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Friday, January 6, 2017
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
A Small Replica Of The Grand Canyon Of The U.S. In India!
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We had been to the U.S., a couple of years back and visited The Grand Canyon over there and I did a post on it too here! The place was amazing. There, the Colorado river's flow/force, made the designs in the mountainous route it flowed. Here, in Andhra Pradesh's Kadappa, Pennar river flows through the rocky/mountainous region and has created beautiful designs on the red granite rocks. Until we visited here, I hadn't heard about it before. To look at this gorge, we have to climb uneven rocks. I too climbed up to some level and took some pictures!
My son climbed up on the uneven rocks which looked as if they were piled up on each other and took beautiful photographs.
Now, let me tell you a little history of this gorge. Gandikota (Gandi means Gorge and Kota means Fort in Telugu) is a small village on the right bank of the river Pennar, 15 km from Jammalamadugu in Kadappa district, Andhra Pradesh. The gorge, which is a natural one, forms as a protective barrier on one side of this fort. The mountains are around 300 ft.above sea level. The fort was built by the Chalukya in 1123 A.D. by Kapa Raja of nearby Bommanapalle village and a subordinate of Ahavamalla Someswara I, the Western Chalukyan king of Kalyana. More details can be had from this video and wiki link.
To reach this place we have to go through the zig zag route inside the Fort (I saw this type of zig zag routes inside the fort in other forts we visited earlier too, to cut the speed of the enemy troupes). Our car went up to a km. inside and then had to stop. Then we climbed up the rocky area and visited the old Jamia Masjid. Walked further through the rubbles of the old remains of the ancient buildings. The whole area was uneven with stones. All were red granite rock bits. It was noon and the sun was high. But we walked. Son had said earlier that he was going to surprise us (we never knew about this place before!) and yes, this was a beautiful surprise for us.
So many designs, the flow of the water has created through the years and more will be there after another 20-30 years. I liked the colour of the rock...bright colour. The rock/stones were seen all over the area. They look sort of beautiful.
In Arizona, U.S., the Grand Canyon hasn't got this colour but more unique, unbelievable designs were there. You can see them in my post referred to above. They have promoted the place very well there but here, no symptom of promotion is seen. We can put a bridge across the gorge and make way to reach the place easily. Now, the way is via the fort and through the remains of the old fort...stones are strewn all over and it is very difficult to walk. I think this rock climbing expedition also must be interesting for youngsters but for others, some easy way should be created. So many natural treasures and man made treasures are here in our country but maintenance and promotion is nit. People also abuse these places. Hmmm....
Now, to more pictures of the place:
Nearby airport is Hyderabad and then we can take taxi. We went by road from Chennai, stayed at Kadappa and visited this place. You can stay at Haritha Resorts at Gandikota, run by Andhra Pradesh tourism.
We visited Belum caves after this, another nature's wonder. 2 hours' drive from Gandikota! Our India has got many treasures!
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| The river Pennar has created this gorge in Kadappa, Andhra Pradesh through the years. |
We had been to the U.S., a couple of years back and visited The Grand Canyon over there and I did a post on it too here! The place was amazing. There, the Colorado river's flow/force, made the designs in the mountainous route it flowed. Here, in Andhra Pradesh's Kadappa, Pennar river flows through the rocky/mountainous region and has created beautiful designs on the red granite rocks. Until we visited here, I hadn't heard about it before. To look at this gorge, we have to climb uneven rocks. I too climbed up to some level and took some pictures!
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| This picture was clicked by me from a bit lower level! The red granite rocks give more beauty to the area. |
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| Son climbed up these rocks and clicked the first picture from the top most rock! It was like a rock climbing sport! |
To reach this place we have to go through the zig zag route inside the Fort (I saw this type of zig zag routes inside the fort in other forts we visited earlier too, to cut the speed of the enemy troupes). Our car went up to a km. inside and then had to stop. Then we climbed up the rocky area and visited the old Jamia Masjid. Walked further through the rubbles of the old remains of the ancient buildings. The whole area was uneven with stones. All were red granite rock bits. It was noon and the sun was high. But we walked. Son had said earlier that he was going to surprise us (we never knew about this place before!) and yes, this was a beautiful surprise for us.
So many designs, the flow of the water has created through the years and more will be there after another 20-30 years. I liked the colour of the rock...bright colour. The rock/stones were seen all over the area. They look sort of beautiful.
In Arizona, U.S., the Grand Canyon hasn't got this colour but more unique, unbelievable designs were there. You can see them in my post referred to above. They have promoted the place very well there but here, no symptom of promotion is seen. We can put a bridge across the gorge and make way to reach the place easily. Now, the way is via the fort and through the remains of the old fort...stones are strewn all over and it is very difficult to walk. I think this rock climbing expedition also must be interesting for youngsters but for others, some easy way should be created. So many natural treasures and man made treasures are here in our country but maintenance and promotion is nit. People also abuse these places. Hmmm....
Now, to more pictures of the place:
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| These temple-like structures were seen in the Grand Canyon too! Water force has created this through the years. But now, the river looks so calm! Monsoon was not good this year too! |
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| Story material for a movie? Male & Female footwear:) |
We visited Belum caves after this, another nature's wonder. 2 hours' drive from Gandikota! Our India has got many treasures!
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Friday, December 16, 2016
Foto(s) Friday!
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| Great Egret |
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| Cattle Egrets |
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| Cattle Egrets |
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| Click on the picture to view clearly pl. |
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| This picture is not very clear, so skipped last night...but I love this picture, so it is here now, the next morning! |
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Lord For Immortality - Mrithyunjaya Temple At Thirukkadaiyur
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We had been to this temple thrice...for our relative's and friends' 60th birthday celebrations! We had been there a couple of days back and thought will write about it today.
This temple is particularly associated with Shiva saving his young devotee, Markendeya from death, and the tale of a saint, Abhiraami Battar, a devotee of the presiding goddess, Abhiraami.
This is a more than a thousand years old Shiva temple situated at 300 Km. from Chennai near Kaaraikkaal (off Pondicherry/Puduchery)). The main deities are Amrithaghateshwarar (Amritha Ghata Eashwara) Thirukkadaiyur derives its name from the pot, called Ghatam in Tamil. Vishnu, Indra and the other Devas needed a clean place to consume the ambrosia (Amritha) that had been churned out during the Samudra manthan and, therefore, brought the ambrosia pot here...Wiki says), Kaala Samhaara Murthi (Markandeya, who is blessed to be ever 16 years old, worshipping this (Shiva linga) deity) and Abhiraami Ambaal, Eashwara's wife (This deity was worshipped by Abirami Battar, a staunch devotee of Abhiraami and wrote Abhiraami Andhaadhi 100 verses in Tamil, praising her). You can hear it here.
I think Markandeya story has to be told here! Wiki is helping!
Long ago, near the temple of Tirukkadaiyur, there lived a sage named Mrikandu and his wife Marudmati. They were both devotees of Lord Shiva and worshiped him day and night for many years, asking to be graced with a child. After many years of penance, Shiva appeared to Mrikandu and Marudmati. He told them that he heard their prayers and would give them a choice: they could either have a gifted son who would live to be only sixteen, or a son of low intelligence who would live a long life. Mrikandu and Marudmati chose the former, and were blessed with Markandeya, an exemplary son, destined to die at the age of sixteen.
As Markandeya grew, so did his devotion to Lord Shiva. As advised by
his father, Markandeya worshipped the Shiva Lingam at Tirukkadaiyur,
even bringing water from the Ganges to the temple via an underground passage. On the day he was destined to die, Yama, the deity of death, appeared with his noose to tie around the soul of Markandeya and take away his life.
Markandeya sought refuge in the Lord and embraced the Siva Lingam. Lord
Shiva appeared and warned Yama not to touch Markandeya, as he was under
his protection. Yama refused to listen and threw the noose anyway,
binding Markandeya and the Lingam together. Angered by Yama's
extraordinary arrogance, Lord Shiva kicked him and held him under his
foot, making Yama inactive. Markandeya was blessed by Lord Shiva to
remain sixteen years old eternally. It is for this reason that Lord
Shiva is also called "Kala-samhara" (Sanskrit: "Destroyer of Time") at
this temple.
Meanwhile, with Yama being rendered inactive, there were no deaths on earth, but people were still being born. Burdened by the weight of so many people and unable to sustain their hunger, the earth-goddess, Bhumi Devi, appealed to Lord Shiva for help. Lord Shiva, feeling compassionate for the earth-goddess, released Yama, allowing death to occur again. However, in order to remind Yama never to try to kill someone while they are worshipping Shiva again, the icon of Lord Shiva in this temple depicts the Lord with his forefinger raised in warning.
Since it is believed that Lord Siva subdued Yama in Thirukkadaiyur, the Lord is called Mrityunjaya (Sanskrit: "Conqueror of Death".
It is a Hindu tradition to visit this temple when the man of the family (don't know if women are given importance to do the pooja for them!) turns 60, 70, 75, 80 and hundred years old to live longer with good health. Homams are conducted in this temple in their name and they are called:
Shashtiabhdha purthi (60)
Bheemaratha Shaanthi (70)
Vijayaratha Shanthi (75)
Shathaabhishekam (80)
For hundred years, they do 'kanakaabhishekam', I don't know if they are doing it here.
These homams are conducted 365 days a year. Nearly 30 to 35 Homas can be conducted at a time, around the main garbhagriha of Shiva and around Abhiraami garbhagriha also, it seems. They do Gaja pooja (A young elephant is there...pooja for that), Go pooja (cow & calf pooja), Ganapathi homa, Navagraha homa, Mrithyunjaya homa, Dhanvantri homa etc. for the package. During 60th and 80th, the man ties the mangalsutra around his wife's neck. It is done nearly like a wedding! One more interesting thing...a priest tells us the story about why this pooja has to be done and Markandeya's story too! He was good this time!
The homams are conducted according to the cost, from Rs. 35,000 to 50,000. Any Hindu can come here and get it done. They can bring their relatives also. They help in recommending restaurants and hotels (some restaurants are there. We had it in a small house, had home made food there. The priest helped us get this done.)
A couple of pictures of the gopuram of Thirukkadaiyur temple, which I took in the morning of the pooja:
The priest's phone number:
Kannan: 9442688200
We stayed at Hotel Manivizha: 04364287840
They did rudra homa, the previous evening from 6 pm. After the pooja, at 8 pm, we visited Thirunallaaru Shaneeshwara temple, which was open till 9 pm. which was just half an hour drive away. The pooja at the venue went on till 9 pm., it seems. Next day was Shanipradhosham day and this temple would have been difficult to even enter!
Next day, after the pooja, we visited Vaitheeshwaran Temple. It was open till 12.30 pm. The pooja had started at 6 am and was over by 9.30 am. Had brunch and left!
We had visited Chidambaram temple on our way to Thirukkadaiyur, which was also open till 12.30 pm. They open again at 4 pm in the evening, it seems.
So, we can visit all these temples. People who are facing Shani Dasha visit Shaneeshwara temple. Vaitheeshwaran temple deity cures illness. Chidambaram Nataraja temple is famous for Art. Beautiful architecture.
Vaitheeshwaran temple looks very very ancient. Gopuram is not maintained properly at all. The inside of the temple also is very bad. But it was too crowded when we went there. Chidambaram temple looks well maintained. Thirukkadaiyur is OK. But all are ancient temples. We had good darshan in all the temples this time. Shani darshan was also good because it was late in the evening!
I always love to visit ancient temples!
First Picture Courtesy: Here
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| Mrithyunjaya/AmrithaGhateshwara/Abiraami Temple, Thirukkadaiyur |
This temple is particularly associated with Shiva saving his young devotee, Markendeya from death, and the tale of a saint, Abhiraami Battar, a devotee of the presiding goddess, Abhiraami.
This is a more than a thousand years old Shiva temple situated at 300 Km. from Chennai near Kaaraikkaal (off Pondicherry/Puduchery)). The main deities are Amrithaghateshwarar (Amritha Ghata Eashwara) Thirukkadaiyur derives its name from the pot, called Ghatam in Tamil. Vishnu, Indra and the other Devas needed a clean place to consume the ambrosia (Amritha) that had been churned out during the Samudra manthan and, therefore, brought the ambrosia pot here...Wiki says), Kaala Samhaara Murthi (Markandeya, who is blessed to be ever 16 years old, worshipping this (Shiva linga) deity) and Abhiraami Ambaal, Eashwara's wife (This deity was worshipped by Abirami Battar, a staunch devotee of Abhiraami and wrote Abhiraami Andhaadhi 100 verses in Tamil, praising her). You can hear it here.
I think Markandeya story has to be told here! Wiki is helping!
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| Shiva saving Markandeya from Yama (Courtesy: By Raja Ravi Varma) |
Long ago, near the temple of Tirukkadaiyur, there lived a sage named Mrikandu and his wife Marudmati. They were both devotees of Lord Shiva and worshiped him day and night for many years, asking to be graced with a child. After many years of penance, Shiva appeared to Mrikandu and Marudmati. He told them that he heard their prayers and would give them a choice: they could either have a gifted son who would live to be only sixteen, or a son of low intelligence who would live a long life. Mrikandu and Marudmati chose the former, and were blessed with Markandeya, an exemplary son, destined to die at the age of sixteen.
Meanwhile, with Yama being rendered inactive, there were no deaths on earth, but people were still being born. Burdened by the weight of so many people and unable to sustain their hunger, the earth-goddess, Bhumi Devi, appealed to Lord Shiva for help. Lord Shiva, feeling compassionate for the earth-goddess, released Yama, allowing death to occur again. However, in order to remind Yama never to try to kill someone while they are worshipping Shiva again, the icon of Lord Shiva in this temple depicts the Lord with his forefinger raised in warning.
Since it is believed that Lord Siva subdued Yama in Thirukkadaiyur, the Lord is called Mrityunjaya (Sanskrit: "Conqueror of Death".
It is a Hindu tradition to visit this temple when the man of the family (don't know if women are given importance to do the pooja for them!) turns 60, 70, 75, 80 and hundred years old to live longer with good health. Homams are conducted in this temple in their name and they are called:
Shashtiabhdha purthi (60)
Bheemaratha Shaanthi (70)
Vijayaratha Shanthi (75)
Shathaabhishekam (80)
For hundred years, they do 'kanakaabhishekam', I don't know if they are doing it here.
These homams are conducted 365 days a year. Nearly 30 to 35 Homas can be conducted at a time, around the main garbhagriha of Shiva and around Abhiraami garbhagriha also, it seems. They do Gaja pooja (A young elephant is there...pooja for that), Go pooja (cow & calf pooja), Ganapathi homa, Navagraha homa, Mrithyunjaya homa, Dhanvantri homa etc. for the package. During 60th and 80th, the man ties the mangalsutra around his wife's neck. It is done nearly like a wedding! One more interesting thing...a priest tells us the story about why this pooja has to be done and Markandeya's story too! He was good this time!
The homams are conducted according to the cost, from Rs. 35,000 to 50,000. Any Hindu can come here and get it done. They can bring their relatives also. They help in recommending restaurants and hotels (some restaurants are there. We had it in a small house, had home made food there. The priest helped us get this done.)
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| Homam is going on... |
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| Thirukkadaiyur temple Gopuram |
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| Thirukkadaiyur Temple Gopuram |
The priest's phone number:
Kannan: 9442688200
We stayed at Hotel Manivizha: 04364287840
They did rudra homa, the previous evening from 6 pm. After the pooja, at 8 pm, we visited Thirunallaaru Shaneeshwara temple, which was open till 9 pm. which was just half an hour drive away. The pooja at the venue went on till 9 pm., it seems. Next day was Shanipradhosham day and this temple would have been difficult to even enter!
Next day, after the pooja, we visited Vaitheeshwaran Temple. It was open till 12.30 pm. The pooja had started at 6 am and was over by 9.30 am. Had brunch and left!
We had visited Chidambaram temple on our way to Thirukkadaiyur, which was also open till 12.30 pm. They open again at 4 pm in the evening, it seems.
So, we can visit all these temples. People who are facing Shani Dasha visit Shaneeshwara temple. Vaitheeshwaran temple deity cures illness. Chidambaram Nataraja temple is famous for Art. Beautiful architecture.
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| Chidambaram Temple Gopuram |
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| Chidambaram Temple gopuram |
I always love to visit ancient temples!
First Picture Courtesy: Here
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Now, I Am A Fan Of Ustaad Rashid Khan!
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| Ustaad Rashid Khan |
We, i.e. our family heard about Rashid Khan (The name is pronounced as Raashid and not Rashid!) in the very old (1998)Saregama, a musical Reality programme anchored by Sonu Nigam. Many stalwarts from Hindi Film music industry and our Hindustani Classical music stalwarts participated as judges. Many following episodes showed them singing in front of India Gate and other prominent places and we came to know about many famous Hindustani music singers then. One of them was Ustaad Rashid Khan. I still remember him singing in that programme. No, I hadn't heard about him before that. We, South Indians are involved with Carnatic music than Hindustani music then. Now, the atmosphere is changing. Every year we get to hear many Hindustani concerts in our famous Music season, in Chennai, in November and December! This concert was houseful till the end, i.e. 9.30 pm! Mostly people start leaving the hall by 9 pm! Both Ustaad Shahid Parvez Khan and Ustaad Rashid Khan made us sit glued to our seat till the end! The sitar played by Ustaad Shahid Parvez Khan was divine. I will write about him also sometime!
Please have a look at this video first. This is just a sample. He expanded this song elaborately, with a touch of pure classical in the end at the concert. This one is mild, ghazal type. Really, melodious:
Ustaad Rashid Khan (Wiki says), born on 1st July, 1996, belongs to the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana and is the great grandson of the founder Inaayat Hussain Khan. Every gharana has got unique type of singing Hindustani music. But Rashid Khan didn't just stick to his gharana, though he got trained in that, adopted many other gharana styles like Amir Khan's and Bhimsen Joshi's.
He is married to Joyeeta Bose, from the family of Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose. (The comment section in the 'yaad piya ki video gave some details).
This information is for serious Hindustani music fans:
His renderings stand out for the emotional overtones in his melodic elaboration. He says: "The emotional content may be in the alaap, sometimes while singing the bandish, or while giving expression to the meaning of the lyrics." This brings a touch of modernity to his style, as compared to the older maestros, who tended to place greater emphasis on impressive technique and skillful execution of difficult passages.
Rashid Khan has also experimented with fusing pure Hindustani music with lighter musical genres, e.g. in the Sufi fusion recording Naina Piya Se (songs of Amir Khusro), or in experimental concerts with western instrumentalist Louis Banks.
Rashid Khan gave his first concert at age eleven, and the following year, 1978, he performed at an ITC concert in Delhi. In April 1980, when Nissar Hussain Khan (his maternal grand uncle from who he was learning music) moved to the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Calcutta, Rashid Khan also joined the academy at the age of 14. By 1994, he was acknowledged as a musician (a formal process) at the academy.
Wiki says: Pandit Bhimsen Joshi once remarked that Rashid Khan was the "assurance for the future of Indian vocal music".He was awarded the Padma Shri as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006.
You can know more about him in his interview programme in Rajya Sabha TV.
Shaksiyat Rajya Sabha programme:
This is his typical classical singing. He sang this at the concert. Click here: Awesome rendition!
He has got two daughters and a son, who also have started giving concerts. He has done playback singing in some movies like Jagjit Singh and his voice is melodious and soft in them. This is one:
From the movie 'Jab we met':
I used to hear just Jagjit Singh's ghazals all these days. Now, Rashid Khan will also become my favourite! Never knew about him this much. This concert has introduced me to an incredible, unique voice!
The video which is given below shows my favourite Carnatic singer Bombay Jayashree and now my favourite Hindustani singer, Ustaad Rashid Khan in a 'different' type of music, is it fusion...well, I liked it! You too will love this! Over to Coke studio:
