I’ve been to this marvelous place called Lepakshi, located in the district of Anantapur. The place is famous for its exquisite temple structure and sculptures. This temple was built around 400 years ago during the reign of Achyuta Devaraya.
You cannot avoid dropping your jaw at the impeccable art and that too with hand held devices. It was awe-inspiring to watch the intricacies of each monument and heavy pillars that were once uplifted by humans and not the lifting machines.
The entire structure was carved out of the rocky hills. So, it was imperative for the builders to straighten and soften the surface for the visitors. It is truly mysterious to see the evened flooring.
The temple followed the science of Vaastu to provide adequate ventilation. Not that I am an expert at this, but could surely figure out from the spacious, well-lit rooms. It took around 3 hours to go for a complete coverage and I still feel we should have gone for an inch-by-inch footage. Never the less, I tried clicking as much space as possible.
Most of the characters in Hindu Mythology have been depicted in those sculptures and the guides helped us decipher each monument. Every hook and corner had a slice of art. Who trained the sculptors to be so flawless and creative?
You will be amazed to learn that the ceiling was not left vacant! It was either painted or carved. Now, how did they manage to paint a static ceiling that was totally uneven, as it originally is a hill?
I feel so proud of our ancient and magnificent heritage, where every store was carved into a piece of wonder, in those non-electric & electronic days!
Few glimpses...
Saints in a row!
Pillars
Bribery and corruption grease the wheels of the great economic miracle of India, wheels that are still being turned by slave labor.
Few famous one-liners I kept hearing ....
- First 2 years at a company are for OJT(on the-job-training), and then starts the actual job!
- Never-Say-No for any extra tasks in the 1st few years of your job! Accept all the tasks that come your way
- Networking is the key to introspect yourself!
- Smile at everyone!
- No matter what, deadlines can wait…your life cant!
- Be an early bird (one who comes and also LEAVES early..lolz)!
- Love your job and not the company (quite a famous one)!
- Being humble is the best policy!
- You can be a part of gossip, but never the Subject of it!
How many are actually valid!
Summer season is very special to many of us. Discounting the heat, we have many other good things to brood over. As my memory reels back, the summer season would actually begin with the Morning School sessions. These sessions lasted only for 3 hours a day. You are home by 11:00 am and there you go attacking the games and hobbies. On the note of our annual exams, the tension and heat would have increased significantly, bogging us down. However, the afternoon on the last day of our exams is treated really special and I can claim it to be coolest in the hottest season. No prizes for guess work! The summer vacation has started!!
I used to visit my native place in coastal Andhra with a beach nearby and lots and lots of coconut trees surrounding my place. Around 40 days of my vacation is definitely spent with my grandparents. I will not burden you with the details of my vacation; here are some memorable crumbs:
- Story Time – I adore my grandparent’s creativity to cook up the bedtime stories. The stories touch based the Indian morals and ethics in a very interactive fashion. The victory of good over evil was deciphered in all the characters of their imagination.
- Mango – The only season to offer the juicy and sweet mangoes. A rich source of Vitamins A & C. It is inevitable to resist mangoes unless you are diabetic.
- Grammar and Mathematics Lessons – My Grandpa is a retd. Headmaster and he ensured to brush up our basics during the vacation. As an incentive to our efforts, he would either take us for a boat ride or a movie.
- Movie Marathon – I remember watching at least one newly released movie every day. It is easier to commute and get tickets in towns, when compared to our Multiplexed system.
- Mango Pickle – Any Andhrite’s ever-favorite pickle prepared from raw mangoes. Did you know that it is a good medicine for cold and cough?
- Board Games – Snakes & Ladders, Carroms, Chinese Chekkars, Ashta-Chamma to quote a few. We were restricted to the bedroom between 12:00 to 3:00 because of the boiling heat. The only way to beat the boredom was indoor gaming!
- Jasmines – The smell is simply heavenly and soothes your mind! I am always thankful to God for this wonderful aromatic gift!
- Mango Jelly – The native tongue calls it “Taandra”, made out of mango pulp and jaggery. The mixture is spread out on plain surfaced bamboo mats in multiple layers, dried well to the Sun and cut in to rectangular pieces. The taste is incredible and you are certain to have more than 2 pieces at once!
- Hobby Hugging - Yes, it was the best time to paint, sing, dance, and read! I miss all this fantastic and productive leisure now!
- Toddy Palm Seeds – The seeds taste similar to tender coconut and can be had from the fruit.
- Starry nights – I can claim the nights to be the most beautiful in spite of the constant power cuts! We slept on the terrace watching the stars. The surrounding coconut trees were an irreplaceable source of nice wind and the star-studded sky was something I cannot describe. The experience doubled if it was a full-moon day!
- Vadiyaalu – Prepared out of rice and sabudaana! I love flicking the raw and semi-dried cakes from the terrace :)
Nostalgic???I must say..they were the best days of my life!
- Your soul embraces positivity by birth! Why not you!
- Lock the positive aura around you and set stringent access controls to others!
- Your character must be shaped by your thoughts and not other’s words!
- Cast away the negative forces around you!
- Insults, jealousies, pain and despair prevail everywhere and even a small pore in your soul can house a world of adversities!
- Your moods define your happiness and not others!
- You don’t depreciate your worth because of other’s stance!
- Safeguard the precious YOU!
** After a conversation with my friend***
My ..Dental Fight
To ..Set the teeth right
Is ...a painful plight
Yesterday being my Dad's birthday, here's a small tribute. I am trying to associate 10 adjectives that describe him the most!
- Humility
- Punctuality
- Sincerity
- Self-Discipline
- Service to Humanity
- Unconditional Love
- Resilience
- Adventurous
- Logical
- Dedication
Dad! No wonder, why God wanted you in His neighborhood! I hope you are taking enough rest!
Miss you!
Every word of his fills me with glee
Every stare of his energizes me
He has oxygenized my dying soul
And stole my heart on whole!
Every unspoken word of his conveys a song
Every smile of his showers affection
The magic of this relation has been so strong
My Heart echoes with his and I can sense the heavenly connection!
I can’t believe that am cherishing the sweetness of his presence
I pray God for him at every instance
and wish life gives me a chance
If not, my heart will be worn out in his absence!
Oh wary heart of mine
It’s time to Rise and Shine!
Let go off the past and do not take a U-Turn
Live the moment of your choice
Rewind the past only to learn
and deafen the hurting noise!
Oh wary heart of mine..Rise and Shine!
Pray God for the strength to face
Open up and stay awake…
He’d shower blessings with lot of grace!
Give your heart & soul and do not repeat the mistake!
Oh wary heart of mine..Rise and Shine!
Be a world to someone and help them smile
Life is all about helping others
Make their stay beautiful and worthwhile!
After all they are your sisters and brothers!
Oh wary heart of mine..Rise and Shine!
Someone said….
Journalism is literature in a Hurry!
