Shravanabelagola, Karnataka

 

Shravanabelagola, is located about 150 km from Bangalore, Karnataka and has  been a significant center for Jain art, architecture, religion, and culture for over two thousand years. The town became prominent when Bhagawan Bhadrabahu, a key Jain Acharya, arrived from Ujjain with his disciples. Influenced by him, emperor Chandragupta Maurya settled in this area and passed his kingdom to his son to rule.

A notable landmark in Shravanabelagola is the 18-meter tall monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara, a revered Jain saint. It is situated atop Vidyangiri hill and is recognized as one of the tallest and most graceful monolithic statues in the world.   The statue is carved out of a single piece of granite and stands at 57 feet. It is regarded as one of the largest free-standing statues in the world. It symbolizes the Jains ideolgy of peace, non-violence, and renunciation. 

History of Lord Gomateshwara (Bahubali) 

Bahubali, the son of the first Jain Teerthankara, Lord Adinatha, fought his brother Bharatha for the throne in a duel that tested various skills. Although he won, Bahubali was disillusioned by the pursuit of material wealth and chose to renounce his kingdom and worldly pleasures. He entered in a deep meditation, embodying spiritual tranquility.  Bahubali meditated motionlessly in a standing position for a year, during which plants grew along his legs. After this period, he attained Kevala Gyana and became a respected figure among the Jain community.

In 981 AD, Chavundaraya, the prime minister of the Ganga Kingdom, commissioned a statue of Bahubali in this meditative pose. 

Nearby on Chandragiri, houses memorials and basadis of various other Jaina sramanas or monks who meditated and lived here, including the last Rashtrakuta king, Manyakheta.

Mahamastakabhisheka is a significant event held every twelve years at Shravanabelagola, where the statue of Bahubali is anointed with various substances, including water, turmeric, and gold flowers. This event draws thousands of tourists and pilgrims, with the next celebration planned for 2030.

Flamingos at Pulicat Lake, Tamil Nadu

 

Pulicat Lake, located north of Chennai on the Tamil Nadu-Andhra border, is a brackish lagoon known for its rich marine life and habitat for numerous bird species. It spans about 60,000 hectares and supports numerous and rare birds all through the year. This water body  is classified as one of India's important Bird Areas for both photographers and bird lovers with a part of the lake designated as the Pulicat Bird Sanctuary that serves to conserve the aquatic life species found abundantly here. 

The Pulicat wetlands houses over 60 species of migratory birds, the most notably are the greater flamingo and ruddy turnstone, which arrive as far as from Europe and Siberia during winter migration. 

Our trip to Pulicat this March was primarily to sight the great flamingos, which are spotted from October to March/April. The vast salt pans are the only place these birds visit in Tamilnadu.  Apart from Pulicat these birds are seen at Kutch- Gujarat, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra and Chilka lake at Orissa in India. 

The Lake being a natural resource for fishery and shrimp cultivation is the main source of livelihood for the fisherfolk of the villages along this coast. The fisherfolks and birds co exist with each other which in turn benefit this massive water body.  

Due to security reasons near the lake that particular day, we could set off on one of the boats only by noon, to get a glimpse of these graceful flamingos. 

The boat ride was by itself breathtaking, with the boatman taking us close to the spotted pelicans, flocks of terns and seagulls along the coast that is lined up with patches of mangrove trees. 

As we neared the Andhra Pradesh coast, the closest the Tamilnadu boats could reach, a huge white band spanning across a few meters contrasting with the deep blue waters was seen. Hundreds of flamingos far from where any boat can reach created the most spectacular sight, a sight which can only be experienced. 

Never would I have even imagined that such a huge number of these large birds migrate as far as Pulicat. Awestruck I captured with a maximum zoom on my DSLR overwhelmed with what we saw. The boats too dock at a distance so not to disturb these fragile bird. 

Constant disturbances prevent these migratory birds from resting and finding food, negatively impacting their breeding success during spring. Moreover human disturbances impact their migratory pattern and urge them to move away to other places. 

The sight of these hundreds of pink toned white birds all in a row lingered on with us back to the boat dock, vibing with the experience of nature at its best.

 

Bird Watching From My Balcony

 As songs of the birds, rise above the quiet and empty lanes of my community every morning, very few stop from their monotonous routine to discover the joy of birding. Bird watching is a pleasure for those, looking to connect with nature. 

We usually don't notice the birds but they have always been around us even in urban settings. When given the drop in noise level, the chirping of the birds are definitely heard more. Birding is a fun hobby and one of the best ways to experience wildlife in our own surroundings. It is a hobby that does not require any prior skills sets. All one has to do is look. 

I was astounded when I realized that there are more than 25 species of birds just around my home that can be seen from my balcony. What initially began as a leisure activity during my visit to the United States, has now evolved into a dedicated endeavor to document various species regularly on my Instagram page sumats_clicks. I use Google lens on my mobile to identify the birds captured with a Canon 55_250mm lens attached to a DSLR 600D camera. Nowadays, technology has significantly eased up bird watching by aiding us connect to this remarkable bird realm. Numerous studies and anecdotes tell us how bird watching helps in reducing stress and depression while enhancing concentration. It is kind of a meditation only here, it requires you to keep your eyes and ears open and concentrate.

                               

Observing birds from my third-floor balcony offers a serene beginning to my day. Moreover overlooking the trees at an eye level gives me an advantage to sight birds. I frequently encounter Purple-rumped Sunbirds and the Common Mynas and the vocal congregation of Yellow billed Babblers, Rose-ringed Parakeets and Red-vented Bulbuls. Among more boisterous species are the Coucals, Koels and the Drongos though they seldom emerge from their cover in the bushes. On occassion, I have observed a Shikra being chased by crows. But the Flame-backed Woodpeckers, Asian Bee- eaters, Pied Mynas, Spotted Doves and the Oriental Magpies are the ones notably elusive, as they swiftly maneuver between trees.

                               

Given that my balcony overlooks a waterbody, the diversity of the wildlife extends to aquatic species which include Moorhens, Jacanas, White-breasted Waterhens, Pond Herons and White-throated Kingfishers. With the favorable monsoon season this year I also sighted the arrival of Little Grebes, Grey-headed Swamp hens, Egrets and Cormorants. The pleasant weather conditions from November to February attracted the Golden Orioles, Rufous Treepies and the Coppersmith Barbets which has made its residency in the nearby tree. 

Capturing a Spot-billed Duck which landed briefly in the water and a Pied Cuckoo when looking out for the parakeets are moments every balcony birdie would dream for. 

  Nature's abundance surrounding our homes is frequently taken for granted as we constantly seek new and exotic experiences in distant lands. Spending a few minutes to pause from our chores and appreciating the gifts of nature around can provide us with a source of joy and calm on a daily basis.