Musings & Reflections

A Petite Songster...

1/9/2023

Some birds are often better heard than seen.
As we were scouting the undulating terrain of Coyote hills, we heard a snippet of a mellifluous flute-like call. Initially we couldn’t locate the origin of the call till a flutter of bright yellow caught our attention. And there it was, sitting on a small rock flouting its iridescent yellow breast with a characteristic V shaped black band. It was the Western Meadowlark!
This popular song bird is the official state bird of six states in the US: Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming. In Oregon, there was an animated debate in the state legislature as to what should be the state bird. The choice was between osprey and the western meadowlark. The spirited discussion was resolved when one member played the song of the western meadowlark and that settled the discussion! It was unanimously decided that it would be the state bird. A compromise of sorts was then negotiated and the osprey was voted as the state raptor!
Who can resist the flirty appeal of the meadowlark song?
It flits and flutters
Singing a flirty tune
Minstrel of the meadows…

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The Majestic Raptor

12/26/2022

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It was a cold, windy day in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Florida. As we were walking along, we heard a sharp, screeching sound and saw a huge bird flying above. For a moment it appeared still, with its wings spread wide. To our great joy, it flew down and settled on the top of a tree: it was the Red tailed hawk, one of the largest of birds in North America.
Red tailed hawks have excellent vision. They can see colors, even in the ultraviolet range, which we humans cannot and their fantastic eyesight helps them find and catch prey from far distances. Red tails also have an extra eyelid. This transparent eyelid is called the nictitating membrane. They can close this extra eyelid when perched to shield their eyes from wind and for protection when diving into the water to make a kill.
Native Americans are said to have had a spiritual relationship with red-tail hawks. They are considered sacred and a protector spirit of the Cherokees. According to Native American shamans, the red-tailed hawk with its sharp, eagle-like whistle indicates that ‘you should clear your mind.’ Moreover if one spots them it is an augury that something very sacred is about to take place and the Creator is giving a message that a miracle is on the way.
One of the Red tailed Hawks made its way to Manhattan in the 90s, built its nest on a 12th floor ledge in Fifth Avenue and quickly adapted to its urban environment with remarkable ease. It attracted a lot of attention and was called Pale Male. Soon Pale Male found a partner in Lola and sired many youngsters. Unfortunately they failed to reproduce in 2004 when the residents of the apartment that Pale Male had selected for its nest, had it removed. There was a huge outcry and the public railed against the move and protests stopped traffic along Fifth Avenue! Eight years later, his new mate Lima was found dead in Central Park, most likely from eating a poisoned rat. The fate of Pale Male is shrouded in mystery. It was the subject of a documentary and a slew of books.
During its presence in Manhattan it lured and inspired many urbanites to the pleasures of bird watching!

Red tailed hawk
On its perch
A Hypnotic beauty

Kindly post your comments here!

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A Resplendent Raptor

12/10/2022

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As we were cruising along in the languid waters of the Everglades, the boat man whispered, Bald Eagle! There it was, soaring high up in the sky, flapping its wings and gliding. It spotted an osprey and in a second dove down and stole a fish from its beak! Having lost its catch, the osprey flew off meekly in another direction. Though I had seen the bald eagle on many occasions during its sorties in the sky, I had never been fortunate enough to have a close look at it. I was fervently hoping that luck would favour me this time around. To my great joy, after stealing the prey, the bald eagle settled down on the top branch of a tree and I watched it, totally enthralled for a minute, before it flew off. It is hard not to be marvelled by the regal presence of the bald eagle. That I had an opportunity to see one up close, is one my most treasured moments of birding!
The bald eagle's head is actually not bald! The name comes from an old English word, ‘balde’ meaning white. It can soar over 10,000 feet and because of its phenomenal eyesight it can see fish up to a mile away. When it spots one, it swoops down at 100 miles an hour, glides just above the water and snags the fish with its feet. Bald eagles are unusually devoted spouses and parents. They mate for life and tend not to move homes unless forced to.
Descendants of kites, eagles have been around for more than thirty million years. While no one knows precisely when the bald eagle appeared on the scene, the earliest known fossil remains that closely resemble the bald eagle date back to about a million years ago.
The bald eagle first appeared as an American symbol on a Massachusetts copper cent coined in 1776. Since then it has appeared on the reverse side of many U.S. coins. For six years, the members of Congress had a bitter dispute over what the national emblem should be. One of the most prominent opponents to the bald eagle’s status was Benjamin Franklin. He wrote: “I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral character; like those among men who live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy. The turkey is a much more respectable bird and a true, original native of America''. Other members in the Congress did not share Franklin’s sentiments. The Congress ultimately made it the central figure on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782. It displayed the bald eagle at its centre, wings outstretched, clutching an olive branch and a bundle of arrows. Representing fidelity, self-reliance, strength, and courage, the charismatic bird became more than a patriotic totem and quickly attained a venerable perch in America’s iconography. Its visage appeared on the US capitol dome and pediments, hard and paper currency, business and sports-team logos, coat buttons and cufflinks,
Yet as the American public revered the symbol, the bird itself was seen as a villain. Farmers in the 19th century loathed the birds, believing that they killed livestock, and a strange but popular myth claimed that the raptor could even snatch up helpless human babies. With the advent of DDT, its numbers plummeted. It is unthinkable that such a lofty bird could ever face extinction, let alone stare down that possibility twice, both times at the hands of humans. Rachel Carson's seminal book in 1962, Silent Spring helped to spark the environmental movement and exposed the hazards of rampant pesticide use on birds and other wildlife. The Environmental Protection Agency eventually banned DDT a decade later, just two years after the agency was established and their numbers soared. Without these actions the bald eagle could have gone the way of the dodo
The bald eagle has the power to mesmerise and inspire.
We all know Herman Melville for Moby Dick, but he also wrote poetry. In 1866, he published a book of poems about the Civil War called “Battle Pieces and Aspects of the Civil War”. One of the poems in the collection is “The Eagle of the Blue”, written about Ole Abe the War Eagle, the famous live bald eagle mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry. Named after Abraham Lincoln, it saw a lot of action during the war. The Old Abe came out of every fight relatively unscathed, in spite of being shot at by Confederate soldiers eager to kill it.
I particularly like these lines in the poem which captures the essence of bald eagle:
No painted plume—a sober hue,
His beauty is his power;
That eager calm of gaze intent
Foresees the Sibyl’s hour.

Do let the bald eagle know what you think of it...your comments here!!

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The Insatiable Quest For Beauty...An abiding pursuit

11/15/2022

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Recently a former student of mine asked me a weighty question as to what is the background of my interest and passion in art/architecture and wildlife. He wanted me to write about it..
When I search for an answer within myself, I perceive that perhaps it is an unabiding quest for beauty in all its forms and expressions. We are immersed in it in our everyday lives, sometimes not being aware of it. Noticing beauty and creating experiences around them inspires me.
After I finished high school and before joining the PUC I spent several months with a well known painter Mr Krishnamurthy. Our interactions would start around 8PM and would go on till late night. He introduced me to various art forms and opened up avenues of appreciating them. I discovered the enchanting art of Batik under his tutelage and did a few paintings myself.
When I joined MBBS in JIPMER, I was immersed in its artistic ambiance. Reproductions of famous paintings and sculptures adorned every corner of the hospital and college premises. It was perhaps the only medical institution in the country which had a resident artist. There was also a photography club. I didn’t have a camera at that time and I borrowed one from my cousin (who is a well known, talented cinematographer). On weekends I used to cycle around in the environs of the college and in Auroville, which was taking shape at that time. During these forays I took photographs; sometimes my friends volunteered to be my subjects. When I showed some of these to the photographer in the college, he encouraged me to print and send them for a competition where they won prizes. I also sold some of my Batik paintings to my teacher!
After my undergraduate career, the transition was from the outer landscapes which I was trying to capture through the lens of a camera to that of the interior which I wanted to explore and understand. And a career in psychiatry was an organic choice. The environs of NIMHANS provided a creative space for reflection in thinking. I initiated a 'brainstorming' session which took place every Saturday morning in which trainees could start looking outside the conventional medical box. It provided scope for the students to share and discuss poetry, arts and issues of contemporary concerns. These conversations drew attention to the role of aesthetics both in personal and professional lives and enhanced many of the competencies in trainees: empathic communication, curiosity and reflexive capacity. During one such session, a student talked about her interest in birding and introduced me to it during a unit visit to Bandipur. It was a magical experience which has had a lasting hold on me since then.
Over the years, Ahalya and myself found time to explore many national parks across the country. More than sighting and photographing birds and other denizens of the forest, being amidst nature is itself a spiritual experience for me. For me it is akin to meditating in that small room in Ramanasramam.
My interest in temple architecture/paintings had its moorings during a visit to the terracotta temples at Bishnupur, decades ago. Clay is one of the oldest building materials used in the history of mankind. Terracotta is essentially baked clay and was largely used to make objects like pots for everyday use. I was wonderstruck to see the manner in which this material was used here. Intricate compositions, panels and friezes depicting various mythological themes adorned the walls of the temples. On my return I read about the history and background of the place, which enriched my understanding of the temple and its architecture. This spurned me to look closely at sculptures, starting with the pillars that adorn temples. Usually we walk past them to the main sanctum, in quest of perceived salvation. Every time I observe these pillars closely, I am amazed at the artistry of the unknown sculptors who have embellished even an innocuous structure like a pillar. Over the years I have also been drawn into the iconography of sculptures in temples. Each and every sculpture in a temple is imbued with symbolic meaning, the posture, gesture,number of arms, weapons and ornamentation. Even the placement of sculptures in temples is carefully planned. For instance one can find two beautifully carved female figures on either side of the entrance to the temple.They are Ganga and Yamuna, symbolically conveying that the person has to purify himself/herself before entering the precincts of a place of worship.
I used to dabble in painting. Though my painting brush has remained idle for a long while, paintings have an irresistible appeal and I make it a point to visit art galleries and museums whenever we travel. During a visit to the Virupaksha temple at Hampi, I chanced upon the mural paintings on the ceiling. I was mesmerised by their rich tapestry and play of colours. Besotted with them, I visited a couple of other places to discover and savour more Vijayanagar and Nayak era murals, some of them in relatively unknown places. It has been a fascinating discovery to become aware of many layers of mythological narratives that are portrayed in murals and sculptures. They offer immense scope for psychological explorations!
I feel inspired and passionate about life in all these forays. It sustains and nurtures the quest for beauty in everyday experience and stokes the creative spirit in me. It finds expression even in my powerpoint presentations!
Beauty abounds us in often the simplest of ways. It is always present in the hidden loveliness of all things. It may be found in places where we believe that beauty could never exist…like a withered leaf reflecting the evening sun and being illuminated by it: its inner brilliance comes alive at that moment.
Everything is beautiful when our hearts, minds, and souls are open to experiences.
In Khalil Gibran’s words, “Beauty is a reflection of what we are. Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror. But you are eternity and you are the mirror”.
I would deeply appreciate your responses and look forward to them!

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Songster From Secluded Recesses...

11/7/2022

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It was a rather cold day and as we were ambling along the trails in the Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, I heard a haunting, low pitched whistling sound with cascading melodious notes. When I looked around, I noticed a couple of small birds foraging on the forest floor. They were rummaging through the leaf litter, shaking them with a quivering of their feet. Other than occasional flying sorties, they were mostly confined to the ground amidst recesses of the trees and shrubs. Though largely confined to the shade, one of them flew up, perched itself on a small bough, almost at eye level and crooned out a lovely song. Observing them, I recognized that they belonged to the family of thrushes. Being unfamiliar with North American birds, I came back, consulted the books and identified them to be Hermit Thrushes. It was my first sighting of these lovely birds.
The Hermit thrush is often called “American Nightingale” because of its melodious calls. I found the best description of their songs in the writing of the legendary naturalist John Burroughs (1866): “This song appeals to the sentiment of the beautiful in me, and suggests a serene religious beatitude as no other sound in nature does. “O spheral, spheral!” he seems to say; “O holy, holy! O clear away, clear away! O clear up, clear up!” interspersed with the finest trills and the most delicate preludes. It is not a proud, gorgeous strain. Suggests no passion or emotion, – nothing personal, – but seems to be the voice of that calm, sweet solemnity one attains to in his best moments. It realises a peace and a deep, solemn joy that only the finest souls may know. Listening to this strain on the lone mountain, with the full moon just rounded from the horizon, the pomp of your cities and the pride of your civilization seemed trivial and cheap.”
There is an interesting legend associated with the Hermit Thrush.
“In bygone days, the birds had no song. Only humans had this melodious gift. The birds would often stop in their flight to listen to their songs, wishing that one day they could also sing tunes like that. One day when the Creator came down to visit the earth, he was enchanted by the songs of the people. But, to his dismay, he noticed that there was deafening silence as he walked through the forest. The birds were also listening to their songs quietly with downcast eyes. The Creator intuitively knew their aspirations. The next day, he summoned a meeting of all the birds. When he asked them if they would also like to sing, he was met with a resounding yes. The Creator told the birds that the next morning at sunrise, they should fly up into the sky as far as their wings would carry them. When they could fly no further they would find their song and the bird which flew the highest flight would receive the most beautiful song. Next morning, all the birds were getting ready to fly, full of excitement. The tiny Hermit thrush wondered how he could fly to that height in the sky. He came up with a plan and swiftly buried himself under the feathers of the larger eagle. Now, all the birds started soaring high in the sky, aspiring for the most beautiful song. Many of them couldn’t keep up and started their descent, each with their particular song. Finally the sun began to set, with only a few large birds continuing their upward climb, vying with each other to fly higher, all through the night. Finally, when the sun rose, only the eagle was still flying and once he realized that he was the sole bird still flying, he returned to earth. The little Hermit thrush was hiding in its feathers all through and as the eagle landed on the earth, it hopped out and started flying. The eagle was too tired to fly again and the thrush flew to the land of the Land of Happy Spirits. When he entered this place, he heard a beautiful song and he stayed there till he mastered the song. Overjoyed with his recent acquisition, he flew back to earth, only to find the eagle staring at him angrily. Overcome with shame, he flew into the woods and hid himself under the branches of trees.”
True to its name the hermit thrush remains a reclusive bird to this day. But sometimes it cannot restrain itself and it continues to serenade us with melodious notes. As Thoreau wrote in his journals in 1852,“The thrush alone declares the immortal wealth and vigour that is in the forest. Here is a bird in whose strain the story is told … whenever a man hears it, it is a new world and a free country, and the gates of heaven are not shut against him.”
Do let the Hermit know what you thin of it!!
Meanwhile you can hear it sing!!

youtu.be/2cCIh72uio8

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Through The Lens Of A Poet: Keats & Psychotherapy

10/28/2022

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Life is a delicate dance between mystery and certainty. We sometimes have a glimpse of the former, albeit fleetingly, but settle for the latter as it offers a sense of security. It provides a reassuring road map as we negotiate unpredictable terrains in our lives. In that pursuit we often adhere to a path which we believe is preordained. As a consequence we hesitate to venture and explore myriad trails that can uncover different ways of living and being. Stepping into the unknown is fraught with fear and unease.
What qualities do we need to acquire in that pursuit?
John Keats, whose birthday is today, suggested that we need to embrace a state of ‘negative capability’ which he described eloquently as “when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason.” What he alluded to is perhaps to emphasise that uncertainty can be a creative force with boundless possibilities if we are able to harmonise ambiguities of life without constraining them within rational systems.
This framework guides me in my therapeutic work. Clients often enter into therapy in uncertain phases of their lives amidst the throes of painful upheavals. Overwhelmed with distress, they look for answers that can mitigate their suffering.. from the therapist. My effort is to provide a space to facilitate and empower the client to seek answers within themselves. In that quest I foster a climate of negative capability in the client so that they can acknowledge and explore possibilities that emanate, to work through their uncertainties. Though I attend to this task with professional knowledge accrued through theoretical inputs and an empathic stance attuned to suffering, I also have to nurture and hone my skills in negative capability. In pursuit of that, I strive to remain in that unknowing state, adopting a reflective stance and gently let the emotional core of the interaction guide the processes. To paraphrase Keats, I continue to be “enchanted by the flowing complexity” of the therapeutic interaction. This I believe is the essence and beauty of psychotherapy.
It is akin to listening to Miles Davis’s “Kind Of Blue” and his use of space between the notes. He remarked, “Don’t play what’s there, play what isn’t there.”
Often I sense this when I see two birds flying across a boundless sky…what unites them is the vastness which they are trying to fathom…

Would love to have a glimpse of your responses here!

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The Enduring Legacy Of The Vishwakarmas

9/17/2022

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Swamimalai, on the northern banks of the River Kaveri, is a very famous temple. It is also dotted with workshops of sthapatis (casters), who belong to the Vishwakarma community. The name Vishwakarma derives from the mythical Vishwakarma, the divine architect of the gods. They are the descendants of sculptors who served King Raja Raja Chola I in the construction of the Brihadeeshwara temple at Thanjavur. After the construction of many Chola temples, a group of sthapatis migrated and settled down in Swamimalai.
Ahalya and myself were keen to meet them and learn about their work. We wandered around the town one morning and walked into an old house. We were warmly welcomed by a young man, who showed us around. We got a glimpse of the wax-casting process that is said to have been used during the Chola times.This unique process begins by measuring and marking the desired figure with the help of a frond of the palm tree. Thereafter a wax model of the bronze figure is made and carefully crafted to perfection, which is then covered with three layers of clay of a specific quality found in the Kaveri basin. The mould is heated, causing the wax to melt, which creates a hollow within. Molten metal comprising an alloy of copper, silver, gold, tin and lead is then poured into the hollow to take the place of the melted wax. The clay is then removed and the figurine is carefully chiseled into its final shape.
In the course of our discussion I mentioned that there seemed to be some degree of similarity between the iconic sculpture of the dancing girl from the Indus Valley and the Chola sculptures. Surprised by my obsession, the young sthapati said that he was doing a Phd, precisely on this topic from the Thanjavur University. He added that he had had a dream the previous night about the dancing girl and the Chola sculptures and wrote a poem about it after waking up. He took a piece of paper from his pocket and started reciting the poem in Tamil in his lovely voice. It was such a moving experience, seemingly coincidental, yet profoundly meaningful. I was reminded of Jung’s observation that such occurrences are not mere coincidences due to chance but are directly related to the observer's mind, which he termed as synchronicity. It was a reminder that life is full of mysterious, inexplicable, beautiful moments.
It was my long cherished desire to have a bronze sculpture of Somaskanda, where Shiva is depicted sitting with his consort Uma and his son Skanda dancing between them. When I expressed my desire he searched for one among the several exquisite pieces that were there in the room and handed it over, made with the lost wax method. It remains one of our prized possessions.
As we were leaving the young sthapati quietly slipped a small bronze figurine of Appar, a Tamil saint and said, “do come again”.
Some memories are timeless treasures tha linger on…
Kindly post your comments here!

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The Lure Of The Parrots...

5/30/2022

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One of the birds that kept me company in San Francsico was the red masked parakeet, also called Cherry Headed Conure. A flock of them would descend noisily on the tree opposite our son’s apartment near Lombard Street. It was a startling sight to see their colours in the morning sun.

These birds are native to Ecuador and Peru, but showed up in San Francisco's Telegraph Hill neighbourhood in the 1980s. From a population of only four birds, they began to settle and breed in the city in large numbers.

They also attracted the attention of Mark Bittner an unemployed musician who was eking out his living as a caretaker in one of the Telegraph Hill’s historic, crumbling cottages. He was smitten with these colourful, noisy birds and started observing them closely. He published a book about these parrots in 2004 and in 2005 a film was made based on it, which catapulted Bittner and the parrots into popularity and the public eye.

As people became more aware of these parrots, it also created some controversy. Since they were non-native species which can potentially threaten the native birds, conservationists argued that the flock should be removed. But people of San Francisco fought to keep the parrots intact, arguing that they were an important part of the city's culture and history. Ultimately, they prevailed, and the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill can be seen both in their home territory and all over the city as they scurry around for food.

Parrots figure prominently in Sangam literature. They are vividly described in many poems. One of them even mentions about a parrot with red neck band! They reside in Kurinji thinai, (mountain and adjoining lands) where they come in droves to eat clusters of millet in the fields. The heroine and her friend who are sent by the family, chase the birds, using the rattles and other noisy implements. The parrots also provide an excuse for the heroine to meet the hero secretly, without the knowledge of the family.

For instance, in Ainkurunuru (meaning five hundred short poems) which are generally dated from about the late 2nd-to-3rd-century-CE, Kapilar, the poet describes the how the parrots have given an opportunity for the man to meet the lover of his life.

வெள்ள வரம்பின் ஊழி போகியும்
கிள்ளை வாழிய பலவே, ஒள் இழை
இரும்பல் கூந்தல் கொடிச்சி
பெருந்தோள் காவல் காட்டியவ்வே.

Translated as:
May the parrots live longer even after trillions and trillions of eons!
They are the reason that the lady from the mountains with long black hair and big shoulders, wearing glistening jewels came to watch over the grains.

On the World Parrot Day let us hope that these colourful avian species live long and bing cheer int our lives!

The parrots would like to hear from you...here!

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The Whistling Schoolboy!

5/13/2022

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Today is the Endemic Bird Day.
Endemic birds are those that are found only within a confined geographical area and it is always a moment to cherish when you spot one of them!
Some years ago, George Mothi, my friend and a passionate bird lover took me on a day long birding sojourn in the Athirapalli region of Kerala. It was an unforgettable experience as we were lucky to see a wide range of avian beauties. As we were driving slowly in the forest, George stopped the car as he spotted some movement amongst the dense foliage.
Looking closer, I could clearly see a bird, about the size of a crow, blackish with shiny patches of blue on the forehead and shoulders. Its glossy blue plumage with iridescent sheen glinted beautifully in the light. As I watched, the bird was looking for something in the grass. It suddenly halted and….whistled! I couldn’t believe my ears as the sound was so human-like. It is no surprise then that it is often referred as a “Whistling Schoolboy!” Of all the songbirds I have heard, Malabar Whistling Thrush which is endemic to peninsular India, mostly the Western Ghats, is the most mellifluous of them all!
The great Salim Ali has commented: "Personally, I would choose as our most accomplished songster, the Greywinged Blackbird of the Himalayas. A number of its close relations, members of the thrush family including the Malabar Whistling Thrush and the Shama follow close on its heels”.
The Kadar tribes in the Anaimalai hills believe that when an elder in their community dies, he or she is reborn as a Malabar Whistling Thrush. When they enter the forest and listen to its call they know that they are not alone.
As always there is an interesting legend associated with this bird...
One day Lord Krishna was wandering along the banks of a mountain stream when he came to a lovely spot with a small waterfall. Enchanted with the beautiful ambiance, he started playing his flute. As he was playing the music, he fell asleep and the flute slipped from his fingers. It was not a restful sleep and when he awoke, he was shocked to see a ragged urchin standing ankle-deep in the pool with the sacred flute held onto his lips. Krishna was furious. “Come here, boy!” he shouted, “How dare you steal my flute and disturb my sleep! Don’t you know who I am?” The urchin replied “I did not steal your flute, lord. Had that been my intention, I would not have waited for you to wake up. It was only my love for your music that made me touch your flute. You will teach me to play, will you not? I will be your disciple.” Krishna’s anger melted away, and he was filled with compassion for the boy. He laid his hand on the boy’s mouth, saying, “Forever try to copy the song of the gods, but never succeed.” Then he touched the boy’s clothes and said, “Let the raggedness and dust disappear, and only the beautiful colours of Krishna remain.” And the boy was turned into a bird with dark blue brilliant body which we now know as the Malabar Whistling Thrush. Its melodious call continues to reverberate among beautiful, forested valleys...
Your lovely song
Bouncing off the trees
Straddling the wind
Echoes in my heart still…
Feel Free To Let The Whistling Schoolboy Know What You Think Of It... Here!

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Sculptural Heritage Of Shivaripatna

4/20/2022

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After savouring the rich architectural heritage of the Ramalingeshwara temple at Avani, we made our way to Shivaripatna. The google map guided us through agricultural lands where slushy and deeply rutted mud roads were a test for driving. The sounds of chisels working on stones greeted us as we reached the outskirts of the village.

Shivaripatna is a small village in Malur taluk of Kolar district. This nondescript hamlet is a well-known place for intricate carvings on granite. Majority of people in the village are Vishwakarmas. The Vishwakarmas, also known as Vishwabrahmins are descendants of the Hindu deity, Vishwakarma. He was considered as the divine architect and deemed to have emerged out of Samudra Manthan. According to another account, Lord Brahma had a son named Dharma and his son Vaastu married Angirasi, and from them, Vishwakarma was born. However, according to the Vishwakarma Purana, he is considered to be a Swayambhu. The legend states that he was the creator of many holy cities like Dwaraka and also crafted numerous weapons for the gods. He had five children, Manu, Maya, Tvastar, Shilpi, and Vishwajna, each one of them specializing in a particular craft. Hence the community comprises five sub-groups: blacksmiths, carpenters, bronzesmiths, stonemasons and goldsmiths.

How did this village have such a concentration of Vishwakarma artisans? It is said that during the period of the Ganga Dynasty a ‘shilpi’ named Basulinga Acharya was traveling and spent a night in a dharmashala in Shivarapatna. After cooking food for the night, he took some pieces of charcoal and drew an idol on the wall, which was strikingly beautiful. Next morning when the villagers saw the drawing they were astounded by his skill. The news spread like wild fire and the king got to know about this. He came to the village to meet him, offered a piece of land and asked him to stay in the place and practice the craft. The craftmanship flourished in the village thereafter!

Almost every dwelling in the village has a workshop. We slowly made our way from one workshop to another, each one a treasure trove full of exquisite sculptures. In one of the workshops we watched with awe as a middle aged person carefully worked on sculpting an idol. Aware of our interest, he took us around the place and explained the process of making the sculptures in detail. In the process we got to know that he was a Muslim and had been making idols for decades. His father was also in the same profession. He said that he had carved thousands of idols until now, many of them in worship in temples. Although Islam doesn’t propagate idol worship no one from his community questioned him and he has been accepted and continues to be a part of the Vishwakarmas in the village.

This was a truly inspiring story in these deeply polarized times and is an enduring testimony to the long cherished syncretic tradition of our country.

There has always been a syncretism of religions in India.

No couplet I know captures this more succinctly than one by Kabir that I learned as a child and have never forgotten:
Moko kahaan dhoondhate bande, Mai to tere paas me;
Na Mai Mandir, na Mai Masjid, naa Kaaba Kailash me.
(Where dost thou seek me oh devotee, for I am right beside thee;
Not in a temple, nor in a mosque, not at the Qaaba, nor on Mount Kailash, shalt thou find me)
A few glimpse of our visit at:
photos.app.goo.gl/apuMSCPHNEMinnRF7
Feel free to pen your thoughts here…

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A Petite Songster...

The Majestic Raptor

A Resplendent Raptor

The Insatiable Quest For Beauty...An abiding pursuit

Songster From Secluded Recesses...

Through The Lens Of A Poet: Keats & Psychotherapy

The Enduring Legacy Of The Vishwakarmas

The Lure Of The Parrots...

The Whistling Schoolboy!

Sculptural Heritage Of Shivaripatna

Dr Raguram

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