Mysore Palace

A weekend trip from Bangalore to Mysore has become a ritual whenever we receive a guest. Everyone wants to see the Mysore palace no matter what. Its really one of the best Hindu palaces boasting its magnificence and glory. Well it is considerable new architecture and is built quiet recently when compared to the historically significant palaces in India. Still it stands as a symbol of the extravagance of the existing royalty. The front entrance of the palace.

The palace from the front.

The statue of lions that adore the palace grounds.

But these days the Main entrance is not used, instead the Eastern entrance is used for the public entry. There is a temple to the right side where the royalty has been paying obeisance for ages. Those majestic domes can be seen from this view. Cameras are not allowed inside the palace so they can be safely deposited at a counter near the entrance. There is always a rush at the entrance also footwear is prohibited inside the palace. there is another stall that accepts footwear near the entrance of the palace. We can also find audio guides for a price in this place, if you are interested to know more about the palace. We enter into the palace and parade of miniature models welcomes us. On the sides of the entry door we find enormous stuffed elephant head looking malicious even in death. we enter to a grand atrium with tall columns and a painted glass dome. The dome is beautifully decorated with colorful peacock feathers and other paints. This is once used for the wedding ceremony of the royals. The walls of this enormous hall are decorated with intricate paintings of the famous Dasara/Dussera festivities for generations. We can see see different chariots bearing the royals and other aristocrats in procession, drawn with horses and elephants.

Painting of Durga puja by the royals in the palace during Dasara

Through a huge teakwood door we enter to the next hall filled with the painting of the earlier royals and visiting dignitaries.

The famous 700kg golden throne

Then we proceed towards the first floor of the palace.on the way we fing the the golden elephant saddle on which the king used to ride during the festivities, now it is used to carry the idol of mother Chamundi the deity of the royals for generation during the parade of Dasara.

On the way to the first floor we find a old style elevator. The first floor of the palace is filled with beautifully painted columns. Here we find the viewing gallery with ceilings widespread and creating awe to its spectators.

From here we go to the main Durbar hall where the king holds his royal meetings. This is the place to see to find the extravagance and granduer of the royals.

So here are those rare pictures of the interior of Mysore Palace.

Second Cave Temple of Badami

The second cave is dedicated to Vishnu in his Varaha and Vamana avataras. The cave has a verandah and ascending a few steps is the pillared hall and a sanctum santorium cut out into the cliff from the rear wall of the cave temple. In the outer walls of the verandah we find two dwarapalakas standing with lotus flowers in hand, and are flanked by a women at the bottom. The symbolism used by the crafters while depicting men, women, ganas or animals in smaller sizes might be to show their stature hence they could be servants or helpers.

As we enter the pillared hall we find the sculptures of Bhuvaraha to our right and that of Trivikrama to our left. Varaha Swamy is the Deity worshipped by the Chalukya Kings and is the emblem and royal seal. According to legend Vishnu in the form of Varaha (A boar) rescued Prithvi (Earth) lifted the Earth out of the ocean. Here Earth is depicted as Prithvi maata (Mother Earth) hence we can find Varaha swamy sculpture holding up  a lady, while  celestial beings watch him reverently.

The wall on the other side of the pillared hall is adorned with the depiction of a detailed story of Vamana avatar of Vishnu. Vishnu in his dwarf form went to the asura king Bali and asked him for dakshina (offering to a brahmin) while the king was performing a yagam. The king was obliged to grant him dakshina as he asked for them at such an auspicious occassion. The king who was resourceful and prosperous didn't think twice in granting the dakshina of a dwarf brahmin's choice of three foot land. As soon as the king agreed Vishnu in the form of a dwarf brahmin assumed a gigantic form and placed one foot on the Heavens and one on the Earth and asked Bali where he should place the third foot for which Bali bent down humbly on his knees and offered his head on which Vamana kept his third foot.

The sculpture depicts the whole story in one scene where we can see Vamana as a dwarf with a bowl in his right hand and an umbrella in his left. King Bali promising his dakshina by offering water from his kalasa. Then Vishnu assuming his gigantic form and extending his feet. Finally Bali admitting his frailty and submitting to Vishnu by clinging to Vishnus leg.

The ganas appear in different postures as musicians and dancers celebrating.

Celestial couple depicted in the ceiling of the Cave 2

 Design of Swastiks on the ceiling

Vishnu riding on Garuda 

 Depictions of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva,

 Bead and Flower designs embossed on to the faces of the pillars.

 Flower and Fish design on the ceiling                                             Celestial couples depicted on the face  of the pillars.

 Towards Cave 3

Madhu Latha (Dogiparthi) Srungavarapu

First cave temple of Badami

 The first cave temple is dedicated to Shiva. Although Chalukyans were Vaishnavites they encouraged the building of temples of Shaivites, Jains etc., This was the first cave temple to be excavated and said to be built at around 550 A.D.

The Cave has a L-shaped courtyard, an open verandah, a pillared hall and a sancum that has been excavated into the center of the rear wall. As we enter the thing that commands our attention the most is the intricately carved sculpture of Lord Shiva in the form of Nataraja with 18 arms depicting nine different bharatanatyam postures. An awesome sight to welcome any art enthusiast. Though as we move on we find that this was only the beginning of a beautiful discovery. A glimpse into the past, an insight into the lives of the people that lived a long time ago. 

While entering the first cave temple we find the enormous depictions of  'Arthanarishwara' to the right and of the pillared hall and the sculpture of 'Harihara' to the left.

 The sculpture of Ardhanarishwara is flanked by a richly decorated Bringi, Nandi, Celestial beings on the top and a serving girl. A frienze of dwarf Ganas in different postures are depicted at the pedestal of the sculpture. This sculpture represents the union of Man(eshwara) and Woman(Nari) in perfect union. The form of Shiva and Parvati as Arthanarishwara symbolizes the equality of the sexs.



The Sculpture to the left depicting Harihara, Hari meaning Vishnu and Hara meaning Shiva. This sculpture symbolizes the equality of both Vishnu and Shiva. They are flanked by their consorts Lakshmi and Parvati.



The other noted sculptures in the cave are that of Mahishasura mardini, a form of all powerful Shakti.







The fascade of the celing is decorated beautifully carved celestial couples.

The celing of the verandah is adored with a five hooded Naga flanked by more charming celestial couples.

The pillars that separate the verandah from the hall are fluted upperparts with cushion capitals. Apart from bead-garlands and other finely carved decorations, the pillar faces have smaller depictions of iha- mrigas (dream animals)  and some deities like Ganesha and Narasimha.

Madhu Latha (Dogiparthi) Srungavarapu

Twentieth Wife

I have joined Just books and have been reading a lot. Recently I came across Indu Sudarsan's Twentieth wife. I am really glad that I have read this book. Indu Sudersan has a way with words, she paints a beautiful and colourful pictures with her words. Though the book goes a little too slow to my liking, I couldn't stop reading it. I could tell you how she researched for the material, how historical the book is, but I will not go into it, because I am here as a regular reader and not a critic. To me the book appealed so much because Indu Sudarsan is such a good narrator. She has transformed my bedroom into those colorful and vibrant zenanas with her vivid description. I could actually see the extravagance of the ladies of the zenana. I could actually feel for those people who lived and died so many years ago. She brought those historical figures to life and gave them character. I am truly amazed and inspired by her, cannot wait to read her other books...

Paint it...

We recently purchased a 2 BHK apt in Banglore and since then I have been doing a lot of research on the web. I wanted to paint my home with colors that are soothing and yet the cheerful as my own disposition.

http://www.asianpaints.com/

is a good website to start with. It has lot of different pages which let you choose colors and match with the appropriate patterns or designs.

If you take the 'A World of colours' option, I particularly like looking at the signature walls option.

'Colour Spectra' option is one of the one you could really use. I wanted to paint my bedroom blue, so here I choose blue then it gives you similar shades and the best combination for those shades. All you have to do is note down the name and number of the finalized color and ask the painter to paint those particular colors. The colors I choose are these

I know there are too many pinks and yellows but hey what do you expect I am a women and my husband gave me a free rein over all things...

So this is how it turned out...

There are also other few combinations that I really liked that I got from the web. I hate to see all that research go to waste, so I am publishing those here ...

May be you can use them.

Mahakuta - An excursion from Badami

Mahakuta is a smallvillage near Badami in Balkota district of Karnataka famous for its Mahakuteshwara Temple. It has shrines o Shiva in his different forms.

Rooms for the devotees

Devotees eating under the trees in the temple premises.

The temple of Lord Vishnnu


Shrine of Lord Shiva in Vishnu Pushkarini






Temple of Sangameshwara

The aged trees at Mahakuta

Also See : Badami Pride of Chalukyas ; Badami Caves ; Badami Fort ; Pattadakal ; Banasankari