Bahubali - One with Strong Arms!!!

While we speak mostly about Thirtankaras in Jainism, there was one Lord who was given as important a place as Thirthankara. He was Bahubali, son of Adhinatha, the first Thirthankara of this time. Adhinatha had 2 wives Yashasvati Devi and Sunanda Devi, 101 sons and 2 daughters, of them Bharatha was the eldest and Bahubali the second. While Adhinatha attained Liberation at Kailasa(Ashtapad) in present day Himalayas, he left behind his wealth to this children. Bharatha wanted to gain control of whole of his father's dynasty, without sharing it with any of his brothers. While his other brothers surrendered their kingdom to Bharatha and became Monks, Bahubali was equally powerful as his elder brother and didn't wanted to surrender. Bharath sent his Chakra(wheel) to kill Bahubali, the wheel circled around Bahubali thrice and stood net to him. Bharatha declared a war against Bahubali. Didn't wanting for blood sheds, the two brothers decide to have a peaceful war between themselves.

The first was drushti yudda, were both the brothers stared at each other, the one who blinked first would loose the fight, Babuhali was a strong and tall person, while he easily looked into Bharath's eyes, Bharatha couldn't stare at the taller Bahubali longer and loose the fight. 

The next was jala yudda or water fight, were both were supposed to splash water on each other, the tall Bahubali, defeated Bharatha in no time. 

To end the war was the final fight showcasing each others strength. Bahubali held Bharatha high in the air to throw him down, before he realise what he was doing with his brother just for the materialistic wealth. He gets his brother down slowly, bows to him, gives the kingdom and walks to the woods to meditate. He stand in the wild for a year meditating, anthills, creepers grow on his body, but still something in his mind holds him back from liberation. Bharatha, looking at his brother's state, checks with the monks, what had held him from liberation. Monk says, Bahubali still believed he was standing on his brother's land, which held him back. Bharatha bows to Bahubali, ask him to leave his thought, and the same moment Bahubali attain liberation. 

The three fights, malla yuddha, when Bahubali hold Bharath up in the air, drushti yuddha fight of sight, Jala Yuddha, water fight

From left, Bahubali heading to the wilds after the fight, next Bharatha's wheel which stops next to Bahubali, Bharatha declaring war against Bahubali, last Bharatha bowing down to Bahubali asking him to forget about the materialistic life

Bharatha gets a beautiful Emerald idol of Bahubali carved in his capital Paudanapura. He replicates the creepers, the anthills which grew on him while meditating, and these became the symbol of Bahubali over the years and you can find them in any of Bahubali's idols even today.

PS: Those are the paintings kept at the temple entrance in Shravanbelagola, depicting Bahubali's life, not in the same order though.

Check our the complete Mahamasthakabhisheka Series here.

Jain Dharma!!!

The historic Gommateshwar Bahubali Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsava at Shravanbelogala is scheduled from 17th Feb to 25th Feb 2018 and so I start my series on Mahamastakabhisheka. I will be narrating many stories associated with Jainism, Shravanabelagola, its Hills, its sculpture, its ponds, its temples and Bahubali the main deity himself over the following posts. To start with, here is the post about Jainism.

Dharma Chakra or the Wheel of Good deeds has 24 spokes representing the 24 thirthankaras. This wheel is installed at the garden at the foot hills of Chandragiri in Shravanabelagola

Jainism is the religion which mainly believes in the principle of Ahimsa or Non-violence. A religion, which is Anaadi, meaning neither has a start nor an end and believe in re-birth. The final goal of life is to cross over the stream of birth and death, to attain liberation. While there are thousands of souls who have attained liberation over the infinite life time, Jains mainly worship 24 Thirthankaras.

Kala And Thirthankara

While Hinduism believe in Yugas, we call them kala, Awasarpini Kala and Uthsarpini Kala. Awasaripini signifying deterioration, Uthsarpini recovery. 6 kalas or periods, deteriorate from 1 to 6, with the reduction in physical appearance and happiness. While 1st(Sukhama Sukhama - very good), 2nd(Sukhama - good) and 3rd(Sukhama Dashama - Good bad) have the best of luxury, without suffering and best illustrated by Kalparuksha, a wish granting tree, without even the need for farming. 4th kala, chaturthakala(Dukhama Sukhama - Bad Good) is the transition from good to bad, where bad takes over good. 5th(Dukhama- bad) the present kala and 6th(Dukhama Dukhama - very bad) which gets even worse. After the end of Awasarpini kala, the direction gets reversed and the goodness recovers gradually from 6th to 1st. As per Jainism it is in the 4th kala, that the 24 thirthankaras are born, a transition from good to bad, when there is need for a teacher to guide you and get out of the worst. Its said the first thirthankara teaches the world with 6 things, Asi(Protection), Masi(Writing), Krushi(farming), Vanijya(Trade and commerce), Vidhya(knowledge), Shilp(crafts) to the people, which was not known and needed in the first 3 periods.
Adinatha is the first Thirthankara of the present Awasarpini kala, while Mahavira is the last. While most people call Mahavira the founder of Jainism, we believe him to be the follower of Jainism and as a thirthankara. There were thirthankaras in the past chaturthakalas and there will be in future chaturthakalas as well, which makes the religion Anaadi. 

Our first prayer Namokara Mantra 

Namo Arihanthanam - Bow to Arihanth(Lord just below attaining liberation)

Namo Siddhanam - Bow to Siddh Parameshti(Lord after attaining liberation)

Namo Aayariyanam - Bow to Acharyas(The leaders of the group of Monks)

Namo Uvvajyayanam - Bow to Upadhyayas(The teachers in the group of Monks)

Namo Loye Savva Sahunam - Bow to Sarva Sadhu(All the Monks)

As per Jainism its only in human life and in chaturthakala a person can get liberation. Liberation can be attained only after nullifying your good and bad deeds. Yes, you will have to enjoy and finish your good deeds as well to attain liberation. Thirthakaras go through the life like a normal human, childhood, youth, a jain monk, and just before attaining liberation he is in this Arihanthavastha, a state where he is in the air and dedicates this last days preaching all the living things in the universe, the monks, the humans, animals. This gathering is called Samavasharana. The Samavasharana headed by the Dharma Chakra moves from place to place, preaching. And finally the soul of the Thirthakara leaves the body to attain liberation to become Siddhathma. 

Here is the glimpse of Samavasharana at the Samavasharana Mandir in Shravanabelagola. It is on the top floor of Yatri Niwas opposite to Dharam Chakra.

Travel Tips:
Shravanabelagola is 157 km from Bangalore and 52 km from Hassan
By Road: Shravanabelagola is well connected by direct buses from Bangalore, Mysore and Hassan. You can also take any bus playing between Bangalore-Mangalore, Bangalore-Hassan and get down at Channarayapatna, which is 12km and take another bus to Shravanabelagola. But check prior boarding these buses, as these days the buses are non stop and do not stop in Channarayapatna.
By Train: Shravanabelagola has railway station and there are trains, playing to Bangalore, Mysore and Hassan.
By Air: Nearest Airport is Bangalore Airport which is around 165km.

Accommodation:
There are yatri niwas and rooms for Jain in Shravanabelagola, for non-jain if you are looking for neat and good stay options, stay at Hassan which is 52km.


Check our the complete Mahamasthakabhisheka Series here.

Navratri Celebration - 2K17

Dasara Bombe Habba, Navaratri, Golu, Durga Pooja, the 10 days celebration is celebrated and known by different names in India. 

And we celebrate it as Dasara Bombe Habba, the arrangement of dolls. This is our 7th year of Navaratri at home and the arrangement it getting better, year after after with the increasing collection of my dolls. So here it is for this year's celebration.

And this last pic has my daughter's best of waste project, the lighthouse, made of paper cup, tissue roll, gems ball cap, bead and sea shells. How is it?

I had been lucky enough to visit bombe of my friends and relatives over the years, be at Dubai or Thane or Hassan, so this year was no different. We shifted to Pune this March and one of my friends informed me of bombe in my neighbourhood. And believe me, I never wait for an invite to visit bombe, so I was there to see this beautiful arrangement,

After Bombe, here is about this year's Durga Pooja celebration.

While there are many Bengali Associations arranging Durga Pandals in Mumbai and Thane, I was not sure of any in Pune. But then one of my friends told me about Shivanjali Mangal Karlay on Nagar Road and Rohi Villa in Koregaon Park. 

 Shivanjali Mangal Karlay had this beautiful Durga idol along with life size ladies, representing the power of Durga.

 And this is of Rohi Villa at Koregoan Park, one of the rich Durga pandals. This pandal also has a flea market and food court. 

If you stay in Pune, don't miss to visit them next Durga Puja. That's it for this year's Navratri post, hope you all like it.

Kaas Plateau - Our Own Valley of Flowers...

Had been busy with festive celebrations and our vacation to Bangalore-Mysore-Chennai-Mahabalipuram-Pondicherry. So was my blog neglected since last few months. Am back with one of my favourite posts of a wonderful trip to Kaas.

Kaas Plateau was in my visit list since couple of years, and finally we made it this Sept. Known as the Valley of Flowers of Maharashtra for the wild flowers that bloom during Sept and Oct every year, this plateau in western ghat became a part of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2012 and over the years the visitor count has been growing.

The pic was clicked sitting on the rocks, no flowers or sapling were spoiled while clicking the pic..

Kaas Plateau in Satara District is around 135km from Pune, we wanted to plan a day trip along with Thoseghar Falls and Sajjangadh Fort, but a delayed start and with few break downs, we were on Mumbai - Bangalore highway by 10. We had booked online for the entry to the plateau which is under forest authority. It was 1-4PM slot and accordingly we planned to have lunch on the way and reach Kaas. We stopped at Vittal Kamat for lunch, the food is ok especially for Kamat group. Plateau is on the other side of Satara city, so you need to cross the city. The uphill starts just at the end of the city and its another 20km drive before you reach the plateau. The rout becomes heavy on traffic during peak, since we visited at the start we didn't get any traffic except after reaching the plateau.  Even the stretch as soon as you reach the top of the hill is beautiful, with wonderful shades of green stretch. At the ticket counter you can show the online ticket and drive to parking area. Parking area is almost a km from the first entry gate and shuttle bus is available from parking to the plateau. Here are the beautiful flowered we got to see,

Suichi Bhaji  - Dipcadi montanum

Nilima - Murdannia Simplex

Gulabi Terada - Impatiens oppositifolia

  

Seetechi Aasave - Utricularia Purpurascens

Gend - Eriocaulon sedgwickii

Gend - Eriocaulon sedgwickii

Undri  - Linum mysurense

Chavar - Hitchenia caulina 

Bud of Abhali - Cyanotis tuberosa

 Lal Terda - Impatiens oppositifolia

 Lal Terda - Impatiens oppositifolia

Hubby Posing at one of the lakes in the plateau

I lost my Cannon Mirrorless few months back and these were the pics I clicked with my Vivo V5S, I guess my phone too has done a good job, but missed by DSLR for these Macro shots. Its really disheartening to see visitors clicking pics laying on the flowers. Even though there are authority people and locals warning from spoiling the flowers and saplings, people are in their own world. 

Few things to know before you visit Kaas,

1. Book your entry online on their website here, Morning and evening slots are pleasant, even afternoon slot are ok if it drizzles. 

2. The stretch of flowers changes over the 2 months, you can buy this book Flowers of Kaas Plateau which gives you detailed information on the flowers which bloom over the 2 months along with their botanical names. Our visit was too early as per authority and were told the blooms are at their best during early Oct. 

3. The vehicle parking place is almost a km from the plateau entry and there are shuttle buses which play between the plateau and parking, don't hesitate to ask for lift if you find anybody driving empty from parking. 

4. Be hydrated and light as you need to walk around a bit and there are no food stalls to serve any snacks or even water in the plateau. 

5. Carry rain jackets or umbrella, as its at its best in monsoon and can start pouring anytime.

6. Wear walking shoes with enough grip as the plateau becomes too slippery even with slight drizzle.

7. Lastly be a responsible traveller to walk only on the pathway or rocks and not to spoil the beauty, the place offers.