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Temples of Kashi - The Kardameshwar temple

The absence of ancient Hindu structures in Kashi is something I have always lamented about. The shrines are certainly ancient, and that is something that has always attracted me to the city. However, I miss the beauty of the ancient structures that we see at other sites. This feeling is intensified when I see marble and concrete and tiles in temples that once would have been beautifully adorned with evocative sculptures, and worn by the passage of time, touched by the hands of seekers who came before. This time , this desire to see some remnants of an ancient Hindu structure in Kashi came true when I managed to visit the Kardameshwar Temple. The Kardameshwar temple is not one of the main temples in the city. It is part of the temples on the Pancha Kroshi yatra, a pilgrimage which takes one on a circumambulatory tour of the whole city. The temple is located on the outskirts of the city, on the western bank of a tank called the Kardama Kund. The Kardameshwar temple is one of the...
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Bracket Fungi

Monsoon is the season of life, and we see the growth of all kinds of life all around us..... Not even the dead or dying wood is spared, if you notice these bracket fungi growing on them.

This first one is growing on our pomegranate tree, and it is sad to think that the arrival of this fungus means that our tree has not much longer to live.... Of course, it had never been very healthy, not one of its small pomegranates growing into fruits ripe enough for us to taste. Meanwhile, we are making the most of this opportunity to learn about these forms of life too!


This one grew on a rotting log on the side of the road. I noticed it one day as I went by, and remembered to take my camera along the next day to take a picture. Thankfully, it was still there then, but was gone the very next day!


I remember my very first walk into a jungle and our guide pointing out these interestingly shaped things... I even remember bringing back a piece with me (which crumbled in a few days). I remember how thrilled I was then, to see something 'wild'!!! Imagine seeing the same thing in my garden now!!!!

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Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 14, 2010 at 10:00 AM

    Maybe too much of rains - The reason.
    Anyways, thanks for sharing. At-least someone is thinking about them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. chitraAugust 14, 2010 at 10:59 AM

    Never knew fungi spoils the tree.
    We call them 'Bebai sathuli' meaning frog's umbrella. The last picture is like a flower.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MridulaAugust 14, 2010 at 1:16 PM

    I always enjoy watching mushrooms that sprout everywhere in this season! Thanks for telling me more about them.

    ReplyDelete
  4. IndraniAugust 14, 2010 at 6:49 PM

    Some of them are edible, but of course don't try them. Some are known to be poisonous too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. RajeshAugust 14, 2010 at 9:53 PM

    Fantastic captures. As a kid I used to see these a lot. Now I do not see to get them much.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AswathiBabuAugust 16, 2010 at 9:53 AM

    Anu
    nice effort and thanks for sharing these pictures with us

    ReplyDelete
  7. subu.psAugust 16, 2010 at 11:12 AM

    Is fungii so dangerous to the tree?

    Very recently I enjoyed watching these spread completely over a tree. The trees image is posted here. http://subups.blogspot.com/2010/06/achenkovil-temple-in-paradise.html

    ReplyDelete
  8. jayasreeAugust 17, 2010 at 11:53 AM

    Didn't know these mushrooms could harm the trees...

    ReplyDelete
  9. UshaAugust 19, 2010 at 8:27 PM

    shows that your garden is growing 'wild' :D

    ReplyDelete

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