Amrutesvara Temple, Amruthapura

T
he Amruteshvara temple (Kannada: ಅಮೃತೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ) also spelt "Amrutesvara" or "Amruteshwara", is located in the town of Amruthapura, 67 km north of Chikmagalur town in the Chikkamagaluru district of the Karnataka state, India. Located 110 km from Hassan and 35 km fromShimoga on NH 206, Amruthapura is known for the splendid Amruteshvara temple. 

The temple was built in 1196 C.E. by Amrutheshwara Dandanayaka (lit, "commander") under Hoysala King Veera Ballala II. It is located in an idyllic spot, in the close vicinity of the Bhadra River reservoir. During their rise to power in the 11th-12th centuries, the Hoysala kings created many important towns and cities (nagara) along the malnad (hill) regions of present day Karnataka where they built many ornate temples.

The temple is a fine example of 12th century Hoysala architecture with a wide open mantapa  ^]Surrounded by Palm and Coconut farms, the temple still has a well preserved original outer wall with interesting, equally spaced circular carvings. The temple has one vimana (shrine and tower) and therefore is a ekakuta design and has a closed mantapa (hall) that connects the sanctum to the large open mantapa.

It is medium sized Hoysala temple and compares closely with the Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi inmandapa structure and size. The open mandapa has twenty nine bays and the closed mantapa has nine bays with a side porch that leads to a separate shrine on the south side. The shrine is square in shape has the original superstructure (sikhara) which is richly adorned with sculptures of Kirthimukhas(demon faces), miniature decorative towers (aedicule). Below the superstructure, the usual panel ofHindu deities is absent. The base of the wall has five mouldings which according to art critic Foekema is an "older Hoysala style".The Sukanasi, the tower on top of the vestibule that connects the sanctum to the closed mantapa (the Sukanasi appears like the nose of the superstructure), has the original Hoysala emblem of "Sala" fighting the lion.

It was on Monday, 30th Decemebr 2013, when we were returning from Sagar. It's about 

5km from the main road, Shivamogga-Bangalore...

Tuesday 31 Dec.2013

COMING TO CLOSE OF 2013

Time is such a wonderful concept...... it puts everything into back of memory...... days, months and years..... woderful time spent...... bad time, jolly time...... time for evrything goes back.....
0nly memories remain...... if it is recorded somewhere, it will remain....
otherwise that also will be erased......

Some times one wonders..... what is the purpose of life.....
Birth, grow.... school, college...... join work..... marriage..... children........ they grow.......house..
and you grow old.......and one day.....
What we achieved in life..... shared with others......... helped others probably will remain....
Sunday, Dec.22, 2013

JAGADISH AND PRATIMA SHETTY

DECEMBER 9, 2013

It was on Monday, 9th Dec. 2013, when longtime friend fom Dubai, Jagadish & Pratima Shetty came to visit us here at Birthi.

They were acuaintaces and nice people close to us Dubai for number of years, now returned and settled in Mangalore.

Pratima is a good stage actor and performed in number of dramas in Dubai in Karnataka Sangha and Dhvani Pratishtana programs.
written on 15th Dec. 2013

WEDDING - ASHWATH S/o GEETHA JP

It was on Sunday, 8th Dec. 2013, wedding reception of Ashwanth, son of Mrs Geetha Jayapraksh, English teacher at Our Own, Al Warqa, Dubai.  She was a colleague for six years, when I was supervisor at the same school.
As usual, we attended the reception, wished the new couple, had dinner and back in the house.

Also had met Mrs Magdalen Paul, who was also English teacher in my Department during those days, came from Chennai to attend the wedding. It was a pleasant surprise to meet the lady after more than three years.
written on 15-12-2013

VISIT TO FARM NEAR MYSORE

Mr Satish Hande, lives in Mysore and was working in AbuDhabi for many years and now settled back and is very keen in agriculture.

He is very hard working, very positive in his approach and a nice gentleman. He purchased a 7-acre uncultivated land near Mysore, 15 Km on the way to HD Kote. He developed the land with all reuqirements for agricultural produce like sugar cane, banana, tomato, chilli, brinjal, water melon and many more. He started just about 6 months or more and now doing well with problems of worms and bad seeds. However, he takes lot of interest in growing vegetables, spends the whole day taking care, watering, manuring and other related work.

We were amazed and happy to visit the farm last week, 6th Dec 2013, spent an hour, got some good vegetables without chemicals, thanked Mr Hande and his wife Usha and returned to Bangalore.
written on 13-12-13

KADALE KAAI PARISHE 2013

Groundnut farmers from far and near converge with their produce to Basvanagudi, Bangalore for the annual kadale kaai PARISHE (Festival). This happens every year in the month of December and large number of people gather for enjoying different kinds of groundnuts and the atmosphere is festive one,

We visited the place one afternoon, walked around the place, road was closed for vehicular traffic, people roam around freely, and buy items other than kadale kaai also.
The mood is festive and people enjoy.
The sad part is people least bothered about cleanliness, hygiene and littering. The place is littered with food plates, plastic bags, papers and no toilet fecilities.

written on 13-12-13

SUVARNA SAMBRAMA

It was series of programs presenting stage drama and live performance of matured and hobby artists and clebrating of 50 years of Ravindra Kalakshetra, at Bengaluru, a prestigious venue for performing artists. It may be cultural, musical, honouring celebrties or felicitations.

We attended the inaugural program, and it was arranged outside, free air and under the tree in the natural surroundings. There big names from Ranga Kalavidaru, people from department of Kannada and culture......  dance forms like Kamsaale, dollu kunitha etc and usual "BHASHANA" on the accomplishments from various cultural fields. There were B. Jayashree, Mukhya mantri Chandru, Prasanna and more.

written on 12-12-13

LUNCH AT MAHARAJ BHOG

It was just a casual grand lunch together...... all decided to go to Maharaj Bhog at Lavelle Road....

We were five..... me, mom, Ravi, Vidya and Rishi.....  It was north indian style grand lunch, good one too..... had heavy and stomach full.....

Returned after visiting UB City, nearby shopping mall....
written on 12-12-13

WEDDING - SHASHANK/VIDYASHREE

It was quite some time that we attended wedding function. There was an invitation from Major Ravindra, the family living at the end of the road in the 13A Cross. It was his son's wedding at Sri Hari Kalyana Mantap in Banashankari on 22nd November 2013

with Shashank and Vidyashree

We wished the newly married couple Shashank and Vidyashree, a happy and long married life, had grand lunch and returned.
Written on 12-12-13

SAAVAYAVA FOOD PRODUCTS

These days, the agricultural food products are so much contaminated with all kinds of chemicals, general health of people are deteriorating. Blood pressure, diabetes are common ailments, people are striving hard to keep it under control.

Agri saavayava products

To encourage the people using agric products with no chemicals in fertilizers or preservatives, an exhibition was arranged at Chamarajpet, Bangalore. Though many agriculturists displayed their products, the response was very poor. However, we purchased some usable products like rice, millet, wheat, jaggery etc and spent some time.

Receiving jaggery

Thursday, 12-12-13

NAADA NAMANA

NOVEMBER 15, 2013

I was wondering why I have not written blog for almost a month...... no events?? no activites...??
Yes .... there were many for last one month...

Naada Namana....Musical Tribute to great singer Manna Dey at ravindra Kalakshetra, Bengaluru on 15th Nov. 2013

Archana Udupa singing

That was a very good presentation with singers from Karnataka singing famous songs from Manna Dey's album. Archana Udupa, Sangeetha Katti, Sairam and some others sang well with an excellent orchestra.
It was about two hours program, and we just happen to go there and enjoyed.

Sangeetha Katti

 written on Dec 12, 2013