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Udupi Krishna Temple

It was a great day for me to have a darshan of Lord Krishna at Udupi, in Karnataka State. Udupi is just 60 kms away from Mangalore in the coastal region of Western Ghats.





According to legends, Sri Madhvacharya, the great Sanskrit Philosopher and saint, installed the idol of Lord Krishna and sanctified the place in 13th century. The temple is built in Dravidian architecture. Learn more about Udupi Krishna temple here.









After our darshan we decided to spend some time in the nearby beach - Malpe Beach. This beautiful beach is just 6 kms away.

At the feet of Lord Murudeshwara

Recently I had a visit to the famous Murudeshwara Temple of Karnataka. The huge idol of Lord Shiva and the tall rajagopura are amazing.







Murudeshwara beach is another great tourist attraction there. This picturesque place is a marvelous tourist destination.

A cool morning in the cave temple

We reached Narasimha Jhara Cave temple Bidar (Karnataka) as early as 7.00 a.m. and waited there to open until 8 a.m.


The shrine inside the temple (immediately after you get in)




Inside the cave

The cave is electrified and air-conditioned. We had to walk through water (above waist length) for about 300 meters, to have a darshan of the Lord at the end of the cave, which is believed to be swayamboo. It was really a thrilling experience. Lots of bats were flyling on the roof top of the cave. We were told that they do no harm to the devotees.



Outside the temple - People waiting to have a holy bath in the spring which comes out through the Nandi's mouth.



Entrance to the temple

If proper maintenance is done this unique place can be developed into a great tourist spot and more people can have the thrilling experience of walking through the water, in the cave.

Inside the Pattadakkal temple complex

As our shadows lengthened we reached our next destination - Pattadakkal, a World Heritage Centre. All were with full excitement to be there.

Pattadakkal, the second capital of the Chalukyan kings, is located 29 kms from Badami, along the bank of the river Malaprabha.


Built in 7th and 8th centuries, Pattadakkal was served as the royal coronation site.
Pattadakkal is a World Heritage Center today. The temple complex is dotted with 10 major temples representing both north and south Indian architecture.









Pattadakkal is also famous for its Music and Dance Festival organized annually by the Government of Karnataka, held in in the month of January. Many renowned and upcoming dancers take part in this festival. The dances are inspired by the different inscription and images carved on the temple walls. During the festival, a craft mela is also organized.

Shivayoga Mandira

Our next destination was Shivayoga Mandira at Badami, which is 11 kms away from Pattadakkal.



Located in a serene place, Shivayoga Mandir is a great place to visit.

Mahakuta (Mahakoota) Kshetra

Another great place we visited was Mahakuta (Mahakoota) Kshetra, an ancient temple built by Chalukyas.




Mahakuta is a small town surrounded by hills and cool atmosphere, located 14 kms away from Badami, in Bagalkot District. Mahakuta is renowned for the Mahakuteshwara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, built in Dravidian style. In the courtyard, there are 15 small temples with intricate sculptures. The temples, built by Chalukyan dynasty, are dated to the 6th or 7th century. Mahakuta was once a great center of shaiva cult. Now only in one temple poojas are performed.






Another beautiful attraction is a natural pond called Vishnu Pushkarni. There is a small shrine in the centre of the Vishnu Pushkarni tank and in it is a Shiva linga (universal symbol of Lord Shiva) called Panchamukha linga ("five faced linga"), one face for each direction and one on top. This pond is now used as a relaxing joint by the visitors.





This place is often called Dakshina Kasi because of its religious importance.

Badami Cave Temples

Our next trip was to the world famousBadami Cave temples, built in 578 AD. Badami was the capital of early Chalukyas until eight century, lying in between mountains and lakes.

There was a small amount of entrance fee to be paid to see the temples. Our group leader paid the fee for us and hence I don't know how much it was.




I was wonder stuck at the view of the mighty cave temples, the marvels of the
Chalukyan style of architecture. Though I had read about these temples in several places, experiencing it by being there and exploring these ancient temples was something which words can't explain enough. Even in the scorching sun, the gigantic deep reddish sandstone cave temples looked marvelous. I was imagining how they would have looked in the early morning or in the evening in the pleasant mood of the Sun God!

There were many stone steps one has to climb to reach each temple.






There were four caves on the rock - two were devoted to Lord Vishnu, one to Lord Shiva and the last one was a Jain temple. In the first cave temple,
(Lord Siva temple), there is an 18 armed Nataraja, in 81 dancing poses.


(The guide is explaining about Lord Nataraja and the dancing poses)


In the second cave temple Lord Vishnu is the holy deity of this cave manifested as a dwarf or Trivikrama. Lord is in the position of conquering the Earth by his one foot and rules the sky with his other foot.

In the third temple, Vishnu is manifested in many forms - Vishnu with a serpent, Vishnu as Man-Lion, Shiva Vishnu and Vishnu as Trivikrama are the other attractions of the cave.




The main attraction of the 4th cave (Jain temple) is the sculpture of Lord Mahavira decking the shrine besides the images of Padmavathi and other Thirthankaras. The 24th Tirthankara- Mahavira, is seated in a uniquely comfortable pose here, against a cushion in the inner sanctum. The shrine of Nagamma, the local serpent goddess, within a massive tamarind tree is another example of the architecture.


Another great surprise was the huge lake, called Agasthyamuni Lake (Agasthyathirtha Lake), with rocky hills surrounding it on three sides and sandstone temples at the feet of these hills. You can get a magnificient view of the lake from the third and fourth caves. It is said that this lake has no source of water.





It is believed that this water had ayurvedic properties in the old ages as ayurvedic plants were cultivated in the surrounding high areas of the lake.Standing before the second cave temple, I spent sometime getting a bird's eye view of the entire Badami town.

Monkeys were the permanent inhabitants there. We were looking for some drinking water around, and saw one or two shops down the hill. My sister bought a juice bottle there, which within minutes a monkey appeared there and ran away snatching it from her hand!

Yoga Tour- Banashankari Temple, Badami

Our Yoga group had arranged for an annual tour and this year it was towards North Karnataka. We were a large crowd, and were accommodated in four buses. Our Yoga Guru had made arrangements for our stay and food in the respective places.

It was past one O' clock when we reached Badami. Our first visit was to the famous Banashankari Temple, built in 17th century. Banashankari Temple is located at Cholachigud 5 kilometers from Badami - the historic capital of Chalukyas and The idol of Goddess Banashankari, made out of black stone,is seated as a lion treading down the demon with her foot. The idol has eight hands and is seen holding trishul-damadurga, kapaalpatra, ghanta, veda scripts and khadg-kheta.

Since photography was not allowed inside, I was able to click just two photos from outside. The first one was an outside view of the temple, and the second one was the temple chariot which was decorated and used during the car festival (Jan-Feb). The top of the chariot was protected by a thatch of coconut leaves. The four granite wheels appeared about 8 feet in diameter and the thickness must be about 8 inches.







Banashankari Devi is considered as the incarnation of Goddess Parvati, who is regarded as the divine consort of Lord Shiva. According to the Skanda Purana it was here that Devi killed a demon called Durgamasura. As the temple is located in the Tilakaaranya forest, the Devi is popularly called Banashankari. 'Ban' means forest. Banashankari Devi is also said to be worshiped by mighty Chalukyas as Kuladevi.

During the annual festival held in January-February on full moon day, the image of the Goddess is placed in a chariot and taken in a procession around the region. Huge crowds of devotees come to attend this festival of Banashankari Devi.

Regional New Year celebration in India

14th April was the New Year Festival for many Indians in different parts of the country. They celebrated the New Year with different names.

In Kerala, it was "Vishu" whereas in Tamil Nadu it was called "Puthandu," and for Bengalis and Punjabis the New Year was "Baisakhi". Assamese celebraated it as "Goru Bihu".




The important features of this festival (Vishu) are Kani Kanal (viewing the auspicious things as the first sight of the year), Kaineetam (distributing money by the elders to the young ones). The yellow colored flower called "Konnapoo" blooms during Vishu time and it is an important part of the Vishu Kani preparation.

Floriculture in Bangalore

Some of the beautiful Gerbera flowers of Bangalore, capital city of Karnataka in South India.

Slices of rural India

I happened to visit a relative in a rural area of Bangalore. On the way I had the chance to visit the Agro Fruit market in Huskur. I found the fruits were cheaper here, and the minimum purchase is of 5 kilos.







On the way I stopped seeing a lake, to click a photograph.





The wide and beautiful Hosur Road.

Begur Nageshwara Temple

On Shivaratri Day, we wanted to visit another Shiva temple, and hence decided to visit the ancient Shiva temple at Begur, off Bomanhalli on the Hosur highway.

We reached there very early in the morning, by then the devotees were just arriving in singles and groups.

I was amazed to see the 1200 year old Shiva temple, built in granite, by the Cholas. (Raja Raja Chola). The temple is not tall, but spread across. I chose another day to go there leisurely to take some photos and get some details of the age old temple, from the people who knew about it.

This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Panchalingeswara. The main deity is Sri Parvati Sametha Nagaeshwara Swamy Linga.



The temple complex enshrines Panchalingas i.e.Nageswara, Kaleswara, Nagareswara, Karneswara, and Choleswara. Sculptures depicting stories from the Panchatantra are carved all around the garbagriha wall.




I was told that this place had got the name Bengaluru, much before the Bangalore city got its name. Nageshwara temple at Begur is believed to be the first place where an inscription records the name `Bengaluru'.






There is also a Nava Graha Mantapa. (Nine planets). A a huge idol of Nandi facing the Linga is also there. A separate shrine of Sri Parvathi measuring about 5 feet is also there.

Outside the Shrine of Sri Nageshwara, in the courtyard are a carved wooden Dwajastambha and Bali Peetham.






There is an idol of Sri Ganesha, which is said to be the oldest shrine of Lord Ganesha in South India, whose trunk is turned to right. The temple of Lord Ganesha is under renovation now.




Near the temple is a lake, (Begur lake?) which needs attention. Many lotus flowers were also there in the lake. If this lake is preserved and maintained in a proper way Bangaloreans can be proud of this natural gift as a tourist destination.


According to Sri Thyagaraja, committee member of the Trust, 4 Raja gopurams are to be built, with an estimate of 20 crores. The construction work of two gopurams have already started.







There are some huge stones with the inscriptions placed outside. There is also a tree (Banni Mara) in the premises, which is said to be more than 100 years old.




The important festivals of this ancient temple are -

1) Maha Shivratri Festival

2) Rathotsavam for two days(April).


Both these festivals are attended by large masses of people.

Daily poojas are held here from 6 to 8 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and on Mondays upto 10 p.m.

Yoga - Anniversary Function at Lal Bagh

Last Saturday evening (28th Feb 2009) was not like any other evening. It was special for many of us who regard yoga as a part of our life. We were lucky to attend the second Anniversary celebration organized by the Lal Bagh Branch Yoga students, of Sri Pathanjali Yoga Sikshane Samithi (R) Karnataka. The two-days program gave the participants an opportunity to enrich their knowledge in Yoga from the Gurus.


(Gurus and dignitaries at the function)


(Yoga students performing Bharathanatya)











(Yoga students demonstrating other asanas)




(Yoga students demonstrating Suryanamskara)





(Prayer before food)



(Idu ootada samaya - Time for food)

Yoga is a gift of our culture for a healthy and happy life. If interested to learn more about Yoga, click here.

The Rejuvenating Yoga Camp

On a cool Thursday afternoon we left for Kollegal, a town in Chamarajnagar District of Karnataka. We were three students and our Yoga Master, to attend a 4 days Yoga camp.

I always wanted to experience the fascinating world of Yoga. When I got a chance to enroll at our own residental campus I didn't think twice. After a continuous training of 2 months, we were advised to attend the Yoga Camp. Only few of us were able to attend the Camp, and few others were planned to attend the next camp at Kolar. (Such camps are held frequently, in different locations).




In Kollegal, we had a memorable time. The organizers (Pathanjali Yoga Sikshana Samithi)of the camp were cheerful and energetic, with full of life, committed to do their best for the society in spreading the awareness of yoga and its magical effects on your mind, body and soul. The participants were from the nearby districts and varied from the age groupof 18-70 years, numbering about 150. They belonged to different professions, students to housewives to medical doctors.



The members of the Samithi taught Yoga to any one who is interested to learn more about it and to get the benefits to self and teach others as well. All of them had their own jobs for their livelihood since they were not collecting fee for teaching yoga. Still they were totally dedicated and committed to teach yoga to the aspiring students after their professional time. They have branches in many parts of Karnataka and even outside like Mumbai.





Detailed lectures and demonstration of various asanas and Pranayama by prominent exponents of Yoga, and a procession through the town of Kollegal by the yoga team, to spread the awareness of Yoga, were the major highlights of the Yoga Camp.

Our mobile phones and cameras were deposited with them as soon as we reached there, as per their requirement, and were returned after the camp. It was required as we were expected to give our total attention towards it. Thus we were totally disconnected from the world, except for emergency, for three days and nights. Basic accommodation and healthy food were also provided for free, by the organizers.

Just a few snaps of the event are here which were clicked after we got back our cameras and mobiles, at the time of leaving the rejuvenating camp.

We returned home revitalized and relaxed, with a determination to make Yoga as a part of our daily life.