Home / Archives for November 2012

GOD - Generator Operator and Destroyer

I had been to Kedareshwara temple at Halebidu recently. Temple guide (I mean the people who are very well acquainted with the history of place and explains the same to visitors) was giving interesting summary related to the stone carvings made on the walls of temple. His major carvings made on the walls of temple. His major claim was that the Westerns have inspired from Indian culture, traditions and even epics. One of such claims is that the word ‘GOD’ is also derived with inspiration from Indians.

Pointing at the beautiful carvings of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara made on temple walls, the temple guide was explaining the meaning of word 'GOD' with its expansion.

Brahma - the Generator 

Vishnu - the Operator

Shiva - the Destroyer

According to him the acronym ‘GOD’ stands for Generator Operator and Destroyer. Hindu Mythology has characters like Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. Brahma being the Creator of Universe he was called as Generator. Vishnu being responsible for all the activities of Universe, he was called Operator. Maheshwara or Shiva having the image of destroyer of evil is called Destroyer.

Putting all together the Generator, the Operator and the Destroyer are responsible for all the happenings of this Universe. 

Charminar, Hyderabad

Charminar is present at the heart of Hyderabad city. Four minarets are connected with arches. Charminar attracts visitors from all over the World and Charminar has the popularity of Global Icon of Hyderabad. The Archaeological Survey of India has declared Charminar as a protected monument and also it is one of their very few ticketed monuments of India.

Charminar

Closed look of upper portion of Charminar

The name Charminar also means four towers (char=four, minar=towers) Each Minaret is having Onion like dome at the top popularly called as bulbous dome found in Islamic Architecture. 

Beautiful Minarets

The purpose of tall Minarets was to announce or give specific instructions to people assembled at Mosque for offering prayers.According to historical sources, Charminar was built by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah in 1591 to commemorate the end of plague disease in the city.

Arch connecting the Minarets

It is allowed to go till first floor and public visit to second floor is restricted. From the first floor one can spot the Mecca Masjid present very near to Charminar, High Court and Golkonda fort.

Clocks are present on the four sides 

Design of roof visible from ground

View of Charminar roof

The Minarets look like blossomed flower with its petals encircling the style.

view from the balcony of first floor, there is Choodi Bazaar outside the visible arch

Recently Charminar is in news because of the construction of Bhagya Laxmi Temple attached to the Charminar walls. When I visited Charminar , the entry to Bhagya Laxmi Temple was closed with Paramilitary forces guarding the surrounding area. Also there was the aroma of special food being cooked on the occasion of Muharram.

How to insert an Equation in a power Point Slide

Using slides for giving presentations or talks has been common and popular. Even classrooms and companies will have an option to project the slides using over head projector or large LCD displays. Using Microsoft PowerPoint is simple and it is powerful software used for preparing the presentations. But for giving technical talks one has to make use of equations whenever necessary. This post will tell you how to insert equations into PowerPoint slides.

1) Open MS-PowerPoint as usual with the slide where you want to place the equations

2) Goto Insert -> Object

Select Microsoft Equation 3.0 from the scroll menu and click OK. New window called Equation Editor will be open having various equation types like fraction, exponential and also symbols like partial differentiation, Alpha etc will be present.


3) Once the equation of desired kind is typed, close the Equation Editor

The equations will be automatically inserted into the slide as soon as the equation editor is closed. Adjust the position of equation as required in the slide.

Amruteshwara and Sharadha Devi Temple, Amruthapura, Tarikere

Amruteshwara Temple and Sharadha Devi Temple are situated at a distance of 8 KMS from Tarikere town of Chikmagalur District. One has to take right turn near the large sign board displaying direction towards Amrutapura if you are coming from Bangalore (via Arasikere, Kadur) side to Shimoga.
Amruteshwara and Sharadha Devi Temple

Inside the temple

Amrutesvara and Sharadha Devi Temple is built during Hoysala period. The temple has large surrounding area maintained by the Department of Archeology. This temple is referred to as Fort in the records of Archeological Survey of India and as per the rules of ASI, the temple will be open from Morning 6:00AM to Evening 6:00PM.

Nanda Deepa at the temple 

As there were not many visitors so I could interact with the priests, there is a lamp present in this temple burning from last two hundred years and it consumes a liter of oil per day. The Saligrama Shivalinga present at this place is brought from Gandaki river of Nepal.


Amruteshwara, Amruthapura 

Sharadha Devi idol is present right side of Shivalinga. Pooja such as Bilva Archane and Kumkuma Archane will be done to Shivalinga and Sharadha Devi respectively. Even Aksharabhyasam will be done at this place. All these Poojas will be stopped if the number of visitors is more and also there is no rule on money to be paid to priests for performing Poojas, it is devotees wish.
Sharadha Devi Idol at Amrutapura

There is only one shop present in front of temple where Pooja ingredients are sold otherwise it is better to carry before visiting this place as there are no alternatives.

Great Picnic spot as one can spend time in the green field in front of temple as this place is free from all kinds of pollution. There are no buses running frequently from Tarikere so better visit by own vehicle or auto-rickshaw.

For any information related to temple or pooja performed at the temple, contact the temple committee chairman on 09482135704

Hasanamba Temple, Hassan

The very name Hassan to the city is because of presence of Hasanamba temple in the heart of city. Hasanamba temple is one of the popular temples of Karnataka came to light recently. Devotees from all over the state will visit this temple.
Hasanamba Temple

The specialty of this temple is that it will be open only once in a year and that too for only one week. With the request of many, in 2012 it was decided to keep the temple open for fifteen days. Temple renovation work is going on and the construction of large Gopuram is going on in-front of temple. Because of huge number of visitors even arrangements are made for special darshan with ticket costing Rs 250.

Gopuram infront of Hasanamba Temple

I visited this temple as I heard that the flower offered to Goddess a year back will be fresh as it is even after a year. When I visited this place because of huge queue of visitors it was not possible to see deity properly and enquire anything about it. There is no idol of Goddess as I observed. There was a large stone decorated with saree and flowers to which pooja is offered.
Siddeshwara Swamy Temple

While opening the temple, the banana plant is tied to entrance and it will be cut by the members belonging to a particular family. On one side of Hasanamba temple is the Siddeshwara Swami temple and the other side there are two three small temples.
Siddeshwara Swamy Temple

While closing the temple, raw rice of two bags will be kept. Also there is a belief that a kid who was mistakenly forgotten inside the temple was alive even after a year when temple was open. I didn't get any much info as it may be a rumor too.

In 2013, the temple will be opened from 24/10/2013 to 05/11/2013

Kedareshwara Temple, Halebidu

Halebidu is situated at a distance of 18 KMS from Belur housing important hoysala style of temple. There is a saying that the outside beauty of Halebidu temple is good and the inside beauty of Belur temple is good. Halebidu temple walls also have many stone carvings.


There are two Shivalingas present at the Halebidu temple namely Hoysaleshwara and Kedareshwara. Each Shivalinga has individual large Nandi in-front of them, housed in attractive temple like structures. There is also a museum housing many of rare stone carvings in the temple premise maintained by the department of Archaeology.


Hoysala royal family members used to pray this Ganesha idol before entering the temple. Instances from Mahabharatha are carved on temple walls. 


Ganesha Idol worshipped by rulers

stone carving on the entrance door

Temple roof


Band set performing 

Temple walls

Near the door, both sides have attractive stone carved structures like this 

Woman keeping Kumkum on her forehead looking at Mirror 

Temple view

Varaha Swamy

Rakshasa Vadha

Channakeshava

The Gown used by Juries in England is depicted centuries before in India.

Indra on his Airavata fighting

eight hands carved beautifully

Chakravyuha of Mahabharatha

Ganesha with eight hands


inside temple

The stone carvings are not placed in slanting position even though there is an option to keep stone carvings down the roof as in the case of Belur temple. I feel that the temple is unfinished as there are few places which are not destroyed but still some carvings are missing.

Unfinished work, no stone carving is present on top of pillar

Next to temple premises is the lake called Dwarasamudram. Boating facility is there in this lake.

Channakeshava Swamy Temple, Belur

Belur, Chikmagalur houses the famous Channakeshava Swamy Temple, an excellent archeological marvel. The stone carvings present inside and outside the temple walls makes us spell bound. The large area houses many temples, main among them are the Channakeshava Swamy Temple and Kappe-Channakeshava Swamy temples. Channakeshava Swamy is the main deity. There is no restriction on photography except taking photographs of main deity. Inside the temple premise Rs 20 will be charged as fees for search light for focusing on interior designs, it is waived for those opting for the guide service.
Entrance of Temple

Gopuram of temple looks like it is built recently compared to the temple inside. Kappe-Channakeshava Swamy temple is the blue print of actual Channakeshava Swamy temple built as reference. The main deity Channakeshava Swamy temple’s outside wall is surrounded by artistic stone carvings depicting instances of Mahabharatha and other prominent rituals of rulers.

inside temple premise

Sri Channakeshava Swamy Temple

Kappe-Channigaraya Swamy temple

 The stone carving of Elephant in different positions is present at the ground level surrounding the temple.

Elephant lining around the base of temple

The temple entrance door has the following stone carving on the top, the minute art looks so attractive and very difficult to understand without the help of guide. The stone carving involves Ugra Narasimha and the animals present on either sides have features of seven animals like trunk of Elephant, body of Lion etc., There are three doors to enter temple except at the back side.

carving present on top of entrance door

Similarly the temple is surrounded by the various stone carvings, carved and placed perfectly at an angle of almost 45 degrees. Popular Darpana Sundari stone carving placed down to roof in slanting position. A woman holding a mirror to see her face is so popular that many books on history of Belur have this as cover page. These stone carvings of Women in Belur are also popular as 'Belur Shilabalike'

Darpana Sundari, woman looking her face in mirror

Woman holding a bird in her hand, may be used for sending messages

Bhima shaking the tree

Gajasuramardana

Woman going for walk with her kids. Kid on right side holding a pet with the help of chain!

carving of Vishnu

Servant giving flower to her queen

Arjuna pointing to Fish

Woman with Rudra Veena

Woman changing her ear rings

Man with drum, only carving of man

Woman trying to shoe away the monkey

Brahma 

Woman with drum and trying to change the string in one hand

Ugranarasimha, even the nails are carved finely

Uma-Maheshwara

Inside the temple also the carvings are attracting and the roof standing on four pillars has the carving of Ugra Narasimha. The four corner pillars of roof has four stone carvings placed slant.

Ugranarasimha at the roof

Woman drying her hairs

Other carving includes the  Woman doing Bharata Natyam and Woman holding bird in her hand similar to the outside one

Pushkarani of Temple

All these carvings are believed to be made by Jakanacharya popularly known as Amarashilpi Jakanacharya as his carvings are immortal and second to none in the World.