Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Odia Bhagabat


In the year, 1500 A. D. when Sri Chaitanya entered the premises of the temple of Lord Jagannath he met Jagannatha Das and from the moment they were tied with the chord of devotion. While near Bata Ganesha, Jagannath Das was translating the text of Bhagabata from original Sanskrit and recited and explained candidly to his devotees in Odia, Lord Chaitanya was overshelmed with his prudece and embraced Jagannath Das and esteemed him as “Atibada’ really very great for his wonderful devotional sincerity. Till then Shri Jagannath Das was recognized as ‘Atibadi’. Since then Atibadi Vaishnava Sampradaya or community was born. Bada Odia Math of Puri bears the testimony to this. There is not a single Hindu village in Orissa where at least a portion of Jagannath Das’s Bhagabat is not kept and recited daily.


 ‘Krushna Arpita Jete Karma,
Se Ate Bhagabata Dharma’

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

One of the seven wonders !

Konark is one of the well known tourist attractions of Odisha. Konark houses a colossal temple dedicated to the Sun God. Even in its ruined state it is a magnificient temple reflecting the genius of the architects that envisioned and  built it. Konark is also known as Konaditya. The name Konark is derived form the words Kona - Corner and Arka - Sun; it is situated on the north eastern corner of Puri or the Chakrakshetra. Konark is also known as Arkakshetra. This temple built in 1278 CE by the Ganga  King Narasimha Deva  is one of the grandest temples of India and was referred to as the Black Pagoda. The ruins of this temple were excavated in late 19th century. The tower over the Garbagriha is missing, however the Jagmohana is intact, and even in this state, it is awe inspiring..



Monday, December 13, 2010

Sudarshan Pattnaik : Creative Sand Artist of Odisha

Sudarshan Pattnaik born in Puri (abode of lord jagannath), nearly 70 km from Bhubaneswar, Odisha. He is the inventor of sand art in india and has learned this form of sand art by himself without any guidance by mere practice and creative ideas. He started sculpting images on sand since the age of seven only. Till now he has designed hundreds of sand sculpture. In the recent years people have started focusing on this art form. And now Sudarshan has many students working under his arm. Among them Manas Kumar Sahoo who is the semifinalist of india's got talent season 2. He has won many national and international award for his creative designs and has recorded his name in the world records for sculpting the tallest santa claus and most santa claus image built on sand etc. Sudarshan Pattnaik has won People's Choice prize at the 1st Moscow International Sand Sculpture Championship held in Russia, the capital city. The artists from Italy won the 'Jury Choice', while Ireland won the 'Sculptor Choice' prize in this championship. Pattnaik had created 15 feet high Hindu god Ganesh to create awareness among with people on the potential dangers of global warming at the International Sand Championship. The top of the sculpture depicted the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas and in the flowing water Lord Ganesh is traveling on a boat with a sign 'Divine Concern on Global Warming'. This was to educate people through his art about the effects Global Warming. Pattnaik hails from Odisha and has so far participated in more than 35 international sand sculpture championships across the world and won many awards for the country. Click here to know his International Sand Art

         

Pathani Samanta : The Great Hindu Astrologer

Samanta Chandrasekhar was born on the 13. 12. 1835, corresponding to  Pausha Krishna Astami of the Saka year 1957 at Khandapara state now  in Nayagarh district of Orissa.The states called Gadajat ruled by a dynastic king, enjoying some degree of autonomy under the British rule. It  was a small state with an area of... 244 square miles only, having its capital in the small township of Khandapara, situated about 20 KM from Nayagarh surrounded by hills and jungles.  This kingdom was founded in 1599 and was being ruled at the time of Samanta, by his nephew, the eleventh king named Natabar Singh Mardaraj. Samanta's father Shyamabandhu, and mother Bishnumali, were a very pious couple. They had nine daughters and one son before the birth of Chandra Sekhar. Since two daughters and the only son they had died in infancy, they had named Chandra Sekhar as Pathani Samanta His full name was Mahamahopadhaya Chandrasekhar Singh Harichandan Mohapatra Samant,  He wrote the ‘Sidhanta Darpana’, which was published in 1899, by Calcutta University. The original manuscript of 2500 Sanskrit shlokas (In Sanskrita Language) was written in Oriya script, on palm leaves, by Samanta Chandrasekhar. He received primary education in Sanskrit from a Brahmin teacher. He studied Sanskrit Grammer, Smritis, Puranas, Darshan  and the original texts of many Kavyas. When he was ten year old, one of his uncles taught him a little of astrology and showed him some of the stars in the sky.Samanta Chandrasekhar did not have any formal University education and his interest and efforts in Astronomy were completely self taught.Mahamahopadhyaya Chandra Sekhar Simha Samanta Harichandan Mohapatra, popularly in Orissa  as Pathani Samanta, is an astronomer of the rank of Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Brahmagupta and Bhaskaracharya. He was born in 1835 A.D. in the princely state of Khandapara in Orissa. Away from the English education, he taught himself Sanskrit and attained scholarship in traditional Indian Astronomy. He fabricated ingenious instruments out of wooden sticks and bamboo chips and attained great accuracy in measurement. His scientific investigations are recorded in his astronomical treatise. “The Siddhanta Darpana” composed in Sanskrit Verse. This work was highly acclaimed even by the Western Press in 1899. Prof. Jogesh Chandra Ray played a key role in the publication of Siddhanta Darpana in Devanagiri script from a Calcutta press in 1899 with the financial support from the kings of Athmalik and Mayurbhanja. It must be noted that the scholarly introduction of fifty six pages in English therein by Prof. Ray,  formed the window through which the outside world could get a glimpse of the valuable treasure contained in this monumental work in Sanskrit verses, which was hardly accessible. The title of Mahamahoadhyaya was convered upon him by the British Govt. in 1893 in recognition of his contribution to astronomy. Samata Chandra Sekhar passed away in 1904. Even today most of the Oriya almanaces attribute their calculations to Samanta’s prescriptions. "Chandrasekhar was a keen observer and made meticulous observations of celestial objects with instruments that he had made himself. He was deeply perturbed on finding that the ephemeral elements calculated from classical siddhantic principles did not agree with his observations. The same perplexity had also been faced by Swai Jaisingh, early in the 18th century, and had given rise to the construction of his gigantic masonry observatories for the correction of ephemeral elements. One underlying factor that had been responsible for these perplexities was the freezing of classical Indian astronomical calculations away from observational verifications. The precession of equinoxes (Ayanamasa) had been noticed as far back as the Vedic times, by Indian Astronomers and had been entering the calculation of ephemeral elements as bija corrections – ad hoc corrections that needed to be applied with the passage of time, to incorporate the changes in ephemeral elements arising from precession. For about a thousand years before the time of Swai Jai Singh or Pathani Samanta – the emphasis had shifted away from observational verifications and ephemeral elements had remained uncorrected. "elements from these, and create predicted ephemeral elements in the classical Siddhantic format for future observations. The resulting ephemeral elements were amazingly accurate. Samanta’s work was in the classical mould – with the assumption of a geocentric Universe, although his own model included the planets other than Earth, as revolving around the Sun. Equivalent mathematical formulations exist for calculation of ephemeral elements in the two different world systems – Geocentric or Heliocentric – and many observed phenomena require only the appropriate framework of calculations in order to accurately predict possible celestial events.  Thus, Samanta’s inability to envisage or accept the Copernican revolution, did not prevent him from making many accurate calculations of contemporary celestial events in his lifetime and observing them. The most interesting of the celestial phenomena in his life time was the December 9 1874 Transit of Venus. This rare and inspiring event was visible from India and many other parts of the world. The Transit of Venus 8 years following that, in 1882, was not visible from India. Such an event will again be visible on the 8th of June 2004, from India and other parts of the world, and is creating a lot of excitement amongst the amateur astronomers and educators. The underlying excitement of this event, being the possibility of recreating historical  measurements of the Earth-Sun distance by students world wide, through observations of the timings of this transit. Going back to the year 1874 – there must have been considerable excitement at that time too, with efforts from Astronomers worldwide, making expeditions to India, as one of the locations from where, the event was visible. There were also efforts by Observaotories under the then British Government in India, to study this event. And then, there were  observatories built by private individuals and princely states where activities were intense, for the observations of this event. Some popularizations efforts also seem to have been in evidence. Chintaman Raghunathachary, of Madras observatory, for instance, had made a  popular booklet on this event, that had been translated into many languages, including Urdu. In all probability, none of this excitement reached the remote Khandapara regions of Orissa, where Samanta could have heard of this event. Arun Kumar Upadhyaya, in his translation of the Siddhanta Darpana – interprets this Shloka as – “Solar eclipse due to Sukra (Venus) – To find the eclipse of the Sun due to Sukra, their bimba (angular diameter) and size of other tara graha (stars and planets nearby?) is stated. In Kali year 4975 (1874 AD) there was a Solar Eclipse due to Sukra in Vrischika Rasi (Scorpio). Then Sukra bimba was seen as 1/32 of solar bimba which is equal to 650 yojana. Thus it is well proved that bimba of Sukra and planets is much smaller than the Sun.” Did Samanta hear that there was going to be a transit and set out to observe it – or did he find that there was to be such an occurrence from his lifetime work of creating accurate ephemeral elements? Most probably, the latter, as there seems no evidence that there was any European Astronomical activity in the regions of Orissa, at that time. The Italian expedition from the Palermo Observatory was to Muddapur in Bengal a neighbouring state to Orissa and could there have been some information that reached to Kandapara? It is not certain and there seems no evidence of it. Even if the information did reach, Samanta would not have accepted it without his own calculations agreeing with that. All in all, it seems possible that not only did Samanta observe this Transit, but, he predicted it from his own calculations, unaware, of the excitement in the rest of the world arising from the Transits of Venus – in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.The mention of the ratio of the bimba or apparent angular diameters of Venus and Sun as 1/32 is very interesting. On the date of these observations – the 9th of December 1874, the apparent angular diameters of Sun and Venus, respectively, were – 32 minutes, 29 seconds of arc and 1 minute, 3 seconds of arc. The ratio then would have been discernable as 1: 30.93. This ratio would have small variations from one transit to another due to the ellipticity of orbits involved. In the year 2004, for instance, the apparent diameters  are – 31 minutes, 31 seconds for Sun and 58 seconds of arc, for Venus so that the ratio discernable, would be 1:32.6 for the coming Transit of Venus. Pathani Samanta’s observations were completely non telescopic, and made with handmade instruments – and the accuracy achieved seems extra ordinary. In theoretical calculations and observations of the Transit of Venus, Samanta’s achivement would be considered comparable to that of Jeremiah Horrocks, though poignantly anachronistic. 

Eco Travel : Mangalajodi

WOODEN BOAT
MADE AT MANGALAJODI
Mangalajodi Wetland. Project is implemented by CPSW, an Odisha based NGO which is handholding the community to manage the facilities and improve the services for visitors. Ecoguides of eco-tourism society, who give visitors an authentic experience of learning about Birds. Mangalajodi is not only a eco destination but also a cultural village under Tangi block in Khurda district.

Gorge Sanctury : Satakoshia

Animal Camp at Satakosia


Satakosia Gorge


Satakosia Gorge


Elephant Camp, Satakosia
       A 22 kms long gorge where Mahanadi river cuts through the Eastern Ghats is called Satakosia gorge, In 1976 comprising a total area of 745.42 sq.kms the sanctuary was established. To the south of the gorge is Dhenkanal and to its north Kondhamal district. The nearest town is Angul, 58 kms away. The forest type here is  mixed deciduous, Predominantly Sai,Mahua and Bahera varieties of trees are found here. Once it was the habitat of tigers and leopards. Now they are rarely found. About 10 kms south of the gorge at Puruakote and Labangi Gharials have their home in Mahanadi river in order to protect crocodile , and endangered species this sanctuary was established , with this objective type in April 1975 the Gharial research centre and conservation project was started at Tikarapada . This was the first conservation project of its kind in the whole world. Satokosia gorge, where the nature in its primitive wild disposition houses all the phenomena including flora and fauna is a rare place. For, it remains untouched by the lust of civilization. If the wild animals including Sambar, barking deer and wild boar have made the sanctuary their home, leopards and Royal Bengal Tigers stalk the area in the...ir inimitable style. Up tin the forest near Barmul lies a cave where a 16-feet King Cobra leads a majestic life with his family. The site of the snake king slithering from a tree trunk and drinking from the gorge below where crystal clear water gushes through would send a chill down the spine of any adventurer. The tranquility of the nature is broken at times by the sweet chirping of rare birds like Horn bills, Fishing Eagles, Crested Serpent Eagles, Racket-tailed Drango, Hill Hyenas (Sunakani an Rupakani) while one can see the rare flying squirrels, Malabar giant squirrels and reptiles like Star Tortoise, King Cobra, Rocket Python, Monitor Lizard, Gharial and Mugar Crocodile. Sitalpani is a spot atop a hill where ice cold water is available throughout the year. It also has sthe costliest timber species—Rosewood. Satkosia can be approached from Chhamundia, a 30-Km drove form Gania in Nayagarh district and 120 Km form Bhubaneswar . At Badmul near Chhamundia, the Mahanadi Wildlife Division has constructed an observatory where one gets a panoramic view of the spectacular gorge and the Amazonian expense of the Mahanadi . Eight Km form Badmul lies Kuturi, where the Habitat development for natural breeding centre for animals is located. Established by the division, the sanctuary has a water tank, salt lick and fodder style grass, Napier grass and orchard. full protection is provided to wild animals who visit the centre? There are also tree-top manchans and a cottage for the tourists to view to movement wild animals at night. The part of the Sanctuary situated on the northern part of the Mahanadi , includes Mahanadi Reserve Forests (RF) of Nayagarh district and Nandagadu PRF of Boudh District.

Taptapani in Ganjam District

Taptapani in Ganjam district

Hot Spring, Taptapani
Taptapani, literally meaning hot water, is a beautiful village in Berhamput located in the outskirts of Gopalpur town which is about 67 km away rom the heart of the city. A hot water spring bubbling with sulphur content is the prime attraction here. This small village is located in the scenic backdrop of hilly regions inhabited by aborigines of Odisha. It is believed that the bath in this hot water spring alleviate the skin ailments, mainly due to the sulphur content of the water. The water is about 1000°F at its origin and is canalized to a pond in the village for the people to take bath. Many tourists visit this place to experience the natural beauty of the village and also to experience the bath in Taptapani.

Konark Dance Festival

Konark Dance Festival – During the month of December every year annual dance festival of Indian classical forms are held at the Konark temple complex which includes the traditional classical dance form of Odisha – the famous Oddissi form. This dance festival is a very reputed one and esteemed festival for the artists who perform here. Renowned dancers from all over the country come here during this dance festival to participate in the open air auditorium in the temple complex. In this festival the varied dancing forms of different regions in India were performed like Bharathnatyam, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Kathak, Chau etc. The sound of ghungroo, flute and other classical instruments in the open air auditorium in the backdrop of illuminated Konark temple create the atmosphere very festive. The beats of ‘Raga’ and ‘Tala’ fill the air with the sounds of classical music. The dance festival is organised by the Odisha tourism and Oddissi Research Centre. This dance festival provides a platform both to the famous dancers of the country as well as the new upcoming dancers to dislay their talents through different classical dance forms. During these days a handicrafts fair is also organised around the temple complex where the famous handicrafts of Odishan architectures were displayed and sold. The festival is being organised during the 1st of December to 5th of December every year.

Shanti Stupa : Dhauli

Just 8 km away from Bhubaneswar looking down on the plains that bore witness to the gruesome war waged on Kalinga by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka the Great, stand the rock edicts of Dhauli. It was here that Ashoka, full of remorse after the Kalinga War in 261 BC, renounced his blood-thirsty campaign and turned to Buddhism. Ashoka erected two main edicts in Kalinga, one in Dhauli and the other in Jayagarh. The principles of Ashoka which reflect his compassion were inscribed on all the other edicts in his empire except Kalinga. In the Kalinga edicts he warned the people of Kalinga not to revolt and that he would take appropriate action if they did. This is in sharp contrast to all of his other edicts and proof of his political acumen. The edicts are remarkably well preserved, despite the fact that they date back to the 3rd century BC. A sculpted elephant, the universal symbol of Lord Buddha, tops the rock edicts. The Shanti Stupa or the peace pagoda, built through the Indo-Japanese collaboration, is located on the opposite hill.

Barabati Stadium - Cuttack

The Barabati Stadium is a cricket venue in the east Indian city of Cuttack, Odisha. It is home ground of Odisha cricket team and is operated by Orissa Cricket Association. The Barabati Stadium is one of the older grounds in India, having hosted several touring sides – including the MCC, the West Indies team and the Australians - before it hosted its first international match. It is equipped with floodlights for day-and-night games and is a regular venue for One Day Internationals (ODI) matches. The Barabati Stadium in Cuttack hosted only the third One Day International in this country, in January 1982, when India put it across England by five wickets to lift the series 2-1. In the first Test match here five seasons later, the Sri Lankans were greeted with an underprepared wicket affording vastly unpredictable bounce. Dilip Vengsarkar, then at the most dizzying heights of his career, made his highest Test score of 166, his fourth century in eight Tests, when no other batsman on either side crossed 60. The Lankans were rolled over twice as India seized an innings and 67-run victory. Kapil Dev bagged his 300th Test victim, bowling Rumesh Ratnayake with a ball that failed to sit up. The only other Test match here, against New Zealand in 1995-96, was badly affected by rain, affording less than 180 overs of playing time. Narendra Hirwani, on a comeback trail, took 6 for 59 in New Zealand's only innings, the best bowling figures here. Visiting sides have in the past sometimes expressed their qualms about having to travel from Bhubaneshwar, an hour's drive away, because of the lack of an airport and of quality accommodation in Cuttack. Though it isn’t one of the regular Test venues anymore, it continues to enjoy the status of international venue and hosts One-Day Internationals regularly. India have won one of the two Test matches played here, and have a 9-4 win-loss record in ODIs. The Barabati Stadium is an adopted home venue for the Indian Premier League franchise Deccan Chargers. It hosted two of the seven home games of Deccan Chargers during the 2010 season of the Indian Premier League. Chargers Came out with thumping victories in both matches. Andrew Symonds was judged Man of the Match on both occasions.

Bhajan Samrat Bhikari Bal

 

Noted devotional singer Bhikari Bal, popularly known as “Bhajan Samrat” in Odisha. A devotee of Lord Jagannath, Bal was popular for his dedication to Oriya Bhajan which brought him laurels from far and wide. Recipient of several prestigious awards, the singer had sung hundreds of Bhajans besides presenting his voice as play back singer in a number of Oriya films including Bhakta Salabega, Agni Pariksha, Mathura Vijaya, Abhilasha, Amar Prem, Kie Kahara and Srikrushna Rasa Leela.

Sri Mahaprasad of Jagannath Temple


Shree Mahaprasad, a nectar, prepare in Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri. Tradition maintains that all food cooked in the temple kitchens are supervised by the Goddess Mahalakshmi the empress of Srimandir It is said that if the food prepared has any fault in it a shadow dog appears near the temple kitchen.The temple cooks or Mahasuaras take this as a sign of displeasure of Mahalakshmi with the food which is promptly buried and a new batch cooked. All food is cooked following rules as prescribed by Hindu religious texts. Cooking is done only in earthen pots with water drawn from two special wells near the kitchen called Ganga and Yamuna.There are total 56 varieties of naivedhyas offered to the deities,near ratnavedi as well as in bhoga mandap on five particular muhurtas.The most awaited prasad is kotho bhoga or abadha,offered at mid-day at around 1PM,depending upon temple rituals. The food after being offered to Jagannath is distributed at reasonable amount as Mahaprasad,which considered as divine to devotees in the Ananda Bazar located to the North-east of the Singhadwara inside the temple complex. The temple's kitchen is considered as the largest kitchen in India.

Kalijai Temple in Chilika Lake




Kalijai Temple is located on an island in Chilika Lake. It is considered to be the abode of the Goddess Kalijai. Highly revered by the local populace, the deity has been venerated in the local folklores and legends. The island provides an excellent destination for pilgrims as well as tourists. Every year in January, a huge gala fair is held during the festival of Makar Sankranti. It is about 18 K.M. away from Balugan in south east direction, the residence of the Goddess Kalijai.Kalijai means Kali + Jai , Kali, the Goddess Kali and Jai a name of a village Girl of Banapur , who was drowned there during her visit to Parikuda Gada for her Marriage. An accidental storm with deep black cloud was drowned her traditional boat there near the hill and vanished. All the Boatmen with her father were alive except that Girl Jai undiscovered!!! Since then many boat men have been listened her low voice during early in the evening there and she became the adorable Goddess of the locality and became respected among Odiya People. Most of the Fisherman Community is worshiping Goddess KaliJai as their “Istha Devi”

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Eco conservation in Mangalajodi

A villager moving with indigenous fishing nets made out of bamboo
Mangalajodi is a small village in the bank of Chilka lake under Tangi Block in Khordha District of Odisha. Maximum peoples of this village are opted fishing as their main source of living. It is not even on the Odisha Tourism map or even included in the Chilika Guide Map. But, thanks to the SSMPSS the birds are getting the protection they need and locals are getting the social support they need for livelihoods that revolve around bird protection. More visitors come to Mangalajodi each year and that the income they bring supports several families whose members are acting as guides and boatmen. In the last season (November to February), some 611 visitors from six different countries visited Mangalajodi.

Birds Paradise of Mangalajodi

Egret take-off, Mangalajodi marshes near Chilika



Little Grebe at Mangalajodi

Mangalajodi wetlands are a freshwater swamp at the north-eastern edge of Chilka Lake and is located between 19° 54.823'N 85° 26.184'E and 19° 53.755'N  85° 26.332'E. Mangalajodi hamlet is about 60kms south south-west of Bhubaneshwar city off NH 5 and 4 kms south-east of Tangi town in Khordha district of Odisha, India.

Olive Ridley

Leaving for home into the sunrise

In a nest, arround 150-200 eggs

Paused for a breath while returning back to sea..

Bibhav's great work

Mating on sea
The Cycle of Mating, Nesting and Hatching of Olive Ridley Turtles is an annual ritual on 3 special locations in Odisha. It is attended by over 2.5 Lakh turtles every year making it the second largest congregation of Turtles to nest after Costa Rica... Mr.Bibhav Behera of Odisha had been documenting their behaviour from Jan 09 to April 09 & finding out more about them...

Nila Madhav Temple of Kantilo

Standing elegantly on the banks of the Mahanadi, Kantilo is famous for the temple of Lord Nilamadhaba on top of the twin hills with a surrounding of green forests. Lord Nilamadhaba occupies a prominent position in the cult of Lord Jagannath. A permanent flow of holy water from the feet of Lord Nilamadhaba. Lord Siddheswar are the highlights of the place. Kantilo has the most popular picnic spots in Orissa and is 100 kms away from the capital and 33 kms from Nayagarh town.Maghasaptami celebrated here in grand scale.Brass snd bellmetal utensils are famous here.

Ladukeswar Temple of Sarankul

The Shrine of Lord Ladukeswar, known popularly as Ladu Baba is situated here, 100 kms from Bhubaneswar on the Nayagrah- Aska Road and 13 kms from Nayagarh town. The city is regarded as Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva). This is another major Shaivite ShrineThere is always a crowd of people here waiting to see the Lord. People from all over Orissa come here to celebrate the major festival Mahasivaratri. So the place aglows on the occasion of Mahashivaratri.

Kanchi Abhijan

The picture above shows Manika with a pot of yogurt balanced upon her head. The light-skinned Balabhadra, riding a black stallion, offers a finger ring to the girl, who is extending her hand to receive it. The dark-skinned Jagannath follows behind on a white stallion. Both deities carry lances.