Archive for January, 2010

Belur Travelogue

Jan 31

Posted by vasu in Travel | 3 Comments

Belur & Halebid  

 
Travelogue   January 2010


A view of Chennakesava Temple Belur

We started from Bangalore in the morning around 7.15 equipped with two navigational aides, one human, called Prabha ( who had made extensive notes about the route)  and the other being our latest acquisition the MapmyIndiaGPS.(Await a review of it). We had decided to avoid Nelamangala and go through the new connecting Nice road joining the Nelamangala Kunigal Road near Indo Spanish Factory. After reaching Yeshwanthpur we had a little confusion as to the point at which we had to take the left turn to reach the Nice road. After a heated debate, decided to follow the MapMyIndia GPS and surprisingly it took us to the right way. The toll to use the road is Rs.15  and the funny part is you buy the toll ticket at the beginning and at the other end another guy verifies whether ticket is bought or not !!! This is what you can call Over Employment. We followed the GPS for sometime and at some point the GPS showed our car travelling in wilderness. Then we started relying on our human navigator as also the typical Indian way of navigating, that is checking the route now and then with people on the road. We then reached the main Nelamangala-Kunigal road and our GPS started behaving normally. We passed through Kunigal and Adichunchanagiri to reach Hotel Mayura for the breakfast halt. We had an uneventful ride from there to Hassan with both the Human navigator and GPS well aligned. The fun started at Hassan where the GPS advised us to take a right turn which was not in the human navigator notes. After going through lanes and bylanes (the GPS constantly nagging us to take a right turn)  we followed the advice of people on the road and reached the Belur temple. The road to Hassan is being widened at many places with huge speed breakers located at diversion points. In short, the road was not all that great as many made us believe; on the contrary the road from Hassan to Belur was a beauty.  From near the temple, Hrishi called the “General Manager ” of the resort Green Pastures (the place where we were booked to stay) who after enquiring with Hrishi whether he can understand Kannada or Hindi, gave him the directions in English. Probably he thought Hrishi may not know English !!! We reached the hotel with little difficulty around 1 PM. The place has no name board and therefore it is a little tough for first timers to find the place. The resort is built in Malnad style and the interior is tastefully done in Rajasthani style.  We relaxed for a while and had a lovely lunch with chappathis and a nice side dish. The rasam was really very good, being hot and spicy. On the whole the food was good.  Hrishi took a whole lot of pictures of the artifacts in the lobby of the resort. The resort is situated inside a coffee estate. Pepper also is grown in the estate.

We then drove to the Belur temple. Our first stop in the temple was at the religious endowment office. We thought we should show the permit for tripod usage to them. But the office people there told us that we can take photos of everything except the main deity and we can use tripod. But we later found out the archaeology department office was located outside the temple complex. Considering light conditions we decided that there is no need to use the tripod.  However inside the temple where it was fairly dark, Hrishi innovated and kept the camera on a ledge or floor and used remote release cable to take pictures at 3.0 to 8.0 sec shutter release speed. The Belur and Halebid temple were built by the Hoysala kings around the 12th Century. The main deity at Belur is Chennakesava (Vishnu) and at Halebid is Hoysaleswara. The sculptures at both the places are exquisite. But we felt the carvings at Somanathpura are better. Somnathpura temple was also built by Hoysala rulers. The Hoysala emblem (the image at the top of the page) is the depiction of a Hoysala chieftain Sala overcoming and killing a Lion with bare hands. For a detailed reading about the Belur temple architecture visit this link. The photographs taken by Hrishi are here.  Regular Poojas are being conducted at the temples or atleast we found the priests in the sanctum sanctorum handing out prasadams. Surprisingly the priests did not object to people using flash and taking photographs of the main deity. We spent about 3 hours at the temple. Our return drive to the hotel was little adventurous as it was very dark and the exact location of the resort is not indicated by any sign board.Though the route travelled earlier was saved in the GPS, it did not show the route clearly.

The night was fairly cold. We played a game of Carrom and the men  far outplayed the ladies.

Next day after a breakfast of giant sized Rava idlis we packed and left the Hotel to visit Halebid enroute to Bangalore. Archaeological department has setup a museum at Halebid. The entrance fee is Rs 5/-. Most of the exhibits are lying in an open yard. The descriptions of the exhibits are inadequate. In some case they are misspelt. One wonders why the department calls it a museum and charges a fee for it. One can see most of it from other side of the fence.  atleast school children should be let in free.

Our return route to Hassan from Halebid was taken as per the advice of a tourist bus driver and it was quite comfortable. We had our lunch at Suvarna Regency and the food was palatable. The return journey saw the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition of Ambu, namely purchasing fresh vegetables at rural market or ’santhe’. Though there was no santhe on that day, regular markets were there. Vegetables were purchased at three places enroute and Ambu for once was right. The vegetable quality was excellent and the price was one third of Bangalore rate. This proves that farmers do not get full benefit of the higher prices prevailing in cities. On the whole it was a nice and enjoyable week end trip.

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Archaeological Survey Of India

Jan 31

Posted by vasu in Misc | 1 Comment

The archaeological survey of India true to its name adopts only archaic methods. There is a rule of the department that states that if one wants to photograph even as hobbyist , any monument under its control using a tripod, then prior approval in writing must be obtained from its Regional office which has control over that particular monument. Recently when we decided to visit Belur and Halebid We decided to approach the Bangalore office of the archaeological survey of India and obtain permission for using tripod. We were scheduled to leave for Belur on 23rd January and knowing well the way in which indian government department works, we decided to approach them on 11th January and went to their office. A lady dealing with such issues in that office told us to write a letter addressed to the Superintending Archaeologist requesting for permission to photograph using tripod stating our camera details like make etc , the dates of visit to Belur and Halebid, and purpose (Hobby). We were told that since that week there is a intervening holiday for a day, we can get the permission letter only on 18th January. It is a different matter that the office had a lot of people doing nothing and that the work involved is sending our letter to the boss (who sits in a cabin down the corridor) and he has to approve it. In other words , there is no great work involved in the process of approval. Anyway, one does not argue with government department people if he or she wants the work done. As expected the approval letter was not ready on the promised date. A couple of phone calls later and after learning that the lady dealing with issue normally comes to office only at 11.30 AM every day though office starts at 9.30 AM, We approached the boss direct and after a couple of calls ,got the approval by speed post on 22nd January. The biggest joke is that the approval letter contained the following covenant :

“This permission issued only for hobby of taking photographs
The permission is valid for 23.1.10 & 26.1.10 only
“Three copies of Publication/ colour slides will be given to the ASI free of cost. ASI will be at liberty to use the same for its own publications only. The copyright of the photographer shall duly be acknowledged either in the preface or below the material reproduced by ASI in its own publications” .

They are really true to their name, archaic. In this age of Digital Photography, they want colour slides and that too three copies free !!!!

Anyway we did not use the tripod.But the highlight is that even if we had used the tripod at Belur nobody would have bothered us.

The next one is just still better. There is small museum at Halebid run by the same department. The entrance fee is Rs.5/. Here visitors are not allowed to photograph any exhibit (stone carvings) though they are lying in a open yard exposed to all elements of nature. Inscrutable are the ways of god and the archaeology department.

The icing on the cake is captions that have been put out about each exhibit. One brilliant caption was in front of a huge stone slab . The caption ”Inscriptions“ stated the obvious.Probably nobody in the department knows to read the Kannada inscription. So we do not know what the inscriptions are. They have a created a new god also. The caption in front of one female sculpture read as ”Diety “ Probably there was a god to whom those dieting used to pray to cure obesity during Hoysala rule. Unfortunately we could not photograph ”Diety” as we are not allowed to do so.

I overheard three children (big,medium small) reading a board in front of a sculpture in Halebid. (This board was in many places) The board reads as ” Do not Touch and Damage“ The small kid read aloud ”do not Touch“ and stopped. On prompting by the eldest the middle one read ”and Damage“. The eldest then asked the mother ” Ma can i then damage without touching“

I always thought that in India, unlike some western country, citizens do not get dole. I am wrong . We have employment in government !!.

Rava Kesari

Jan 16

Posted by ambu in Food, Recipes | 1 Comment

RKesari1.png Ingredients:
Semolina- 200 ml
Sugar- 300 ml
Ghee- 100 ml
Cashew nuts- 10
Raisins- 1 tablespoon
Saffron- 2 pinches
Cardamom powder- 1 tspWater/ milk- 400 to 500 ml depending on the texture of the Rava

Method:

Break cashew nuts into 4.Dissolve saffron in a little warm milk and keep aside. Heat a pan, add a little ghee and roast cashew nuts and raisins and keep aside.
Boil 400- 500 ml water in one stove.
Heat the balance ghee and roast semolina until golden. Add 400 ml hot water/milk and cook on low heat. If semolina is very coarse add the extra water also, then close the lid and cook for a minute. The mixture will be soft. Add the sugar and keep stirring to prevent burning. When the Kesari is done, add saffron milk, cardamom powder and fried nuts and raisins. If needed add another spoon of ghee.

Shambu Natanam Tamil

Jan 15

Posted by ambu in Slokas | No Comments

Tamil Transliteration of Shambu Natanam

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சம்பு நடனம்

ஸதஞ்சிதம் உதஞ்சித நிகுஞ்சிதபதம் ஜலஜலஞ்சலித மஞ்ஜுகடகம்
பதஞ்ஜலி த்ருகஞ்ஜநம் அநஞ்ஜநம் அசஞ்சலபதம் ஜநநபஞ்சநகரம்
கதம்பருசிம் அம்பரவஸம் பரமம் அம்புத கதம்பக விடம்பக களம்
சிதம்புதமணிம் புத ஹ்ருதம்புஜ ரவிம் பர சிதம்பர நடம் ஹ்ருதி பஜ. 1.

ஹரம் த்ரிபுர பஞ்சநம் அநந்தக்ருத கங்கணம் அகண்டதயம் அந்தரஹிதம்
விரிஞ்சி ஸுர ஸம்ஹதி புரந்தர விசிந்தித பதம் தருண சந்த்ர முகுடம்
பரம் பத விகண்டித யமம் பஸித மண்டித தநும் மதந வஞ்சந பரம்
சிரந்தநம் அமும் ப்ரணத ஸஞ்சித நிதிம் பர சிதம்பர நடம் ஹ்ருதி பஜ. 2.

அவந்தம் அகிலம் ஜகத் அபங்ககுண துங்கம் அமதம் த்ருத விதும் ஸுரஸரித்
தரங்க நிகுரும்ப த்ருதி லம்பட ஜடம் ஸமந டம்பர ஹரம் பவ ஹரம்
ஸிவம் தஸ திகந்தர விஜ்ரும்பித கரம் கர லஸந் ம்ருகஸிஸும் பஸுபதிம்
ஹரம் ஸஸி தநஞ்ஜய பதங்க நயநம் பர சிதம்பர நடம் ஹ்ருதி பஜ. 3.

அநந்த நவரத்ந விலஸத்கடக கிங்கிணி சலம்சல சலம்சலரவம்
முகுந்த விதி ஹஸ்தகத மத்தல லய த்வநி திமித்திமிதநர்த்தந பதம்
ஸகுந்தரத பர்ஹிரத நந்திமுக தந்திமுக ப்ருங்கி ரிடி ஸங்க நிகடம்
ஸநந்த ஸநக ப்ரமுக வந்தித பதம் பர சிதம்பர நடம் ஹ்ருதி பஜ. 4

அநந்த மஹிமம் த்ரிதஸ வந்த்ய சரணம் முநி ஹ்ருதந்தர வஸந்தம் அமலம்
கபந்த வியதிந்த்வவநி கந்தவஹ வந்ஹி மகபந்து ரவி மஞ்ஜு வபுஷம்
அநந்த விபவம் த்ரிஜகதந்தர மணிம் த்ரிணயநம் த்ரிபுர கண்டந பரம்
ஸநந்தமுநி வந்திதபதம் ஸகருணம் பர சிதம்பர நடம் ஹ்ருதி பஜ. 5.

அசிந்த்யம் அளிப்ருந்த ருசிபந்துர கல ஸ்புரித குந்த நிகுரும்ப தவலம்
முகுந்த ஸுரப்ருந்த பலஹந்த்ரு க்ருதவந்தந லஸந்தம் அஹிகுண்டல தரம்
அகம்பம் அநுகம்பித ரதிம் ஸுஜந மங்கல நிதிம் கஜஹரம் பஸுபதிம்
தநஞ்ஜய நுதம் ப்ரணத ரஞ்ஜந பரம் பர சிதம்பர நடம் ஹ்ருதி பஜ. 6.

பரம் ஸுரவரம் புரஹரம் பஸுபதிம் ஜநித தந்திமுக ஷண்முகம் அமும்
ம்ருடம் கநக பிங்கள ஜடம் ஸநக பங்கஜ ரவிம் ஸுமநஸம் ஹிமருசிம்
அஸங்க மநஸம் ஜலதி ஜந்ம கரளம் கபலயந்தம் அதுலம் குண நிதிம்
ஸநந்த வரதம் ஸமிதம் இந்துவதநம் பர சிதம்பர நடம் ஹ்ருதி பஜ. 7.

அஜம் க்ஷிதிரதம் புஜக புங்கவ குணம் கநக ஸ்ருங்கி தநுஷம் கரலஸத்
குரங்க ப்ருது டங்க பரசும் ருசிர குங்குமருசிம் டமருகஞ்ச தததம்
முகுந்த விஸிகம் நமதவந்த்ய பலதம் நிகம ப்ருந்த துரகம் நிருபமம்
ஸசண்டிகம் அமும் ஜடிதி ஸம்ஹ்ருத புரம் பர சிதம்பர நடம் ஹ்ருதி பஜ. 8.

அநங்க பரிபந்திநம் அஜம் க்ஷிதி துரந்தரம் அமலம் கருணயந்தம் அகிலம்
ஜ்வலந்தம் அனலம் தததம் அந்தகரிபும் ஸததம் இந்த்ரஸுர வந்தித பதம்
உதஞ்சத் அரவிந்த குல பந்து ஸதபிம்ப ருசி ஸம்ஹதி ஸுகந்நி வபுஷம்
பதஞ்ஜலி நுதம் ப்ரணவ பஞ்ஜர ஸுகம் பர சிதம்பர நடம் ஹ்ருதி பஜ. 9.

இதி ஸ்தவம் அமும் புஜக புங்கவ க்ருதம் ப்ரதிதினம் படதி ய: க்ருதமுக:
ஸத: ப்ரபு பதத்விதய தர்சநபதம் ஸுலலிதம் சரண ஸ்ருங்க ரஹிதம்
ஸர: ப்ரபவ ஸம்பவ ஹரித்பதி ஹரி ப்ரமுக திவ்ய நுத ஸங்கரபதம்
ஸ கச்சதி பரம் ந து ஜநுர் ஜலநிதிம் பரம து:க ஜநகம் துரிததம். 10.

Shambu Natanam English

Jan 15

Posted by ambu in Slokas | No Comments

The english Transliteration of Shambu Natanam (In ITrans Format)

sada~ncitaM uda~ncita niku~ncitapadaM jhalajhala~ncalita ma~njukaTakaM
pata~njali dR^iga~njanaM ana~njanaM aca~ncalapadaM janana bha~njanakaram.
kadambaruciM ambaravasaM paramaM ambuda kadambaka viDambaka galaM
cidambudamaNiM budha hR^idambuja raviM para cidambara naTaM hR^idi bhaja ..1..

haraM tripura bha~njanaM ananta kR^itaka~NkaNaM akhaNDadayaM anta rahitaM
viri~nci surasamhati purandara vicintita padaM taruNa candra makuTam.
paraM pada vikhaNDita yamaM bhasita maNDitatanuM madana va~ncana paraM
cirantanaM amuM praNata sa~ncita nidhiM paracidambara naTaM hR^idi bhaja ..2..

avantaM akhilaM jagat abha~NgaguNatu~NgaM amataM dhR^ita vidhuM surasari-
ttara~Nga nikurumba dhR^iti lampaTa jaTaM shamana Dambara haraM bhava haram.
shivam dasha digantara vijR^imbhita karaM kara lasan mR^igashishuM pashupatiM
haraM shashi dhana~njaya pata~Nga nayanaM para cidambara naTaM hR^idi bhaja ..3..

ananta navaratna vilasatkaTaka ki~NkiNi jhalaMjhala jhala~njhalaravaM
mukunda vidhi hastagata maddala laya dhvani dhimiddhimita nartana padam.
shakuntaratha barhiratha nandimukha dantimukha bhR^i~Ngi riTi sa~Ngha nikaTaM
sananda sanaka pramukha vandita padaM paracidambaranaTaM hR^idi bhaja ..4..

ananta mahimaM tridasha vandya caraNaM muni hR^idantara vasantaM amalaM
kabandha viyadindvavani gandhavaha vahni makhabandhu ravi ma~nju vapuSam.
ananta vibhavaM trijagadantaramaNiM triNayanaM tripura khaNDana paraM
sananda muni vandita padaM sakaruNaM para cidambara naTaM hR^idi bhaja..5..

acintyaM alibR^inda rucibandhura gala sphurita kunda nikurumba dhavalaM
mukunda surabR^inda balahantR^i kR^itavandana lasantaM ahikuNDala dharam.
akampaM anukampita ratiM sujana ma~Ngala nidhiM gajaharaM pashupatiM
dhana~njaya nutaM praNata ra~njana paraM paracidambara nataM hR^idi bhaja..6..

paraM suravaraM puraharaM pashupatiM janita dantimukha SaNmukhaM amuM
mR^iDaM kanaka pi~Ngala jaTaM sanaka pa~Nkaja raviM sumanasaM hima rucim.
asa~Nga manasaM jaladhi janma garalaM kabalayantaM atulaM guNanidhiM
sanandavaradaM shamitaM induvadanaM para cidambara naTaM hR^idi bhaja..7..

ajaM kSitirathaM bhujagapu~Ngava guNaM kanaka shR^i~Ngi dhanuSaM karalasat
kura~Nka pR^ithu Ta~Nka parashuM rucira ku~Nkuma ruciM DamarukaM ca dadhatam.
mukunda vishikhaM namadavandhya phaladaM nigama bR^inda turagaM nirupamaM
sa caNDikaM amuM jhaTiti saMhR^ita puraM para cidambara naTaM hR^idi bhaja..8..

ana~Nga paripanthinaM ajaM kSiti dhuraMdharaM amalaM karuNayantaM akhilaM
jvalantaM analaM dadhataM antakaripuM satataM indrasura vandita padam.
uda~ncat aravinda kula bandhu shatabimba ruci saMhati sugandhi vapuSaM
pata~njali nutaM praNava pa~njara shukaM para cidambara naTaM hR^Idi bhaja..9..

iti stavaM amuM bhujaga pu~Ngava kR^itaM pratidinaM paThati yaH kR^itamukhaH
sadaH prabhu padadvitaya darshanapadaM sulalitaM caraNa shR^i~Nga rahitam.
smaraH prabhava saMbhava haritpati hari pramukha divya nuta sha~NkarapadaM
sa gacChati paraM na tu janu rjaladhiM parama duHkha janakaM duritadam..10..

Vedic Mathematics

Jan 14

Posted by vasu in Science | No Comments

Vedic Mathematics, as the name implies, is drawn from the Vedas, a Hindu scripture. The methodology used is simple and straight forward. It facilitates faster calculation speed. Arithmetic calculation can be without the need for extensive memorization of tables. Most of the times the calculations can be done mentally, obviating the need for writing them down. Vedic Mathematics can be applied to trigonometric problems. It can be used in astronomical calculations like the positions of planets.

There are sixteen Sutras, (Main rules are called Sutras) and thirteen sub Sutras (corollaries) in Vedic Mathematics. Jagadguru Swami Bharathi Krishna Thirtha (1884-1960) of Sri Govardhana Mutt, Puri , after extensive research rediscovered these sutras. Jagadguru writes (Vedic Mathematics XXXV)

“The Sutras (aphorisms) apply to and cover each and every part of each and every chapter of each and every branch of mathematics (including arithmetic, algebra, geometry- plane and solid, trigonometry- plane and spherical, conics-geometrical and analytical, astronomy, calculus-differential and integral etc.). In fact, there is no part of mathematics, pure or applied, which is beyond their jurisdiction.”

The following are the Sutras

Sutra
 Translation
एकाधिकेन पूर्वेन By one more than the one before
निखिलं नवतश्चरमं दशतः All from 9 and the last from 10
ऊर्ध्वतिर्यग्भ्याम् Vertically and Cross-wise
परावर्त्य योजयेत् Transpose and Apply
शून्यं साम्यसमुच्चये If the Samuccaya is the same it is zero
आनुरूप्ये शून्यं अन्यत् If one is in Ratio the other is zero
संकलन व्यवकलनाभ्यां
 By Addition and by subtraction
पूरणापूरणाभ्यां
 By the completion or Non-completion
चलनकलनाभ्याम्
 Differential Calculus
यावदूनं
 By the Deficiency
व्यष्टिसमष्टिः
 Specific and general
शेषाण्यडेन चरमेण
 The Remainders by the last digit
सोपान्त्यदयमन्त्यं
 The ultimate and twice the penultimate
एकन्यूनेन पूर्वेन
 By one less than the one before
गुणितसमुच्चयः
 The Product of the Sum
गुणकसमुच्चयः
 All the Multipliers

The Trachtenberg speed system of Basic Mathematics is somewhat similar to vedic Mathematics. Jackaow Trachtenberg, a Russian Born Engineer discovered this method. He derived the whole system while being detained in a Nazi concentration camp.

Let us start examining the vedic sutras one by one. There is no special meaning attached to the order in which the sutras are discussed.

The sutra एकाधिकेन पूर्वेन meaning “By one more than the previous one ” is applied in practice as under:

To find the answer for the mathematical sum 1/19 to an accuracy of 18 digits. Answer = 0.052631578947368421

Step 1 : The number which is previous to the last digit 9 is 1 (1 9) and therefore one more than that is 2

Step 2 : Divide the numerator 1 by 2. The quotient is 0 and reminder is 1. Therefore the first decimal digit of the answer should be 0

Step 3 : Take the quotient 0 and Prefix the reminder 1 to it to get the number 10. Divide that by to get quotient 5 and reminder as 0. The second digit of the answer is therefore 5

Step 4 : The reminder in previous step is 0 and when prefixed to get quotient 5 we get the digit 5. Divide that by 2 to get Quotient 2 and reminder 1. The third digit of the answer is therefore 2

Step 5 : Divide 12 ( prefix reminder 1 to quotient 2) by 2 to get 6 as quotient and reminder 0. The fourth decimal of the answer is 6.

Step 6 : Divide 6 (reminder 0 prefixed to quotient 6 is 6) by 2 to get 3 as quotient and 0 as reminder. Therefore the fifth decimal of the answer is 3.

Repeat the same procedure to get the answer, 0.052631578947368421.

It can be seen that the digits after the first 9 digits are complements of 9.
calc1.png

Therefore one need to workout only the first 9 decimal digits and then subtract each from 9, starting with first decimal digit and write down the result.

That is simple !!!

Tomato Chutney

Jan 14

Posted by ambu in Food, Recipes | No Comments

tchutney.jpg

Ingredients:

Ripe Tomatoes- 0.5 kg
Chilli powder- 2 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds- 1 tsp
Sugar- 1 tsp
Asafoetida powder- 0.5 tsp
Oil- 2-3 tbsp
Salt to taste.

Method:

Dry roast the fenugreek seeds until dark brown. Powder and keep aside. Grind the tomatoes in a blender to pulp. Heat the oil in a tall, heavy bottomed vessel and add the tomato pulp. Keep stirring on low fire to make sure it does not burn. When all the extra moisture has evaporated, add all the powders, sugar and salt. Mix well and heat for a few more minutes. Remove from fire. Cool and store in a airtight jar. Goes well with Dosas, Idlis and even bread.

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இனிய பொங்கல் வாழ்த்துக்கள்

Jan 14

Posted by vasu in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

pongal+greetings+card+orkut3.jpeg

இனிய பொங்கல் வாழ்த்துக்கள்

Long Exposure Shots with Digital Cameras

Jan 1

Posted by vasu in Photography | No Comments

A blog article on long exposure shots using digital cameras. Mentions dark frame subtraction among some other things. Another article on how to create a dark frame reference and get rid of hot pixels.