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  • DESTINED TO BE

    Dr.Sanjana p Souparnika

    The slumbering sun and dusky sky spoke silently the story of two soulmates

    Betwixt fiery red clouds of the horizon

    Destined it is for the dusk to bid farewell to the day at twilight

    Again, to meet at dawn with the freezing wind.

    Destined is not meant to be a shadow cast by destiny and luck

    But only an unravelling of the endless powers of the universe

    In bringing together or send far away

    Making clear and vivid or fading into oblivion.

    Humans also not exempt from being destined in the hands of universe

    In making and breaking bonds in one lonely corner of the world

    Creating joy of the daylight & dismay of darkness.

    Two strangers met on the diverging roads & instantly felt a connection of hearts,

    Shared the burden of the tormenting years strolled past

    but in reticence, only in frugal words.

    Spoke more about the destination ahead,

     The awaiting hardness of dense freezing winter forests and mountain glaciers

     impediments on the road to destinations.

    About their  diverging roads in opposite directions,

    And their feet stepped slowly away from each other,

    but their eyes spoke silently something that was audible only to their hearts

    They were destined to travel in diverging roads

    Away from each other’s sight.

    They were people of extraordinary insight and wisdom.

    And a momentary glance and a few words uttered,

    Made an invisible bond of love in silence.

    In the far lands of barren rocks

    And dark dense forest streams,

    They talked in silence unaware of the transitions of seasons around

    in different landscapes & terrains ,

    They spoke silently when the way ahead was unknown;

    When conscience trembled in the ferocity of nature;

    In the torrential rains and freezing chill of nights spend alone in the dark forest.

    They spoke in silence at different terrains, far away from sight.

    They smiled alone when soul sensed some joy on both ends.

    When reached the time to return from the destinations years after,

    Reached the same juncture of diverging roads once again

    The same shades of trees, the canopy of camaraderie.

    The one who returned earlier stayed there enjoying the delicious fruits and pristine water of freshets,

    Suddenly he thought what is prompting me to stay here

     sensing the vibration of mind that locked his feet at this juncture of life.

     He started thinking

    “I should return to the land I have come from.

    My land is awaiting me”,

    Yet mind is longing to meet the stranger companion here before I return. “

    The vibrating thoughts gave a thud to the heart.

     He tried to interpret it. A scary thought that trembled his body,

    “everyone may not return always from an expedition.”

    Tears trickled down the cheeks.

    Then the mind sought its extraordinary power to sense the one far away.

    There were only gloomy vibrations

    What happened to the unknown friend?

    With that constant thought days and nights passed away

    stayed there for a long time withstanding the harsh weather,

    Made a garden of flowers there collecting from the nearby forest.

    The fragrance of frangipanies attracted birds with shining feathers in vibrant colours. 

    Brought  a forest stream to the place making a canal.

     Made  a small tree hut to withstand the freezing winters.

    Began growing crops and spending time observing and studying the nature around.

    One day he sensed the approaching footsteps of the stranger companion nearby him.

      He ran hastily with an accelerated heart beat and stood on the road where they met years ago.

    The stranger’s gloomy eyes widened in surprise seeing the flowers, birds, stream and seeing his old pal

     Quite a long time which he found difficult to count.

    The dismay of soul vanished ,heart filled with joy

    They shared the joy of communications of their soul over these years

     Reminiscing those  spells of hindered flow of thoughts

    The chitchat of minds from far lands

    It was when mind was dipped in despondency they lost themselves

    Both realized the power of the bond their minds shared in silence.

    Promised in the gentle breezy wind not to lose it ever by the tempests of life ahead..

     The bond of love keep them moving ahead in different terrains as lone travelers

     hope to meet again somewhere at another end of time ,on a different land

    The light of pure love, camaraderie and insight lasted forever imprisoned in the memory of time.

  • Dementia – problems with memory & cognitive brain functions

    Dr.Sanjana p Souparnika

    Dementia-memory loss -An over view

    Dementia is a medical term which denotes impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities. Around more than 55 million people suffer from dementia globally. Currently Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.

    In this disorder of brain there is destruction or degeneration of nerve cells of brain. The end result of this degeneration is  deterioration in cognitive function (i.e. the ability to process thought) . This state can not be compared with age related degenerative changes in brain and gradual loss of memory and other brain functions. It is more complex than the age-related changes in cognition.

    The consciousness is not affected in this disorder of brain.  Some kind of changes in mood, emotional control, behavior, or motivation occur in most of the dementia affected people before or after the impairment in cognition or functions of brain.

    Who are affected more with dementia?

    It is believed that dementia runs in families sometimes. But we cannot conclude that every case of dementia may have a history of occurrence of the disease in the family.  Briefly, there wouldn’t be a positive family history in all types of dementia.

    This neurocognitive disorder seems to be linked with some ethnic groups.

    Older African Americans are twice more likely to have dementia than whites. Hispanics 1.5 times more likely to have dementia than whites.

    It has been found that dementia rate is accelerated by some habits in people such as smoking. Smoking can enhance the risk for dementia.

    What are the different types of dementia?

     

    • Alzheimer’s disease

    Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases. The risk increases by 10 to 30 percent if te disease is present among family members.

    • Vascular dementia

      About 10 percent of dementia cases are happening after strokes or other impediments with blood flow to the brain. This is known as vascular dementia. Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are risk factors for vascular dementia.

    • Lewy body dementia

    Lewy body dementia is another type of dementia associated with memory loss, balance problems, stiffness or trembling.

    • Fronto-temporal dementia

    Fronto-temporal dementia is a special type of dementia linked with changes in personality and behavior because of changes in specific brain areas. In people with this dementia behavior is affected worst. They may make offensive comments without any reason. Also neglecting responsibilities at home or work is common in these patients. Their language skills like speaking or understanding also affected.

     In some people more than one type of dementia may coexist, particularly in people aged 80 and older. Dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease and stroke may occur in the same person. This is called mixed dementia.

    Other reversible causes of dementia include side effect of medication, increased pressure in the brain, vitamin deficiency, and thyroid hormone imbalance etc.

      Dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people globally.

    Risk factors for dementia

    ·       Old age (more common in those 65 or older)

    ·       high blood pressure (hypertension)

    ·       high blood sugar (diabetes)

    ·        Overweight or obesity

    ·       Smoking

    ·       drinking too much alcohol

    ·        Physical inactivity

    ·       Social isolation

    ·       Depression

    How does dementia affect the quality of life of a person?

    Dementia affects the potentials of a person & quality of life .

    It affects:

    ·       Memory

    ·       Attention

    ·       Communication

    ·       Reasoning, judgment, and problem solving

    ·       Visual perception beyond typical age-related changes in vision

    Signs that may indicate dementia include:

    ·       Getting lost in a familiar neighborhood

    ·       Using unusual words to refer to familiar objects

    ·       Forgetting the name of a close family member or friend

    ·       Forgetting old memories

    ·       losing or misplacing things

    ·       getting lost when walking or driving

    ·       being confused, even in familiar places

    ·       losing track of time

    ·       difficulties solving problems or making decisions

    ·       Losing the ability to do things independently.

    Changes in mood and behavior also follow or precede the main symptoms of dementia and these include:

    ·       anxious, sad, or angry  mood about memory loss

    ·       personality changes

    ·       inappropriate behavior

    ·       withdrawal from work

    ·       indifferent to social activities

    ·       not interested in other people’s emotions

    Complications of dementia memory loss

     Usually most of the symptoms of dementia worsen over time, while a few symptoms diminish for a particular period or only occur in the later stages of dementia.

    As the disease progresses, the ability to do things independently decreases.

     Dementia has physical, psychological, social and economic impacts.

    The people affected with dementia fail to recognize family members or friends.

    There can be loss of control over their bladder and bowls.

    They may have trouble eating and drinking .Aggressive behavior may happen in dementia and it will be troublesome to care givers and the patient too.

    How can you suspect dementia ?

    The diagnosis of dementia requires observation of a change from a person’s usual mental functioning and a greater cognitive decline than what is caused by normal aging. There should be considerable change in memory and other cognitive brain functions in a greater degree to suspect dementia.

    The symptoms observed by the relatives or care givers is important . Dementia is more serious than the age related changes in memory and thinking capacity. However the problem requires some lab investigations and imaging studies to confirm or rule out it.

    Diagnosis is usually based on history of the illness and cognitive testing with imaging studies [ MRI, CT scans]. Blood tests may be done to rule out other probable but reversible causes.

    What is the treatment available for managing dementia?

    The treatment is decided based on the type of dementia and the underlying causes. So the primary step is to identify the causes of this brain disorder.

    In vascular dementia stroke is the cause of dementia. It is addressed with post stroke medications, nutrition and exercise programs.

    Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder with genes as its most probable cause. There is no effective cure till date.

    Recently oxidative stress by free radicals has been implicated with significance. Therefore the role of nutrition and antioxidant rich food is included in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

    Being  physically active or taking part in activities and social interactions that stimulate the brain and maintain daily function is important in prevention as well as management of dementia.

    Medications

    Some medications in modern or conventional medicine can help manage dementia symptoms.

     Cholinesterase inhibitors like donepezil are used to treat Alzheimer disease.

    NMDA receptor antagonists like memantine are used for severe Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia.

    Medicines to control blood pressure and cholesterol can prevent further damage to the brain due to vascular dementia consequent to stroke.

    Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can help with severe symptoms of depression in people living with dementia if lifestyle and social changes found ineffective. In aggressive dementia patients who are at risk of hurting themselves or others, medicines like haloperidol and risperidone can help.

     All the medications are to be recommended by a board certified healthcare provider after careful analysis of each person having dementia. Do not take over the counter medications.

    Complementary & alternative system of medicine

    Following therapies are available to mitigate the psychological, behavioral and speech related problems.

    ·       Occupational therapy

    ·       Speech therapy

    ·       Mental health counseling.

    ·       Music or art therapy

    ·       Homeopathy

    Homeopathy offers some medicines to improve the symptoms of cognitive decline. Here also the underlying cause of the condition is taken into account to decide treatment.

    References

    1.    https://www.cdc.gov/aging/dementia/index.html

    2.    https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia

    3.    https://medlineplus.gov/dementia.html

    4.   https://siahmsrwellness.in/dementia-homeopathic-management

    5.    Homeopathic medical repertory Mind dementia [p- 1574]

  • Sanchi Buddhist Monuments

    The stupas, temples, viharas, and stambha monuments at Sanchi in Madhyapradesh,India are among the oldest and most relevant examples of aniconic arts and free-standing architecture that comprehensively document the history of Buddhism in ancient India.

    Dr.Sanjana p Souparnika

    Sanchi Stupa is a Buddhist complex, famous for its Great Stupa, on a hilltop at Sanchi Town in Raisen District of the State of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is located 46 kilometres (29 mi) north-east of Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh.

    The stupas, temples, viharas, and stambha at Sanchi in central India are among the oldest and most mature examples of aniconic arts and free-standing architecture that comprehensively document the history of Buddhism from the 3rd century BCE to the 12th century CE. It is an important monument of Indian Architecture originally commissioned by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. The stupa at Sanchi built during the Mauryan period was made of bricks.

    The monuments at Sanchi now comprise a series of Buddhist monuments starting from the Mauryan Empire period (3rd century BCE), continuing with the Gupta Empire period (5th century CE), and ending around the 12th century CE. It is probably the best preserved group of Buddhist monuments in India.

    The oldest, and also the largest monument, the Great Stupa also called Stupa No. 1, initially built under the Mauryans, and adorned with one of the Pillars of Ashoka

       Sanchi is the center of a region with a number of stupas, all within a few miles of Sanchi. These include

    • Satdhara (9 km to the W of Sanchi]
    • The  Relics of Sariputra and Mahamoggallana
    • Bhojpur (also called Morel Khurd, a fortified hilltop with 60 stupas11km away)
    •  Andher (17 km SE of Sanchi)
    • Sonari (10 km SW of Sanchi)
    •  Saru Maru stupa [ 100 km away ]
    • Bharhut is 300 km to the northeast.

    During the reign of under the Shungas and the Satavahanas, the Great Stupa was enlarged and decorated with gates and railings, and smaller stupas were also built in the vicinity, especially Stupa No.2, and Stupa No.3

    Sanchi monuments were rediscovered by the British colonialists general Henry Taylor in 1818.The first excavation of this site was done under the supervision of Major Alexander Cunningham in 1851.

    The architecture of great stupa at Sanchi

    The “Great Stupa” at Sanchi is the oldest structure and was originally commissioned by the emperor Ashoka the Great of the Maurya Empire in the 3rd century BCE.

    Its nucleus was a hemispherical brick structure built over the sacred relics of the Buddha, with a raised terrace encompassing its base, and a railing and stone umbrella on the summit, the chatra, a parasol-like structure symbolizing high rank.

    The original Stupa only had about half the diameter of today’s stupa at Sanchi , which is further enhanced by the Sungas. It was covered in brick, unlike the stones that now cover it.

    During the later rule of the Shunga, the stupa was expanded with stone slabs to almost twice its original size. The dome was flattened near the top and crowned by three superimposed parasols within a square railing. With its many tiers it was a symbol of the dharma, the Wheel of the Law. The dome was set on a high circular drum meant for circumambulation, which could be accessed via a double staircase. A second stone pathway at ground level was enclosed by a stone balustrade.

    Myths & history associated with Sanchi stupa

      According to one version of the Mahavamsa, the Buddhist chronicle of Sri Lanka, The emperor Ashoka is closely linked with the region of Sanchi. It is believed that While he was heir-apparent and was journeying as Viceroy to Ujjain, he is said to have halted at Vidisha (10 kilometers from Sanchi), and there married the daughter of a local banker who was named as Devi. Sanchi was the venue of Devi and Ashoka’s wedding.

     The original construction work of this stupa was overseen by Ashoka. In the 1st century BCE, four elaborately carved toranas (ornamental gateways) and a balustrade encircling the entire structure were added.

    Inscriptions

    Sanchi, especially Stupa 1, has a large number of Brahmi inscriptions. Although most of them are small and mention donations, they are of great historical significance. James Prinsep in 1837, found that most of them ended with the same two Brahmi characters. Princep took them as “danam” (donation), which permitted the decipherment of the Brahmi script.

        An analysis of the deciphered scripts  denote that most of the donors were from Ujjain, Vidisha, Kurara, Nadinagar, Mahisati, Kurghara, Bhogavadhan and Kamdagigam. Three inscriptions are known from Yavana (Indo-Greek)donors at Sanchi,. The script denoting which reads “Setapathiyasa Yonasa danam” (“Gift of the Yona of Setapatha”), Setapatha being an uncertain city.

    The art of Sanchi

    The  art of Sanchi  developed considerably in the 1st century BCE/CE and is thought to predate the blooming of the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara, which went on to flourish until around the 4th century CE.

    The art of Sanchi is considered as the ancestor of the didactic forms of Buddhist art that would follow, such as the art of Gandhara. The Buddhist monuments at Sanchi contain an appreciable concentration of early Indian artistic techniques and Buddhist art, referred to as its Anionic School or Phase. Depicting Buddha through symbols, the sculpted art shows the evolution in sculpting techniques and the elaboration of icons, especially depicting Buddha.

    Ashoka pillar

    A pillar of finely polished sandstone, one of the Pillars of Ashoka, was also erected on the side of the main Torana gateway. The bottom part of the pillar still stands. The upper parts of the pillar are at the nearby Sanchi Archaeological Museum. The capital consists in four lions, which probably supported a Wheel of Law.

    The pillar has an Ashokan inscription (Schism Edict)[13] and an inscription in the ornamental Sankha Lipi from the Gupta period.[6] The Ashokan inscription is engraved in early Brahmi characters. It is unfortunately much damaged, but the commands it contains appear to be the same as those recorded in the Sarnath and Kausambi edicts, which together form the three known instances of Ashoka’s “Schism Edict”. It relates to the penalties for schism in the Buddhist sangha:

    … the path is prescribed both for the monks and for the nuns. As long as (my) sons and great-grandsons (shall reign; and) as long as the Moon and the Sun (shall endure), the monk or nun who shall cause divisions in the Sangha, shall be compelled to put on white robes and to reside apart. For what is my desire? That the Sangha may be united and may long endure.

    Now  Sanchi group of monuments are owned by the Government of India and is conserved, prot

    ected, maintained, and managed by the Archaeological Survey of India under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act (1958

    Sanchi Monument listed by UNESCO

    Currently , around fifty monuments remain on the hill of Sanchi, including three main stupas and several temples. The monuments have been listed among other famous monuments in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1989.

    How to reach Sanchi?

    The nearest airport is Bhopal which is 55 km away from it. Trains are available from Bhopal and Rani Kamlapati to Sanchi railway station.

    References

  • Dusk of seasons

    In the spring I wished to fly like butterflies.

    In the autumn I wished to float like white clouds on the blue sky…

    In the winter I wished to be the sliding glacier of frosty misty mountains…

    In the Summer eves, I wished to be the moonlight of my sky.

    In the cloudy Monsoons I wished to scatter as the splendid beam of sunshine.

    In the drizzle, I wished to sprinkle like the drops of rain …

    Does anybody know, why I wish to be merged in seasons?

    The seasons, true preservers of signs of life on earth…

    Let the creativity perpetuate endlessly….

    And be the seasons their timeless witness!

    copyright poem Dr.Sanjana p Souparnika

    image courtesy – freepik AI

  • The queen of the night & the star

    The starry sky and moonlight astounded

    Snowy white milky petals,

     Mystifying the world in ethereal fragrance,

    Glazed in the milky moonlight

    “The queen of the night”.

    The star on the northern sky winked at the newborn flower,

    Awakened from a deep sleep of infinite years,

    Stared at the lovely star. 

    But a pal of gloom on the Milky white petals.

    Perhaps the gloom of imminent return to eternity.

    The star on the endless sky winked again

    Asif sensed the melancholic shadows,

    The predestined return on the same day of birth

    To the world of eternity.

    The star of the northern sky whispered

    I remain here for centuries on the same sky

    For your return on someday, somewhere

    And every time you come back 

    I had never lost you

     Ever with the waning seasons,

     Although, you  fall into the deep sleep  lasting many years

    To be awakened in yet another twilight

    To bloom in yet another moonlight.

    Love is immortal   as the snowy white petals

     Taking rebirth in the wheel of time

     for blooming again and again

    till the end of the universe,

     if it ever happens or not.

    —

    copyright poem & image dr sanjana p Souparnika

  • Eternity

    It was autumn when the leaves buried my memories beneath the ground

    It was spring when I revived them from those ashes time had left behind.

    “Immortal forever” they whispered with a smile.

    Mayn’t fall with autumn hues

    Mayn’t melt away in scorching sun

    Mayn’t vanish from the earth with the deluge of time.

    As I never made you mine ever with bondage of time & space

    But eternally mine…

    Forever mine….

    Ever a free soul, as the brightest star on the firmament

    Eternally on the endless sky

    laughing as usual at my wisdom of making bond,

    Perhaps the bygone years gifted me

    Liberating from all the bondages life had imposed on,

    Suffocating your soul.

    Ever a free soul, as the brightest star on the firmament

    Eternally on the endless sky

    Drenching in the drizzle of love,

    Walking over the endless shore of love.

    Copyright dr.sanjana p Souparnika [ dr sanjana v.b]

    image courtesy- freepik AI

  • THE PRISONER PRINCESS OF BONDAGE

    The days and nights vanishing in the time machine,

    Where I too a lone traveler,

     With an accelerated pace

    In search of dreams of pearls over the sky.

    It steals huge momentum,

    Leaves me languid.

    Yet, I love the firmament where my dream is a resident.

    But I am the prisoner princess of this pristine land…

    A return inevitable

    to the land of reality and roots, 

    from the firmament of white clouds

    where my dream is a resident.

     Travel for years, ever with backlog of unfinished tasks

     Sensing deeply the inner calling over and over,

     To pick pearls of dreams, over the white clouds. ….

     Calling by mother earth,

    The pristine rivers and lakes,

    Where re-echoing the lackadaisical deep sighs of mine & the waves

    merged for years elapsed…

    The darkness and quietude of canopies,

    Where my worries are buried….

    The frozen glaciers of mountain peaks,

    Where my fears take a refuge.

     Standing amazed, unable to leave this land of mine.

     Return of this wanderer to the loving people is predestined,

    With dreams fulfilled,

    With a fair bit of cloud in my heart,

    A souvenir of rejuvenation to my soul,

    After a long hiatus of years, in a jaded journey

    Return of the prisoner princess is inevitable.

    copyright dr sanjana p souparnika

    image courtesy freepik

  • UNESCO world heritage sites of India

    UNESCO World heritage sites of India

    Dr.Sanjana p Souparnika

    World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection by an international convention administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The  “cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity”

    World Heritage Sites might be ancient ruins or historical structures, buildings, cities] deserts, forests, islands, lakes, monuments, mountains or wilderness areas

    The sites are intended for practical conservation for posterity, which otherwise would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing or negligence.  These sites are demarcated by UNESCO as protected zones.

    Intangible cultural heritage from India

    • Koodiyattam  -a performing art from kerala
    • Ramlila performing arts from Ramayana
    • Ramman festival -It is a festival of the Garhwali people of Saloor Dungra village of Himalayas.
    • Cchau dance of westbengal  &Odisha
    • Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan 
    • Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala
    • Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region,
    • Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur
    • Thatheras  handicrafts of Jandiala Guru, Punjab,
    • Naroz festival of Parsi community
    • Kumbh mela festival of Ujjain,Haridwar
    • Garba dance festival of Gujrat

    Tangible  cultural heritage of India

    A. Natural heritage sites

    • Great Himalayan national park,Himachal Pradesh
    • Kaziranga national park, Assam
    • Keoladeo national park , Rajasthan
    • Manas wild life sanctuary, Assam
    • Nandadevi &valley of flowers national park, uttaranchal
    • Sunderbans national park,West bengal
    • Western ghats , Kerala, south India

    B. Man made Heritage sites

    • Agra fort Uttar pradesh
    • Ajanta caves Maharashtra
    • Sanchi buddhist monuments Madhyapradesh
    • Champaner-pavhadh  archeological park,Gujrat
    • Chatrapathi Shivaji terminal Maharashtra
    • Elephanta caves Maharashtra
    • Ellora caves  Maharashtra
    • Goa churches Goa
    • Fatehpur Sikri Uttar pradesh
    • Great living Chola temples Tamilnadu
    • Monuments at Hampi Karnataka
    • Monuments of Mahabhalipuram Tamilnadu
    • Monuments at Pattadakkal karnataka
    • Hill fort at Rajasthan Rajasthan
    • Humayon’ s tomb Delhi
    • Monuments of Khajuraho  Madhyapradesh
    • Maha bodhi temple complex Bodh gaya Bihar
    • Mountain railways of India  Westbengal
    • Qutb minar Delhi
    • Rani-ki-vav stepwell Gujrat
    • Red fort complex New Delhi
    • Rockshelters of Bimbetka Madhyapradesh
    • Sun temple konark
    • Taj mahal Uttar pradesh
    • Jantar mantar Jaipur Rajasthan
    • Nalanda university Bihar
    • Architectural work of Le corbuster Chandigarh
    • Historic city of Ahmedbad Gujarat
    • Victorian,gothic and art ensembles of Mumbai Maharashtra
    • Jaipur city Rajasthan

    C. Mixed type

    • Khangchendzonga National Park sikkim

  • Thalagunda – Pranaveswara temple a connecting link to the history of south India

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name thalagunda temple-1.jpg

    Praveswara temple, Thalagunda in Karnataka is an ancient shiva temple of Kadamba dynasty , a monument protected monument by Archeological Survey of India[ASI] due to its historical significance.

    Thalagunda,karnataka

    Thalagunda is a village in the Shikaripura taluk of Shivamogga district in the state of Karnataka, India. The village has been referred as Sthala-Kundura, Sthana-Kundur and Sthana-kunja-pura during ancient period. This hamlet is situated about 45 km from Banavasi, 20 km from Soraba and 7 km from Siralkoppa town.

    There are many ancient temples in Thalagunda village including pranaveshvara, gangaadhareshvara, trineetra and veerabhadra temples. Praveswara temple is a protected monument by Archeological Survey of India[ASI] due to its historical significance.

    According to the inscription found in the pillar of pranaveswara temple, it can be assumed that the temple was worshiped by earlier rulers including the Satakarnis. The temple dates back to the Satavahana period. However the current findings of architecture denotes that it is not of the Satavahana period but of the early Kadambas although explorations around the temple premises had revealed brick structure of the Satavahana period.

    Pranaveswara temple

      The temple is a small square building consisting of a garbhagriha and a sukanasi. There is a huge Shivalinga inside the sanctum. The garbha-griha doorway jambs are carved out of Kadamba inscription stones, the entrance doorway construction style denotes that it is of a later period, perhaps of the eleventh century CE.

    Thalagunda inscription pillar

    The Talagunda pillar inscription of Kakusthavarman is a well known epigraphic record in Sanskrit found in the ruined pranaveswara temple. The pillar is located in front of the Pranavalingeshwara temple.

    The inscriptions are engraved on hard grey granite and dated to between 455 and 470 CE. It throws light into the history of Kadamba dynasty and the reign of king Śāntivarma in northwest Karnataka.

    The pillar is 1.635 metres (5.36 ft) high with a 0.4 metres (1.3 ft) square top. It is octagonal shaft that slightly tapers and narrows as it goes up. The width of the octagonal face is 0.178 metres (0.58 ft). The inscription is found on all faces, but on 7 of the 8 faces, it consists of two vertical lines that start at the bottom of the pillar. On the eighth face, we can find just one short line.

    The inscription consists of 34 poetic verses that respect the chanda rules of Sanskrit. It is the earliest epigraphical evidence found in Karnataka about the existence of a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva in Talagunda, the construction of a temple water tank, and the practice of worshipping the Shiva Linga before about 450 CE.

    The inscription unravels the glory of Kanchipuram as a center (ghatika) for advanced studies in ancient India, where the already learned Brahmin Mayurasarman from Talagunda goes with his counsellor to study the whole Veda. It also throws light into the cultural values and customs prevailed in the 5th-century India with the mention of “music” and goddess of wealth (Lakshmi) and speaks about the practice of marriage between north Indian and South Indian empires.

    How to reach Thalagunda ?

    The nearest railway station is Shivamoga .You may reach Manglore or Bangluru by flight and may reach Shivamoga by train or bus service. Approximately a one and half hour journey from Shivamoga by cab may help you reach Thalagunda[77.5km].

    References

  • Balligavi art gallery

    Balligavi karnataka

    Dr.Sanjana p Souparnika

    Balligavi art gallery is situated close to Kedareswara temple in Balligavi , Shimoga district, which is a pilgrim centre where main deity is Mahadev or Shiva .

    Balligavi , is a town in Shikaripura taluk of Shivmoga district. Its an ancient town with various names such as Baligrama, Dakshina Kedara, Valliggame and is well -known for ancient sculptures and idols.

    Balligavi was an important city during the 11th – 12th century Western Chalukya rule. The term Anadi Rajadhani (ancient capital) used in medieval inscriptions to describe this town

    Archeologically Balligavi dates back to Satavahana -Kadamba era of ancient history[4th- 5 th century A.D. The earliest inscription mentioning the name Balligavi is a 685 CE Badami Chalukya inscription.

    Myth

    It is believed that Pandavas of Mahabharatha [epic] visited Balligavi during their vanavasa [ forest sojourn] period and installed shiva linga ,more precisely panchalinga and the seity of the temple later established here is known by the name panchalingeswara.

    kedareswara temple of Balligavi is a hoysala chalukya architectural temple which includes the art gallery in its premises .

    The art gallery displays very ancient idols and sculptures which are the vestiges of the bygone era. Many of these sculptures are broken.

    The gallery also has numerous paintings which delineate the history of Sreekedareswara temple.

    Balligavi art gallery

    The art gallery displays idols & sculptures of ancient era . The sculptures describes the Hindu god shiva ,Ganapathi, devi parvathi or Durga. Kedareswara temple is a pilgrim centre where main deity is Mahadev or Shiva . The archeological gallery is located within the temple premises on the left side.

    The Balligavi art gallery and temple is protected by Archeological survey of India. Sculptures and idols are displayed as two sections inside and outside the art gallery.

    Paintings of ancient Kedareswara temple & many huge sculptures are found inside the art gallery building .

    Numerous ganapathi , devi durga idols in stone are placed outside the art gallery building in an ancient Mandapa like structure which seems to be part of the Kedareswara temple. This stone construction has no roof over it . Many sculptures and parts of this mandapa are in a dilapidated condition. However the temple and art gallery built in Hoysala architectural style hasn’t lost their splendor and magnificence overtime.

    How to reach Balligavi ?

    Balligavi is located in Shivamoga district of Karnatakka.

    Nearest airport is Belgaum . from Belgaum 224km by road to Balligavi.

    One can also reach from Manglore by cab or bus [ 253km] in around 4 hrs 42 minutes.