Indian Industrialist Aditya Birla once had his future told by an old man - he was told that as long as his artisans were busy building Hindu temples, his business would flourish. To this day, Aditya Birla companies build on strengths from foundation by Baldeo Das Birla. They operate many diversified businesses, and many charitable organisations as well.
The temple is made of white marble and is dedicated to Vishnu's manifestation, Narayan and his consort Laxmi.
Above the temple lies the Moti Doongri Fort, which is home to Gayatri Devi, the mother of the current Maharaja - Brigadier His Highness Saramad-i-Rajaha-i-Hindustan Raj Rajendra Shri Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Sawai Shri Bhawani Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Jaipur (or just Bhawani Singh).
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Om Shiv Platform, Birla Temple Jaipur
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Socket Wall
Nek Chand built this monument in Chandigarh, over 40 years ago. It is said he was clearing a small patch of jungle to make a garden, and began to set stones around a clearing. Soon he found that he had sculpted some figures from recycled junk materials. This grew and developed into the large Rock Garden it is now. This took some time, and Nek was worried about it being discovered by authorities. Eventually it was - and it was illegal, and some called for its demolition because of this.
However Chandigarh is not a place where precedent sets rules. Nek Chand was paid for his work, and encouraged by the government, who provided workers for him. Today the garden is over 25 acres with sculptures made of rocks, electrical sockets, glass bottles and other discarded items. 5000 people visit each day.
More information is on www.nekchand.com/
Chandigarh is a modern city in India. Not only modern in that it was founded in the 1950s, after partition, but in design for that period. When the Punjab was partitioned between India and newly formed Pakistan, Punjab in India had no capital as the former seat of parliament now sat in Lahore, Pakistan. It's function is also somewhat unique in that it serves as a union territory (like the ACT in Australia), but also in that it is the capital of two states - Punjab, and Haryana. Haryana is a predominantly Hindu former part of Punjab, and the local language (Haryanvi) is a mix of Punjabi and Hindi. It does still have a considerable Sikh population and culturally is Punjabi.
Many options were considered, and it was decided to start afresh and build Chandigarh. Much of the design work was done by Le Corbusier and was in stark contrast to a land where civilisation is thousands of years old. Wide streets, right angles, neat buildings.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Durga Mandir, Amritsar
Built in the style of the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), this temple is a much smaller Hindu version, lying close to the main city.
John is entering my frame of view here :)
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Golden Temple, Amritsar: Night Splendor
The Harmandar Sahib (originally called the Hari Mandar, or 'temple of God') is also known as the Golden Temple. It is the holiest of Sikh Gurudwaras (or places of worship) and many thousands of Sikh and non Sikh devotees and tourists visit every year to witness this fantastic sight and spiritual haven.
Located in the older part of Amritsar city, this temple was originally the site of a small lake in a forest. In 1574, the Mughal Emporor, Akbar visited the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das in a nearby village. He was so impressed by what he saw there, that he gifted a sum of money to the Guru's daughter (who later married a man who became the fourth Guru, Guru Ram Das). This money was used to enlarge the lake and build a small township.
Under the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, that the temple was built. A great Sufi (Muslim mystic, popular in this time in South Asia) friend of the guru from Lahore (former capital of undivided Punjab, now the capital of Pakistan's Punjab state) visited and laid the foundation stone in 1588. It was completed in 1601. Later it would be attacked by the Afghans, requiring rebuilding in the 1760s.
The temple has four enterances, which signifies the importance of acceptance and openness. All may enter the Harimandir Sahib, regardless of who they are - though they must abstain from meat, drinking alcohol, entering intoxicated, smoking or use drugs while inside (as with all Sikh temples).
The temple was also the site of Operation Blue Star, in 1984, which resulted in a very sorrowful time in the history of the people of Punjab and Delhi, regardless of race or religion, though it was the Sikhs who suffered more.
It was at this time that Sikhs in Delhi were at high risk. My maternal Grandfather took a neighbouring Sikh family into his house to help ensure their safety, and they remain friends since.
Links:
www.harmandirsahib.com/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blue_Star
Thursday, February 08, 2007
microsoft, when they were even more disturbing than now
fast forward to the windows song a couple of minutes into it
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Foto fun.
As seen on our way to see Neko Case (playing at the Spanish Club on Johnston St, just off Brunswick St) on Thursday 1st Feb.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Navdeep Kaur
Also known as Mona, my dear friend is heading back to Perth after two eventful years in Melbourne.
All the best yaar. In all you undertake. May you be happy and blessed.