Sunday, April 27, 2008

A HANDBOOK OF JAINOLOGY

Please follow the URL
http://www.jainworld.com/pdf/HANDBOOK%20of%20Jainology.pdf
to get a pdf detailing the
#Origin of Jainism
#Basics of dharma
#And much more about which we should know

Note:If unable to access the link then please let me know so that I will send the PDF

Note:Keep a dictionary aside :)

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Trip to Sravanbelagola

25th March 2008
We woke-up at around 0400hrs and taxi was at our doorstep at sharp 0530hrs. We left at 0600 hrs. The scenic beauty and greenery of Karnataka is beyond the words. The can-be-said dawn and trees on the sides of road was heartaking. Reached Sravanbelagola at 0830hrs, place is 160 kms far from Bangalore. There is one dharamshala (inn) near the bus-stand, booked one room and relaxed for 30 mins.
Now its the the time to do some mountaineering, not actually, and take lots of snaps. There are two mountains named Indragiri and Chandragiri, back to 982 AD. All-in-all there are 500-600 steps, I am always confused with the names of mountains, which took some about 45 mins to reach the top. Its a religious place as its said Bhagwan Bahubali did tapasya there for whole 1 year. But the history get its other words. Up-there we followed the process of pooja.
Its said that Maha-mastakabhishek is done every 12 yrs because Bahubali continued tapasya for 12 yrs. But this is not the fact, its because the carving of statue took 12 yrs. The statue is 57 feet tall and carved out of single rock. This mountain can be completed in total 3 hrs, its 1200hrs in the clock. Now, the turn of other mountain. Wait for 3 hrs, have some food and relax..... :)

At 1500hrs, start heading the other mountain. You are near the nature and the God. Never expect anything from God, they are not to give-n-take but to inspire you. This mountain got different history. Said here number of saints came to find a peaceful environment and also due to some reasons at that time..don't know really. One can find basadi (A Jain Temple). Visiting kind of places is always a pleasure to the mind-n-soul, leaving all the materialistic emotions beside.
Time to climb down, its 1800hrs.

Trip is not over yet, yes time to go to a very ancient temple 25 kms off the route to B'lore where people usually don't go but I'm always an eager person to visit the nooks. This is much more historic and within a village Kamadehaali or kadambahaali (didn't get correct due to the kannada accent). There was no maali (caretaker) only two little boys having the temple keys. Too ancient.

Time to leave the place, my tauji, taiji and cousin already tired except me :).

Memorable moments.