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The Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves , located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri, about 11 Km off the coast of the Gateway of India, Mumbai, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to these caves, excavated probably in the 6 th century CE, is awe-inspiring, and also thought-provoking. Over the years, I have visited the caves a number of times, and also attended a number of talks by experts in the fields of art, history and archaeology on the caves. Together, they help me understand these caves, their art, and the people they were created for, just a little bit better. Every new visit, every new talk, every new article I read about the caves, fleshes out the image of what the island and the caves would have been like, at their peak. I last wrote about the caves on this blog, in 2011, almost exactly 11 years ago. Since then, my understanding of the caves has, I would like to think, marginally improved. Hence this attempt to write a new and updated post, trying to bring to life, the caves of Elephan
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Faces in the Crowd : Two strangers at Amritsar


For Faces in the crowd today, I have two strangers.... two people I clicked at the Golden temple, Amritsar....



The first is obviously a visitor, a pilgrim. He looks so happy, at peace... His object is fulfilled. He has had darshan of the holy book., he has got the divine blessing - the prasad....


The second is more alert. He is obviously an employee of the Temple. He is at work, doing his duty, spear in hand. It doesn't matter that in these days of modern weaponry, his spear will be of no use in a gun battle. All that matters is that he is carrying the sacred tradition of protecting the sacred space, in the manner it has been done for years. 

There is no fear of what may come. This is the one of the few places where no security check is conducted on visitors. We are free to carry anything inside. Even a camera. As I enter the sanctum, an employee notices my camera, and says, "beta, mandir ke andar photo mat nikalna" (child, please don't take a photo inside the sanctum). He doesn't even wait for my assent before turning away to the next pilgrim. Such is the nature of faith and belief. 

These two photos, of two different people represents that same faith and belief, which shows in the happiness of one and the calmness of the other. 

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Location: Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab 143006

Comments

  1. AartiJanuary 31, 2013 at 11:04 AM

    Love how they ooze with confidence and pride when they walk... Amritsar- hopefully this year, last year planned in nov and had to cancel :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarFebruary 1, 2013 at 2:31 PM

      Yes, Aarti! Its so nice to simply sit there and watch all the people there... hope you can go this year.. its a beautiful place

      Delete
  2. MridulaJanuary 31, 2013 at 1:18 PM

    Lovely, will wait to see more in this series!

    ReplyDelete
  3. desi TravelerJanuary 31, 2013 at 3:01 PM

    Hi Anu... you have clicked interpreted the two pictures beautifully.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Manu PonnappaJanuary 31, 2013 at 5:00 PM

    Interpretation is really good!!!! Nice observation...

    MANUPONNAPPA.BLOGSPOT.IN

    ReplyDelete
  5. NishaFebruary 3, 2013 at 3:41 PM

    I loved your interpretations about these two pictures which we normally don't even bother to look at. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarFebruary 4, 2013 at 8:44 AM

      Thanks, Nisha! I actually spent a lot of time just sitting there and looking at people come and go.. i had been there before as a kid, and was trying to remember what it had been like then... and since photography was allowed, went on clicking too :D

      Delete
  6. AkankshaMay 29, 2017 at 5:37 PM

    Waoo we are so busy that we don't even notice such things in regular life.. Real good interpretation.

    ReplyDelete

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