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Jyotsna Kamat Ph.D. lives in Bangalore.
 | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 | |
N.S. Hardikars' Misadventure Dr. N.S. Hardikars "Misadventure"Alur Venkat Rao has written an interesting anecdote to narrate of N.S. Hardikar's daring act as a youngster. Alur's friend, Bindu Rao Mutalik Desai used to run Tilak's "Kesari" newspaper in Kannada in Hubli. Hardikar, a jobless youth and burning with fierce patriotism at the time used to help in printing and wrote occasionally, small items for the newspaper. Once he wrote a fiery article against British Policy in India and got it printed. The editor who fully relied on Hardikar, was out of Hubli and returned in the evening only to see that the printed copies meant for local distribution and the copy sent to Oriental Translator's Office for scanning where already dispatched. The flabbergasted editor brought the copy to Alur who found the copy highly damaging. Both knew the consequences if the issue was out. Confiscation of the printing press, which was worth Rs. 25,000/- which was a huge amount in 1920, and imprisonment to all concerned! At once Alur and the editor rushed from Dharwad to Hubli in a tonga (Horse-cart) and collected the main copy, sent to Oriental Translators, which helped British to trace out "sedition". Then they went to all places where copies were distributed locally. A fresh article was written by Alur. Both along with Hardikar, pasted the freshly printed article on the "incendiary" article and the disaster was averted! | ||
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| Monday, April 28, 2008 | |
A Beautiful Sufi Prayer  Concealed is the Ocean; only the waves are visible, Scriptures are true, if they stir your being, If it numbs your mind in submission, confuses your hope in despair, Seek scriptures: Vedas, Bible and the Koran drinking from fountain, On being created we were neither distinct nor separate. Then essence within breast of the Creator stirred, that gave a form Even as God said, "I am before the creation and Creation is verily I."
Adapted from Nagesh D. Sonde's "Sri Shankaracharya Sadhana Panchakam", page 12. Sadhana Panchakam, First edition 2007
• Adi Shankaracharya • Topics on Indian Philosophies | ||
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| Saturday, April 26, 2008 | |
Pearls are Forever Pearls Forever!© K.L.Kamat Pearls occupy a very important place in Indian Life. In the days when cultured pearls were not discovered, only natural pearls had to cater to the ceaseless demand of the country. From rulers to humblest subjects, besides pearl offering to deities, necessitated supply incessantly. From the earliest times, Pandyan country in South India had been the main supplier of pearls. Gujarat also had its share in collecting pearls. © Project Gutenberg Marco Polo, who is called "Prince of medieval travelers" spent six months in South India in 1292-93 CE. He has left some details of pearl industry in the shallow waters of Indian Ocean between Coromandal coast and Srilanka. Without any mechanical aid the fishermen dived into the sea, collected pearl oyster shells, put into the net they wore round their waist then came up for breathing. Same process followed. They took some Brahmins with them who uttered mantras and kept the big and poisonous fish attacking pearl-fishers! These Brahmins got 1/20th share of the pearl-catch and the King got 1/10th share. Even then the merchants made lot of profit. Natural pearls are produced by accident, by wild oysters and mussels in seas, rivers and lakes from layers of calcium carbonate. These layers are known as nacre. Such layer deposited in concentric circles of oyster shell forms a pearl, in helpful water surroundings. "Cultured Pearls" came into existence in the first decade of 20th century. The Japanese who discovered developed it on a large commercial scale. A bead implanted in an oyster shell together with required oyster flesh stimulated the oyster to produce nacre. There are in addition, imitation pearls as well. Natural pearls do not have the same required shape and density. But cultured and imitation pearls could be obtained as desired. Only an expert eye can detect natural pearl from cultured pearl of high quality. © K.L.Kamat The pearl or Muktaka-Moti or Muttu forms important role in Indian literature. Simile of a pearl appears in literature in umpteen forms and natural pearls from Elephants temple, and automatically split ones from wild bamboos are legendary. Pearls make innumerable ornaments for head, neck, ears, nose shoulders, waist and ankles with combination of different jewels according to Manasollasa. In my childhood, seven pearled round studs were a common wear for Konkani and Maharashtrian women. Though the poor managed with light and very thin gold rings, it was their dream to possess pearl ear studs. With availability of cheaper imitation pearls, cosmetic jewelry in India has received a big boost. | ||
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| Wednesday, April 23, 2008 | |
Tuluva History of Gururaja Bhat A Stupendous StudyI have some rare volumes on Indian History and Culture in the drawing room cabinet of my Bangalore residence. Pride of place goes to (late) Dr. P. Gururaja Bhat's volume of "Studies in Tuluva History and Culture (1975). The large size book with 452 pages and 448 plates and 20 pages of line drawings as also appendices on Iconography and Inconometry besides 80 of pages of list of illustrations and glossary provides specimen of long toiling hours of Prof. Gururaja Bhat for more than 16 years. In the days when even minimum facilities of bus transportation to remote villages was a dream, and a flash bulb and tele-lense had not made appearance on Indian scene, Dr. Bhat toured every village of Tulunadu (Comprising present South Kanara, Udupi and part of North Kanara district) on bicycle and foot with a camera and notebook. He saw and recorded 2,000 monuments, examined 15,000 inscriptions and scrutinized equal number of icons. The book covers all sacred places of Hindu, Jaina, and Buddhist relics besides those of Bhuta cult, for which the place is very rich famous. His observations on origin and development of Tulu language and literature are original and important. This field since has developed into independent field of research. Earlier Dr. Bhat had written hundreds of articles on Tulu history and culture. Temples of Udupi, Subramanya and antiquities of the region earned him the title of "Father of Tuluva Archaeology". He was the first scholar to interpret place names and Toponymy scientifically. It has developed into important section in the study of subaltern history now. Dr. Padur Gururaja Bhat was born in 1924 at Padur village in Udupi taluq in a very poor family. With great difficulty he could finish schooling in Karkal and took to teaching. Later he graduated from Madras University and did M.A. from Banaras Hindu University. He taught history and archeology in Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College at Udupi and later became Principal of Milagres College of Kallianpur (Udupi). He was involved in research and teaching till his tragic end in 1978. His book "Studies in Tuluva History and Culture" is an all-time great, bearing witness to endless effort of human mind, in spite of meager sources and resources at disposal and lack of institutional support. Besides being an important source for the study of an important section in South Indian History, it forms a model for researchers in complete study of a region.
• Ghost Worship • South Kanara • Tribute to Professor Saletore • India's Historians | ||
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| Saturday, April 19, 2008 | |
Kathakali Dance Kathakali (a.k.a. Kathakkali and Kathakhali, but not to be confused with Kathak dance) is a popular dance form of India peculiar to Kerala. Its name is derived from two words "Katha"-a story or narrative and "Kali" meaning art or "dance". Depiction of mainly an episode or story from mythology through facial expressions, dance and acting to the accompaniment of music, mainly drums, forms soul of Kathakali. It lasts hours in the form of dance-drama.© K.L.Kamat Folk or semi-classical plays through danceform, are common throughout India and they have taken many regional forms. Episodes from Ramayana and Mahabharata are common because of their popularity. In Kerala also this form existed from ancient times, surviving as temple dance. But it is Prince Kerala Varma of Kottayam who gave Kathakali its present specific form in mid 17th century. He composed a few dance-dramas himself and the name 'Kathakali' himself. Earlier these were known as Krishnattam & Ramanattam, based on sequences from great Indian epics of Mahabharatha and Ramayana. The Kathakali art thrived on royal patronage. Few well known temples also had their own troupes. © K.L.Kamat Gaudy painting of faces, high and decorative headdresses and gorgeous costumes typify Kathakali dance form. Depictions of moods through facial expressions are the forte. It takes hours to get the faces of actors painted, depending on the role as a monster, emperor, sage or a warrior. Sattvika or milder moods are depicted by green color, Rajasa or the Vigorous by red and Tamasa or the anger and hot temper by black. Rajasa + Sattvika moods have yellow color in depiction. Years of rigorous training are required in shaping up a Kathakali dancer. Specific exercises and painful massage of hours makes the body supple. Waist, back and legs get special attention. Eyes (vision?) get exercise at 4 A M in utter darkness in the mild candlelight. The Guru directs the movement of eyes with a rod. The training lasts for two hours. Special drums and cymbals form accompaniment. Some opine that the movement of ocean waves, splatter of rain, forceful wind, typical nature of Kerala is reflected in the slow as also rigorous beat of drums synchronizing steps of Kathakali. It indeed is a colorful and lively representation of Indian Classical dance with regional touch.
• The Dances of India | ||
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| Saturday, April 05, 2008 | |
Idolatry among Hindus Al-Beruni on Idolatry among HindusAl Beruni (973-1048 CE) was in India for more than six years to study Sanskrit, astronomy, mathematics and Hindu religious texts. His observations on religious practices sound relevant even after a millennium. The difference he noted among ordinary Hindus and those who tried to understand true nature of God are noteworthy. "It is well known that the popular mind leans towards the sensible world, and has an aversion to the world of abstract thought which is only understood by highly educated people, of whom in every time and every place there are only few. These words of mine would at once receive a sufficient illustration. For example, a picture of the Prophet were made, or of Mekka and the Ka-ba, and were shown to an uneducated man or woman, their joy in looking at the thing would bring them to kiss the picture, to rub their cheeks against it, and to roll themselves in the dust before it, as if they were seeing not the picture, but the original, and were in this way, as if they were present in the holy places, performing the rites of pilgrimage, the great and the small one. This is the cause which leads to the manufacture of idols, and monuments in honor of certain much venerated persons, prophets, sages, angels, destined to keep alive their memory when they are absent or dead, to create for them a lasting place of grateful veneration in the hearts of men when they die. But when much time passed after setting up of the monument, generations and centuries, its origin is forgotten. It becomes a matter of custom, and its veneration a rule, for general practice. © K.L.Kamat This being deeply rooted in the nature of man, the legislators of antiquity tried to influence them from this weak point of theirs, Therefore they made the veneration of pictures and similar monuments obligatory on them, as is recounted in historic records, both for the times before and after the Deluge. Some people even pretend to know that all mankind, before God sent them his prophets, were one large idolatrous body. We declare at once that idols are worshiped only by the common uneducated people in India. Those who march on the path to liberation, or those who study philosophy and theology, and who desire abstract truth are entirely free from worshiping anything but God alone, and would never dream of worshiping an image manufactured to represent Him. From: Dr. Edward C. Sachau's English Translation of Arabic text 1888. See Also: | ||
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| Saturday, March 29, 2008 | |
Night life in Ancient Sri Lanka Night Life in ancient (Sri) LankaThe Hindu classic Ramayana of sage Valmiki besides beautiful poetry, provides glimpses of contemporary social life in its descriptions. During his arduous search of Sita imprisoned by Ravana, Hanuman reached Lanka. To avoid his detection in daytime, he proceeds after nightfall to get glimpses a Ravana’s capital. Lanka was a well planned city with broad paved roads and streets. Houses on both side of the road had doors ornamented with gold and studded with bright stones. There were spacious halls and mansions from which music resounded with merry talk and music. There was clapping of hands and footsteps of lovers joining in. String and wind instruments were heard along with merry making and drinking, in several houses. Rakshasas (inhabitants of the land) were both valorous and pleasure-loving. They were connoisseurs of good food and wines as well. With drinking followed disputing, arguing and jeering. Some were challenging their opponents, some women laughed at the gesticulating drunks. In some houses, women were applying perfumed unguents to their faces, and wearing ornaments and flowers. The inebriated lovers were reclining on their sweethearts while music was going on. Through the windows Hanuman could peep at beautiful and love-lorn women as well. There were women with hair and dress disheveled. Some were cooing like birds and young couples putting their arms sound their beloveds. The description could be true of any modern city of Maharajas of India some decades ago or, a capital of medieval times. Srilanka is known for gold and semiprecious stones over ages and with a powerful king to take care of; people could indulge in epicurean evenings. With certain reservations, the description reminds a city in South India before arrival of TV channels and radio. | ||
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| Friday, March 28, 2008 | |
The Banana-Stem Curry Fantastic Fibrous FoodIndian traditional food has never ceased to offer wonders by opening new windows to me. Yesterday my friend Dr. Radha offered a piece of Banana-Plant-Stem. Though I had tasted its curry earlier I had not tried cooking it. Ivory white and as smooth, it is full of fiber content. After pealing the outer skin fit for cattle-consumption, appears the portion for human consumption! Dr. Radha explained the mode of cooking by mixing the cut pieces with any pulses, steaming and adding spices of one’s taste. It was delicious, juicy with very little cud after chewing. Physicians and health-experts these days recommend fibrous food to one and all. Westerners used to meat and white bread came to know about its importance quite late, after discovery of vitamins. But average Indians have been eating fibrous roots, stems, leaves, creepers, flowers, fruits over ages. Drumsticks, jocularly known as "Gents Fingers" as against okra called "Ladies Fingers" in India, are a delicacy in South Indian curries. But the leaves and flowers of that tree are also relished wherever available. Bamboo shoots are much sought after and form essential part of offering during Gouri-Ganesha festival. As children we hankered for sugarcane pieces, which we peeled from our teeth chewed and sucked. The "Supashastra" of Mangarasa, a cookery book of 16th century describes five varieties of Banana stem curry by cooking the finely sliced pieces in milk, tamarind juice, adding pulses and spices. Freshly minced stem could make raw juicy salad, after marination in lime juice. Life has changed in India. A quick bite and fast food have become order of the day. No time to sit for a leisurely meal of rice and fibrous vegetable curries. Fish eaters have no leisure for crab-meat curry of Konkani variety wherein the meaty part is cooked with slight crust of claws to retain the taste. Full of vitamins and easy for evacuation, fibrous vegetables like banana-stem are being forgotten. It is not usual bazaar stuff. Only when the tree is felled or cut, flower pod and stem are exchanged or sold among those who relish. It has pleasant, slightly bitter taste.
• Topics on Indian Food | ||
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| Tuesday, March 25, 2008 | |
Kamat's Three Books Reprint of Dr. Krishnand Kamat's Three BooksThe month of March has been joyful for the Kamat family. Kamat's three books in Kannada have been republished. Noteworthy is the republication of Vangadarshana a travelogue on West Bengal, where Kamat had troublesome time for two years (1969-1971). He was there when Naxalism made its first ugly appearance of violence & loot in the name Marxist-Leninist Communism in West Bengal. It was also the time ripe for Bangladesh to secede from Pakistan, to emerge as an independent nation. Kamat has given first person account of his Bengal stay in Vangadarshana, which appeared in March 1972, exactly 36 years ago. The Government of Karnataka has reprinted it now as one of classics of one hundred books, on the occasion of Golden jubilee of formation of Karnataka State. © K.L.Kamat The other two books reprinted are 1) Bastar Pravasa, (1991) a travelogue on tribal life in Bastar of Madhya Pradesh and 2) Sasya Parisara, or "The Plant world around us". Both are brought out by Nava-Karnataka, leading publishers of Karnataka. Bastar Pravasa was out in December 2007 and Sasya Parisara, just now (March 2008). © www.kamat.com Life of people in tribal belt and adjacent to forest has been fast changing almost alarmingly. The publication of all three books shows all time relevance of Kamat�s writings. The books are priced moderately, at Rs. 65/- a copy and Vangadarshna at Rs. 25/-. © www.kamat.com
• Stories of Bastar Travel • Banga-Darshana -- Encounters in West Bengal • Medicinal Plants of India | ||
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| Friday, March 21, 2008 | |
Theri Gatha (Songs of the Theris) Theri Gatha (Songs of the Theris)Story of Bhadra (Bhadda Kundala Kesha) When Buddhism was at its peak in India, many women devotees composed songs. Buddhism had recognized women's right to salvation in their individual capacity, whether married or not. A collection of compositions of "Theris" or women elders forms important part of Buddhist canon. It consists of stories at time autobiographical, of seventy-three nuns, who came from all walks of life like palace or rich mansions, brothels and huts. Fed up with greed, cruelty at voluptuousness of materialistic world, they renounced everything to find their way out, which ultimately means becoming a recluse. Written by women, it throws light on what some women thought about men. Bhadra was the daughter of a rich merchant. She was beautiful with curly hair (Kundalakesa). She fell in love with the son of their family priest. The young man had criminal tendencies and was involved in heinous crime and was sentenced to death. Bhadra had him released on payment of a large sum by way of ransom, through her father. She insisted on marrying the youth to which also her father agreed. But Sarthaka her husband, had no love towards her. She tried to reform him but in vain. She tried win him over, by catering to his whims and fancies in a lavish way. But this also did not please him. He had all evil plans and was extremely fond of gold and jewelry. One day, he took his wife out in the excuse of fulfilling a previous vow, and visiting a shrine on the hilly and lonely path. He also advised her to wear all jewelry and perform puja. Bhadra obliged him. After ascending the hill, Sarthaka caught hold of Bhadda on a secluded spot and threatened to kill her. Bhadda totally taken unawares, and frightened, asked him why. He told her that he wanted all her jewelry. "All the ornaments are yours, take them. But why kill me?" -- Bhadda asked him in choked voice. Sarthaka told that if he spared her life after taking all the ornaments, news will spread through her and he may be caught and punished. He was determined to kill her. Bhadra pondered. She feigned her overpowering love, because of which he was saved earlier from death. She wanted a last embrace before her death. In a deep embraced & kiss, she took him to the edge of the cliff on which they were standing and pushed him with all her strength. Then she threw all her ornaments as well and returned to her home. She was now a completely disillusioned person. She sought consolation by becoming a convert to Buddhism and finally a nun.
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