I fell in love with this temple the first time I set eyes on it. Back in 2017 , I had been excited to see yet another Yogini temple, when I visited Puri. The resort I was staying at (and writing for), had arranged for a car and driver to take me around. The driver was happy to take me to most of the places I wanted to go, but when it came to Hirapur, he was appalled. He knew of the temple, but had never been there. It was a tantric temple, one not visited by women, and certainly not women travelling alone. He tried to convince me not to go, but my stubbornness and persistence paid off, and he reluctantly agreed when I told him that if he didn’t take me, I would find another driver who would. All along the way, he kept going on about the sinister things that happened at the temple, the tantric rituals that were performed at night…. An Odisha brahmin who took his religious duties very seriously, to the extent of stopping the car to perform the sandhyavandam when he deemed it time, he...
We continued our Gokarna trip by visiting four other Shiva temples in the vicinity, all connected to the same story of Gokarna. The story of Gokarna mentions the Mahabaleshwara Lingam as the one brought from Kailas by Ravana, and kept at this place on the ground by Ganesha. (See my earlier post- Gokarna – Pilgrimage and Pleasure). However, the story does not end here. It is believed that, in his anger, Ravana flung aside the materials which covered the lingam- the casket, its lid, the string around the lingam, and the cloth covering it. All these items became lingams as soon as they touched the ground. These four lingams, along with the main Mahabaleshwara lingam are collectively called the ‘ Panchalingams’ . These are: Mahabaleshwara – the main lingam Sajjeshwar – the casket carrying the lingam. This temple is about 35 Kms from Karwar, and is a 2 hour drive from Gokarna. Dhareshwar – the string covering the lingam. This temple is on NH17, about 45 Kms south of Gokarna. Gunavanteshw...
Nice picture but I have no idea what the insect is.
ReplyDeleteI cant identify it... but I like the way.. you've clicked a pic of this little thing and made him a celebrity.. :-)
ReplyDeleteDon't know the name of the insect Anu.
ReplyDeleteCan see, however, the deception because of the similarity in colors to its background. I guess that's what they mean by camouflage!?
May be one belonging to grasshopper family.......
ReplyDeleteWe saw a rock agama brilliantly camouflaged against the colourless rock in Nandi hills recently..will find out reg the insect
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant! I wouldn't have called it an insect had you not mentioned it. it looks more like a crooked root.
ReplyDeleteNo idea what it is. Though it seems like a shorter grasshopper/cricket variety. These guys are experts in camouflaging. So, I am assuming that this insect is related to them.
That is a cricket.
ReplyDeleteBrown version of grasshopper.
@Mridula: thanks.... I wouldnt even have realised it was one, but it jumped :)
ReplyDelete@Patty: :) I never thought of it that way... but then again... wonder if it would know, what would it think???
@Celine: Absolutely! I used the pic to explain the word to my son!
@Chitra: yes, it did look like that....
@Lakshmi: Isnt it amazing, the kind of things we see these days now that we carry a camera around, and look for things to shoot??? I never even noticed them before!
@Indrani: thanks a lot! u seem to be the only one who has any idea about the insect....
@Sankara: you were right! Indrani just commented that it was the cricket variety! and even i wouldnt have realised that it was an insect... just cause it jumped i managed to notice it... and thankfully it stayed still long enough for me to take a pic!
ReplyDeleteDamn, i was looking for the insect in the picture and then realised i was staring right through it... :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a camouflage...yep, i also think its a cricket family insect only.. Amazes me to think God thought so deep to create such mysterious creatures as well ..
Samhith must've been intrigued... :))
Well spotted and neat image...Thomas
ReplyDeleteGood shot...but don't know what the insect is....
ReplyDeleteit does look like a cricket from this angle...
ReplyDeleteOnce in the area I was studying there was a locust storm and I was also a volunteer in the campaign to eradicate them. The creature you have photographed looks like that very monster!. Good shot.
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