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Showing posts with the label Navaratri 2009

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Odisha Part 11: Discovering the Jaina Heritage of Odisha at the caves of Udaygiri and Khandgiri

The Hindu and Buddhist history of Odisha , or rather, ancient Kalinga, is rather well known to everyone. Who hasn’t heard of the grand temples of Odisha – Puri, Lingaraj and Konark, or the great war of Kalinga which inspired Ashoka to convert to Buddhism? In contrast, very few know of the Jaina heritage of this region. This is quite a pity, since, just around 7 km from the city, is one of India’s most ancient inscriptions, which throws light on the Jaina heritage of Odisha. This inscription is the Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela, in the hills of Udaygiri. Udaygiri and Khandgiri are two hills located opposite each other, and both are testaments to the rich Jaina heritage of Odisha. The caves at Udaygiri are older, while Khandgiri is relatively newer, but has lasted much longer, and continues to be a place of pilgrimage for Jains even today. These hills, from inscriptions and excavations of caves, shrines and rock beds, appear to have been a haven for Jaina monks, right from the ...
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Vijaya Dasami 2009

After the nine nights and days of navaratri, the festival culminated with Dusshera, or Vijaya Dashami. For us, the highlight of the day was our visit to the Fine Arts Society, Chembur for Guru Vandana and Vidyarambham – where we pay our respects to our teacher and begin a new year of musical education, or rather, Samhith does, progressing from the junior music level to senior this year….. I complete this series of festival blogs with my photographs of the Fine Arts Kolu, one of the best in this area…. Here is the main Kolu.. This is the side decoration – this time, Tirupati , with a cave underneath…. I couldn’t get more details about this since everyone was tied up with the Vijaya Dashami celebrations….. Here are some detailed shots of the dolls…. Well, thats all for this year, folks.... Shall be back with something new... till, then, keep reading my blog and suggest topics for me to write about!!!!
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Navaratri 2009 - the last two days - Ashtami and Navami

The last two days of navaratri have been as hectic as the first……. I have tried to visit all my relatives, and return in time to be home to receive those who come to my house, and it has been a race against time, with my wishing for a few more hours each day. However , I have some interesting kolus for you today. The first is the one at the Marubai Gavdevi Mandir, Wadala . I have heard of this one for years from my aunt who visits it every year, and this year, I decided that I just had to visit the temple. The golu is not too huge, just 5 steps, but beautiful, with some old and wonderful dolls… Take a look… Look at the Ganesha holding the lingam – an unusual doll… The Dashavataram set is beautiful, with great detailing, but the Vamanavatar one is missing….. Samhith was fascinated by the fruits and vegetables, especially the tiny ones…. Now here’s a Kolu of one of our neighbours – they are an old couple who still take the pains to make a...
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Navaratri 2009 - Days 6 and 7

Shashti and Saptami passed by, as if in a dream, for it was full of visits. Samhith was thrilled with everyone coming home and appreciating our work. The sixth day being Shashti , a special day for Karthikeya, the temple decoration was Skanda Matha – the mother of Karthikeya, who is also known as Skandha…. She is depicted here as giving her son the Vel – the spear – with which he proceeds to destroy the asuras Surapadman, Tarakasuran and Simhamukhan. Saptami was on Friday and I had invited a whole lot of people home that day, Friday being an especially important day for the Devi. To welcome people home, I made a new Kolam to replace the earlier one. Here it is……. At the temple , the decoration was of the Devi as Sakhambari – covered with vegetables. According to the Devi Mahatmayam , there was once a terrible famine, and the rishis prayed to the Devi for deliverance. In her compassion, she produced grains, vegetables and fruits from her own body to sustain the wor...
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Navaratri 2009 - Day 5

The fifth day of navaratri dawned, along with the sudden realization that we were already halfway through the celebrations, and in five more days we would be back to the normal grind of day to day life. The realization spurred me along to call all those I had planned to invite home, and ask them to come home on Friday, make a few visits, and, in the evening, it led me to the Sringeri Mutt and the Ahobila Mutt in Chembur, where the celebrations are on in grand scale. At the former, I was unable to take photographs, but at Ahobila Mutt, they were only too happy to allow me to take pictures of the Utsava Moorthy - Lord Venkateswara and Padmavati on the Shesha Vahanam, and Mahalakshmi ready for her tour of the area. Here is a glimpse…… At the temple was an interesting decoration – Sri Seethala Devi on her vehicle, the donkey! Seethala Devi is considered a form of the goddess Mariamman, who is said to have a cooling effect and hence is the patron deity for fevers and the pox. I re...
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