Monday 28 July 2014

Panch Prayag.






Panch Prayag is the word used for the five sacred confluences of rivers  in the  Garhwal  region  in the Himalayas. The five prayags (prayag meaning  confluence)  are Vishnu  Prayag,  Nand  Prayag, Karn  Prayag,  Rudra Prayag  and Dev  Prayag,  in the descending order. After Rishikesh one has to go through all these on the way to the Badrinath dham.


Vishnu Prayag 


The Alaknanda River, originating from the eastern slopes of the glacier at  Chaukhamba, is  joined  by the Saraswathi River near Mana village and then flows in front of the Badrinath temple. At Vishnu Prayag, it meets the Dhauliganga River, which originates from the Niti Pass. 

Nand Prayag


The Nandakini River meets the Alaknanda River at Nand Prayag. A legend has it that confluence derives its name from the Yadava king Nanda, Krishna's foster-father. According to the legend, Vishnu granted a boon of the birth of a son to Nanda and his wife Yasoda and also the same boon to Devaki, wife of Vasudeva. Placed in a dilemma, since both were his disciples, he ensured that Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, was born to Devaki and Vasudeva but was fostered by Yashoda and Nanda. 

Karna Prayag


At Karn Prayag the Alaknanda River joins the Pindar River that originates from the Pindar glacier, below Mount Nanda Devi. The epic Mahabharta legend narrates that Karna did penance here and earned the protective gear of Kavacha (armour) and Kundala (ear rings) from his father, the Sun god. The name of the confluence is thus derived from the name of Karna. 

Rudra Prayag


At Rudra Prayag the Alaknanda meets the Mandakini. The confluence is named after god Shiva, who is also known as Rudra. According to a legend, Shiva performed the Tandava, a vigorous dance that is the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution, here. Shiva also played his favourite musical instrument the Rudra veena here. By playing the Veena, he enticed god Vishnu to his presence and converted him to water.

Dev Prayag 


Dev Prayag is the confluence of two holy rivers, the Bhagirathi, the chief stream of the Ganges and the Alaknanda. It is the first prayag on the way to Badrinath. Downstream this confluence, the river is known as Ganges. The holiness of this place is considered equal to the famous Sangam at Allahabad where the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers merge.

The Bhagirathi, which flows in rapids with strong currents meets a much calmer river in the Alaknanda. The contrast between the two rivers joining here is striking. The confluence got the name tag 'Dev' from a poor Brahmin called Deva Sharma who performed “rigorous religious austerities” here and was blessed by Rama. 

Tuesday 15 July 2014

Humble tribute to the Master.............





*     After an agonizing wait of more than 10 months, finally I could pick up paint and brush, and paint this. Choice of the subject is rather odd and audacious. But it has been on mind since I started painting in Mar 2013. 

*     Picasso has inspired generations and millions around the world. I'm a novice and a learner. And It's my humble tribute to the Master...... 

Tuesday 8 July 2014

Mana.........a village steeped in antiquity.






*    When you reach Mana, about 3 km from  Badrinath, 
take a deep breadth. You are in village that's about more 
than  5000   years   old.  In    antiquity   it  was   called 
"Manibhadrapuram" where the Ghandarvas used to reside.

*   It's believed that five Pandavas and Draupadi had passed through this village during their trip to the Swargarohini Peak from where they all had planned to ascend to the heaven. (more about it in future blog).




*    This wonderful village, located at more than 10,000 ft above sea level, is populated for only six months between mid May to mid Nov and buried in deep snow during winter months when its inhabitants migrate to lower heights at Joshimath and south of it. The tribe is different and so is their culture. 

 *   When you sit at a teashop, at the village's far end, and 
sip  much  needed hot tea, your  mind  is  transported into 
another  world. On  one  side  is  the  sound   of   gurgling 
Saraswati  River  and on  the  other  is  the  silence of the
mountains.  It's a  lifetime  experience,  one  would  like 
to live it again and again. 

*  And a few steps up is the route, to the Satopanth Lake and the Swargarohini Peak, on which one is tempted to walk but for the worldly worries...............



Wednesday 2 July 2014

ISIS............. deadlier version of Al Qaeda






*    Iraq burns, and the world watches with abated breadth as Al Qaeda's newer and deadlier version captures city after city. And what an irony that America remains a mute spectator to all this. After so many days when ISIS has entire Sunni and Kurd regions and some oil refineries under their control, Obama talks of action in a cautious tone. 


          *     This man, the Iraqi Premier, Nouri-Al-Malliki, is 
       responsible for Iraq's descent into chaos. He, like
       Morsi, after assuming power forgot that he was given
       mandate for uniting the country. Muslim leaders have
       to take lesson from Mandela, who through 'Truth and 
       Reconciliation Commission' successfully made two
       communities to forget century-old animosity and 
       come together in nation building. 
      
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