Greetings from America

Projects on Hand

• A Compilation of Best of Kamat
• Collected Works of my guru Prof. Dikshit
• Identifying and cataloging Kamat Pictures -- per Vikas says only 17,000 are left!

Harihareshwara No More

I read with regret the passing away of Harihareswara in Mysore. I never got a chance to visit with him despite his repeated invitations to California and in Mysore where he had retired.

Link to Star of Mysore

An Introduction by Vikas on soc.culture.karnataka in 1999.

Saint Chaitanya (1485 to 1534 CE)

He studied in a native school known as tol run by his father. Sanskrit language, grammar and shastras were taught in that tol. He was married to Laxmideve, daughter of Vallabhacharya at a very young age. She died eary and Nimai was married a second time to a beautiful girl called Vishnupriya. Soon after, Jagannath Mishra passed away. Nimai went to Gaya to offer pinda to his father and other ancestors. This pilgrimage was a turning point in his life.

Nimai showed spiritual tendencies from a young age and his restless mind was in search of a Guru. Chance meeting with Saint Ishvarapuri, showed him his future path. This Guru accorded diksha (bestowal) of Krishnamantra. Nimai got into a trance. After recovery he was a transformed person. Shri Krishna occupied his mind, thought and life itself. Singing glory of Krishna to the accompaniment of drum and hand beat (Kartal) he went back to Navdveep with a band of followers.

He became completely detached. He left his beautiful young wife and entreating old mother behind, in search of that eternal lover Lord Krishna. He sought all strength (Chaitanya) from Lord Krishna in this effort and came to be known as (Krishna) Chaitanya. Clad in ochre robes, he left for Jagannathapuri (now in Orissa) a famous Vaishnava center, singing and praising glories of Radha-Madhav. All his admirers followed.

He now undertook an all India tour, followed by disciples and devotees. Tradition mentions that he visited Gomati and Ganga rivers. Mallikarjuna, Ahobala, Nrisimha, Nagarjuna Tirupati (All five places in Andhra Pradesh), Shrirangam, Madurai and Kanyakumari (in Tamilnadu), and finally returned to Puri. He could not himself proceed to Brindavan-Mathura, associated with Lord Krishna. Battle was raging on. But he could send his brother Nityanand there. Mathura grew into a great Vaishnav center. It became a symbol of Radha-Krishna's affection, love, obedience, service, coaxing etc., virtues to be inculcated by a human being for humanity at large. For Chaitanya these helped to attain eternal bliss.

Chaitanya did not preach or write. His was only oral advice. But his followers wrote down his utterings. He did not insist on moksha or final liberation. He dwelt on sweet proximity of Lord Krishna. Radha was symbol of that infinite affection, and Gopis were her reflection. By singing dancing and meditating on Krishna's glory and forgetting oneself was a state of eternal bliss. His proximity could be attained through (Keertan). Krishna bhakti evokes pure virtues in man, he taught.

Organised group singing gained grounds under Chaitanya. Scattered religious groups performed Bhajans and Keertans under his guidance bhakti movement took a concrete shape in North India through worship of Radha-Damodar/Radha Madhav and Satsanga (meetings of devotees) frequently.

Record regarding Chaitanya's final departure is varied. Some say he entered the ocean, singing and dancing obviously in a trance. Some say he merged in the idol of Jagannatha. He was only 49 at the time.

Witty way of Mr. M.R. Pai of getting redressal

It is a common sight in Indian cities, big and small that well-painted compound walls are pasted with unwanted posters and ugly advertisements. Mr. M.R. Pai had to wage incessant efforts to train volunteers to keep Mumbai clean.

"The end result of enlightened public opinion, mobilized through voluntary action, is bound to be effective towards a cleaner city. The school children who cleaned up the walls of South Bombay a few weeks ago gave us the right slogan: "Wake up, lazy Bombayites, losers never win, winners never lose, let's keep Bombay clean" ".

A few days later, a group of boys went around Kalbadevi at night pasting up election posters of a candidate. Within a few hours, another group of boys followed the same route, putting up posters of a new movie. The next day, Bombay's citizen"s perpetual victims of poster war bombardments, were confronted by the "joint appeal" of two, partly-over pasted slogans which read:

"Give your vote to" "Alibaba & Forty Thieves"

The situation had its bit of accidental humour, but there is nothing really funny about the progressive defacement of the city"s landscape through posters and slogans painted on buildings and every possible public place.

Pai's numerous victories over the telephone department's poor service are legendary. In 1982, when he got a phone installed at home for the first time, it rang non-stop, with callers asking about train schedules. Clearly, some officials, piqued by Pai's helping subscribers in their complaints regarding matters such as over-billing, had deliberately given Pai a number that until recently was that of Bombay's Dadar railway station.

Pai hit back. He asked his son Shyamsunder, to politely inform callers that the station's number had changed and to give them several other numbers at which to make enquiries. Actually, these were the office and residence numbers of some senior Bombay Telephones officials. Within a couple of days Pai received an apology from the general manager and a new number.

Narasi Mehta of Gujarat (C 1490-1556CE)

Nagar Brahmin by birth, Narasi was son of Krishnadas and Dayakunvar. He lost his parents early and was brought up by his uncle. From a very young age, Narasi had showed spiritual tendency. Married at the age of seventeen, to one Manik bai, he had two sons and a daughter. He lost his wife and son in succession, which turned him away from worldly life altogether.

Narasi used to sing songs of God's glory with accompaniments of drum, tals etc. He now started composing songs in various verse-forms that existed in his native land like hoondi, chaturi, raas, shodasi, nadas etc. His songs could be set easily to music. Even today his padas are popular in Gujarat-Rajasthan region. They are nice combination of devotion and philosophy and are sung individually or in groups, on all occasions.

Narasi called singing his songs of God's glory, as wish-fulfilling jewel (Chintamani) of this Kali age. He calls himself trader in Ramnam. (Rama's name). This commodity is saleable in all times (trikal) and most valuable. Ram-nam recitation, he insisted, was surest way to God realization or final liberation. Like Purandaradasa the saint-poet of Karnataka, he reminded people, that human birth is the greatest and rarest gift of God. Visiting places of pilgrimage did not yield better results than remembering and singing God's grace all the time, meditating and getting absorbed in God. Serving others in times of need, was the real test of a devotee.

In his famous composition, "Vaishnav janato" Narasi tells that the real Vaishnav (Vishnu"s devotee) is he, who understands suffering of others, who helps those in distress, without feeling proud, and one who leads a pious and detached life.

Many miracles and legends are quoted from Narasi"s life. He was to visit his daughter's place once. As is the custom, some gifts were to be carried. Narasi, who was too poor to buy anything, however started on a rickety bullock cart with his friends and on the way forgot himself in singing bhajans (devotional songs). At his daughter's village her relatives started jeering at him and his daughter, when a smartly dressed young man "Shamal Shah", arrived with cartfuls of all goodies, clothes, ornaments and money. He introduced himself as muneem (clerk) of Narasi Mehta! The lord had appeared as Narasi"s assistant, a little before Narasi himself, arrived in his rickety cart. He was overhelmed by the reception in his daughter"s house. He was sure, it was all God"s grace.

"Those devotees, who constantly think of Me, and worship Me in disinterested way, those who are always united with Me in thought, I bring full security and personally attend to their needs", says Bhagavadgita. (IX:22). Narasi Mehta was such a blessed soul whom the God helped.

WE THE PEOPLE OF DWARAKA!

My friend Vasantha Kumari, brought me a book in Kannada on Marine Archaeological Expenditons, of Dwaraka by Dr. S.R. Rao. Dr. Shikaripur Ranganath Rao (1922-) is an internationally reputed Archaeologist. He is credited with excavational wonders of Lothal a slightly later archaeological site than Mohenjo Daro (which is presently in Pakistan). Lothal was ancient port in Gujarat where river Sabarmati joins the Arabian sea. Big ships arrived from different countries during high tide here and Dr. Rao has brought to light India"s most ancient trading site(2500BC). Several seals with engravings are discovered which show transitional stage from pictorial symbols to letters. They are similar to those of Mohenjo Daro seals, except this difference.

After 32 years in Archaeological survey of India with several discoveries and working for preservation of monuments, Dr. Rao retired in 1980, only to become India"s first Marine Archaeologist. He worked as emeritus scientist in the National Institute of Oceanography at Goa from 1981-1994. It was during this period that he discovered the ancient city of Dwaraka or Bet Dwaraka, capital city of Lord Krishna mentioned in Mahabharata, Harivamsa and Puranas.

Dr Rao had several initial difficulties because the staff was to be trained for diving, underwater mapping, and clicking. He made a thorough study of ancient Sanskrit classics and Puranas which mention Dwaraka and round about places. After several expeditions under the sea he was able to locate ruins of ancient city of Dwaraka where river Gomati meets Arabian sea. There were triangular anchors, remains of docks, stone buildings, large stone blocks which made walls, mooring stones, relics of barge etc. Pearls were abundant in this area earlier and hordes of pearl-shells and conches were discovered. The earliest submerged temple of Samudra Narayana (Sea-God) was located. Dwaraka port operated as late as 1700 B.C. Several cast iron articles, copper, lead and tin goods, brass vessels are also found. Kushasthali is another name of the region as well as city of Dwaraka. Shrikrishna built this city when he decided to leave Mathura. He settled in Dwaraka or Kushasthali. The present day Bet Dwaraka is on the same site of the ancient one, which submerged in third milleneum B.C.

The words "Kushasthali" and "Dawaraka" are of special interest to me. Ancient Saraswat Brahmins who lived in Saraswati Valley migrated to adjoining regions when river Saraswati dried up. One group made its way to Kushasthali in Sourashtra in Gujarat and then to Goa via Sea. Chitrapur Saraswats are known as Kushasthali Brahmins, (a place (sthala) established by Kusha is Kushasthali). Goud Saraswat Brahmins are known as "Dorke" Or people from Dwaraka, in common Konkani parlance. One is tempted to believe that these Saraswats have retained in their names their ancient identity long after they had settled down in Goa. A small village is still known as Kushasthali or Kutral in Goa.

Swami Vivekananda and the Dancing girl

 "O! Lord look not upon my evil qualities!
 You are known for same-sightedness 
 One piece of iron makes image in the temple
 Another is the knife in the hand of the butcher;
 But when they touch the philosopher"s stone
 Both turn into gold"

© K.L.Kamat

Swami Vivekananda

These lines reached clearly Swamiji's ears who was residing in the nearby tent. He was immediately reminded of the Vedantic doctrine that Divinity dwells in all and knows no distinction of caste, creed, color or sex. Immediately he got up and joined the party.

Later in life, referring to this incident, Swamiji said, " that incident removed the scales from my eyes. All are indeed the manifestations of the One. I could no longer condemn anybody".

Bengali biography of Swami Vivekananda further adds. He said to himself that even he, an ascetic thought that he was a Sannyasin, a superior one and the singer, a depraved woman. "I have not yet got rid of such feeling of distinction "(bheda-jnana)". He went to the woman and said, "Mother! I am guilty. Earlier I hated you. . . . . . your song opened my eyes".

Saint Lalleshwari or Lal Ded. (C-1320 –1391 CE)

Lalleswari, affectionately known as Lal Ded (Mother Lal) in her home state was born in a Shaiva Brahmin family and lived in Pampore or Padma pura near Shrinagar, in the latter half of 14th century. She was married at a very young age of 15, into a traditional Kashmiri family. Her husband and mother-in-law could hardly appreciate her spiritual yearnings. Lalla used to spend time in meditation, without neglecting house-hold chores. But her long absence at river spot (where only she could obtain calm and peace) and love for loneliness were misinterpreted. Once she stayed unusually longer at the river ghat and bringing the water-pot on her head as usual. The angry husband hit the earthen pot with a stick at which it fell into pieces. But the water solidified as ice remained in tact! Lalla took it and filled all the vessels. Still the water flowed, to form a stream, the legend goes. The stream formed a tank known as Lalla"s tank and was noticed even in early part of the 20th century.

The incident of hitting the pot, compelled Lalla to renounce family life. She became a roving mendicant and practicing yoga discipline which helped god-realisation. Sufi thought had entered Kashmir valley by then, which had lot of similarity with Kashmiri Shaivism. Lalla worshipped and sang about Shiva, her beloved god. Indifferent to worldly comforts, she moved about uttering Vakyas, born out of her deep involvement in bhakti.

Some of her selected Vakyas speak about condemnation of mechanical rituals and superstitions. She also spoke about omnipresent God. Whom will you worship Oh! Foolish Pundit? Let prana and the mind unite to worship your lord.

 Oh! Fool, right action does not lie
 In fasting and other ceremonial rites. . . . . .
 Siva abides in all He is everywhere
 Do not discriminate between
 a Hindu or a Musalman
 If thou art wise, know thyself
 That is true knowledge of the lord.
 Siva or Keshava or Jina
 Or Brahma the lotus born Lord"
 Whatever name he bear
 May he remove from me
 The sickness of the world
 It may be He, He, and He only
  (who is called by different names)

Lalla is considered the harbinger of modern Kashmiri language. Till then Sanskrit was the language of expression among the learned and devotees alike. Lalla"s Vakyas set a new trend of spoken of Kashimiri among the rural folks, establishing a tradition of harmony and tolerance, which is the invaluable contribution of Bhakthi movement.

Sampling the First Indo-English Poetry (1870)

Nilmony Dutt, a rich Zamindar, was the patriarch of Dutt family. Born in 1757, he was well-read, much respected and broadminded. Though an orthodox Hindu, he gave his house to Rev. William Carey father of Indian printing. His eldest son Rasamoy Chunder was closely associated with Raja Ram Mohan Roy, and later became a judge. Another son Govind Chunder was well known in British circles. A civil servant he was a familiar person in English and Bengali literary circles. He became a Christian along with his whole family, sailed to England and later was to establish himself as a good poet and as father of three budding poets who died very young, unfortunately.

The Dutt family Album is the first Indo-English anthology (1870). It included 187 poems by Govind Chunder, his two brothers, Hur Chunder, Girish Chunder and a cousin Oomesh Chunder. The purpose of publishing these poems was made clear jointly in the preface of the anthology itself. They ventured not because they thought their verse was good, but in the hope of their book being considered as a curiosity. Being natives of India, they admitted being "foreigners" to English language. Of different age group and walks of life, they still belonged to one family and perhaps wanted to bring forth a combined show. "Bad poetry is intolerable and mediocre poetry perhaps deserved harsher epithet" wrote they.

Dutt Family Ablum is considered a landmark as it is the first attempt to exhibit Indian Ethos to the western world, in the familiar English metrical style and format. According to T.O. Dunn contemporary critic, "the attempts in the Album to deal with variety of themes, metrical forms and dignity of style are everywhere pleasing".

"Caves of Elephanta" by Oomesh Chunder is a noteworthy poem. The rock-cut cave temples of 7th century near Mumbai were in a pitiable condition when the poet visited. Now they are partly restored and the place is a famous tourist center. "Wonder in Wilderness" was the poet's exclamation.

Caves of Elephanta

 The snails on Brahma's forehead crawl 
 The blind-worms dwell in Siva's eyes
 On Durga's cheek, the rain drops fall
 Or are they tears for days gone by?
 Each upstart stranger writes his name;
 Such the result of earthly toil,
 And such the end of human fame.

The Elephanta Caves

R. G. Bhandarkar

19th century is called an "Age of Renaissance" in India by several scholars. The country witnessed a spurt of reforms and revivalist movements, inspired by Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833). Region of Maharashtra along with Bengal saw leaders who brought in, socio-religious awakening through education and connected programs. R.G. Bhandarkar a distinguished Sanskrit scholar, orientalist and a social reformer left a tradition behind, as a torchbearer.

Dr. Bhandarkar was born in Malvan, a town in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra in 1837. His father was clerk in Mamlatdar (taluka head)'s Office. With great difficulty, Ramakrishna completed his primary and secondary education and attended Elphinston College in Bombay. Later he completed Masters degree. His favorite subjects were Maths, History and English. Endowed with prodigious memory and sharp intellect, he established himself as a front-line researcher in Sanskrit in no time. He learnt Brahmi and Khoroshthi scripts and deciphered long forgotten inscriptions. He edited five volumes of Sanskrit inscriptions.

He started his teaching career as headmaster of a high-school in Hyderabad (Sindh) which formed part of Bombay presidency. Later he taught at Bombay and Pune colleges, and finally retired as Vice Chancellor of Bombay University.

© V.N.O'key

Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar
R. G. Bhandarkar (born July 1, 1837; death August 24, 1925) was a was a scholar and social reformer. He worked to improve the status of Indian women.

Professor Bhandarkar was very well known figure in European Academic world and the British government sent him as its delegate to congress of Orientalists held at Vienna in 1886. His scholarly paper on Sanskrit manuscripts was highly appreciated by German scholars. Germany was leading in Indology in those days. Gottingen University conferred honorary Ph.D. and Bombay University a L.L.D on him. He was later knighted as well, and became "Sir" literally!

He continued research and writing along with teaching. He wrote Sanskrit grammar texts for school children and his books on Shaivism, vaishnavism and Early History of Deccan are as authoritative as when he wrote them. Four volumes of his writings (other than inscriptions) on language and literature were brought out. Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute was founded by his admirers and students in 1917 at Pune. Dr. Bhandarkar donated four thousand rare volumes, his personal collection. Later BORI became a leading academy of research in Indian languages and literature.

As a social reformer also Dr. Bhandarkar excelled. He founded Prarthana Samaj with Justice Ranade and Atmaram Pandurang in 1867, whose aim was, abolition of the caste system, widow remarriage and education of women. Believing more in practice than preaching, he set an example, by arranging remarriage of his daughter, who was widowed at a very young age. This was strongly opposed by the leaders of his own community, the Saraswats. The complaint of this "irreverent and blasphemous act" was conveyed to their pontiff, heading the math at Khanapur (Belgaum). When the pontiff called for Dr. Bhandarkar's explanation, he put forth sound argument based on ancient scriptures and sastras that, there was no ban on widow remarriage at all, at any time! The critics were thus silenced. This bold step of Bhandarkar gave a good boost to widow-remarriage movement in Maharashtra and other regions as well.

Dr. Bhandarkar continued his academic and social service activities and was connected with many such institutions. He worked as Vice Chancellor of first Women"s University in India, founded by Maharshi Karve at Hingne (Pune). He died on Rishipanchami day August 24th 1925. Rishi-panchami is dedicated to the memory of Rishis or sage-scholars of the past whose revelations in mantras guided the people.

Dr. R.G. Bhandarkar was indeed a modern Rishi.

Dr. Kittel and his Kannada Dictionary.

Born in a pious German family of Resterhaff (Resterhoven) (North Germany) on 7th April in 1832, Ferdinand Kittel had liking for languages and studied Hebrew, Greek and Latin at a very young age. He felt an "inner call" of Jesus Christ at a young age of 17, and went to Basel which trained missionaries who volunteered to go abroad and spread message of Jesus Christ. Basel Mission had opened centers at Mangalore and Dharwad in Karnataka in 1838 which catered to the needs of the missionaries in their itinerary efforts of conversions, which involved preaching and teaching. This required learning of the language of masses, writing books and opening schools. Kittel arrived in Dharwad in 1853.

Immediately he started learning Kannada language and spent the next thirty-nine years of his life, to revive, rejuvenate and immortalize that ancient language, through several works.

Kittel wrote books and articles about Kannada language and literature in English and German languages. He edited two ancient but very authoritative books, one on grammar, Shabdamanidarpana ("mirror of words") and another on prosody, Chhandombudhi("ocean of prosody") in Kannada. Both were in palm-leaf books till then. Seeing the dearth of poems in modern Kannada, he wrote them, which could be set to tune. He also wrote texts and translated history books from English into Kannada for school children. Over years, he wrote well-researched articles on as varied subjects as philosophy, religion, linguistics, prosody and also ran a journal. He even coined two thousand words in Kannada, which he thought could be helpful in day-today usage!

But his monumental work is the 1,758-paged Kannada-to-English dictionary (1894) considered unparalleled in any Indian language. Besides being lexicon, giving the meaning of words, it is a store-house of literary allusions, thesaurus, and a self-teaching Kannada Reader as well! Great researchers like B.L. Rice, R. Narasimhachar, D.L. Narasimhachar, have unanimously declared that Kittel is the greatest authority on Kannada language and literature. M. Govinda Pai the erudite scholar-poet, read the Kittel Dictionary as a book and has written remarks on hundreds of pages of his personal volume with his unique purple-inked pen. This volume, itself a museum piece, occupies place of pride in the museum of Udupi named after him.

Several books and articles have appeared about Kittel"s contribution. Two doctoral theses have enriched his life story and works. The latest book however is by Dr. Shrinivas Havnur who passed away recently (1928-2010). Brought out by Central Sahitya Academy, New Delhi, (2009), it gives a comprehensive picture of life and achievements of this rarest scholar, who reminds our ancient rishis in appearance and deed.

© K.L.Kamat

Portrait of Reverend F. Kittel
Kittel is remembered for compiling the first Kannada-to-English dictionary in 1894

This book is also a documentation of passion, Havanur nurtured for Kittel over forty years. He visited Kittel"s birthplace, dugout so far un-published rhymes and stories, Kittel wrote in Kannada and got them published. Kittel was honoured with honorary Doctorate by Teubingen University in 1896.

Kittel suffered from weak eye-sight. But this did not come in the way of his personally attending to proofs. Printing was still in the laborious elementary stage of lithography and most of his assistants had no basic training in printing. One can imagine the hard toil Kittel put to bring out the priceless gem of "Kittel Nighantu", which is called Kannada-English Dictionary.

Today I am the proud possessor of Kannada-English Dictionary of Kittel, a 1894 edition which my father handed over to me. I am also recipient of Kittel Award instituted in Dr. Reverend Kittel's memory by MICO, a German firm of Bangalore.

© K.L.Kamat

Jyotsna with the Rev. Kittel Award
Jyotsna was honored by the Kannada association of MICO for lifetime contribution to the Kannada language in 2001.

I studied, worked, and took up research in Dharwad, which was the work-place of Rev. Kittel for Several years. Kittel's Dharwad was nearer to my heart during all those 13 years.