A City is an organic thing. While racing ahead with modernity, it retains , still, some pockets of its past like comforting memories to fall back on .
Knowing the City is a continous process . There is no dead Past or an unborn future. Everything is in a flux .
A day of gallivanting around the cantonment area of Bangalore - Bengaluru - yields a pleasing harvest of something old , something new , something to mull upon and something to share .
Halasuru Someshwara Temple .
One of the oldest living temples of Bengaluru , close to 1000 years . The ancient core shrine to Someshwara , built during Ganga times , has blossomed with additions by successive powerholders . The Cholas , The Vijayanagaras, The Yelahanka Prabhus ......
The walls show detailed running freizes of the wedding of Shiva with Parvathi , attended by The Rishis , The Devas , The Adityas , The Vasus, The Matrikas and of course the Gods . The illustrative panels run through an engagement ceremony , a barat , the actual wedding , the bridal procession and a reception with dance and music .
The outer walls show Shiva in his various forms , while the pillared pavilion of Nayaka times has interesting depiction of lions , mythical animals , puranic tales and dance poses .
And somewhere on the sidelines of the crowded wedding venue lurks a snake charmer .
Varahi , one of the Sapta Matrikas attending the divine wedding .
The Groom leaves with his Bride in style , riding the Bull , followed by Vishnu on Garuda and Brahma on Swan .
Knowing the City is a continous process . There is no dead Past or an unborn future. Everything is in a flux .
A day of gallivanting around the cantonment area of Bangalore - Bengaluru - yields a pleasing harvest of something old , something new , something to mull upon and something to share .
Halasuru Someshwara Temple .
One of the oldest living temples of Bengaluru , close to 1000 years . The ancient core shrine to Someshwara , built during Ganga times , has blossomed with additions by successive powerholders . The Cholas , The Vijayanagaras, The Yelahanka Prabhus ......
The walls show detailed running freizes of the wedding of Shiva with Parvathi , attended by The Rishis , The Devas , The Adityas , The Vasus, The Matrikas and of course the Gods . The illustrative panels run through an engagement ceremony , a barat , the actual wedding , the bridal procession and a reception with dance and music .
In the picture above , Shiva , as Tripurantaka , is all set in his vehicle to vanquish a demonic trio.
The monolithic pillar in front of the gopuram ( the deepasthambha or Nandisthamba ) has beautifully carved panels of Verrabhadra , Bhairava , Nandi and Ganesha .
The temple , presently under care of the Government , has been renovated with many concrete additions to cater to pilgrim needs . One only wishes a little more sensitivity towards aesthetics had been excercised by the contractors .
Mahasadashiva ......some prefer to see him as Vishwakarma . Whatever be the name given to him , he is seen as thoroughly enjoying himself in this wedding .
She is singled out for adoration by devotees - it pays to be different !
The Groom leaves with his Bride in style , riding the Bull , followed by Vishnu on Garuda and Brahma on Swan .
From the ancient temple to a Modern Art museum .
National Gallery of Modern Art .
The building it is housed in is itself a work of Art - the erstwhile Manikyavelu Mansion .
National Gallery of Modern Art .
The building it is housed in is itself a work of Art - the erstwhile Manikyavelu Mansion .
The permanent exhibits include samples of work of all contemporary artists .
NGMA has frequent exhibitions of well known names in today's artworld .
Presently , the works of a self taught artist , Madhvi Parekh , are on view. She uses the reverse painting technique on acrylic sheets and the current theme is The Last Supper . Her work has been hailed by art critics as " stylised folk art with rural influences "
Ancestor Stones of Beereshwara Temple.
Tucked away in a lane where least expected , a stones throw from the ultra glitzy UBCity Mall , is the shrine dedicated to the Guardian of the original inhabitants if Bangalore District . Beereshwara of The Kurubas .
Kurubas were a group of powerful tribes with lordship over much of southern karnataka . They were pastoralists , forest dwellers , shephards , weavers and metalsmiths . Their clans followed a set of gurus and observed strict Kula demarcations . They got urbanised readily with the times , but never forgot their ancestry .
From that rural influenced art to real rural art ......
Ancestor Stones of Beereshwara Temple.
Tucked away in a lane where least expected , a stones throw from the ultra glitzy UBCity Mall , is the shrine dedicated to the Guardian of the original inhabitants if Bangalore District . Beereshwara of The Kurubas .
Kurubas were a group of powerful tribes with lordship over much of southern karnataka . They were pastoralists , forest dwellers , shephards , weavers and metalsmiths . Their clans followed a set of gurus and observed strict Kula demarcations . They got urbanised readily with the times , but never forgot their ancestry .
Honouring the Ancestors is held as high a virtue as honouring God . Stones with representations of the heroic ancestors are venerated with periodic rituals . Many such ancestor stones discovered around Sampanginagara of old , corresponding to today's Central Business District , have been gathered together at Beereshwara Temple and preserved for posterity. What stories would these beautiful stones tell us , if they could speak .......or if we can hear !
