My Visit to Dharmasthala 

A time when I realized that my dream have come true. This was a time when I went to a spiritual place known as Dharmasthala. Dharmasthala is a place full of life and joy that is a very extraordinary combination to find in today’s busy life. I found peace at my workplace, impossible to describe in words. Living envision for me.

forward

I got an opportunity to work at a place known as Dharmasthala. This place is famous for a temple, area also known as Shree Kshethra. This is a coastal region of Karnataka, Identifiable as Dakshina Kannada. Entire place is surrounded by great mountains and three rivers. The place has natural habitat for dangerous wild Cobra and king Cobra snakes. Place is also famous for farming of Keshu, coffee, nuts, black pepper and ever green tender coconuts.

Introduction to Dharmasthala

This is a place of spiritual ambiance. Dharmasthala is the confluence of three faiths living in harmony with each other, spreading the message of brotherhood among all. This spirit of oneness is incarnate in charity, service, comfort and consolation. It is not just preached, but translated into action in this adobe of dharma. A temple of Lord Shiva, worshiped by Vaishnava priest, in care of Jain religion and also worshiped by Muslims in large number. The greatness can be observed by visiting the “adobe of Dharma”.

Padambhushan Dr. Virendra Hegadde

“Adobe of Dharma” The saying came from an ancient chronicle about establishment of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara Temple. Story starts from 800 years ago. Dharmasthala was known as Kuduma in Mallarmadi, then a village in south Kanara. Here lived the Jain Chieftain Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballalthi in a house called Nelliadi Beedu. Simple family was known for his hospitality. According to the legend, the guardian angels of Dharma assumed human forms and arrived at Pergade’s adobe in search of a place where Dharma was being practiced and could be continued and propagated. As was their habit, the Pergade couple hosted these illustrious visitors with their entire wherewithal and great respect. Pleased by their sincerity and generosity, that night the Dharma Daivas appeared in the dreams of Shri Birmanna Pergade. They explained the purpose of their visit to him and instructed him to vacate his house for the worship of the Daivas and dedicated his life to the propagation of Dharma. Shri Birmana Pergade stated worshiped that place and built a new home somewhere else. The tradition was followed by his ancestors even now. Daivas choose house of Shri Birmana Pergade’s house as adobe of Dharma nevertheless this place is famous for not only due to ritual and spiritual reason but also for hospitality and generosity of Heggade family (caretaker of temple).

Pattabhishekh Festival at Dharmasthala

Apart from the spiritual value of Dharmasthala I fell for the natural beauty of this place, accompanied by the great social custom and value.

Dharmasthala- The locals

My first day, I went to see the museum, situated near to the main temple of Shri Manjunatheswara. A huge signboard probably from 80’s was saying “Shree Manjusha museum”. Completely rusted and about to fall anytime, in wait of last moment of his life, I crossed this signboard very carefully and approached to the main entrance of museum. A middle aged person from museum staff came in front of me asked something in kannada (Kannada is a local language, commonly used in local region). “Kannada” ya sure, I assumed that he is asking for tickets as I am illiterate when it comes on local dialect or language. I tried to explain him that I am new to this place and I came to visit this museum and I suppose to work here for further extension of museum. Nevertheless after a while I understood that he was not able to understand my words, so I asked him to take me to the manager.

Manager was a common face, middle aged man, the Manager was not very good with Hindi or English but something is better than nothing. After 20 minutes I was able to explain my name successful to him. I understood that it will not going to be easy. I must admit that this museum was housing a great collection. I never expected a small museum with no identity, could collect large encyclopedic collection. This museum was filled with decorative arts, rare ivory artifact, huge collection of stone sculptures excavated from nearby places, in addition collection gives a glimpse of gold and silver jewelry, music instruments and many other attraction. Museum was having nine individual storerooms. Total strength of collection was counted approximate 36000. Another individual unit/library holds a collection of manuscript, number goes around 7000. In miscellaneous artifact one can count three large steam train engines, two aircrafts, one road roller, more than six fully flagged gigantic wooden ritual Rathas.

A Good collection, a new site to construct a larger building with no knowledge of local food habits and culture, it was definitely a difficult and stressful task for me to live in total opposite condition. When I started to live at this place I realized that I got mesmerized by the smile of these people. Food does not matter because it served with great enthusiasm. It took me twice time to eat same food as them with my hands because I was more close to stupid city culture of eating with spoon while sitting on large dining table. I ended up liking that food so much that I gained 10 kg in six months. Some other attractions of that place were delicious coffee from a local shop named Trupti, tender coconut and Neeru Dosa (food Dish) from my neighbor aunty.

snake from my backyard 

While walking on the streets I saw a cobra was walking with me and gave me company for another ten meter was something I can never express in words. I never saw a cobra walking freely and now I was living with them. One very nice morning while going for may daily routine, I opened my room’s door and encountered a cobra sitting next to my right leg was a experience that gave me near a heart attack. I never felt amazed the way I felt in a small span in Dharmasthala.

Dharmasthala is made of traditional brick houses. Local material for construction is red clay and soft red stone. One very pleasant day I walked outside of my house, it was raining. I saw rain water was coming from the mountains through deep green valley by the mean of ducts immerged red clay with it. It was thrilling to see a blood like river coming through green valley, running over gray dammar road. Beauty of nature was talking and telling the story of beauty of this place.

Towards end

It was my pleasure to live in a place like Dharmasthala. Never found such a clam environment with a touch of divine attentiveness. I saw all my thoughts coming true in such a small place with a total population of 400 people. I believed that every person should visit Dharmasthala in his life and appreciate its immense values. I found artist inside me in this place. I lived most amazing moments and I always look for an opportunity to visit again this place. 

Natural colors

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This article says about the natural colors used by men over the periods of time. Started from cave man to the great Ajanta cave painting and pursued throughout Mughal paintings and now tradition is alive in the form of traditional Miniature paintings. Natural colors were made out bark of tree, clay, minerals and many other herbs.

While reading about natural colors I realized that there is lots of articles has been written on Natural colors in relation of Paintings but there is a different aspect of natural colors belongs to traditional ceremonies and festival of India. This paper is focused on use of natural colors in various ceremonies followed by traditions in India. 

India has a very rich culture of using natural colors in many occasions. Natural color influences not only day to day life of a common man but also aesthetic values of art and craft. There is a saying that India has more than 17000 herbs that can be used as a color. Natural colors pursue a long history starting from cave man that started using colors and created his word imagination into shapes and color splashes. I am presenting a list of natural colors used on various festivals and ceremonies in Rajasthan. 

Geru (Indian red color) 

The Geru color is made of red stone (also known as Hirmich). Hirmich or Geru gives very similar shade of Indian red color. It is easy available in Indian market in form of grinded powder. Geru is very important ingredient for Indian miniature paintings as well, very same time Geru has a striking ritual value too. Rajasthan has a rich tradition of painting Mandanas on the wall and floor. Madana tradition is very unique and rare to find, one can find Mandana on auspicious occasion only. Wall Mandana can be seen in small villages of Rajasthan. There are number of Unique Mandanas for every Ritual. 

Khadiya (white) 

Khadiya is found in form of Stone in market. Khadiya is a soft stone can be grind easily. It produce milky while color. Khadiya has same value as Geru when it comes on Mandana. Ritual symbol of mandanas uses Geru and Khadiya as a key ingredient. Khadiya is key ingredient for Miniature painting of Rajasthan as well 

Haldi (Turmeric, yellow color) 

Curcuma Longa L, the botanical name for turmeric, has been known to man for more than 5000 years and is well known not only as a condiment, used widely in Indian cooking, but also as a healing agent , in beauty treatments, has medicinal properties and is used extensively in India. This humble yellow root finds its place in almost every Indian household and is a very strong contender for Grandma’s favorite kitchen remedy. The benefits of this wonder root has been revealing itself through the ages and is used extensively as an anti-inflammatory, anti depressant and anti- bacterial and is effective in treating a wide range of disease and ailments from Alzheimer’s to cancer. Haldi has used in Indian cooking from ancient times. Haldi gives a chrome yellow shade. Haldi symbolizes pureness of sprit and sacred areas of ceremonies. Because turmeric is associated with fertility and prosperity, it is used during the haldi ceremony at Hindu weddings. The powder is mixed with water to form a paste and family members apply it to the bride and groom’s face and body. It signifies the ritual purification of the new couple and serves as a blessing of fortune and prosperity. It is also intended to relax the bride and groom and dispel any nervousness. Before the wedding day, the turmeric is washed from the body. Traditionally turmeric was also used to dye the marriage cloth. 

Hindus all across India use turmeric on a daily basis. Women often apply it to their faces in the evening as an act of emulation for the Goddess Durga whose skin emits a yellow glow. Turmeric is also used to give yellow coloration to clothes as it is associated with the Lord Krishna who is depicted wearing yellow. In addition, certain special Ganesh idols are made entirely of turmeric and turmeric water is used as an offering to the Goddess Kali. 

Heena or Mehandi

Heena is a plants leaves also known as Mehandi, technical name of plant is Lawsonia inermis. Dried leaves of Heena plant are use to make power. Henna powder is easily available in Indian market on shops. Heena has been used in Marriages and other ceremonies extensively. 

It is a herb and commonly used as hair dye. Henna is one of the most beneficial herbs and can do wonders for your hair. It has cooling properties and when applied to the scalp can soothe and cleanse it. Here are some more benefits of henna. Henna is an excellent conditioner for your hair. It not only adds shine and volume to it, but also to provide coloring to your hairs. 

Heena gives green and brownish color shades, commonly used on colorful festival of holy. Dry heena colors are made with a combination of dry heena power and needed quantity of flour according to lovely shades required. 

Gulmohur 

The tree is known as Gulmohar which has most prominent red and orange colored leaves that displays the physical appearance and beauty of this tree. Dry and finely powder the leaves of Gulmohur (Delonix regia) tree produced a very attractive color powder, used in festival holi. 

Wheat plant 

Weat plant’s leaves are green and soft, crush the tender leaves of the Wheat plant to obtain a natural safe green used in festival of Holi. 

Sindoor or Kumkum Red turmeric 

Sindoor is obtaining from a root of red turmeric. When a girl or a married woman visits a house, it is a sign of respect (in case of an elderly lady) or blessings (in case of a young girl) to offer kumkuma to them when they leave. Turmeric itself produces yellow tint when dissolved in water, while dissolving little add of lime (alkaline in nature) will turn turmeric into reddish shade. This color is also used in miniature painting. 

Others 

Soak Amaltas (Cassia fistula) or Marigold / Gainda (Tagetus erecta) flowers in water. Boil it for hour and leave overnight. It will produce chrome yellow color. 

These color are easy available and has common domestic use but rarely used as color. In new generation people are more used to artificial color due to less hard work in preparation and easy availability in the market. One needs to realized the value of these traditions and fellow them in order to preserve intangible heritage of India.

Introduction to Tulunadu

Tulunadu

Tulunadu is a area that includes major parts of karnataka, kerala. Tulunadu area also include dakshin kannada and Udipi districts of Karnataka. Tulunadu is famous for its very unique language known as Tulu, There are very less people are now can speak Tulu. Its my attempt to give a introduction of a very rare and unique culture which is now going towards extinction.

Tulunadu

TuluNadu is a major part of the south-western coast of India. Includes of the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka, and the northern parts of the Kasargod district up to the Chandragiri river in Kerala. The Chandragiri river is traditionally considered to be a boundary between Tulu Nadu and Kerala. The first call for Tulu Nadu was made just after the Quit India Movement in 1942 by Srinivas Updhyaya Paniyadi, a banker and a press owner from Udupi. Tulu activists have been demanding a separate Tulu Nadu state since the 1990s, considering language and culture as the basis for their demand.

TuluNadu was ruled by several major powers. tulunadu has very rich history including famous dynasties such as the Kadambas, Alupas, Vijayanagara dynasty, and the Keladi Nayakas. The major part of this region known as Karnataka from 1956. The region encompassing Tulu Nadu formerly comprised the district of South Canara. Tulu Nadu is demographically and linguistically diverse with several languages, including Tulu, Konkarni, Coorgi, Kannada and Telgu. 

The Land and its People

Over the following many centuries, many ethnic groups were migrated to this area. Konkanies from Maharashtra and many of their sub-sects moved to Tulu Nadu, for the purpose of small business. Mangalore was a major port that was serving not only the Portuguese but also the Arabs for maritime trades so it helped many other groups in migration. Jains were already a prominent group and even today are uniquely preserved in Tulu Nadu. Their prominence declined not only after the Hoysala king, Vishnuvardhana converted to Hinduism ' with the influence of Ramanujacharya in Melukote ' but also because of targeted decimation of their population by the Muslim rulers in the North. Jain community thrived in smaller numbers, in the relative safety of Tulu Nadu. The ancient Jains have left behind indelible reminders of their glory with temples-bastis- (Mudabidri) and monolithic statues of Bahubali, the gomateshwara in Karkala, Venoor and now in Dharmasthala.