My First Photo Walk

 Since I was bitten by shutter bug it has become my favourite pass time to log on to sites that share photos.  I follow dPS regularly.   On one of the photo sharing sites I read about photo walk.  It was a new word for me, but it appeared self explanatory.  Photographers will take their camera and walk along taking pictures.  If this is done in groups, I thought it will be more interesting and learning experience. 

Photography had developed tremendously impacting everyday life from the principle of camera obscure to digital and drone cameras,  from dark to light rooms, black and white to instant colorful prints and instant sharing worldwide on social media.   Cell phone cameras have made every person a photographer, but the art and technique of photography is ever developing subject.  Like science and art it is ever evolving.

This is one spot on the street where our mentor asked us to take photos.  All of  us gathered here and take pictures in different angles.  People around started staring at us.  Somebody asked what will do taking the picture?  The leaking pipe is making the area dirty and muddy.  They wanted to know if we will inform the municipality about it and get it corrected.  

August 19 is chosen as world photography day as on that day in 1939 Daguerreotype of photographic process was announced   to the public by the French Government.  Actually this process was developed by Joseph Nicephore Niepce and Louis Daguerre in 1937.  In 2009, Korske Ara, Australian photographer launched the World Photo Day Project with dream to unite local and global communities in a worldwide celebration of photograph.  The firs world Photo Day on 19/8/2010 hosted first global online gallery with 270 photographs from more than 100 countries.  World Photography organisation  incorporated as World Photograhy Awards Limited  hosts Sony World Photography Awards and World Photography festival.  Awards are presented to amateurs and professionals in different categories.

Our mentor showed this fish sculpture and compose a good photograph

 I read about the photo walks and wanted to participate in one. I thought that this will help me to get over my inhibitions in taking street photos.   I asked a photographer in our place about photo walk he appeared quite unaware of any such thing.  I know that it is not possible for a photo walk in our place as it is not a metro.  The nearest place I can expect a photo walk is at Hyderabad.   Hyderabad had its first certified photo walk on August 16 and 17 in 2015 the theme being ‘Virasat’ (heritage) capturing architectural and cultural design and beauty of the city. 

Lotus pond was also another point of interest in Zoo

“Photo Walk is defined as the act of walking with a camera for the main purpose of taking pictures of things that photographer may find interesting.”   But if a theme is given based on the theme interesting pictures can be captured by the photographers.  When there are group of people same object of interest can be captured with different perspective by different photographers.

I am fortunate to participate in a photo walk recently.  The Nikon School has held a basic workshop followed by photo walk for the benefit of its customers, and also others  who bought D-SLR, to know their gear and practice photography.  It was an interesting group activity of more than twenty amateur photography enthusiasts of different ages and all walks of life with Nikon Mentor and technical team.  The collecting point for photo walk was at Zoo in Hyderabad.  It was Sunday.  Early hours (7 AM) of winter morning.  We all walked for about a kilometer along with mentor who guided us in composition and candid photos.  In the Zoo we had wild life photography.

In fact, after I came home when I checked the pictures taken I thought I had different category of photos.   Here are some of my pictures taken on photo walk.

Portrait (my niece)

Can I call this a candid photo?  There were many teams playing cricket here.  This boy is too young to play cricker.  He engaged himself in drawing something on the ground.  Another boy told him that he is being photographed.  So he turned to look at me.

Will this be candid or street photo? Here is the old man preparing breakfast for his customers

This is street photograph.  To see such hoardings is very common every where in India.  Once a hoarding is put it should have wear and tear or another new occasion to put a new hoarding should come.  The hoarding was in front of hotel and two workers on the lorry made it interesting for me.

Wild life

Landscape/ Wild life

Nature

Flowers/Nature

Architecture

Indian Green Vine Snake

The snake is so well camouflaged it will be difficult to identify it at first look.
Its body can be seen extending on to gauva tree, its underbelly lighter in shade looks like veins of the leaves

If we observe closely everything in nature appears beautiful.  Even snakes though venomous are beautiful creatures.  There may be hundreds of species of snakes.  Some are highly venomous some are non-poisonous; the poison of some may cause problems which may resolve in short period.  But whenever a snake is seen there will be fear in mind with the thought of its poison.  I believe any creature will attack only when its life is threatened. 

As usual I was looking keenly at the plants beside our compound wall to find anything interesting.  I spotted this green snake camouflaged amidst the plants and vines in the area.  I knew that it is called ‘pasirika’ in Telugu and is non-poisonous.  I brought my hand camera and clicked few pics.  It noticed me and looked at me constantly for some time and then made a slow move into the shrubs around.  I think it will have ample food as I have seen lizards in there.  There are also frogs that are often seen in our premises and I was bit worried that it may enter our premises to feed on the frogs and lizards that are seen around.  But except on that day I never saw it again.

When disturbed it expands its body exibiting a black and white scale markings.
I did not disturb it, just watched its activity

This snake (Ahaetulla nasuta) known as green vine snake is different from that seen in America.  Ahaetulla nasuta, the Indian green vine snake is also seen in Srilanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam.  As I thought it is not non-poisonous, but mildly poisonous, bite causing swelling which will subside in three days.  It turned its pouted head towards me as it perceived my activity a threat and on observing me for a while decided I am not a threat to it and moved away.  It is believed by some people that it uses its pouted head to blind its human victims.  This is supposed to be a myth.  Anyway I was fortunate that even after staring at me for more than five minutes it passed off coolly without attacking me.  

I waited looking at it to see if it opens its mouth and shows its tongue or fangs, which it does to display threat.
It never opened its mouth.

Instant Photographs

Before the advent of digital cameras, at any tourist place there would be only few people and one or two persons in the family would operate camera.  Care is taken not to waste even a single shot and increase number of snaps from 36 to 37.  Digital cameras and phone cameras have made every single person a photographer.  There is no fear of wasting snaps.  No fear of unnecessary expenditure.  As many photos are clicked as desired.  Other than professional photographer rarely a thought is given to the composition.  At the end of the day no one knows how many photos will become hard copies.  They remain either in the memory card of camera or stored in the hard disk of the computer.  From the computer the pictures can be shared world over with friends and relatives.  But the pleasure of watching photo albums sitting together with near and dear at home remembering the story behind the picture will be missing.

To help the tourists at most tourist places we see pro photographers who give us instant photos.  They are ever present at the site and ready to take photographs at best and iconic angles of the place and give pictures in an hour or two.  In some places where more tourists prefer photos taken by the photographers it may take more days and Photographer will send the copies to home.  I think it will be a good idea for tourists to take instant digital photographs at the site and keep them as souvenirs.

  

Here is the photographer at the Laknavaram in Warangal.  The hanging bridge on the lake is ‘L’ shaped and at the joint there is an extended area of bridge.  Here he has his equipment and processes photos and gives it to the tourists in an hour, by the time they come back after visiting the restaurant on the island and boat ride in the lake.  When I asked him to pose for me and I will post it on my blog he was happy to do it.  I wish he will have brisk business on all the days of the week.

This plant is seen growing wildly at Laknavaram.  I have seen this type of flowers for the first time.  I took few pictures.  When I took this photo I thought that the flower is different from others.  But find an insect on this flower was a surprise to me.

Red Gulmohar

As we travel towards Hyderabad from Warangal, from Ghanpur to Raghunathpally on either side of the road there are many Gulmohar trees.  The journey along this road between April and June is pleasant as these trees are in full bloom with bright red flowers arching the road.  Though it will be hot, the journey along this road becomes memorable experience travelling under these floral arches.

Gulmohar or Royal Poinciana mostly grows in the tropical regions.  It is cultivated for its beauty.  It is grown as ornamental tree for its wonderful appearance when in full bloom and also for shade.  In summer when the leaves fall and the tree blooms in its full with its bright red flowers,it appears like flame and hence the tree is also known as Flame tree, Flamboyant tree.  Rare variety of this species will have yellow flowers.  

The tree is the official tree of Vietnam and Common wealth of Northern Mariana Islands.  The flower is the national flower of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

In Kerala Gulmohar flower is known as Kaalvaripoo – flower of cavalry.  Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala believe that when Jesus was crucified there was a Royal Poinciana tree nearby his Cross.  It is believed that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed over the flowers of the tree and that is how the flowers got their sharp red color (Wikipedia).

In Bengal the red Gulmohar is called Krishnachura and the yellow variety which is rare is called Radhachura. 

Life of Butterfly

Nature is wonderful.  Life is beautiful.  My interest in photography had taught me to look at things – living and nonliving in different perspective.  Every being looks beautiful when observed.  Nature’s every act is purposeful and progressive.  Every being in nature is interdependent.  The secret of development of huge banyan tree lies in a very tiny seed.  Every being is born for a purpose and degrades or disappears once the purpose is fulfilled.  Nature’s degradation is for progressive up gradation.  A seed disappears as a plant shoots out.  The plant flowers, flowers shrivel and develop into fruit.  The fruit is consumed by other living beings and seed is disposed off into mother earth to start a new life.

I feel life is very much comparable to the stages in the life cycle of a butterfly.  The egg hatches into larva and spends its life eating, eating and eating and finally withdraws and secludes from external activity into pupa.  The changes it undergoes during that stage lead to beautiful transformation and a butterfly in all its beauty comes out.  It lives on nectar serves its purpose of pollination for progressive nature, lays eggs and disappears into nature.  From egg to butterfly the life cycle of butterfly is just one life.

We, human beings, since birth strive to live, live for self, always consuming and hoarding things more than we need for one life, destroy nature for our comfort.  Most lives are spent in fulfilling desires which are ever increasing and finally when death embraces, we still long for something or other and rebirth becomes inevitable (for people who believe in soul and rebirth).  The purpose of life is to live and be able to do something for the progression of human life peacefully in the Universe along with all other beings and elements in the Universe.   People who had done their bit for betterment of life on earth are saints and live even after their mortal death.  Their life is like the last stage of beautiful butterfly.  As a being their purpose of birth is accomplished and become unified with Universe.

People who have accomplished their goal in life should withdraw from material longings and work for the benefit of human race and preserving beautiful nature

A Different Rose

Flowers are beautiful and delicate.  Rose is a flower which is loved by all.  There are hundreds of different colors and types of roses.  Any flower will generally have a single centre around which the petals are arranged in whorls.  Once I found a rose with two centres.  It is quite uncommon.  I don’t want to say unnatural as it is part of nature.  It is different, it is wonderful. 

This is my first photograph to be posted after changing the back ground with difficulty.  I learnt it on you tube and done with online photo editor pixlr.com.  Little bit of edition is also done in picasa as usual.

Caged

The picture looks like the line is behind the grill.
 Actually I have taken this from the window of the bus. 

Man is the most intelligent of all living beings on earth.  With intelligence and wisdom man evolved from caveman to smart city dweller.  Being the most intelligent of animal kingdom, man is powerful to command, control and use other beings for his development.  Powerful man has the responsibility to protect nature and allow other beings to live.  Protecting nature and other beings maintains ecological balance that helps human race to continue healthy existence on earth.

Disappearance of forests, changing life styles of man has become the cause of extinction of hundreds of beings.  Wild animals that live in forests are kept in captivity in zoological parks or protected/reserved forests. In these forests though the animals appear to move about freely, their freedom of movement is restricted by  the boundaries created by the authorities (man).  But when we move in these forests to see wild animals in their so called natural habitat we go in a vehicle through the windows of which we can see animals but animals cannot reach us. 

Once I visited Bannerghatta National Park in Bengaluru.  When I took a bus ride I felt we, the passengers, in the bus are caged and the animals are moving freely.  I could understand the limited power we humans have and the how much we fear the wild animals.

The bear sitting beside the halted bus and watching us

The bus,with all the doors closed and windows grilled
The moving cage!

                                                                        

Dog's Life

Few months ago I visited Sai Baba temple near Bhadrakali temple, Warangal.  There is a room beside the hall having main deity.  In this room there is also idol of Sai Baba and Lord Dattatreya.  A dog was seen lying in the corner.  It was not afraid of any visitors.  It looked rather sick and unable to move.  Actually a dog is not allowed into the temple.  I don’t know why the temple staff allowed it to rest there.  Lord Dattatreya is followed by dogs as per Hindu mythology.  As idol of Lord Dattatreya was there and dog is associated with him, I think the temple staff did not mind the dog being there.

Since the day I have seen this I wanted to write something about dog and its association with man and mythology.  Dog is the first animal that is domesticated by man.  It is adapted to living with man for more than 5000 years.  There are many type of breeds, some meant for hunting, some for guarding and some for entertaining as a simple pet. Dogs are good at tracking with strong sense of odour.  Dogs can be trained to understand humans and work for them.  Their strong olfactory sense is used by the Police department world over in tracking criminals and lethal objects and drugs.  Modern police department will have dogs as employees and treated well.  The shepherds or farmers have dogs to protect their sheep and cattle and also guard their homes. 

The commonest pet animal in the world is dog.  A well trained dog forms part of family.  It is taken care of as any other member in the family and often stands as emotional pillar of support for lonely person.  Once taken care of, its love is supposed to be unconditional.  It can adjust to social norms in the family.  Its attachment to its loved ones is permanent. 

The dog though regarded as icon of faithfulness, is socially adjusted and adapted to live and serve man, loved as a member in the family is considered a lowly animal.  The carnivorous domesticated mammal is kicked as much as it is pampered.

Dog and Religion:

Christianity (W)

In most religious scriptures there will be mention of dog in some context, as pet or guard or suggesting lowly beast.  In Bible the dog is mentioned 18 times (www.Dogquotations.com) with many interesting dog quotations.

God made earth, sky, water, sun, moon, man, bird, and beast but not the dog as he already had one – Native American saying.

Islam (W)

Islam regards dog as unclean animal and should not be kept in home.

Buddhism (W)

Buddhism considers every being is sentient including dog.

Zoroastrians (W)

Zoroastrians regard dog as beneficent, clean and righteous creature and drives away the demons.  The dog is believed to guard the ‘Chinwad Bridge’ to heaven.  Zoroastrians are supposed to take utmost care of dogs, feeding them and particularly it is important for a house owner, if there is pregnant dog near his home, he has to take care of it until the puppies are born and are able to take care of themselves.  Sangdid (dog sight) is a funeral ceremony in which a dog is brought into the room where the dead body is lying (to make sure that the person was really dead).

Hinduism

 In Hinduism dog is considered as the messenger of Yama (God of Death).  God Yama has two dogs, Sarameyas, each guarding hell and heaven.  The Sarameyas are said to be the offspring of the divine dog Sarama.  Sarama is Indra’s (King of Heaven and other gods) dog, which pursued and recovered the cows stolen by asuras and hidden in ‘pathala’.

Lord Bhairava or the Kala Bhairava regarded as manifestation of Lord Shiva in furious form has the dog as his vehicle.  Lord Dattatreya the manifest of trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara) is followed by four dogs. 

In Mahabharat when King Yudhishtara was walking towards heaven initially his four brothers, Draupadi and a dog followed him.  On the way, one after other, Draupadi and brothers fall dead.  Yudhishtara walks forward without looking back for his kin.  Finally when he reaches heaven he is accompanied by dog.  Indra asks Yudhishtara can enter heaven with mortal body leaving behind the dog.  Yudhishtara refuses saying that it had followed him all along the way and he cannot leave it, he can as well give up heaven.  Then Indra is pleased and dog takes original form of Yama and praises Yudhishtara for being a benevolent king.  Yudhishtara enters heaven with mortal body which is never possible for any other mortal being.

Adi Shankaracharya, a great saint and religious scholar well versed with Vedas, was once walking along the Ganges at Kaashi along with his disciples.  He saw a man with dogs (Chandala, a lowly person) coming opposite his way.  He asked the man to move away from his path.  Then Chandala questions him who has to move whether his mortal body or that of dogs; all which were made of five elements or the ‘atman’ which is nothing but part of ‘paramatma’ that is Omniscient and Omnipresent. That question dawns the fundamental message of Vedas, that everything manifest is nothing but Almighty.  Atman is same in all beings and it is pure.  A realised soul will never find any distinction between any being and sees that Almighty pervades the Universe.  Adi Shankaracharya bows to the Chandala and realises that Lord Shankara himself had come in guise to make him realise the essence of Vedas.

Dog festival (W)

Hindus in Nepal celebrate Tihar a five day festival, which in general is festival of lights – similar to Deepavali in India.  The variation is that in Nepal during this festival reverence is showed not only to Gods and elders, but also to animals like crow, cow and dog.  Dog is worshipped on 2^nd day, Kukur Tihar.

Dog in China (W)

The dog is one of the 12 animals honored in Chinese astrology.  A year in Chinese calendar is named after dog.  The 2^nd day of Chinese New Year is considered as the birthday of all dogs and on that day people take care to be kind to dogs.  For Chinese dog meat is a delicacy.  But they do not kill the pet dog for meat.  Different dogs are reared for meat.

Dogs in India

Unlike in West in India dog is kept as pet in few house holds.  There are many stray dogs or village dogs which survive on food thrown out in dust bins or stale food.  Though not cared in particular by any single individual the street dogs do guard the streets and whenever it sees a suspicious person, or a new person in the street in the night it will start barking.  In India the dog is more of a guard in rich people’s houses than as pet in general.  It surprises me the amount of care taken by children and adults of their pet dog in West, allowing it inside the house and sharing bed and sofa with it.  One of my cousins once commented that being a pet dog in West is more pleasurable than being a poor man in India.

Dogs -Diseases

If a dog is kept as pet good care should be taken of its habits and regular vaccines should be given to prevent any diseases to it.  Some of the diseases can be transmitted from dogs to human beings.  The common ones are worm infestations.  People who handle and fondle dogs should wash their hands with soap before eating.  The most fearful disease that can be transmitted from dog is Rabies.  This is a viral infection and the affected dog falls sick and dies within a week or two.  During the course of its illness it may become ferocious and bite everyone in its way.  Its saliva contains virus and if that enters the body even through a minor injury can result in Rabies which is in generally fatal.  Any person bitten by a stray dog should take anti rabies vaccine.  Even if the pet dog is not vaccinated, bite by pet dog also needs immediate attention and treatment with vaccine.

I do not know if other state people in India believe it, we in Telangana believe that a dog can see impending death.  If a dog keeps crying regularly in the night or early hours it is said that death is lingering nearby and someone in the family or locality will die soon.

 

In nature every being has its purpose.  Dog, the first domesticated animal by man, serves man faithfully and needs reverence. 

W = Wikipedia

Rejuvenating Inactivity

Life is simple biological phenomenon.  The initiation and dissociation of life from a living being is mysterious.  Between birth and death life if understood is simple. Eat, sleep and reproduce. Living being has to work to get food to eat and continue the race.  Every activity that is done is only to fulfill this purpose.  In this course of life the life of humans is different.  They endowed with discretion along with intelligence gained superiority over all beings.  With intelligence human race want to control all living beings and ‘Nature’.  Nature is immensely tolerant to misdeeds of man.  Occasionally Nature exhibits its unique strength and ferocity that makes Man to understand his limitations and short sightedness.  Nature has given everything in abundance to man so that everyone can live in peace.  Man in his passion to gain supremacy in the world doesn’t mind to suffer other living beings.

Sleep is unique act of physical non-activity that makes body rejuvenate after any tiresome physical or mental activity.  Good sleep ensures good health.  Healthy person will have a sound sleep.  Dreams are of part of sound sleep. A person who enjoys good sleep will live long.  When a person is sleepy he doesn’t need any bed; Can sleep on the rock or in the Sun.  For a destitute the shade of the tree is heavenly abode to relax and dream. 

The photograph above is taken in the month of May at Kolanpaka of Nalgonda district in Telangana.  Nalgonda district is said to have only two seasons, summer and severe or hot summer.  The man lying on the bench is a beggar, old man; there is a stick by his side and a tin in which he collects dole.  Probably the heat has made that man to come and rest on that bench under the shade of the tree. I have taken the photograph from a distance of 3-4 metres so as not to disturb him.  I walked along forward with my husband talking to him.  But that did not disturb him slightest.  There were other beggars outside this garden and in front of Jain temple. May be he is not interested in waiting there for visitors to the temple as he doesn’t need money or is tired for some reason.  I hope man is at peace and could have deep sleep even before noon. 

Lively Rock

Nature is beautiful.  Nature is mysterious.  Nature maintains balance of all living and non-living beings in the Universe.  Nature has given everything in abundance to man. But man always wants to overpower Nature, wants to modify It as per his needs.  Abuse of nature always results in calamities earlier or later.  Nature always teaches man to be sensible and follow the principle of “live and let live”.  Man is selfish.  Wants everything for himself and in the process becomes lost to himself.  When man is desperate he again goes back to Nature and worships Nature. 

Earlier man who could not unravel any of the mysteries of Nature worshipped Nature as God. Every beautiful and life sustaining part of Nature is worshipped as different forms of God.  That made man to pray God for his wants.  God is man’s hope.  Nature or God never fails man.  Sincere prayer not only moves the rock but also sprouts life in a rock. 

The photos I have taken made me to bow down to Nature and marvel at the wonders It holds for us.

Lotus - Beauty, Purity, Divinity

Recently I have seen a tiny lotus pond at a temple.  There were two colors of lotuses.  Few bloomed fully some partially and still some were closed.  The pond with the flowers and leaves was beautiful.  Lotus is the only flower I know which has many names in Telugu and Sanskrit due to its location and nature of blooming.  As I know that the flower has a special position in Hinduism I got interested to know more about the flower.  On searching the net I found so many interesting facts which I wanted to share with you all.

 Lotus grows in temperate and semi temperate climates.  This is native to Asia and other Eastern countries.  The plant has its roots in the mud, the stems in the water, but unlike other water plants the leaves are above the surface of water and flowers rise eight to twelve inches above leaves.  The strong stem supports this rise to above surface of water and lotus is untouched by the mud from which it arises.  It is the only plant which blossoms and fruits at the same time.  The other special feature of this plant is that its seeds are known to possess maximum period of viability among all plants. The lotus flower, fruit and seeds are edible.  The various parts of flower and the plant are used to cook some dietary delicacies in India and other eastern countries.  The plant also has medicinal value.

The unique features of this flower are recognised long ago and the beautiful flower is considered to represent purity and divinity.  The earliest reference to this flower is found in Rigveda.  This flower is symbolic of spiritual excellence and receives religious reverence in Hinduism and Buddhism.  There is also mention of these flowers in Egypt and Greek mythology.

Hinduism  

The earliest mention of this flower is in Rigveda.  Commonly we see pink and white lotuses in India.  The other colors of lotuses in other Asian countries are red, blue and purple.

Padma indicates a pink lotus which is the seat of goddess Sri Mahalaxmi. 

Kamala is the red color lotus; Pundarika and Utpala are white and blue lotuses.   

 As the lotus arises from water it is also called as ‘jalaja’, ‘neeraja’, ‘saroja’, ‘ambuja’ and as it arises from the muddy waters it is called ‘pankaja’. 

Though the flower’s roots are in the muddy water the stem raises from it and the leaves form a green carpet above the surface of water.  The flower is above the level of the leaves.  The leaves and flowers are detached from water.  The flower opens petal after petal and finally blossoms fully exhibiting the central pod and the stamens.  The flower blooms in the day and shines bright in the sun, closes and dips down into the water in the nights.  Then in the morning when it arises, flower is clear of  single drop of water, clean pure and beautiful. The water drops that fall on leaves also do not spread on it or stick to it, simply drop off. When the flower withers its pod enters the water and seeds are released.. A human being is supposed to live life like a lotus.

Human beings, the highest in order of living beings have to attain salvation by living a life like lotus.  Whatever circumstances they are in, they should rise above those circumstances and live a fruitful life without being attached to the material world.  The mud/water is considered the physical realm of the world, the flower – soul is covered inside the being as the pod in the lotus bud.  As lotus blooms with the touch of sun rays, so the people with attaining knowledge will be able to realise self and live in bliss.  Any being that is born should rise above materialistic world and strive for enlightenment.  Every being is microcosm, part of macrocosm and all beings ultimately should realise this fact.  Everyone is born for some purpose, should fulfill their duties and reach the ever blissful abode of Almighty.

In the course of salvation a person has to meditate and pass through different phases.  The stages pass through opening of seven chakras in the body each associated with lotus of different color and number of petals. 

-Mulaadhaara Chakra lies at the lowest part of the trunk - red color lotus with 4 petals

-Swadhishtana Chakra – in the lower abdomen – yellow color lotus with 6 petals

-Manipura Chakra – at the navel – blue lotus with 10 petals

-Hruthpadma Chakra – at the heart – golden yellow lotus with 12 petals

-Vishuddha Chakra – situated in the throat – white lotus with 16 petals

-Agnyaja Chakra – at the midpoint between the eyebrows – white lotus with 2 petals

-Sahsraraka Chakra – at the vertex – golden lotus with 1000 petals. 

 The opening of each chakra is visualized as opening of the associated lotus.  As each charka opens in ascending order the person will be rising above the wants of physical and material world and finally when enlightenment is achieved the beautiful golden lotus of thousand petals will open and such person will ever be in communion with Almighty and enjoys bliss for ever.

Goddess Sri Mahalaxmi is associated with pink lotus.  It is the seat of the Goddess.  Goddess Sri Mahalaxmi is addressed as

Padmodbhavam (arising from lotus)

Padmamukheem (lotus face)

Padmaaksheem (lotus eyed)

Padmahastaam (holding lotus in the hand)

Padmapriyaam (loves lotus)

Padmamalaadharam (wearing lotus garland)

Padmasundareem (beautiful as lotus)

Padmineem (Sri Mahalaxmi, the divine lotus)

Padmagandhineem (fragrance of lotus)

Padmanaabha priyaam (loved by God Sri Mahavishnu – from whose navel a lotus the seat of Brahma - the creator arises)

Padmaalayaam (dwells in lotus).

Goddess Saraswathi is associated with white lotus. She is praised as

Padmapatra vishaalaakshi (wide eyes appearing as lotus petals

Padmakesara varnini (golden complexion as the stamens of lotus)

Shweta padmaasana (seated in the white lotus)

Nityam padmaalayaam (ever dwells in the lotus).

Beauty of other gods also described in terms of lotus, particularly the eyes as lotus petals. The feet of gods and all esteemed Gurus are revered as lotus feet (paada padmamulu).

The supreme god Shri Mahavishnu is called Padmanabha as a lotus arises from his navel on which the creator Brahma sits.  Sun god is called as ‘Kamalanath’ (master of lotus).  He is the only god who holds lotuses in two hands. 

In Bhagavadgeeta Lord Krishna says that a person should do his ‘karma’ with detachment like lotus which stays in murky water but remains clean and pure.

Buddhism

 In Buddhism the lotus represents purity of body, speech and mind.  The flower rising above the murky water is symbolic of detachment from physical realm. The eight petals of lotus represent the eight principles of Buddhism

-Right belief

-Right aim

-Right speech

-Right Actions

-Right means of livelihood

-Right endeavour

-Right mindfulness

-Right meditation

In Buddhism different colors of lotuses presents different virtues.

Red lotus:  This is related to heart and is associated with love and compassion.

Blue lotus: Victory of spirit over that of wisdom, intelligence and knowledge.  This lotus is shown as only partially opened and centre of the flower is not seen.

White lotus: This represents mental purity and spiritual perfection, symbolic of ‘Bodhi’, being awakened.

Purple lotus: This is associated with esoteric sects.  This lotus is seen as open flower with eight petals indicating eight paths of Buddhism.

Pink lotus: This is considered supreme true lotus and is associated with Buddha.

The heart of the beings is like an unopened lotus.  Developing virtues of Buddha is unfolding and blossoming of lotus.  Enlightened being – Buddha sits on lotus.

Lotus is the first flower bloomed in the beginning of this cosmic world as per Buddhist Cosmology. 

According to Mahayana tradition lotus indicates regeneration, perfection, youthful bloom and immortality.  Chan tradition believes the fruit, flower and stalk are symbolic of past, present and future.

Jainism

Jainism also regards lotus as most auspicious flower.  Jain Tirthankars who realise Omniscience are depicted as sitting on Golden lotus.  Tirthankars sit on lotus when giving sermons.  This is to depict how to love and live unattached in the world.

Chinese mythology and culture

Chinese have immense reverence to lotus.  The lotus was mentioned in their poetry 3000 years ago. A beautiful woman’s face is described as lotus face. The flower is considered queenliest of all flowers, fairy of flowers and gentleman of flowers. They have many folk paints with different lotuses symbolic of love, harmony and prosperity.  Chinese word for lotus is pronounced as ‘HE’ the same word meaning harmony.  The word for light blue lotus is pronounced like the word rectitude. This lotus represents honesty.  Lotus is considered to represent the bond of love as the stalk cannot be broken into two.  When the stem is bent, it is still bound by its strong fibres. Chinese scholar Zhou Dunyi wrote, “I love lotus because while growing from mud, it is unstained”. 

In china there is a legend saying that June 14^th in Chinese lunar calendar is the lotus’s birthday. So even now every year Chinese celebrate Lotus festival by visiting lotus pond, enjoying beauty of the flowers and the environment along the banks of the pond.

A unique fibre is produced from the fibres of lotus plant at Inle Lake Union of Myanmar.  These fibres are used to weave special robes – lotus robes (kya thingaln) for Buddha images

Egyptian Mythology

As per Egyptian mythology lotus is symbol of creation and rebirth.  Lotus blooms during day and closes and sinks into water at night to rise again along with the sun to bloom.  This is the reason their mythology presents that a giant lotus that blossomed first from the primordial waters of ‘Nun’ has created sun and thus the creation started.

Greek mythology

Greek mythology also mentions a story about lotus.  During his return from Troy Odysseus has to drag his men who were stuck at a place eating lotus fruits and flowers given by local inhabitants and became blissful.  Herodotus, 5^th century BC historian located lotus eaters on the Libyan coast.

Lotus, a beautiful flower, Indian national flower, symbolic of spirituality in many religions and nations, certainly has unique features and inspires man to rise above mundane things and attain self realization.

Image sources: Other than red and white lotus all images are taken from Google images.

Welcome 2015

The year 2014 had passed off.  As we all know time and tide never stops for anybody.  Time is simply eternal.  It is our way of to count seconds, minutes and so on.  Days are calculated based on number of hours, sometimes from one sunrise to the other.  Months can be of Gregorian calendar or of Arabic or Hindu calendar. Whatever may be the calculations time ticks off.  A day is essential for anyone just to ponder over what has happened in the past what will happen in the future.  It is essential to learn lessons from past experiences and apply the knowledge to future progress.  Everyday helps us to grow not only chronologically but also mentally and spiritually. 

Religion has come into existence to keep people disciplined and live a harmonious life.  Apart from natural calamities this year we had the most pathetic kidnap of about two hundred young school girls whose whereabouts are not yet known to the world and also brutal attack on young school boys.  Every religion teaches us to love, live and let live.  Humanity is to live peacefully according to natural laws maintaining ecological balance.  But, in the name of development nature is being destroyed and powerful is eliminating the weak by different means. 

I hope 2015 will bring sanity in human thinking and every being lives in harmony with nature.