Category: A2Z 2021

  • Ziro Valley – A Heaven from North-East

    Ziro Valley – A Heaven from North-East

    North-Eastern India is blessed with the sheer beauty of nature. Small towns and villages snuggled in valleys of Himalaya are little heavens on earth. Today we are visiting one such heaven in Arunachal Pradesh. Ziro Valley, a heavenly town in Lower Subansiri District.

    About Ziro Valley

    Ziro is a district headquarters of Lower Subansiri District. It is one of the oldest towns of Arunachal Pradesh. Rice fields surround this small yet beautiful hill station. The town of Ziro is nestled between a cluster of beautiful pine trees. This plateau is at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level. As a result, Ziro is full of a distinguished and rich flora and fauna and its biodiversity. This makes it an ideal destination for nature lovers. Thick forest covers this entire region and is a home to tribal people.

    The ApaTani tribe which calls these lands as their home is not a nomadic tribe, practicing permanent wetland agriculture. This is very different from the prevalent jhoom farming. Other than wetland farming, they earn their livelihood by making handicrafts and handloom products. They worship nature gods. The tribe is known for their colorful culture with various festivals. Apa Tani people have vibrant traditional village councils called bulyañ. This has made Ziro Valley a good example of a living cultural landscape where man and environment have harmoniously existed together in a state of interdependence even through changing times, such co-existence being nurtured by the traditional customs and spiritual belief systems.

    Gallery
    • Ziro Valley Festival Photo by Sandro Lacarbona Copyrights CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
    • Paddy fields at Ziro – Photo by Ashwani Kumar – Copyrights CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Ziro valley in summer season Photo by Arunachal2007 Copyrights CC BY-SA 4.0

    Tourist attractions

    The major tourist attractions of Ziro are the green serene Talley Valley, the hillock Ziro Putu, Tarin fish farm, the tall idol of Shiva Lingam at Kardo. ApaTani people celebrte several festivals namely the Myoko Festival in March, the Murung Festival in January and the Dree Festival in July.

    Ziro is also known for its outdoor music festival. First festival happened in the year 2012. Members of the ApaTani tribe host this festival. Festival celebrates the independent music scene of India. Festival is celebrated on two stages, Donyi(Sun) and Polo(Moon), constructed by local artisans and made almost completely of bamboo. As a result, it is noted to be one of the most eco-friendly festivals in India employing locally sourced material for the infrastructure. The festival has a zero plastic policy and encourages attendees to be responsible for leaving behind no waste.

    I am participating in the A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on the ‘Z’ challenge. “Z is for the Ziro Valley, Lower Subansiri, Arunachal Pradesh”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Yamunotri – Birthplace of the River Yamuna

    Yamunotri – Birthplace of the River Yamuna

    Indian culture puts rivers at the place of goddesses and worship them. India People celebrate every river and worship them. Today we are visiting the birthplace of one of the holiest rivers in India, Yamunotri: Birthplace of the River Yamuna.

    Personification of River Yamuna Photo by I Sailko Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0

    Stories of the Yamuna

    According to Hindu beliefs, there are many stories associated with this river. These stories are in connections with many gods like Shiva, Surya, Krishna etc. River Yamuna is mentioned several times in the Rigveda, Atharvaveda, Aitareya Brahmana, Shatapatha Brahmana and many Puranas. Goddess Yamuna beares other names as Yami and Kalindi. Yami is a twin sister of god Yama, the God of Death and daughter of the sun god Surya. These relations gave her the name Yami and Yamuna.

    However, for the name Kalindi, there are many stories. One of them is related to lord Shiva. Distraught by the death of his wife Sati, Shiva wandered the whole universe. The god of love Kamadeva shot Shiva with the arrow Unmadastra, that made Shiva restless and excited.  He jumped in the river Yamuna to overcome his urges. While bathing in the river Yamuna, the river turned black because of Shiva’s sorrow and unfulfilled desire. Another story describes the story of the banishment of serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna. As the black serpent entered the river, it turned black.

    Shrine of Yamunotri

    Shrine of the River Goddess Yamuna is situated at an altitude of 3,291 metres (10,797 ft) in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. You can reach the shrine by hiking on several routes. One of them starts from Janaki Chatti and a couple of them goes from Hanuman Chatti. This temple is a part of India’s Chota Char Dham pilgrimage. The temple of Yamunotri got destroyed twice by snow and floods. However, after every incidence, people rebuilt the temple again. Maharani Guleria of Jaipur re-built the Yamunotri temple in the 19th century. There are two hot springs near the temple. The temple and place opens every year on the auspicious day of the Akshaya Tritiya and continues to be open till Yama Dwitiya in Diwali.

    Yamunotri Temple built by Maharani Guleria of Jaipur in the 19th century- Photo by JediPro Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0

    I am participating in the A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on the ‘Y’ challenge. “Y is for the Yamunotri Temple, Uttarkashi”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Xuan Zang Memorial Hall – Honoring the travelling wisdom seeker

    Xuan Zang Memorial Hall – Honoring the travelling wisdom seeker

    Medieval India attracted a lot of foreign travelers from all around the world. They documented their experiences in chronicles for the coming generations to read and enjoy the travelling experience in both time and space through their eyes. Today we are visiting a memorial hall built in honor of one such traveler. Xuan Zang Memorial Hall built in Nav Nalanda Mahavihara.

    Japanese painting of Xuan Zang from Kamakura Period

    Story of Xuan Zang

    Xuanzang, commonly known as Hiuen Tsang in India, was a Chinese Buddhist traveller, travelling through India in search of the ultimate wisdom that India has to offer. He travelled extensively across the length and breadth of the subcontinent. Xuan Zang came in from Khyber Pass and travelled south-eastwards visiting Stupas and Viharas around Peshawar, Oḍḍiyāna, Ruins of Taxila, Kashmir, places in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and then crossed the River Yamuna and reached Mathura. He continued his travels until he reached Nalanda with some local monks. He stayed in Nalanda studying about buddhist philosophy for about two years. During this time, Xuanzang studied logic, grammar, Sanskrit, and the Yogacara school of Buddhism. 

    After this, he started his journey south and travelled towards Andhra Pradesh. He visited viharas at Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda and studied more about Buddhism. He continued traveling to Nasik, Ajanta, Malwa; from there he went to Multan and Pravata before returning to Nalanda again. After a short stay in the area of Sylhet, Kamapura and Prayag, Xuan Zang returned to China via Khyber pass through Kashgar, Khotan, and Dunhuang. Chinese people celebrated his return after 16 years with a great procession.

    Story of the memorial

    Bhikkhu Jagadish Kashyap, the founder Director of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara first proposed the establishment of a Memorial Hall as a symbol of Indo-China friendship dedicated to the great Monk, scholar Ven Xuanzang. He believed this memorial will serve as homage to Xuanzang’s spirit of freedom and quest of knowledge. Hall was established on the southern bank of Padmapushkarni Lake in 1957 where the Government of India received the relics of Ven. Xuanzang along with an endowment for the construction of the Xuanzang Memorial Hall and some Chinese Buddhist texts.

    There were repeated requests for renovation. Even various plans were drawn. However, only in 2007, renovation and reconstruction of the memorial is done. Today we can see a renovated and refurbished memorial hall housing these relics and texts. Hall shows a mix of Chinese and Indian architecture with classic sloping curved roofs with blue tile. People believe that curved lines ward off the evil spirits who only travel in straight lines. Rich red color depicts joy and happiness and keeps ghosts away. Chinese and Indian cultural elements are woven in the building and they create a peaceful environment.

    Xuan Zang Memorial Hall Nalanda – Photo by Tabish Q –
    Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0

    I am participating in the A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on the ‘X’ challenge. “X is for the Xuan Zang Memorial Hall, Nalanda”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Warangal Fort – Capital of Kakatiyas

    Warangal Fort – Capital of Kakatiyas

    During the 12th century, Kakatiyas from Telangana rose to power and established their empire. Kakatiyas ruled from the Fort in the city of Warangal. Today we are visiting the ruins of this Warangal Fort.

    From the history book of Warangal Fort

    In 8th century, Warangal was under control of Rashtrakutas. Later in 10th century Western Chalukyas ruled the city. In 12 century, kakatiyas rose to the power in Warangal. Historians, Archeologists consider that Ganapatidev started the construction of early structures during his reign from 1199 AD-1262 AD. It continued under the authority of his daughter and successor Rudramma Devi. Prataprudra II fortified it further. Historians consider his reign as the Golden Age of Kakatiyas. 

    Armies of Delhi Sultanate kept bashing and battering this fort repeatedly. Kakatiyas paid heavy tributes to the Khilji Dynasty including the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond. During the subsequent siege Tughlaqs of Delhi Sultanate sacked the capital fort and plundered and destroyed it. Later this area was under the control of the Musunuri Nayaks, Bahmani Sultanate, Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda and later under the rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad.

    Gallery

    Ruins of the old glory

    Central part of the fort complex is now declared as an archeological zone which is marked by gates on all four directions. This Kakatiya Kala Thoranam is a classic ornamental gate of Kakatiyas. The ruins of the fort complex are scattered all around the site. These ruins show the ornamental engravings of lotus buds, looped garlands, mythical animals, and birds with foliated tails. They don’t contain any religious symbols. As a result, they remained unharmed during the destruction by invaders. The great Svayambhu Shiva Temple of Kakatiyas is in ruins. The outdoor museum exhibits wall slabs, brackets and ceiling panels of the temple. 

    Kush Mahal, a rectangular public hall, stands in the archeological zone. Delhi Sultanate built this hall in the 14th century after they conquered the fort. Each side has 6 arched openings in the hall. Once it had a timber roof supported by arches. It has a scenic view of the entire complex. In the southern side of the archeological zone, there’s a big water tank with a single large rock outcrop called Orugallu. It gives the name Warangal to the city. There’s a small temple built on the tank. There are several small temples and tanks scattered around the complex.

    I am participating in the A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on the ‘W’ challenge. “W is for the Warangal Fort, Warangal, Telangana”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Vikramshila – The Knowledge House of Medieval India

    Vikramshila – The Knowledge House of Medieval India

    Medieval India had witnessed very powerful centres of learning spreading light of knowledge. Today we are visiting ruins of one of those knowledge hubs. Vikramshila is one of the two important Mahavihara of the 8th century.

    From the pages of history of Vikramshila

    By the 8th century, people started believing the quality of scholarship of Nalanda was going down.  Responding to this belief, Emperor Dharmapala of the Pala Empire established the Vikramshila University. According to the Tibetan sources, Vikramshila grew to prominence in this period and formed an elite club with four other important knowledge centers, Nalanda, Somapura, Odantapura, and Jagaddala.

    The university prospered for the next four centuries. It contributed to the Buddhists body of knowledge through its large number of thousand scholars and hundred teachers. During the invasion of Turko-Afghan military gemera; Bakhtiyar Khilji Vikramshila University was destroyed.

    Gallery

    • Pillars of vikramshila Photo by Rakesh Ranjan Copyrights CC VY 2.0
    • Seating and meditation area at Vikramshila Ruins
    • The view of the entrance from the Stupa
    • Main Stupa at Ruins of VIkramshila Photo by Prataparya Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0

    About the ruins

    Today, we can visit the ruins of Vikramshila in Antichak village, Bhagalpur district in Bihar. Prof. B. P. Sinha of Patna University undertook the first methodical excavation of this site in the 1960s. A few years after that, the Archaeological Survey of India started a second excavation. Over the period of two decades, archaeologists revealed a site spread over more than a hundred acres. Huge monastery with a cruciform stupa in its centre, a library building and cluster of votive stupas formed the campus of this medieval university of India.

    Residential quarters of the monastery is a huge square structure with 52 cells on each side opening in a common verandah. They also found few brick arched underground meditation chambers below few residential cells. Main stupa is at the center of the monastery. It is a brick structure with mud mortar. Archeologists also found a few Hindu and Tibatian temples on the northern side of the monastery.

    I am participating in the A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on the ‘V’ challenge. “V is for the Vikramshila University, Bihar”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Thiksey Monastery – A Lighthouse of Buddhism in Ladakh

    Thiksey Monastery – A Lighthouse of Buddhism in Ladakh

    Ladakh is one of the beautiful regions of India. And Buddhism is an integral part of Ladakhi life. There are many Gompas (monasteries) scattered all across the region. Today we are visiting one of the glorious and important Gompa of Ladakh. Thiksey Gompa, situated on top of the hill in Thiksey near Leh. This monastery is attached to the Gelug sect of Tibatian Buddhism.

    Something from the history of Thiksey

    Founder of Gelug sect tasked one of his students, Jangsem Sherab Zangpo, with seeking permission of the King of Ladakh to spread the teachings of Gelug Buddhism in Ladakh. Soon he reached the King with the message and gifts from the founder of Gelug sect. King was pleased with the gifts. He directed his minister to help to set up a monastery of Gelug sect in Ladakh. This is how the first monastery was built in Stagmo village. 

    Legend of the Thiksey tells a story of start of Thiksey Monastery. Once Sherab with his disciple Palden Zangpo was performing sacred rituals of torma offerings. Suddenly, two crows appeared from somewhere and took away the offerings. Palden and other disciples went on the lookout for torma offerings. Soon after, they reached Thiksey. As soon as they reached Thiksey, they found out that crows had put the tormas on a rocky outcrop in perfect orders and in an undisturbed condition. Considering this as a divine direction, Palden decided to build the monastery at this place. And this is how Thiksey monastery came in existance.

    Glory of the Thiksey monastery

    Situated at an altitude of 3600 meters in the Indus valley, Thiksey Gompa is a huge twelve storey complex. It houses many buddhis items like stupas, wall paintings, thangkas (fabric paintings), weapons, sculptures, etc. Buildings in the complex are in ascending order on a hill slope and have a good spacing between them. This monastery shows an architectural resemblance with the Potala Palace in Lhasa. As a result, Thiksey Gompa has title of “Mini Potala”. This house of 60 lamas is red, ochre and white in color. This is a fort monastery of a Central Tibatian Pattern. 

    Maitreya buddha Thikse Photo by Redtigerxyz Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0

    The monastery has a temple erected to commemorate the visit of the 14th Dalai Lama to the Thiskey Gompa. The temple houses a 15 meter high statue of Maitreya Buddha. This is the largest statue of Maitreya Buddha in Ladakh. Generally, we find Maitreya Buddha in a standing position or seated on a high throne. However, the statue in Thiksey is an unusual depiction of Maitreya seating in a lotus position. Shilp Guru Nawang Tsering of the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (Leh) guided the local artists to make this statue in clay, copper and gold paint. In addition to this temple, there are temples of goddess Tara and several guardian divinities including Cham-spring – the protector deity of Thiksey.

    Recently, the Archeological Survey of India completed the activities of restoration the monastery. However, it created some controversies. Hence, they achieved a balance to the restoration and renovation works to retain the old order in consonance with the new works.

    Glimpse of Thiksey
    • Front of the Thiksey Monastery Photo by Caesardeka Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0
    • Shakyamuni Buddha in inner sanctum of the assembly hall Photo by Redtigerxyz Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0
    • Thiksey Monastery Gompas Photo by Anilsh59 Copyrights CC BY-SA 4.0

    Festivals

    Monastery celebrates its annual festival from the 17th to 19th day of the ninth month of the Tibetan calendar (October–November). People perform sacred mask dances as a part of the rituals. Villagers from all over the Ladakh gather at the base of Thiksey monastery and trade their goods during this festival.

    I am participating in the A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on the ‘T’ challenge. “T is for the Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.