MEMOIRS

ನಾಯಿ ನೆರಳು - ಎಸ್. ಎಲ್. ಭೈರಪ್ಪ.

2012-02-16T06:24:00.000-08:00

Naayi Neralu - Both dog and shadow are the symbols of our Karma, which follows us through all our rebirths. A young boy remembers what was in his previous life and on exploration a town is discovered and a family was found corresponding to his descriptions. Then a middle aged widow and a son who were the boy’s son and wife in previous life. The widow accepts him as her husband but the boy rejects him. It is a Para -psychological novel exploring psychological and social depths of the characters and society.

ದೃಶ್ಯ ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಒಂದು ವಾಸ್ತವ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿಯೂ ಕೂಡಾ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಮಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇರೊಂದು ಜಗತ್ತನ್ನೇ ದರ್ಶಿಸುವಂತೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡಿರುವ ಪ್ರತೀಕಗಳು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಸಫ಼ಲವಾಗಿ ಅರ್ಥ ಸ್ಥರಗಳ ಒಂದು ಸೌಧವನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸುತ್ತವೆ. ವಾಸ್ತವ ಶೈಲಿಯ ನಿರ್ದಿಷ್ಟತೆಯಿಂದಲೇ ಪುರಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗದ ಅತೀತತೆಯನ್ನು ಆಧುನಿಕ ಯುಗದ ಲೇಖಕರು ಮುಟ್ಟಬಹುದೆಂಬುದನ್ನು ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರು ಈ ಕೃತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಧಿಸಿ ತೋರಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

The characters in the novel Kshetrapala-Vishweshwara, Venkamma-Nanjamma, Achchannayya, Puttannayya, Jogayya, Achuta, are marvellous and keeps you holding to the book.

Thursday, 16 Feb 2012

DR. MOHANS AT BANGALORE

2012-02-16T05:49:00.000-08:00

It was on the occasion of Dr. Mohan starting his new medical facility at Mahalakshmi Layout, Bangalore. His clinic in Dubai started in 1986, is still working, and he decided to relocate to Bangalore recently. "Dr Mohan's MedPlus" is the new facility, which will be functional in a month's time.He had arranged DHANWANTARI homa for the blessings from almighty for his new facility on 12 Feb, where we attended the event. After the poornahuthi, lunch was arranged at his residence.
Dr. Mohan had been a family friend, since we were also in Dubai since that time. He was the President of Karnataka Sangha, Dubai in 1990, when I was the Gen. Secretary and it was a successful year with lot of cultural and other programs.
Satyavathi, his wife and Hari, Doctor and Nandu, architect, their children, are now working in Bangalore, Hari is married with a son Ishan, clever, naughty boy.
Hope to have continued good relationship with this wonderful family. God Bless.
Mon 13 Feb 2012

VISIT OF A LONG TIME FAMILY FRIEND

2012-02-10T21:39:00.000-08:00

Sudhaker Rao Pejavar, long time family friend, way back in 1986, in Dubai, had time to visit us at Birthi Mane, at Bhuvaneshwarinagara, Hebbal, recently. He and wife, Latha, on a short visit to Bangalore from Dubai, were happy to meet us here. It was a pleasant time, recapitulating the memories, progress made by Brahmana Samaja, Dubai, and the rest of the developments in Dubai and the friends.
They had some tiffin with us and left for their apartment in Banashankari, near Devegowda Petrol bunk.

Thur, 9th Feb.2012

WEDDING RECEPTION AT PALACE GROUNDS

2012-02-05T22:38:00.000-08:00

That was wedding reception at the Palace Grounds, Bangalore, relation of Shubha/Raghu....... high funda, ultra rich, flambouyant, arrangement. The whole thing must have planned by event management, with so many chandeliers, huge hall, stage for wedding couple to usher guests and well wishers, another stage for entertainment group for singing and dancing, and a large number of eateries,....... you name it...... you have it......
All kinds of henna, tattoos, still poses, photographer from GK Vales for group photos, astrologers, numerologists, face readers, and so many more......
It was more or less like a festival or jaatre..........
Sunday, 1.1.2012

ಗ್ರಹಣ - ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್.ಬೈರಪ್ಪ

2012-02-04T23:11:00.000-08:00

The novel written by S L Byrappa almost 40 years ago still has meaning and issues to think about. The aggressive narration of events by the author is simply marvellous. One will be just involved with flow of events and gives a feeling of you are one witnessing the situation. The belief of people in an unknown person, regarded as Swamy, sent from God to take care of the well being and welfare of people.
In the process Byrappa brings out so many issues which people believe, and the reason for it and not to believe and also the reason for it. Quote from the book:

ತೋರಿಕೆ- ವಾಸ್ತವತೆ, ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯ- ಹೊಸ ದೃಷ್ಟಿ, ಸತ್ಯ -ಅಸತ್ಯಗಳು, ದಿಕ್ಕು ತಪ್ಪಿಸುವಂತೆ ಒಂದರೊಳಗೊಂದು ಹೆಣೆದುಕೊಂಡಿರುತ್ತವೆ. ಇವೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಪರಸ್ಪರ ಪೂರಕವಾದ ಸಂಕೇತಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾಗಿ ಈ ಕೃತಿಯ ಆಳ ಎತ್ತರಗಳನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಿವೆ. ಜೀವನದ ಹಲವು ಮೂಲಭೂತ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳು ಈ ಕಿರುಕಾದಂಬರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ಕಾಣಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿವೆ.
Fundamental question of life..... Caste, belief, God, Dhrama, love, sex, marriage, sanyasi, temple, mutt, peetha etc ........ sensitivities have been brought out superbly.
Hats off to Byrappa for his narrative style.

Grahana is the veiling of truth by untruth, a Sanyasi unveiling his self of superstition.

Sun, Feb 5, 2012

COFFEE PLANTATION IN COORG

2012-01-30T16:35:00.000-08:00

“Coorg is carpeted with plantations. In season, the whole place smells just like a coffee shop.”

Indian coffee today is acknowledged as one of the finest mild coffees in the world. With the tropical climate, high altitude, sunny slopes, good rainfall and rich soils, India has consistently produced and exported high quality coffees for over 150 years. Indian coffees are noted for their blue colour, cleanness of beans and fine liquoring qualities. These qualities also add richness, strength and flavours to the coffee. Coorg, situated at a height of 3500 feet above sea level is ideally suited for coffee growing. The Coorg coffee estates produce some of the world’s best coffees with a variety of plants like Arabica & Robusta. Coffee is a cash crop. Coffee growing is classified as an industry. It is a big industry of Coorg.

In March and April it is coffee blossom time in Coorg. Stretches of these snow-white flowers waft a heady fragrance and their magnificence is an unforgettable sight. When the blossoms turn into berries, the bushes are cropped. The cherry-red fruit is then pulped, the separate coffee seeds dried and sent to the curing works. Stay on a coffee plantation can provide for a heady first-hand experience.

Besides coffee, cardamom, pepper, paddy, orange, timber and honey form the major products of this district. A variety of trees like rosewood, teakwood, silver oak, firewood etc, are grown. Tea, rubber, Arecanut, coconut, citrus fruits, pineapple, papaya, plantain, piggery and poultry are also available.
Sat, Jan 28, 2012

NALKNAD PALACE

2012-01-30T16:11:00.000-08:00

Nalknad Palace is located at the bottom of the highest mountain of Coorg Thadiyandamol. It’s is 45 kms away from Madikeri via Napoklu in Kakkabe. Dodda Viraraja built this palace in 1792. Nalknad palace was the last refuge of the last king of Coorg, Chikka Veerarajendra before he was deposed by the British.
The palace has 2 levels and the walls and roof are decorated with beautiful ancient paintings and architecture. According to history after escaping from Tippu sultan’ s troops Dodda Viraraja (Doddavirarajendra) built this palace at Yavakapadi in Nalknad area. Dodda Viraraja married Mahadevammaji in this palace itself.

In 1834, Chikka Veerarajendra moved to Nalknad Palace which became his last refuge.In order to prevent major losses, the king had to surrender and the British deposed him to Benares. With this, Kodagu came under the direct rule of the British and Chikka Veerarajendra remained as the last king of Kodagu.The Nalknad palace is a protected monument under the guidance of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums of Karnataka.
Sat, 28 Jan 2012

PADI IGUTHAPPA TEMPLE

2012-01-30T05:32:00.000-08:00

The Padi Igguthappa Temple is located in Kakkabe near Virajpet. Iguthappa is another name for Lord Subramanya and the Igguthappa Temple is a very sacred temple of the Coorgs. This temple was built in 1810 by King Lingarajendra.
Igu means food, Thappa is giver. By praying and offering seva at the temple, kodavas believe their wishes come true.

An annual festival is held at the Padi Iguthappa temple in the month of March and people from all over Coorg and near by places gather here to offer special prayers. Special offering like “Tulabhara”, where the devotee weighs oneself against coconuts, sugar, rice, fruits etc, on a weighing scale and offers it to the god is performed here.
Sat, Jan 28, 2012

UPANAYANA.

2012-01-30T05:25:00.000-08:00

Upanayana is the initiation ritual by which initiates are invested with a sacred thread, to symbolize the transference of spiritual knowledge.
Son Takshak of Vani and Satish Nakshatri, had the occasion of being ordained as brahmachari. The venue was at HANDE HALL, Jayanagara. After the rituals, a sumptuous lunch was there 2/3 sweets.
upanayana, Hindu ritual of initiation, restricted to the three upper varnas, or social classes; it marks the male child’s entrance upon the life of a student (brahmacarin) and his acceptance as a full member of his religious community. The ceremony is performed between the ages of 5 and 24, the wide variance reflecting the classical notions of the different educational requirements of the three upper classes— Brahmans (priests and teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), and Vaishyas (merchants and tradesmen).

Mon, Jan 29, 2012

BYLAKUPPE TIBETIAN SETTLEMENT

2012-01-30T00:36:00.000-08:00

Bylakuppe is the location of "Lugsum Samdupling" (established in 1961) and "Dickyi Larsoe" (established in 1969), two adjacent Tibetan refugee settlements.
Bylakuppe is the largest Tibetan settlement in India located near Kushalanagar in Kodagu district. The settlement set up in 1960 holds a several monasteries and temples of all major Vajrayana (Indo-Tibetan Buddhist) lineages. The largest monasteries are Namdroling (Nyingma tradition) and Sera (Gelugpa lineage).

Golden Temple is a major attraction at Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement. The gold coated Buddhist statues in the monastery are impressive and unique, explains the rich cultural heritage of Tibetans. The statues found here are Guru Padmasambhava, the Shakyamuni Buddha and Amitayus.
The Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement is houses more than 16000 refugees from Tibet who escaped from their country following its invasion by the Chinese. There are about 7,000 monks and nuns.
Agriculture is the main occupation of refugees. Moreover, they also make handicrafts, carpets and incense.
27 JAN 2012

TRIP TO MYSORE, MADIKERI

2012-01-29T14:57:00.000-08:00

Just planned three days trip to Mysore and Madikeri. Wanted to visit long time Dubai friend, Suresh and Usha, now settled in Mysore. Reached their house by lunch time, Spent time talking about memories of earlier days, had lunch and left for Chamundeshwari temple on the hills.

with Usha Suresh and family

After visiting temples, surprisingly we met Prasanna, son of Srinivasa, Sarojini Tantry, had close darshan of Godess Chamundeshwari.
Next was visit to Usha Satish Hande, also family friends from Dubai/Abudhabi, had tea and spent about an hour and left.

with Usha Satish Hande and family

Then we proceeded to Usha Bopayya's apartment, at Jayalakhmipuram, went to movie for 9.15 show in the shopping mall opposite their apartment. In meantime police had clamped my car wheels for parking in the "no parking area". We had to wait till they arrive, spent some time in arguments, and then finally they let us go. After the movie, we returned and slept.

with Usha Bopayya

Next day left early, had breakfast at Satish, Nalini's Brother at Hunsur, and then proceeded to Bylakuppe, Tibetian settlement and then moved to Madikeri, had lunch. Next stop was at Bhagamandala, temple of BHAGANDESHWARI, and from there, went up the Brahmagiri hill, Thalakaveri, where Kaveri originates.
From there we reached Virajpet, a distance of 30 km, where our host retired Major Giri and his wife was waiting for us.

with Retd. Major Giri and his wife

We had good dinner and slept.
Morning we left early for IGUTAPPA temple on the top of the hills, a distance of 28 km. From there we visited NALKNAAD PALACE, which used to be hiding place for Mysore Kings during British days. We returned to Virajpet, proceeded to Hunsur, had lunchand left for Bangalore.
Reached Bangalore Birthi Mane home at 10 pm. It was a good and memorable trip.
Mon, 30 Jan 2012

KULAM - DRAMA

2012-01-24T09:17:00.000-08:00

Kulam Drama was presented by Samudaya Kalavidaru, Kundapura at Ravindra Kalakshetra, a prestigious hall at Bangalore on Monday, 23 Jan 2012 at 7.00pm
The storyline was from Mahabharat, where Karna was treated as son of a fisherman, though he was son of Kunthi, from sun God. Karna was considered from low caste and does not get the post Sena Chief, due to which he has hatred towards the upper class community, Brahmins. The director and script writer uses this to insult brahmin community, which depicts the inferiority complex of the writer.
The play has several good points. Stage setting, lighting, music and costume were excellent.
Abhilasha acts as Kunthi and Anisha as Ekalavya.

Tuesday, 24 Jan 2012

BRAHMANA MAHA PARISHAT

2012-01-23T00:14:00.000-08:00

It's the association of shivalli smartha brahmins in Bangalore.....consisting of mostly hoteliers, the association acquired new site near nice road and annual function was held in the place. Speeches, felicitations, honouring special achievers, high achieving students awards , cultural program and of course buffet lunch. Vidwan K B Padmanabhan classical singer was the chief guest.
Mon 23 Jan 2012

GHATI SUBRAMANYA

2012-01-15T16:45:00.000-08:00

Sunday, Jan 8, 2012

Temple entrance

Ghati Sri Subramanya Temple is one of the most popular temples amongst the hundreds that are scattered in and around Bangalore. People flock in thousands to this temple and the presiding deity, Sri Subramanya.. It is located near Doddaballapur in Bangalore Rural district, about 60 km away from Bangalore city, serving as a perfect getaway for the weekend.
It is an ancient temple, built in Dravidian tradition, similar to many other temples around Bangalore and Mysore, including the Nanjundeshwara temple in Nanjangud, and the famous Chamundeswari temple atop the Chamundi hills. As it is a fairly old temple, with the presiding deities of both Lord Subramanya and Lord Lakshmi Narasimha, it attracts the devotees of both deities.

Purchasing vegetables on the way back

It was a day's trip with Rishi, Nalini's sister Vijaya, her daughter Supriya and her friend. Back by 5 pm.

MAKARA SAMKRANTHI

2012-01-15T16:19:00.000-08:00

Nalini at Birthi Mane after Rangoli Greetings

Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Capricorn to the Tropic of Cancer or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Pausha in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the Sun from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makar in Hindi, this occasion is named as Makar Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14 January every year.

Lahari with Samkranti offering

This is the Suggi or harvest festival for farmers of Karnataka. On this auspicious day, young females (kids & teenagers) wear new clothes to visit near and dear ones with a Sankranti offering in a plate, and exchange the same with other families. This ritual is called "Ellu Birodhu.Here the plate would normally contain "Ellu" (white sesame seeds) mixed with fried groundnuts, neatly cut dry coconut & fine cut bella. The mixture is called "Ellu-Bella" (ಎಳ್ಳು ಬೆಲ್ಲ). The plate will also contain sugar candy molds of various shapes (Sakkare Acchu, ಸಕ್ಕರೆ ಅಚ್ಚು) with a piece of sugarcane. There is a saying in Kannada "ellu bella thindu olle maathadi" which translates to 'eat the mixture of sesame seeds and jaggery and speak only good.' This festival signifies the harvest of the season, since sugarcane is predominant in these parts.
Sunday, Jan 15, 2012

SATYANARAYANA POOJA

2012-01-10T18:10:00.000-08:00

Jan 7, 2012, Saturday
Thanking the Almighty God for all the good things and to seek blessings for good health, happiness and prosperity, pooja was performed at home.

House was cleaned, flower decoration at the doors and pooja room was done. Breakfast and lunch was arranged by the caterer, Satynarayana Navuda. Priest, Krishnamoorthy Karanth was there to perform the pooja wich started at 10.30am
About 45 in number, relations, friends were there by lunch time. Maha mangalarathi was performed at 12.30 pm, after which theertha, prasada was given.

A sumptuous banana leaf lunch was arranged in the ground car garage. Sweets holige and badam burfi was special.
It was more of family get together.

LORD SRI SATYANARAYANA BLESS US ALL.......

RAVI HAPPY BIRTH DAY

2012-01-10T17:47:00.000-08:00

Jan 6, 2012
It was on Jan 6, 1982, when we were in Yola, Nigeria, in the Government Hospital, Ravi was born. Dr Mohapatra was surgeon attending and he was our family friend. But Nalini had to struggle for whole night with labour pain, and in the morning doctor performed sis operation and the boy was born.

It is now 30 years and went through so many years of good life at different places and finally, we are back in India at Bangalore, living in a new house. Ravi is now married to Vidya, and they live in Oxford and are here on holidays.
With a sense of happiness and joy, it was a day to celebrate, mom gave head oil massage, made some nice mysore paak, and we all went for a Kannada movie (1,2,3 Vishnuvardhana) in the afternoon and in the night, get together at 24th Main restaurant in J P Nagara.

Shubha, Raghu, Lahari, Prasads and Bidarahallis were there.
Cake cutting was there and some good food.

Happy Birth Day Ravian......

Reading paper

2012-01-05T18:51:00.001-08:00

Todays paper is quite interesting

PANCHAMUKHI

2012-01-04T22:50:00.000-08:00

Panchamukhi Anjaneya Swamy Temple is a highly revered shrine, situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, near Mantralaya. The highlight here is a five-faced idol of Lord Hanuman. According to legends, it is the spot where Sri Raghavendra Swamy performed penance for 12 years in a cave. As a result, Lord Panchamukhi – an incarnation of Lord Hanuman amalgamating within him the avatars of Varaha, Garuda, Anjaneya, Narasimha and Hayagreeva – appeared before him.
The journey from Mantralaya in an auto rikshaw was horrible, bone breaking as the road was bad. As the bridge was under construction, vehicles had to go through water level make shift bridge.
The sad part is that Government is hardly doing anything to improve roads or villages

MANTRALAYA

2012-01-04T22:36:00.000-08:00

Mantralaya houses the original brindavana of the great Vaishnava saint Guru Sri Raghavendra. Saint Raghavendra entered "Jeeva Samadhi" in the year 1671 at Mantralaya. Hundreds of devotees visit Mantralaya everyday.

Travel from Bangalore is made easier by introduction of Airavat volvo buses, comfortable and smooth. We traveled in the bus leaving at 9.30pm from majestic, got in at 10 pm from Hebbal. Reached Mantralaya as early as 5 am and checked in at Udupi hotel lodge, had bath, freshened up and went to temple at 7pm. The ambiance and the atmosphere was pleasing and soothing to mind and the body, visited the moola brindavan of Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy, thirtha prasadam and had sumptuous meal at the bhojan shaala. After resting for a while, left for Panchamukhi, distance of 20km from Mantralaya, on an autorikshaw. The journey took more than an hour, on a bad road. Returned by 6pm and again went to temple for seeing rathotsava, pallaki utsav and prasada,

Back to the hotel, got into the airawat bus leaving at 10pm. reached Hebbal at 4.30am and reached home by 5 am.
It was a good, convinient and comfortable visit to holy place.
Thursday, 5th Jan 2012

WELCOME 2012

2012-01-01T04:01:00.000-08:00

It was a family get-together for celebrating arrival NEW YEAR 2012.......
There was daughter Shubha, husband Raghu, their daughter Lahari,
Son Ravi and wife Vidya, on holidays from Oxford, UK
and son Rishi, and Suresh from Kengeri joined.....
There was music, fun, dance and nice food......
Cake cutting was at 12 midnight...... with lot of noise and music....
Venue was at our new house BIRTHI MANE at the second floor.....
and indeed..... it was the beginning for a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012....
MAY GOD BLESS ALL.....

SHIVAGANGA - VISIT

2011-12-30T06:58:00.000-08:00

Shivaganga betta in the mist

Climb up to Ola Kallu Thirtha

Shivaganga is only 70 km from the Garden city of Bangalore. Shivaganga in Karnataka is located in the hill top which is about 1368 meters high and lies on the national highway number 4.

The small town of Shivaganga in Karnataka is situated on the four-faced hill. The eastern part resembles the Nandi bull of Lord Shiva, the western part resembles Ganesha, the southern part resembles a linga and finally the northern part resembles King Cobra. Shivaganga in Karnataka is the home to two main shrines, Gavi Gangadhareshwara Cave Temple and Honnadevi Temple. You will be amazed to see the beautiful natural spring at Patalaganga on your way to the hilltop of Shivaganga.

Fetching for Thirtha on the top of betta

OLA KAL THIRTHA - is the cave temple at the top of the hill, where it is believed that shivalinga in the water, which is sacred.

The temple of Lord Shiva and waters found is said to be from river Ganga which was believed to be from holy waters of Ganga in Kashi. Shivaganga has a temple on the hill top where you will find a statue of Nandi. Thousands of devotees come to the temple of Shivaganga at Karnataka to pay their homage to the Lord.

The landscape of Shivaganga is very enchanting and you will have a panoramic view of the down town from the height of 1368 meters. There is a quadrangular Shivaganga Fort, located in the south western part of the old city of Shivaganga. The fort was built by the nayaka ruler, Sevappa Nayaka in the 16th century. The fort comprises of a square Shivaganga tank, Brihadishvara temple, Schwartz Church and public amusement park.

Thousands of devotee come to Shivaganga of Karnataka to take a holy dip in the tirtha or sacred water place and see the 100 pillars hall in Shivaganga.
Friday, 30 Dec 2011

VAIKUNTHA SAMARADHANE

2011-12-29T15:44:00.000-08:00

The rituals performed on the thirteenth day after a person dies is called VAIKUNTHA SAMARADHANE. It's the day when the departed soul reaches heavenly abode (Vaikuntha), after performing tenth day (Darmodhaka), eleventh day (Ekodista), twelveth day (Sapindikarana shradhdha)).

Fondly, everyone calls her as ACHI, who passed away on 13th Dec 2011, and the ritual of Vaikuntha Samaradhane was performed at Achimane, Garadimane, Varambally Village, on 25th Dec 2011. It is also the day when the relations, friends and well wishers call on the family and condole them.
About 400 people came to the house, had sumptuous lunch with holige, and other sweets.....
It was also an occasion for family get-together and plan for the future.
Children Ramesh, Suresh, Umesh and Dinesh were all taking care of relations and guests.

MAY HER SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE.
Thu 29 Dec 2011

NAMAKARANA

2011-12-19T08:14:00.000-08:00

Arrival a baby to the family calls for celebration, asking for gods blessing's to health and welfare of child, parents and the family. Relations and friends are invited for the naming ceremony of the child called NAMAKARANA.

Such was an occasion to the family of Nagaraja Aithal, parents of Kavitha Upadhya. The ceremony was in Krishna Vadiraja Mantapa, Chamarajapete, Bengaluru, followed by sumptuous lunch.

The child was named VITTALA
Mon, 19 Dec 2011

RISHI 22 - HBD

2011-12-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

Celebrating birthdays are very common, specially in the young age. It gives an occasion for a party, get-together and celebration. As one gets older, there is always a feeling of nostalgia and memories of the past birth days.

The celebration was at the new house, BIRTHI MANE, at 13A Cross, Bhuvaneshwarinagara, Hebbal, Bengaluru on 17th Dec. 2011 when Rishi turned 22 yrs. Lahari, Shubha and Raghu joined and had cutting cake, music and fun. Ravi & Vidya joined through video chat from UK......
There was food cooked at home, and it was nice time spent together.

HAPPY BIRTH DAY RISHIKANTH.......
Sun, 18th Dec 2011

ದಾಟು - ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್.ಬೈರಪ್ಪ

2011-12-17T16:33:00.000-08:00

The reader gets an impression that S L Bhyrappa tries establish the fact that there is always some super power, one can call it ALMIGHTY GOD, that controls the events in the universe. When people go against the tradition, culture, belief, calling themselves as progressives, unnatural behaviour of people take place, resulting in the destruction of property and living things.
The novel delicately touches upon the sensitivity of caste system and the related happening in rural India. When the system has been moving on for years together, some so called rational thinking people tries to go against the wind, events happen against the society.
The characters Satyabhama, Srinivasa, Mohandasa, Venkatesha, Meera, Bettayya, Melegiri Gowda are superbly interlinked and powerful in their own way.
S L Bhyrappa has the excellent skill of narrating the imaginary events beautifully.
Daatu (The Crossing Over) - Set predominantly in rural India, this gripping, passionate tale centres on Satyabhama, daughter of a Brahmin priest. When the young woman chooses to follow her own impulses rather than submit to rules of caste, which prevent her marrying the man she loves, she finds the path a cruel one. Packed with vivid descriptions of Indian life, this book, from one of India's most distinguished novelists, not only indicts an oppressive and unjust caste-system but offers a thrilling account of the voyage of self-discovery undertaken by one steadfast and courageous woman.
Sunday, 18 Dec 2011

"ACHI" ...... NO MORE

2011-12-15T15:15:00.000-08:00

ACHI

Everyone fondly calls her as "Achi"...... beloved name for mom, sis, aunty, grandma,....... as she was......
Smt. Vanajakshi, my eldest sister, passed away last Tuesday, 13th Dec. 2011, at Manipal Hospital after a brief illness. As I got the message late Tuesday night, immediately I set my journey to ooru, to participate in the funeral procedure. ...... reached Birthi home in the morning, went to Achimane in Garadimane, where achi lived independently for last several years. Her mortal remains were brought to the house for an hour and then later taken to Indrali, near Udupi for crematorium. Her body was placed on the wooden pyre and set fire, as per hindu tradition. After a couple of hours her body was in ashes and her memories only remained......
She was a very courageous lady, gone through very trying and difficult times, losing her husband when five children...... Ramesh, Suresh, Umesh, Satish and Dinesh.......were very young......when one of the boys, Satish died in the accident when he was 24 yrs.......brought up all children with good education.
All boys are well settled in Bangalore with their family......Though she had some health issues for last few years, she stayed alone in her house at Achimane.......and was very cordial and affectionate to anyone going to her house.......

Jayaram, Nalini, Achi

She had a good and peaceful life of 81 years, and the children took good care of her.....
May her soul REST IN PEACE......
Friday, 16 Dec 2011

SAD DEMISE OF NORONHA

2011-12-13T07:14:00.000-08:00

Mr.Neville De Noronha, Principal of Our Own High School, Dubai, with whom I worked for about six months before I was relocated to Bangalore in June 2010. The man I saw him as highly energetic, ambitious, enthusiastic and hard working.

Noronha at Somayaji's farewell

Noronha was in Bangalore last Tuesday for interviewing teachers. Surprisingly, he invited me and my wife to join him lunch the next day. As Nalini was busy, I only joined and spent good one hour, having lunch and talking about the school, his family, nostalgia and other things.
Unfortunately, he had massive heart attack the next day, admitted in the Fortis hospital in Bangalore. He relapsed into coma soon and after four days, i.e. Monday evening 12th Dec, at 5.30pm, when I went to the hospital for visit, he was as declared no more.
The event is unforgettable as I could see life is so fragile and uncertain......
My God rest his soul in perfect peace......
Tue, 13th Dec

HOUSE SHIFTING

2011-12-08T06:05:00.000-08:00

Ramesh packers and movers were booked for Sunday 4th Dec.2011 for shifting household items from Marthahalli to new house BIRTHIMANE at Bhuvaneshwarinagara, Hebbal. Six people from the movers came at 9 in the morning and started putting bedroom things, kitchen items and others items.
Fixed items like aqua guard water purifier, geizer, fancy light, swing, showcase etc were removed and loaded into the lorry. People were skilled and professionals and always found the short cut to minimize effort required.

The exercise was over by 4 pm.....left for the new house and reached by 5 pm.....
Next exercise was to unload and put the items in first and second floor..... Beds, showcase and other heavy stuff was skillfully lifted and put in the required place and re installed......Altogether some 45 cartons of house stuff..... brought to new house.....
Big exercise indeed.....
Tue 6 Feb 2011

PET LOVER

2011-11-30T15:39:00.000-08:00

Care and love for animals does not come naturally for all...... but for some, it's instinctive, inborn...... the affection shown by Nalini, is immense and very natural....... it can be seen in the behaviour of animals also.... may be it's cat, dog or rabbit.....

Birthi, Salekeri

HONGIRANA, near SAGARA

Sharjah Park, U A E

at Shivaganga betta

Thur, 01 Dec 2011

ANOTHER WEDDING

2011-11-30T14:51:00.000-08:00

It's Guruprasad-Hema's wedding at Premanand Convention Hall at West of Chord road at Bangalore. The boy is a distant relative of Nalini...... Lots of relations from native attended the wedding..... nostalgia of OORU is the earlier days......

had a sumptuous grand lunch...... call it MADUVE OOTA........with holige and some more sweets.....
Thur, Dec 01, 2011

HARSHA'S WEDDING

2011-11-23T15:33:00.000-08:00

WEDDING IN THE AFTERNOON

Harshavardhan, grandson of Baikadi Venkatakrishna Rao, lost his father when he was 8 yrs old and his mother, when he was 18 yrs. The boy with his sister, Hamsa were the neighbors back in the native village Birthi,Salikeri. He joined Bank to work after completing his MBA and settled well and is time to celebrate his wedding with Shwetha, a pretty software pro.
The wedding and the reception took place at Prasanna Kalyana Mantap, Jayanagara, Bangalore. Relatives, friends and well wishers came from far and near, joined the celebration. Sumathi and her daughter from Bombay, Shobha from Hongirana, Sagara, Gowri from Udupi, Abhilasha, Anisha from Birthi. It was just like family gathering, fun , get together, good food and recollecting memories......
In the evening reception with buffet dinner with number of items..... chat, dosa, pulav, gulab jamun, ice cream.......

RECEPTION IN THE EVENING

Thur, 24th Nov

SEEMANTHA - CELEBRATION

2011-11-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

Jayalakshmi, sister's daughter living with family in a newly built house in Mayagundi, near Udupi. Her daughter, Lavanya married to Manoj, some six years ago. She is pregnant now and the family celebrating with Sri Satyanarayana Pooja and grand lunch for more than 100 people, relatives and friends around.

SEEMANTHA - A would-be mother is blessed by all and wished her good luck for delivering the baby. Even in west when baby shower is celebrated it means 'showering the blessings to the mother-to-be' and wishing her luck.
Sun, 20 Nov

AAYAR KODA - TEMPLE SEVA

2011-11-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

The family traveled to Guddattu in a 15-seater tempo traveler to attend temple seva. A distance of 500km and a 10-hour journey from Bengaluru.

Near the well inside the temple

Aayar Koda Seva (which means 'Sahasrakumbabhisheka') is a special and unique seva performed at Guddattu Vinayaka Temple, Ayar Koda Seva starts with draining the water from the cave and then abhisheka with water is done till the water overflows from the cave, that is up to neck level of the Lord Ganapathi. This seva requires about thousand pots of water and hence Pooja is called 'Ayar Koda Seva'. Water in the pot lifted from inside the well and passed to the chain of people standing and then poured inside the cave. This is very popular seva and devotees will have to book their dates at least six months in advance.
Sat 19 nov

GUDDATTU - VINAYAKA TEMPLE

2011-11-21T15:12:00.000-08:00

Visited the temple over the weekend to attend seva offered by daughter Shubha Somayaji
Guddattu is located about 15 km from Kundapur in Udupi district. The Jaladhivasa Ganapathi (Vinayaka) Temple here is unique of its kind in India. This ancient temple is situated on the foot of a huge rock, which looks like a sleeping elephant. On both sides of the rock are surrounded by the forest and lush green paddy fields and the place is picturesque.

On top of temple's rock

The 'Swayambhu' Ganapathi (Ganapathi emerged on its own) is the main attraction of the temple located on the eastern part of this rock. Lord Ganapathi here sitting with his legs folded, trunk twisted towards sight, is sun in a sitting posture and looking towards south.
Guddattu Jaladhivasa Maha Ganapathi Temple is very ancient temple and no body knows when it came to existence. As per the legend, Lord Shiva advised Lord Ganapathi to sit in the water (Narasimha Theertha) here to get rid of the great burning sensation to Lord Ganapathi's skin after eating excess of honey.
The Idol of Lord Ganapathi (Vinayaka) is about 3 feet and is in black stone sculpture with little gap around it. The cave will always be kept filled with water which sinks the lord Ganapathi up to neck level. The lord is visible to the people through a hole which is located in front of lord Ganapathi. The temple of Lord Ganapathi here is renovated by attractive Mukhamantapa, Thirthamantapa, Hebbagilu and Pauli which is constructed here with granitic structure as per temple vaastu.
Sat, 19th Nov

VESHADA HULI

2011-11-07T03:39:00.000-08:00

A new experiment in theatre, it is based on a lesser- known edict, which portrays the society’s cruel face 500 years ago.

Dr M Byregowda, a historian and anthropologist, is the playwright. The edict was found in Jannenahalli in Gubbi taluk, Tumkur district.

The play directed by Krishnamurthy Kavathar portrays the cruelty of the ruling class and exposes how they wreaked havoc in the lives of their subjects, by acts such as kidnapping of brides.

Artists from the play "VESHADA HULI"

Today, we went to witness yet another drama VESHADA HULI at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bengaluru. It was 60-minute play by the artistes shown in the image above......dialogues, presentation was good.... but difficult to understand the concept.......
Monday, 7th Nov. 2011

REVOLUTION 2020 - CHETAN BHAGAT

2011-11-02T21:52:00.000-07:00

The latest novel by Chetan Bhagat is a disappointment to a certain extent. It made a good reading half way through...... but afterwards it completely lost its focus, direction and the goal. The thought process became totally confused, disconnected and cumbersome. ......could not make out connection with LOVE, CORRUPTION AND AMBITION....... However, Chetan's style of writing, narration of events, choice of words is excellent.....
Nov 3 2011

DEEPAVALI 2011

2011-10-28T15:31:00.000-07:00

DEEPAVALI...... Festival of lights celebrated throughout India in a big way...... crores of rupees are spent on crackers or patakhis......

it's time for families get-together..... sweets, good food and thanking God.... for keeping everyone happy, healthy and safe.......

It is celebrated on the before and next day of amavasya(No moon day) as NARAKA CHATURDASHI (before no-moon day) resembling Satyabhama's victory over Narakasura and as Balipadyami the first day of Kaarthika masa; inviting the greatest emperor of times Balichakravarthi to each and everybody's homes.

The entire house is cleaned and new clothes are purchased for the entire family which is followed by lighting of oil lamps around the house and bursting firecrackers. The tradition in kannada families is that all members gather together for the three days celebration. First day, after oil bath in early morning, with new clothes they'll start with bursting crackers, followed by lakshmi mahaapooje on amavaasye (no-moon day) and then on third day decorating the whole house and especially entrance with flowers and floor decoration to invite Bali to their homes; a special fort-entrance kind of thing is made on the entrances of every home which is made out of cow-dung(gOmaya) and sandalwood(siri-chandana) which both have a high divine reverence in kannada tradition. Also fire-camps are kindled on both naraka chaturdashi and balipadyami days of deepavali; where in respective community people's gathering is significant and huge firework bursting ceremony happens.

The celebration of Diwali is marked by the lighting of innumerable lamps in every courtyard and the bursting of crackers. Sweetmeals, new clothes and spirit is there as in other festivals. The time for rejoicing is mainly early morning and late night. These hours of darkness bordering the waking hours are preferred as lights and crackers are the highlights of the festivities and these need darkness to have their illuminating effect. Hence people rise early and go late to sleep.
Thursday, 27 Oct 2011

A RIDE IN NAMMA METRO

2011-10-23T17:18:00.000-07:00

It was only three days ago...... NAMMA METRO, BENGALURU...... was inaugurated on a high profile publicity...... a stretch of about 6.7 km from Byappanahalli to M G Road...... people were so excited..... something like a miracle....... crowd, crowd and crowd........people were frenzy, screaming and shouting...

So we decided to go for a ride...... from Indiranagar to MG Road and back....... ride was smooth with rush and the typical Indian crowd ...... rushing and pushing........ costing Rs 24 for a return trip..... finishing work of stations is not sparkling,elegant and fine...... however..... we are Indians.....
Sun, 23 Oct

VISIT OF A FAMILY FRIEND

2011-10-23T17:07:00.000-07:00

Manohar Rao, veteran from Dubai, who has been living and working there for last 30 years.... on a visit to Bangalore..... called the previous day...... that would like to visit us...... fine .... most welcome.... come for lunch.....

So he comes with his wife Geetha, daughters Sneha and Preethi and a friend's daughter Shwetha, traveling by train from Mysore, calls a friend to send his vehicle with driver..... the car AUDI Q7.....
all have sumptuous lunch....... chat..... and leaves back to Mysore.....The man runs an exchange business in Dubai...... DUBAI EXPRESS...... doing well..... God fearing person......
Sunday 23 Oct

DREAM HOUSE

2011-10-21T17:14:00.000-07:00

It's concept of HOUSE IN HOUSE or...... LIVE TOGETHER, LIVE DIFFERENTLY...... with multiple purpose....... how we manage to keep it or maintain it...... only time will tell........
We are yet to move..... and to settle...... apprehensions, hopes and criticisms, problems ...... are expected...... hope to manage and live happily.......

BIRTHI MANE

Saturday, 22 Oct, 2011

AYUDHA POOJA

2011-10-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

Traditionally it is customory to pray once in a year for the machines, vehicles and other instruments which are used........falls on the ninth day of Navratri Festival....... called AYUDHA POOJA......
It's also for thanking the almighty for using the items without much trouble, problems or hassles. and praying for good use of the same in the coming year.
Such an occasion was on 5th Oct......at Colosseo apartments..... offered pooja to the car and motorbike which are being used......

WEDDING ENGAGEMENT

2011-10-14T07:42:00.000-07:00

It was engagement of Prabhakar Hebbar's son..... a distant relative..... at Krishna Vadiraja mantapa at Bangalore...... went there in the evening on Sunday, 9th Oct..... wished engaged couple had nice tiffin.... and left....

GRUHA PRAVESHA

2011-10-11T17:28:00.000-07:00

Important and auspicious day, VIJAYADASHAMI, 6th Oct 2011..... the new house, named BIRTHI MANE....... after gana homa in the morning at 7 am...... and praying for Lord Vigneshwara.... Gruha pravesha function started at 8.20am...... after performing pooja at the main door, praying for peace, happiness, good health and prosperity, family and friends entered the house with various items..... with the house lady splashing rice and jagery placed on the door entrance.....and stepping in with right leg.......

and Tulasi Pooja be fore entering......

and traditionally, baby in a cradle while entering the new house.........

HOUSE WARMING FUNCTION

2011-10-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

It's two days function...... Wed, 5th evening and Thu, 6th Oct.... main celebration.....
First day evening pooja program started at 6.30p.m. with Raghavendra Thirthahalli being the main priest.... Vaastu Homa, for cleansing the premises, things used in building the house and for the well being of people staying in the house. This followed by vaastu bali, .... for protection of evil forces from all directions. Priest Ravish took charge of Sudarshana Homa, also for long life, good health, prosperity.

Lots of smoke was produced from two homas, which apparently cleansing the air, atmosphere and the whole building.

There were about 40 people for upahaara with rava idli, chatni, sweets, avalakki mosaru... etc....
Returned to Marthahalli by 11 pm.

CHIKKA TIRUPATHI

2011-10-10T17:27:00.000-07:00

Chikka Tirupati is located in Malur taluk of Kolar district and it is 40KMs from Bangalore.. The main attraction of Chikka Tirupati is Sri Prasanna Venkateshwara temple dedicated to lord Vishnu. The lord is standing with his consort Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. The right hand is in Varada hasta (the boon granting hand) and there are no separate sanidhi for Goddess Padmavati. The second unique feature is during the Rathotsava a seventy-feet tall wooden chariot is made every year.

It's just a half a day's trip from Bangalore...... the route Marthahalli to Varthur....... to Sarjapur and the 13 kms fro there on a good road.....
The temple ambiance is excellent.... people in large groups come there to celebrate weddings in the presence of Lord Sri Prasanna Venkatramana Swamy.......and receive blessings...... for happy marriage.....

The atmosphere is festive ....... lots of road side shops like Jaatre.......The temple run on a low profile....
Few services.......as shown in the photo.......

BIRTHI MANE

2011-10-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

After much deliberations, pondering, a name for the house was decided...... BIRTHI MANE....... a name goes back to roots, the native place where we affectionately call it as OORU........ place we grew, played, and brought up........nostalgia of younger days are always there...... hardworking parents..... not much of family income...... trying to make both ends meet within available resources...... happy and contended...... much values to family traditions...... etc.....etc......
A house built in the city of Bengalooru....... is appropriate to remind us of our native place......

NEW HOUSE INVITATION

2011-10-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

Traditionally, when a new house is constructed, relations, friends and well wishers are invited to the house warming function. It's two days celebrations, the night before when the ceremonies start with vastu homa, and sudarshana homa followed by vaastu bali
The invitation was sent to all relations, acquaintances, ...... some by personal visits, some by telephones and others by post.
The invitation also carries a route map, where people can easily locate the place and attend the function.

30 Sept 2011

GANESH POOJA

2011-09-02T16:06:00.000-07:00

The Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations are held all over India in a big way. It's community celebrations from the people for thanking Lord Ganesh for all good things happening. It's customary to pray Lord Ganesh before starting any auspicious function or event. In cities, every street establishes huge, huge idol of Lord Ganesh and kept for three, seven or nine days, with pooja, music, cultural program for entertainment.
First time in Colosseo Apartments in Marthahalli, Bengaluru, residents took initiative to celebrate Ganesh Pooja by establishing a Ganesh Idol in the parking area.

In the afternoon, pooja was performed with Mangalaarathi. Prasadam was distributed to all devotees. Lord Ganesha was kept till the evening with music and people coming for darshana and to receive prasada.
Evening 6.30, again pooja was performed in front of all devotees, with aarthi and pachakajjaya prasada. Devotees praising Lord Ganesha as GANAPATHI BAPPA MORIYA.....
Visarjane is the process of putting Ganesha idol in water. After the pooja, Ganesha idol was carried in procession, sound of Ghante, praising the Lord, praying, he brings peace, happiness and prosperity. The idol is eventually immersed in water in a drum.

GANAPATHI BAPPA MORIYA

Sarve Janah Sukhino Bhavanthu....
Sar, 3rd Sept

JAGGERY FROM SUGARCANE

2011-09-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

Mandya is known as SUGAR CITY and lots of farmers in the district grow sugar cane. The weather and the soil is quite conducive for growing the same. The Government encourages the farmers to grow more and establish agro-based rural industry of making jaggery (Bella).

One such place we visited on our way back from Melukote. The process is simple. The farm produce sugarcane is brought from the farm, crushed and sugarcane juice goes into a huge tank. This boiled in an oven, not using gas, but using waste sugar cane skin, after drying.

In the background, Sugar cane skin pile (Raashi)

A man removes dirt from the boiling juice and then the hot juice is poured into buckets, allowed to cool. When the juice solidifies, bucket is removed, giving you huge rock-like Jaggery.

Jaggery of 10 Kg each...

Friday 2nd Sept

TRIP TO MELUKOTE

2011-09-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

Read and saw some photos of Melukote temples, so decided to visit the place on Wednesday, 31 Aug, as it was holiday on account of Gouri Habba and Eid-Ul-Fitr, celebrations at the end of a month's fasting.
Melukote is about 140 km from Bangalore..... left from home at 8 am..... stopped over at LOKA RUCHI, Ramanagara, a nice food outlet with rural ambiance.Had nice kadubu idli, dosa etc.....

Then further a distance of 80 km, passing through Channa Patna, Maddur and took diversion after Mandya. Drive was through pleasant paddy fields, Sugarcane fields and villages, reached Melukote.

First was Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, at the heart of the city, the temple several thousand years, time immemorial from Treta Yuga..... Renovated and prosperd during the times of Vijayanagara Kings and Mysore Kings Raja Wadeyar, Chamaraja Wadeyars during 16th and 17th century.

Next was Yoga Narasimha Hills where Lord Yoga Narasimha is situated climbing up the steep hills of about 130 steps. It is exhausting and exhilarating when you reach the top. Nice ambiance, beautiful view and lot of Monkeys around.

Beautiful temple at the top of hills, LORD YOGA NARASIMHA SWAMY,

There also beautifully maintained lake called KALYANI PUSHKARINI. It is believed that the great sages Shuka, Ambareesha, Rukmangadha, Prahlada took bath is this sacred water and achieved divine accomplishments.

Thu, 2nd Sept

SHRI KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI

2011-08-21T16:20:00.000-07:00

Nostalgia of younger days...... on the day of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, eagerly waiting for unde, chakkuli, avalakki and paayasa........ my appa always used to delay finishing pooja..... and amma never allow us to touch anything before it is presented to Lord Shri Krishna....... who was born on midnight of today.....
Welcome the Lord at Midnight
It is only at midnight between the first and the second day that birth of Sri Krishna took place. The actual festivities begin during midnight. The celebration reaches its peak at midnight, with the birth of Lord Krishna, with lot of hymns, arti taking place and blowing of the Conch (shankh), rocking the cradle of Lord. The idol of lord is bathed with Panchamrit (A mixture of milk, ghee, oil, honey and Gangajal). The Panchamrit is later distributed as Prasad to the devotees along with other sweets. While some Fast on the first day and break it at midnight. The period coincides with rainy season.
So it was today....... celebrations with unde, chakkuli and paayasa......
Greetings on the occasion of Shri Krishna Janmaashtami........

ANTI-CORRUPTION RALLY

2011-08-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

It's at FREEDOM PARK in Bengalooru...... Gatherings of students, techies, young & old, families with children...... in support of Anna Hazare's movement for Jana Lokpal Bill...... Bill in parliament which will make the politicians shudder for their ill-gotten wealth, black money......
one message goes round like this.......Do you know what will happen if 1456 Lac Crore rupees comes back.....??.......India will be financially No.1........each district will get 60000 crores.....1 village will get 100 crores......no need to pay tax for 20 years...... petrol will be 25 Rs, Diesel 15 Rs, Milk 8 Rs (Petrol now 72 Rs per litre)....... 1500 Oxford like universities cane be built....... No need to electricity bill.....28000 km of rubber road like in Paris can made........2000 hospitals with all facilities free........ 95 crore people will have their own house........
Gandhian Anna Hazare is ordinary man who shot to fame at the age of 74 years....... anna syndrome has got the frenzy of young and old...... black money must come back..... corrupt people must be punished..
Government is not apparently willing to yield to pressure..... says parliament is supreme, where representatives of people have to decide......
Hazare is fasting along with scores of other people..... it's peoples's movement.....

Saturday, 20 Aug 2011

INDEPENDANCE DAY

2011-08-17T17:18:00.000-07:00

15th August..... the whole country is celebrating 65th independance day...... participated in the celebrations at Hongirana School of Excellence at Amtekoppa, Sagar District. I had the honour to be the chief guest at the function organized by children at the school auditorium ......first the guard of hnour, flag hoisting and the cultural program...... speeches, acrobatics, drama on freedom struggle, patriotic songs and couples from various parts of India..... Unity in diversity......

SAGAR TRIP : INDIA RE-DISCOVERED

2011-08-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

Sagar is district headquarters, a distance of about 380 km from Bangalore. The world famous Jog Galls is near Sagar. It's so amazing to see so many known and unknown places near Sagara, in a radius of
50 kms. Only when some one is keen to see for themselves, one realizes the history, rich heritage,and culture of India in the golden days of kings and rulers of the region.

It was Sunday,. We set out on a sight seeing trip in the Hogirana School bus, courtesy , Shobha Madam, Prncipal and CEO of the school, who also was resource person.
1. SIDDAPURA - Shamkara Mutt, established by Sringeri Swamiji some years ago, has Dhyana Mandira, a large hall for meditation and temples for worshiping.There is also Sasya Kashi, a garden opposite to Mutt, which contains Ayurvedic and medicinal plants.

DHYAANA MANDIRA

SASYA KAASHI

2.BHUVANAGIRI - on top of hills with Bhuvaneshwari as deity.
3. GOL BAAVI - at Biligi, built during Vijayanagara Urs empire. 60ft deep, believed to have tunnel and can walk down the steps and see the open air. It was slippery, contained water and people around said that there may be snakes.

GOL BAAVI

5. JAIN BASADI - built for Jain Theerthankaras, by the Kings, believed to be 800 years old, made by stones, contains lot of sculpture, carvings and shaashanas.. Now under the control of Central Government's archeology departments.

JAIN BASADI

SHAASANA

6. ITIGI - age old Rameshwara temple, built almost 600 years ago....
.

7. BILIGI CASHEW NUT FACTORY:- Srinivas Pai was in full enthusiasm to entertain and show us the places around, also organized lunch at his residence for all of us. His family was involved in taking care of us with humility. His grandchildren were equally excited about our teams visit. He took us to his cashew nut factory (Small scale industry), where few women break the cashew using small machines.

8. CHANDRAGUTTI RENUKAMBA TEMPLE.....
A temple built on top of a hill some centuries ago.... amidst huge rocks, There are more than 100 steps to climb up to reach the temple. Mostly devadasis worship Godess Renukamba for their well being.

9. GUDAVI - BIRD SANCTUARY
Another place, Gudavi, about 25 km distance, has bird sanctuary, a large protected area with thousands of birds of different varieties, in a lovely scenic area, also has viewers gallery at various points. Pathways, walk bridges and children's play area also in the premises. An hour or more can be spent watching the birds.

It was a well spent day...... didn't feel tired after so much walking, climbing....... Thanks to Shobha madam for taking initiative to show the places around......
Tue, August 16, 2011

ಆಂಚು - ಎಸ್. ಎಲ್. ಭೈರಪ್ಪ

2011-08-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

Anchu is a unique novel based on two characters: Dr. Amrutha, an educated woman, being deceived in life, takes out all her anger and frustration on the man, Somshekhara, an architect, who loves her with honest dedication. The novel concentrates on inner subtle psychological and emotional dynamics of the characters without perceivable external incidents and actions.
Dr Amrutha's suicidal tendencies and her attempts with revolver takes the reader to the edge and Somshekhar's extra-ordinary patience and tolerance is well narrated by the author.
Friday, 12 Aug 2011

ಸಾರ್ಥ - ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್. ಭೈರಪ್ಪ

2011-07-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

Saartha, which means Caravan. Through a caravan, the novel explores the whole of India of the 8th century A.D. covering the political, economical, artistic and spiritual life of the country. It uses some historical persons like Shankaracharya, Mandanamishra, Ubhaya Bharati and Kumarila Bhatta and institutions like Nalanda. It is a unique novel translated into Sanskrit and received by Sanskrit scholars like a work originally written in Sanskrit It is translated into Hindi and in English published by Oxford University Press,Chennai.
Naga Bhatta, joins the SAARTHA to reach Kaashi, holy place for higher learning of veda and hindu mythology. The story revolves around his studying Yoga, Dhyaana, Tantra, Drama, Acting and interacts lots of people, who are Pundits or scholars in Mathura, Nalanda, Gaya, Patalipura........ caught by muslim aggressors, tortured and eventually released......
The novel keeps you absorbed ...... wondering about things used to happen beyond any one's imagination......
Bhyrappa's ability to narrate events is awesome, interesting and educative........
Sat 30 July 2011

LAHARI'S BIRTH DAY PARTY

2011-07-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

Shubha-Raghu celebrated daughter Lahari's 5th Birth day at Hotel 1947 party hall at Banashankari at Bangalore. It was a grand function with more than 150 friends, children and parents.
It was a happy time for all children with games, magic show, tattoo, dance and fun with balloons. Lahari cut her favourite Tom and Gerry cake....... with everybody singing HAPPY BIRTH DAY.......
Boys and girls danced to their satisfaction to the latest fast songs and enjoyed.
Everyone enjoyed sumptuous lunch..... all children were given return gifts.

FOUNDER'S DAY AT DSI

2011-07-24T16:30:00.000-07:00

Dayananda Sagar, a visionary and founder of Dayanada Sagar Institutions in 1964. He was a cabinet minister when S Nijalingappa was Chief Minister of Karnataka. He acquired 29 acres of land near Banashankari, Shavige Malleshwara Hills, in the area now called Kumaraswamy Layout.
He started with an evening college, which became popular and other educational institutions grew as time passed on.
Now DSI campus has become one of the leading educational institutions in the state with all facilities.
24 July, every year celebrated as Founder's day at the campus, with staff more than 1500 compulsarily present. Dr Doreswamy, MLC and founder secretary of PESSE, was the chief guest gave a fitting tribute to Dayananda Sagar. One of the two son's of Dayanada Sagar, Dr. Premachandra Sagar, now the Vice Chairman and CEO of DSI, spoke at length about his ambitions, dreams and aspirations.
Abhinava Dance Company presented one hour cultural program with classical kathak dance sequences. The performances of artists were commendable.
Lunch was badly organized and food was not good.

Mon 25th July

ಮಂದ್ರ - ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್. ಭೈರಪ್ಪ

2011-07-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

The life and accomplishments of Pandit Mohanlal, pure vocalist is marvelously depicted by Dr S L Byrappa in his novel MANDRA written in 2002...... which makes an absorbing reading for several days........
However, human weakness, lust and greediness makes the life of an great artist miserable.....
Mandra depicts the world of North Indian classical music. Its locale is Bombay, Delhi, Gwalior, Banaras, Malva and California. A minor character in the novel asks" While enjoying a work of art you experience heaven. But you see hell, if you peep into the personal life of the artist"

It âs more than befitting that Dr. S L Bhyrappa has been awarded the Saraswati Samman this year.

Kannada writer S L Bhyrappa was chosen for the prestigious Saraswati Samman for his novel ‘Mandra’â¦ The jury which selected Bhyrappa was headed by former Chief Justice G B Patnaik.

After consideration of works published in 22 Indian languages during 2000-2009, the Chayan Parishad (jury) selected Mandra, a novel in Kannada by S L Bhyrappa for the 20th Samman.
Fri, 15 July

in

POOJA FUNCTION

2011-07-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

It was Saturday, 9th July....... at CHIGURU, Shubha's house at Chikkalasandra, Bangalore...... celebrations and prayers to Almighty in the form of HOMA and Sri Satyanarayana Pooja...... and then grand lunch for about 100 people....... mostly relations...... Ramakrishna Achar from Hebri, Uday from Munduje, Hriadaka came for function.......Doddappa's, Sadarams, Suresh's, Dineshkumars, Sridhar Bidarahalli's.......Shyla's, ...... Lunch on banana leaf.......

Wed, July 12

MEMORIES OF SIXTIES.....

2011-07-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

The occasion was wedding of Bhaskar Kedilaya's daughter...... at Pai Vista Convention hall near South End circle, Jayanagara, Bangalore......
It is just like younger days relations re-discovered...... many have retired from service, talking children working and having own houses in Bangalore...... Kedlaya Brothers from Halladi..... children of Jayakka, doddappa's daughter.....Nagaraj, Chandrashekar, Bhaskar, Sadashiva, Shankarnarayana....... then there was Satyanarayana Bhat, s/o Handadi Srinivasa Bhat, who used to have functions at our Birthi house in sixties...... Upanayana ceremony of Satyanarayana was performed at Birthi in 1964......
Then Paputti..... another daughter..... Radhakka's children, Manjunatha, Sunanda, Ashwini, Shashi...... all seeing after many many years......
Remembered going to dinner at Bhaskar Kedilaya's house at Delhi on 30 Oct 1984, the day Indira Gandhi was assassinated..... all old memories.....

Sunday, 10 July

DHARMASHREE

2011-07-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

Dharmashree is a novel written by Dr S.L. Bhyrappa in 1961, read it only recently...... almost after 50 years........ The theme is about the Hindu religion, its rigidity, how and why people gets converted to Christianity.... Western missionaries effort to convert people to Christianity, with money, help with jobs, medicine and lure them into conversion......
The novel is confused about Satyanarayana, a staunch hindu loyalist from young age....... well read about the insight of hindu ideology....... could not rationalize and implement the ideology in his own life...... his weak mind.....depicts cultural and spiritual conflicts of a young man, who is compelled to convert to Christianity to marry a Christian girl. The moment he accepts new religion he suffers alienation from his cultural identity............ and eventually realizes and regrets.......... and joins Arya Samaja.......???
Fri, 01 July

Dr. S. L. Bhyrappa

KARIYAJJANA KATHEGALU

2011-06-29T05:40:00.000-07:00

Another day of Drama at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bangalore....... part of CHOUTAYANA...... play entitled Kariyajjana Kathegalu.......directed by Krishnamoorthy Kavathoor...... mostly story of narration....... was difficult to understand the concept...... play was not attracting the attention and was dragging.....
However...... acting, stage setting, lighting...... were good...... though it was for only 80 minutes duration, we were waiting for it finish.....
Tue, 28 Jume

ROYAL MEENAKSHI MALL

2011-06-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

Bangalore is a hub of people from all states of India and abroad...... To witness this, you go to the newest mall in Bangalore along Banneraghatta Road......... you won't get place for parking on sundays...... no place to sit at food courts......
People are obssessed with new lifestle.......trendy dresses bought only from branded shops......... eat only in MacDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut or Subways......symbol of higher earning/buying capacity......... considering themselves as advanced....... feeling so sad...... for false prestige......
God save India and Indians.....

Sun, 26 June

MITTHABAILU YAMUNAKKA

2011-06-27T16:57:00.000-07:00

YAMUNAKKA WITH HER HENCHMEN

Today we witnessed an excellent presentation of Drama entitled Mitthabailu Yamunakka at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bangalore.It's story from D.K. Chouta, from coastal Karnataka, enacted by group called RANGA NIRANTARA.
Yamuna, a powerful landowner, arrogant, ambitious, proud woman from Mitthabailu has powerful backing of her community with lots of henchmen and goons, rules the area, with her own final word. She acquires the neighbouring land area, called Baarebailu, being cultivated by Thyampanna, another headstrong and egoistic man........ the mediation efforts by Gandhiman.....Gopala..... fails, the two groups end up in terrific fight killing many people from both sides.....
The story ends with Yamuna arrested by police, sent to jail, spends some years in jail........and returns as an old woman....... and dies with a melodrama.....
The powerful enacting of the play was simply mesmerising......acting, dialogue delivery, costumes, stage setting, lighting, background live music and singing (called Ranga Geethegalu)..... are all superb. The festival and local belief..... NEMA... presentation, ......the driver of a bus, not listening to Yamuna was roughed up....... story telling and the background dance and memories..... are some of the incidences in the drama ...... everlasting in the memoirs.........
Mon, 27 June 2011

NEMA..... calling the deity.....

Artists from the Play

VIVEK EXPRESS

2011-06-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

As a tribute to Swami Vivekananda, on his 150th birth anniversary, Indian Railways have organized mobile museum. Two compartments containing messages, posters, photos, pictures displayed nicely inside, started off from Kolkata, goes from place to place. It's in Bangalore for three days and we went to visit the place at Bangalore Contonment railway station.
It was worth the visit and effort by railways is commendable. Someone thought of spreading the messages of great saint SWAMI VIVEKANANDA....... who spread the messages of hinduism to western world at end of last century........
Mon. 20 June

DEATH OF COUSIN BROTHER

2011-06-08T05:31:00.000-07:00

Ramakrishna Somayaji, childhood relation and close friend, passed away on 25th May 2011 at Bangalore after brief illness....... visited the family a week ago at his residence, spoke about his ambitions, aspirations and plans..... even wanted death anniversary of his mother celebrated on 26th June, by traditional way with rituals.......
Hearing the news, morning went to the apartment, where his body was kept in a cool box, finished the rituals and the it was taken to Chamarajpete and was cremated.
Post funeral rituals were held in Gudde Mane, his original house near Brahmavara..... attended the functions on 12th and 13th day .... called SAPINDIKARANA and SHRAVANARADHANE, Vaikunta Samaradhane.... attended as a senior member of the family......
May his Soul rest in perfect peace......
Wed, June 8

WEDDING RECEPTION.... SURANJAN

2011-05-24T16:29:00.000-07:00

It was rainy evening in Bangalore.... after much deliberation left for the reception venue at Makkala Koota area at Chamaraajpet, Bangalore.... disgusting traffic..... chiri piri rain...... eventually reached venue after two hours on the road......
The usual wishings..... Best wishes..... HAPPY MARRIED LIFE...... God's Blessings......
Dinner was good..... RUMALI ROTI..... preparation on the spot with the skill of throwing roti on air.....and then heating it.......

Rumali Roti up in the air....

Tue, 24 May

CLUB ACTIVITIES

2011-05-21T17:26:00.000-07:00

Father and son

It's one of the Country Club activities...... a game of squash..... fast, sweating and good exercise game..... 20 minutes of good game is enough for fitness workout......

Other activities are..... Gym workouts, Snooker, Table Tennis, Carom, and Swimming.....

SRIKANTH'S REMEMBRANCE DAY

2011-05-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

Srikanth, brother's son passed away at the age of 46 years in 2004. a talented, egoistic individual. But very much disturbed in life with so much misconceptions and beliefs. Abhilasha, a gentle and also talented wife and two children..... Anish and Shama.....
In memory of late husband, Abhilasha organizes SANGEETHA MAALIKE, a music program, giving opportunity for young and upcoming artists.
Shruthi Bode and her team presented an excellent vocal music with accompaniment of harmonium and tabla. Singing was in UTTARADI style..... and she also sang some melodious bhajans.
There was also a presentation of RANGA GEETHEGALU by Samudaya Kundapura.

The venue was outside Our Birthi House....... under the natural shades of trees. It was an well organized and presented program.

Sat, May 7,

ANOTHER YAKSHAGANA

2011-04-18T16:13:00.000-07:00

It's at ADA Ranga Mandira, Bengaluru, where Artist Kuppatte Muttappa Gowda was honoured for his long years of his interest and contributions to the coastal art "YAKSHAGANA".......
Also there was an hour and half hours of Yakshagana program with a story entitled "RAJA RUDRAKOPA", enacted by celebrity artist Chittani Ramachandra Heggade, who is famous for his acting, dance and dialouges. Sri Kasaragodu Shridhar Bhat, acting as Haasyagara, was immenesly entertaining.......
The story line is simple...... The King falls in love with a beautiful lady and decides he has to marry her at any cost and sends a messenger in the form of an old lady........she (acted as haasyagaara) with all humorous dialogue. dance and expressions, story telling....... brings the lady Chitrakshi to the palace of the King...... enacts interesting, passionate and sensuous moments........ and they fall in love...... marries......
Sun 17 April

RAJA RUDRAKOPA AND CHITRAKSHI

RAVINDRA KALAKSHETRA, BENGALURU

2011-04-18T15:53:00.000-07:00

It's a prestigious venue for any cultural program, an award function, drama,,,,, etc..... It's in the centre of Bengaluru downtown, hub of activities. Invariably, some function or programs are always happening at the venue. ... At the rear of the building, there is also an open air auditorium called BAYALU RANGAMANDIRA. Lots of people come watch the program of their interest.
Upcoming programs are displayed on huge posters outside the building.
Sun 17 April

YUGADI - SOURAMANA

2011-04-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

Yugadi at home was observed on 15th April...... with mom keeping KANI on previous night and we all saw our faces in the mirror early in the morning...... and PAAYASA for celebrating the festival.

Following the relative position of the sun in relation to the movement of the earth is called Souramana. There are 27 stars on the orbit of the Sun and the Moon. The time taken for the movement in the orbit of the Sun and the Moon to cover the distance of two and a half stars is taken as on Rashi. accordingly there are twelve Rashi’s and the first one is Mesha.

The sun takes roughly thirteen days to cover the distance of one star. The star on which the sun is seen is called the Mahanakshatra. The sun takes 30 or 31 days to cover one Rashi. At the end of it the Sun crosses over to another star. That point of crossing is called Sankramana. In this way the sun takes 365.25 days to cover these twelve rashis. according to the solar way of calculation of the Sun’s movement (in relation to the earth’s position), there are 365.25 days in a year. The new year begins on the point when the sun cross the star Revathi to Ashwini, and the next day is considered the New Years

Observing Soura Yugadi :

Seeing auspicious things. (Kani)
Taking oilbath
Wearing new clothes.
Reading the panchanga and phalashravna
Performing pooja and offering Payasam to God

On the previous night (on the night of Samkranthi) it the custom to place before the idol of god, rice, coconuts fruits, the new panchaga, (almanac), Kumkum and some articles of jewelery on a brass or silver plate with a mirror on it. It is called Kani.

People get up early at deem on the new years day, after morning ablutions, they go to the pooja room and look at the things place on the plate and see their faces in the mirror. Then put a kumkum tilakam on their foreheads and take the blessings of mother, father, and other elders at home.

After normal bath, people put on new clothes and either read or listen to the special features of the year specified in the panchanga. Then perform pooja offering payasam to the lord and have meals with family members. It is a custom to use the new products of the year such as cashew, sweet gourd, potherb, cucumber and others.

Fri, 15th April

KANI

ODISSI DANCE PROGRAM

2011-04-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

It's in ADA Ranga Mandir, Bangalore..... An Odissi dance school paying tribute to Great Odissi Guru, Late Kelucharan Mohapatra....... SAMSARANA........

An hour and half odissi dance program with different presentation by son-disciple-guru Ratikant Mohapatra......with pieces like Saaveri-Pallavi, Jatayu Moksh, etc etc....

Odissi is one of the famous classical Indian dances from Orissa state. The history of Odissi dance is almost two thousand years old. Odissi is a highly inspired, passionate, ecstatic and sensuous form of dance. Like most of the South Indian classical dances of India Odissi too had its origin in the Devadasitradition. The state of Orissa has a great cultural history. The rulers of this region built magnificent temples, which became the center of art and culture. It was around these temples that Odissi, one of India's scintillating dance-forms was born, nurtured and nourished.
In its present form Odissi is a well established and codified classical dance form of India. Odissi is considered a dance of love, joy and intense passion, pure, divine and human.

Thur, 07 April

JATAAYU MOKSH

ARYA BHATTA AWARD

2011-04-05T00:31:00.000-07:00

Aryabhatta is a big Cultural organization in Bangalore. Every year they give award to people who distinguished themseleves in various fields....... like music, film, social service, education, business etc etc...

There were more than 50 people who got the annual international award..... A friend, well wisher and nice gentleman from Dubai was recipient of the award ...... he is an entrepreanuer....... donor and sponsor for many of the social organization...... he is Satish Venkatraman from Udupi side.......

The award function was held in the prestigious RAVINDRA KALAKSHETRA at central Bangalore....... and was well organized...... first was some cultural program...... recipients were called on the stage in an orderly manner and seated on the dias...... each person was one at a time ..... given a medal, shawl, and framed memento..... the minister for higher education, Dr V S Acharya, Mayor of Lamborth, UK, Dr Neeraj Patil, Kannadiga,...... and two others for giving away the awards......

As it was on the day of World Cup final match between India & Sri Lanka, we returned home quickly.....

Sat, 02 April

YAKSHAGANA AT BANGALORE

2011-03-27T23:35:00.000-07:00

It was through the daily newspaper came to know that there will be felicitations to the famous NEBBURU NARAYANA HEGGADE (Bhagavatar) at ADA Kalamandira, Bangalore.
We reached there at 4.30 p.m. and searched for the place and found it opposite to Ravindra Kalakshetra.....
Seminar (Ghosti) was going on with people talking high about Nebburu...... Critic Umakanth Bhat notably special.....The famous Bhagavatar in the profession for last 50years and was very creative singer, artist.....
He was honoured with Rs 1 lakh cash and memento, shawl etc......
At 7.30p.m....... Yakshagana started with KAARTHI VEERYA as the story...... with heavy costume, dance, story telling and acting, with entertainment from the HAASYAGAARA character...... as the story from Ramayana goes....... Kaarthi Veerya born with no arms..... and with great tapass..... acquires 1000 arms and becomes very strong....... and defeats proud Ravaneshwara and keeps him in prison for a long time.......
Good performance...... just for two hours...... good singing..... people were from IDAGUNJI YAKSHAGANA MELA...... back home by 10 pm......
Sun 26 March

ANIL WEDDING ENGAGEMENT

2011-03-21T16:30:00.000-07:00

We had been missing few days....... as nothing much was happening.....
A distant relation was getting engaged..... we were invited...... some Kalyana Mantapa in Sajjana Rao Circle in V V Puram, Bangalore...... in the afternoon.....
Reached there at 4 pm...... not much of ceremony..... it was more of get-together and a social gathering......
Had a heavy tiffin...... call it high tea...... with lot of items..... kadubu, bisi bele bath, shemige, samosa, gulab jamun, another sweet, tea, ice cream...... and some more......
Back to Marthahalli after visit to Shubha's house......

Sun, March 20

VIDURASHWATHA AND LEPAKSHI

2011-03-14T00:15:00.000-07:00

It was Sunday...... we decided to go to nearby Andhra Pradesh...... to see historic places and temples.....
VIDURASHWATHA.......

Ashwatha Tree

It's about 120km from Bangalore on the way to Hyderabad...... reached up to Chikkaballapura, Gouri Bidanur and proceeded to a small place, about 8Km from there to a village Vidurashwatha, with not much of basic facilities..... place with lot of Ashwatha and neem trees......

Nagana Kallu

a small temple with large compound with thousands of serpent stones (nagana kallu)...... placed in by devotees...... who believed that their family will be blessed with children..... people were worshiping individually placed stones and quite few devotees sitting and offering prayers..... It's believed that Ashwtha is a male tree and Neem is female tree and there are occasions to celebrate the wedding between these two trees........ much required oxygen given out by these trees is very good for humans and can cause physiological changes in the body for better health......
After spending for an hour, we proceeded to Lepakshi, a distance of about 25 km via Hindupur........
LEPAKSHI......

Paintings on the ceiling....

This temple cum monument was built in the middle of 16th century by Vijayanagara dynasty King Achutaraya.
It was due to Viroopanna, architect ..... high placed official in the Kingdom.....planned and built the beautiful sculptures.... the monument is on KOORMAGIRI STONE BETTA (hill)......built without any foundation..... solidly on stone.......there is huge seven headed serpent stone (Nagalinga)...... which can be seen from a Nandi which is at a quite a distance....... The monument is protected by archeological department of Government of India......... stone sculptures on huge pillars are simply magnificiant....... each pillar has a different design, architecture, .... story to tell...... they were really talented and genius shilpis..... saree manufacturers copy the designs made some six centuries ago......

Seven headed Naaga Linga

the incomplete Parvathi-Parameshwara Kalyana Mantap...... stands today as a testimony of the misunderstanding between the King and the Shilpi (Architect) Viroopanna......

15 foot one-stone Nandi

Hindu culture, heritage, architecture and history will be more appreciated by anyone who visit these places.......
On our return, drove back a distance of 20km to reach NH7 highway..... and another 102 km on the highway to Bangalooru........comfortably reached home by 6pm......
Sun, 14 March

EARTH QUAKE & TSUNAMI IN JAPAN

2011-03-12T15:26:00.000-08:00

So sad...... imagine some one sitting in the house, driving a car, travelling in a train....... suddenly everything.... washes away..... hardly few will know what happened......God's making........?? fate playing its numbers........?? or nature at its fury........??All said and done....... whatever advancement in science and technology,,,,,,,, and what not...... there is some super power that controls...... what's happening and what will happen.....Every religion calls it ....... GOD......??May the souls of thousands of people who lost their lives....... rest in perfect peace....... and the survivors get the strength, energy and will power to move forward........

Fri, 11 March

RELIGIOUS CONVERSION - SEMINAR

2011-03-11T16:13:00.000-08:00

It is in the daily newspaper one morning I saw...... a seminar on Religious Conversion - a seminar on its prevention and ways to contain the menace....... distinguished people will be speaking on the issue....
It was at Yavanika hall.... on Nripatunga Road, Bangalore at 10 am..... We managed to find the place though I was not sure....... almost 250 people were there..... when we reached, it was after 10.30pm.... program had started.......

Dr S L Bairappa speaking...

The function was organized by...... VARTHAMAN, group......Dr. S L Bairappa, leading novelist & researcher, Dr Chidanandamoorthy, a scholar,....one young Swamiji from a local Mutt, Dr Rajaram, another scholar, and also a lady, Dr Mangala Shridhar were the main speakers.......one Mr Danny Parreira, a young man from a rural area was impressive with his thoughts on conversion...... declared himself as "Hindu Christa"......

Dr Chidananda Moorthy.....

Some spoke that it is politically motivated..... ... a business..... entrepreneurship.... with lot of foreign funds flowing in...... poor and low cast people promised money and better life...... but it is happening in a large scale, specially in rural areas...... people are falling prey to missionaries..... a very sad situation due to our political system.... since political parties would take advantage of it..... call it "Vote Bank Politics".......
However..... effective action plan is very difficult...... one can only cause awareness.... reduce the levels in the hindu caste system..... give equal respect and recognition to all castes of people, etc etc....
Dr S L Bairappa wrote about the issue in his novel "Dharmashri" in 1959.....almost 50 years ago..... but the problem has aggravated become more complicated......

Audience.....

After a buffet lunch with bisi bele bath, mosaranna..... drove back home for a siesta......
Fri, 11 March

ANOTHER NAMING CEREMONY (NAAMAKARANA)

2011-03-09T16:57:00.000-08:00

They were family friends from Sharjah...... Soumya, her name...... her in-laws were also there for a visit..... so we used to visit...... their family re-located to Bangalore in March 2010 and they were in contact.....
It was celebration of arrival of new boy in the family...... invited for the ceremony at Madhwa Sangha at Chamrajpet, Bangalore...... The place, we were able to get without much effort...... we just happened to see it on the way......
Had nice lunch.......left from there to Kengeri..... spent some time for Hyundai Free Car Clinic on Mysore road.......spent some time at Sandhya's house, with doddappa...... visited shubha on the way......
back to Marthahalli.... 11p.m.
Wed, 09 March

LIVE MUSIC PROGRAM

2011-03-05T16:49:00.000-08:00

It is....... after a long time that we were attending a live music program...... first in Bangalore...... in Chowdiah Memorial Hall at Malleshwaram.......... it was quite mesmerizing classical presentation of violin, sarangi, mridungam, tabla, piano and kanjira.......
The program was organized by Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, daughter, disciple of Legend violinist, composer, Lalgudi Jayaraman....... as ARPANAM ...... tribute to GURU......
Started on time ..... with lot of classical music lovers...... mostly elderly from Tamilnadu..... obviously, Bangalore is home for them............ with the presentation of flute ensemble by a group of flutists from GOKULUM school..... low, pleasing and melodious.......
then..... half an hour instrumental music program of Lalgudi Viji on Violin, Murad Ali on Sarangi, Arun Prakash on Mridungum, Praveen Rao on tabla....... was an excellent presentation, blend, fusion and back-up....... simply superb...... though I can not elaborate on the intricasies of pieces presented..... called THILLANA......
Short stage program follows..... for release of CD..... music biggies on stage...... Lalgudi Jayaraman, T V Gopalakrishnan, and Lalgudi Viji....... and Shri Harshananda Swamiji from Ramakrishna Mutt......for blessings....and Dr Suma Sudheendra.... president of Chowdiah Memorial..... for a short speech....
then the Vocal concert follows..... with Lalgudu Viji again, accompanied by sarangi, piano, tabla, mridungum and kanjira...... good voice and melodious singing........classical,,,,,,
Then,,,,,, half hour dance tribute by Nirupama, Rajendra and the group from Abhinava Dance company...... was really enchanting, refreshing..... steps, expressions, movements, stage set up, lighting..... excellent.....
It was an evening well spent...... drove back home......

Sat, 05 Mar

BACK TO BANGALORE

2011-02-25T16:55:00.000-08:00

It's amazing.......memorable....... we spent more than 22 days in ooru (native place)...... and almost everyday attending functions and having grand lunch (OOTA)....... culture, tradition,...... whatever one say...... there is value, meaning...... at the center of all events and celebration, there is social gathering, network, and ....... get to know how everyone is doing...... spending money depends on one's interest, ability and willingness.....
However...... it was time well spent...... recollecting nostalgia..... making up for the years not present in ooru...
Driving back to Bangalore..... a distance of 480 km...... car loaded with personal items...... and people..... me, mom, rishi, nagaveni and kusuma from hebri...... started off from Birthi at 7.30 am, after the morning rituals.... reached Hebri, had second breakfast .... left from there at 9.15am..... after saying bye to all people there...... passing through ghat section, Agumbe...... reached shimoga..... visited Prema, native from Birthi....... reached Chitradurga at 2.30pm...... lunch at Upadhya refreshments..... and then enter NH4 super highway...... reached outskirts of Bangalore around 6pm...... submerged in traffic...... reached shubha's house around 7pm.....
reached Marthahalli home around 9pm...... all's well....safely arrived...... Thank God........

IMAGES ON THE WAY
AGUMBE

SAKRE BAILU

Fri, 25 Feb

DR. KOTA SHIVARAMA KARANTH RESEARCH CENTRE

2011-02-24T14:37:00.000-08:00

Dr. Kota Shivarama Karanth, a great personality, a legend in his time, Jnana Peetha Prashashti Award winner, lived for 95 years, passed away on Dec 10, 1997. He lived in Saligrama, Udupi District, for last four years of his life at the residence of Ms. Malini Mallya. an ardent fan of Dr. Karanth.

Now Ms Mallya's two storied house has become a exhibition centre for display of Karnth's works, photos, and Yakshagana Centre, and an auditorium in the second floor for small functions.

First two floors have large number of displays of books, photos, Karanth's legendry literary works, his awards, honorariums, his art work and his personal items used during his live period.

Ms Malini Mallya is very possessive about the items and does lot of research on Dr. Karanth.......

Her effort to keep DR KARANTH ALIVE is very very commendable.....

Wed, 23 Feb

UPANAYANA - ARUNA

2011-02-23T14:58:00.000-08:00

Arunachala....... son of Nalini brother Sathisha......

Event........... ....Upanayana or Brahmodesham.......

Venue..... .... ... Sri Puttige Mutt, Udupi

Date, Time....... Wednesday, 23 Feb 2011, 9.20am

Close relations arrive as early as 7 am with the performing priest (Purohit) and rituals begin......Ganapathi Pooje, Navagraha Pooje..... Chavala (hair cutting)...... bath..... breakfast......

Mother's parents with their relations arrive in a procession (Dibbana)..... and are welcomed.....

Boy is made to stand on a rice spread on the floor....... covered with with a thin sheet of cloth..... Janivara is placed outside the cloth and the cloth removed...... boy attains the status of brahmachari......

then the other formalities of GAYATHRI MANTHROPADESHA........... giving gifts, presents...... and aarthi.... all these time, saxofone party playing music......

As an entertainment...... dance presentation by Supriya Bhat..... Vijaya's daughter..... for half hour.....

Grand lunch follows..... holige, laadu...... and a take away steel box with sweets......

back home by 2.30pm for a good siesta.....

CUTTING VEGETABLES

2011-02-22T15:42:00.000-08:00

Those days...... when a function or an event to take place...... normally in the houses........ close relations from far and near arrive on the previous day of the event...... the house is abuzz with activities..... decorating, cleaning, arranging banana leaves, arranging, etc etc....... people are in celebration mood...... followed by dinner.....
One such activity is prayers for almighty for function to go smoothly and cutting vegetables for next day's grand lunch...... for large number of guests arriving......
Such was the occasion.... these days.......function not in the houses..... but in the celebration halls...... Nalini brother Satisha's son is going to be initiated as BRAHMACHARI,,, at a function called BRAHMOPADESHAM,.... the next day at Puttige Mutt, Udupi....... participated in CUTTING VEGETABLES...... it's like inauguration of the event........had dinner and returned to Birthi......
Earlier in the afternoon.....attended CHANDIKA HOMA and grand lunch at Vasudeva Achar, Hebri...... Visited Aroor Srdhar (Bombay) at Naturopathy Centre at Pareeka, near Manipal...... and a visit to Savithris at Kinni Moolky, near Udupi......

UDUPI UTSAV

2011-02-22T15:12:00.000-08:00

GOLDEN CHARIOT

Around 8 pm........Car street, Udupi was not very crowded...... three chariots are being pulled by ropes round the street ..... by devotees......Golden Chariot, Navartna chariot and a huge chariot called BRAHMA RATHA...... it's really mesmerizing scene...... even the pontiff of Krishna Mutt, Shiroor Lakshmeevara Thirtha Swamiji....... leading the devotees..... in chanting..... GOVINDAA...... GOPALAA..... big procession with band, music, crackers, burning cloth dipped in oil,,,,,,,,, eventually the deity is taken into Krishna Mutt...... with pooja and Mangalarathi.....
Tue, 22nd Feb

BRAHMOPADESHAM

2011-02-21T16:08:00.000-08:00

Brahmin males have to undergo Brahmopadesham when they turn around ten years old, to initiate them into Vedic studies. The key ritual during the Upanayana is that of putting a Janivaara or sacred thread across the left shoulder of the boy. The Janivaara consists of three threads made of cotton. The boy, once initiated, is called a Brahmachari or twice born and is expected to perform japa or sandhyavandana..

Another relation is celebrating the boy coming to age of 10 years...... celebration to initiate the boy to be BRAHMACHARI........ the family spends lots of money to express their happiness and joy with their family, relations and friends.......
The grand function was in Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple, Brahmavara..... followed by grand lunch and gift....

After lunch...... back home and nice siesta.......
Evening to Manipal, visit to Vishala Keshav Bhat....... dinner at Vijaya at Kadiyali.... and back to Birthi......
Mon 21 Feb

NAMING CEREMONY (NAAMAKARANA)

2011-02-21T15:46:00.000-08:00

It's another function to celebrate the arrival of newborn and a get-together for relations and friends..... Ganesha Adiga, Classmate of Ravi from UKG days...... celebrating the arrival of their baby boy...... named ANSH.....
The function was in his in-law's house at Ambalpady, Udupi......
Grand lunch....... back home and good siesta......

Sun, 20 Feb

DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN

2011-02-20T17:36:00.000-08:00

He was a distinguished person in the locality, society...... a humble, understanding, simple person..... Lions Club active member....... member, chairman of so many societies and trusts......
He is Jagajivan Das Shetty, age 65 years ....... Chairman of Charmakki Narayana Shetty Lion's Eye Hospital at Saligrama...
Happened to meet him when I took Dodda and Nagaveni for Cataract eye surgery..... he very much remembered our younger days and my elder brother B P Somayaji...... sat with him in the hospital entrance and spoke for quite sometime......
Fate was so cruel in taking his life in a tragic road accident.....on 18th Feb..... just on his way back from Saligrama to Maabukala...... saw him resting in peace.....
My Almighty God rest his soul in perfect peace....
Mon 21st Feb

VISIT TO TEMPLES

2011-02-20T08:57:00.000-08:00

DHARMASTHALA
Set off from home around 9am...... drove a distance of about 130km.......passing through Karkala, Moodabidri, Belthangady, Ujire...... to reach Dharmasthala at 12 noon..... seat of Manjunatha Swamy and place of Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari....... after darshanam at the temple, waited for community lunch on banana leaf....... An elephant with mahout waiting outside...... either feeding its food or waiting for visitors...... a small amount given to it...... would make its trunk to place on the head of persons......a form of blessings.....people believe........ Also visited Gommateshwara on the hills......

SOUTHADKA
A small place...... distance of 25km from Dharmasthala...... a Maha Ganapathy temple in the open...... no roof over the whole temple ......surrounded by trees....What happens during rainy days?..... they say....... pooja formalities still take place..... a very sublime and beautiful ambiance.......... spent some time sitting in shades of trees...... lots of devotees present temple Ghante (Bell).......

KUKKE SUBRAMANYA
Reached another famous place in the foothills of western ghats, near Kumara Pravatha at 4.30p.m...... is the temple called Kukke Subramanya with LORD SUBRAMANYA as deity...... has old and also new temples..... a serene, calm, clean temple premises...... with importance of serpent God...... lots of people visit the place with the belief that their hardships would be eased and life will be more happier.....

Left the place at 6.30pm and drove back a distance of 175km via Mangalore to Birthi and reached at 11pm
Sat, 19 Feb

A DAY AT GARADI MANE

2011-02-19T17:05:00.000-08:00

After watching Dakke Bali at Salekeri for a while, it was time go to Garadi Mane, a small group of houses by surname Varamballi...... temple called GARADI...... nearby, about a km from Birthi......
Afternoon with CHANDIKA YAAGA with grand lunch inside Garadi.....
Evening was time for Dakke Bali again in Garadi...... a small number of audience.....Darshana Paatri (possessed) and Ardhanari (Vaidya), singing and dancing around the MANDALA for an hour......

Back to Birthi by 10pm....
Fri 18 Feb

SALEKERI JAATRE

2011-02-18T16:21:00.000-08:00

The second day of Salekeri Jaatre (Festival) has more activities...... More people attend the temple to worship and pray to deity...... DURGAPARAMESHWARI,......... VEERABHADRA......... and then entertaining themselves and the family with purchases, eatables...... though there is free lunch at the temple......
DAKKE BALI......

It is a rare place of Shakti worship, which has retained the age-old custom and practices, which trace their origin back to the Vedic Ages.
A family by name Vaidya, of Udupi District are mainly involved in the performance of Dakke Bali. Dakke is an instrument, which is played by vaidyaas as a hereditary art. Men dress up in a manner to symbolize Ardhanaari (half man & half woman). It is also said that they perform as Naaga Kannike. The role of Ardhanaari / naaga kannike is usually played by senior vaidyaas with the dakke instrument made of leather and bronze metal. This is played by the Vaidyaas in their hands, to invoke the spirits. They initially place the dakke in the Holy Place, pray and then play upon until the DARSHANA PAATRI of the place get possessed. With this possession they move around spherically during the worship. This is known as Dakke Bali.
RATHA UTSAV......

The deity is carried now in a RATHA......a decorated high wooden cart with four wheels, pulled by rope by people....... for a distance of about a km through the main street of Salekeri with pomp and pageantry ....... dance, music, acrobats, singing........and on the return people offer AARTHI........
Later in the night ...... YAKSHAGANA ...for entertainment..... the whole night dance ballet...... depicting a story from Mahabharatha,,,,,,
Fri, 18 Feb

SALEKERI GENDA FESTIVAL

2011-02-17T17:38:00.000-08:00

The image shows the decorated part of the Salekeri Temple....... all set for the annual festival.... lots of shops around for people to buy all kinds of stuff........ wanted or unwanted.......
After worshiping at the temple, the deity is carried in a PALLAKI....a wooden carrier, carried by two men on shoulder,....... in a procession with all paraphernelia to a distance of 1km to place called BADA SALEKERI.....followed by the temple priest, local higher ups in the society strata....... somayajis, varamballi's', bunts, shettigars.......... whatever people talk about caste, society...... the divide exists and the people accept it.........
After the pooja, seva from different communities......songs, keerthane, panch vadya, chande, dolu, sexafone, band set, dance performers, acrobats,....... and some more..... the procession leaves back and on the way...... every house presents a aarti to the deity...... and a shawl made of cotton made at home, called panji .... and this dipped in oil burned in front of the deity....... with the belief that the family will be blessed for the coming year....
Thur, 17 Feb

VISIT TO ANOTHER TEMPLE

2011-02-16T17:14:00.000-08:00

Temples in India are not only worshiping places but also a place for social get-together...... once year people in the neighborhood and also those who can afford....... from far off places....... visit to the temple on the occasion of JAATRE or HABBA,,,,,,.... people are thankful to the local deity for keeping the family well for the year passed and pray for good health, prosperity and happiness in the coming year. .... Family members enjoy the day after Darshan of the Deity...... have free lunch (they call prasada) and spend the day buying some cheep entertaining stuff, which last for a day or two......
One such visit was to Mandarthi........Shri Durgaparameshwari Temple....... a distance of 16 km from Birthi..
It was JAATRE time...... went through the routine rituals...... visited a family friend Vishwanatha Udupa.......
and back.......
Evening again to a place called GILIYAARU....... another place of deity...... but there was YAKSHAGAANA..... dance ballet...... by child artists..... MAKKALA MELA,,,,,, trained by H. Sridhar Hande of Kota....... it was a two-hour presentation of story from Mahabharatha....... BABRUVAAHANA..
back home by 9p.m ...........
Tue, 15 Feb

BHAJANE AT GURUPURA

2011-02-15T16:50:00.000-08:00

Mon 14 Feb
Subramanya....... an old friend from Dubai days..... good singer and a nice man...... was instrumental in starting Bhajane Group at Dubai, as early as year 1999........ relocated back to Mangalore in 2004..... is very active in singing devotional songs...... and is serious and sincere....... no fooling around..... informed us that there is one hour bhajane program at Gurupura, about 20 km from Mangalore and we are invited.....
So we had programmed our day to Mangalore....... left in the morning with Shama, who had audition at Prasara Bharathi,,,,,,, after 1 pm, she was sent back....... had lunch at hotel........ visited Jagdish and Pratima Shetty, saw their new apartment complex....... then to Vamanjoor, Subramanya's house.......
One hour of Bhajans participated....... left from Gurupura at 10 pm..... reached Birthi at 11.45pm.....

MGM COLLEGE ALUMNI FORUM

2011-02-14T17:37:00.000-08:00

Sun 13 Feb
Just to get the nostalgia of college days...... some 44 years ago......... went to MGM college in the morning for ALUMNI DAY ......... there were not too many enthusiasts....... some 40-50 people present, who finished college some 40 to 45 years ago........ and become businessman...... professionals...... and exhausted their steam....... however most of the people trying re-collect those days when they were students....... trees were small...... lecturers were good..... times when mobile phones, laptops were not there...... internet was not heard.... ambiance, environment were conducive.....
Post lunch session was some nominating office bearers for re-juvanating the sick forum, increasing memberships. .....etc etc...... how to get youngsters motivated to the forum.....
Cultural program was not interesting..... back home 6 pm.....

NAAGA MANDALA

2011-02-13T05:28:00.000-08:00

SNAKE WORSHIP RITUALS

Nagamandala Is A Quaint Ritual Prevalent Mainly In Coastal Karnataka Region (Dakshina Kannada District And Udupi District). It Is An All-Night Ritual Performed As A Worship To The Serpent God.
Observed Mostly By The Brahmins, Nagamandala Is Performed During December To April, Before The Monsoon. There Are Two Groups Of Performers In Nagamandala – The First Being 'Paatri' (A Brahmin) Who After Inhaling The Areca Flowers Gets Possessed By The Cobra God, And The Second Group Is Known As 'Naagakannika' Identified As 'Ardhanari' Who Dances And Sings Around An Elaborate Serpent Design Drawn With Natural Colors On The Sacred Ground.
The 'Vaidya' Community Group Draws The Designs (A Circle Of Snakes) On The Sacred Ground Using Five Different Colors. The Five Colors Are White (White Mud), Red (Mix Of Lime Powder And Turmeric Powder), Green ('Jangama Soppu' Green Leaves Powder), Yellow (Turmeric Powder) And Black (Roasted And Powdered Paddy Husk). The Combination Of These Five Colors Is Called As 'Panchavarnahudi' In The Local Dialect.
Sarpam Tullal Of Kerala Are The Counter Parts Of Nagamandala.The Snake Worship Rituals Practised In Tulu Nadu Are Quite Unique And Different To The Aforementioned Rituals. Snakes Have Their Own Snake Shrines In A Corner Of The Garden, Often Under A Neem Tree Known As Nagabhana. This Is Usually A Stone With Snakes Carved On It. Accordingly, Nobody Is Allowed To Chop The Tree Near The Nagabhana. It Is Also Believed That, Snakes, Specifically The Cobras Are Not Be Harmed Or Killed By Anyone. If Harmed, The Individual Has To Perform A Ritual To Cleanse The Sin Of Killing/Harming The Snake. The Belief Is That The Individual Who Refuses To Perform The Ritual Will Be Cursed By The Snake For Eternity. It Can Also Be Noted That In Tulu Nadu Or The South Canara Region In Karnataka, Agriculture Is Predominant That Too Paddy Is The Main Crop. In These Fields Snakes Help In Saving The Crop From Rodents. This Can Be A Plausible Reason For Worship Of Snakes In Line With Other Nature Worships Such As Cow And The Banyan Tree.
Nagamandala Ritual In Progress:

Nagamandala Depicts The Divine Union Of Male And Female Snakes. It Is Generally Performed By Two Priests. The First Priest, Called As Paatri Inhales The Areca Flower And Becomes The Male Snake. The Second Priest, Called As Nagakannika Or The Female Snake Dances And Sings Around An Elaborate Serpent Design Drawn With Natural Colours On The Sacred Ground. The Ritual Is Supplemented By Playing An Hour Glass Shaped Instrument Called As Dhakke. The Drawings In Five Different Colours On The Sacred Ground Are White (White Mud), Red (Mix Of Lime Powder And Turmeric Powder), Green (Green Leaves Powder), Yellow (Turmeric Powder) And Black (Roasted And Powdered Paddy Husk).
The Ritual, Centered Around The Serpent Design, Continues Till Early In The Morning........

Such was an occasion witnessed by us, last night at Padu Kere, Saligrama,,,,, Hosted by Ravindra Aithala and family. ....... Massive and elaborate arrangement for food, seating, entertainment and decoration...... The scene is mesmerizing .......

returned home by 1.30 a.m.

Sun,13 feb

VATTI NENE

2011-02-11T16:14:00.000-08:00

Breathtaking view of Arabian sea and Sumana river joining....... from a place called VATTI NENE, near Baindoor, coastal Karnataka....... When we travel from Kundapura towards Bhatkal on NH 17....... after you climb the hilly road and turn off from the main road...... drive about 2 km inside Forestry department protected area...........It's simply amazing....... wondering about nature's or God's creation......?? Definatly not the man's creation.......
Unfortunately....... there is no proper road and other basic fecilities for visitors to be attracted......
Sar 12 Feb