom, give me fire Give me reason, take me higher See the champions take the field now You define us, make us feel proud In the streets our heads are liftin’ As we lose our inhibition Celebration, it surrounds us Every nation, all around us Saying forever young Singing songs…
Holy Unity
A few years ago, I had the chance to revisit the Chamunda Devi temple near Mysuru as an adult. It’s a beautiful temple on a high hill with well defined steps to take you to the destination. There, as a tourist you will be conned to buy stuff unassumingly. That’s how I ended up with…
Peace & Quiet
The ornate Chennakeshava temple is a fine representation of the Hoysala architecture; in fact historians suggest that this is one of the last temples to be built with this architecture. The main temple sits in the middle of a high star-shaped platform with three symmetrical sanctums (garbha-griha) for Kesava , Janardhana and Venugopala, all forms of Vishnu.The…
Troopers Alert
Horses and elephants were both a very essential part of the war cavalry in old India wars. While the use of horses with archers and swordsmen is quite popular, elephants were used in siege operations and bringing down doors and breaking into fortresses. If you visit old forts across India, guides will enlighten you about…
Mahishasura
Mahishasura is a combination of mahisha or a buffalo and asura or demon. Mahishasura was partly-immortal; no man could kill him. Mahishasura beat the god in a battle between Asuras and Devas, when the gods were led by Indra. Dejected, the Devas then combined divine energies bring goddess Durga to life. Riding a lion she…
Ice Candy
What comes to mind when you think of a beach? The crashing of waves, the feel of sand under your bare feet? Collecting shells, and throwing away the ones showing signs of life in sheer terror? Between the orange skies, blue water and brown sand; there is always comfort in food. In most beaches that…
Snapshots of my World 