Docs of group: picnomadic

The Sustainer

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:57:34 +0000

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“I surrender to you, Lord Ganesha.
You are the speaker.
You are the listener.
You are the giver.
You are the sustainer.
I am your disciple.
Protect me from the front and back.
Protect me from the north and the south, from above and below.
Protect me from all directions...”
(from Ganesh Upanishad - Ganapatyatharshirsham)

In the jungle of Bandhavgarh which is in the Indian state Madhya Pradesh, there are the remains of a fort spread over 580 acres at an elevation of 811 metres above the sea level.
It was built in the 3rd century AD and it was the seat of power of the Vakatak, Kalchuri, Solanki, Kuruvanshee and Baghel dynasties.
The poet Kabir stayed here during the 16th century.
The fort also gave shelter to the Mughal emperor Humayun’s wife when Shershah pursued him.
To acknowledge this help, Humayun’s son, Akbar, issued silver coins in the name of Bandhavgarh.
In 1617, the capital of Baghel dynasty was shifted from Bandhavgarh to Rewa and the fort was vacated after a while.
It was then taken over by wildlife.
By chance I saw this beautiful statue of Lord Ganesha standing at a Bandar-log (term used in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book to describe monkeys - specifically, Langur monkeys).

Shere Khan, the King of the Jungle

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:18:47 +0000

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[as Kaa is about to eat Mowgli, Shere Khan pulls on his tail, which makes a doorbell sound]
Kaa: Ooh! Oh, now what? I'll be right down. Yes, yes, who is it?
Shere Khan: It's me. Shere Khan. I'd like a word with you, if you don't mind.
Kaa: Shere Khan, what a surprise.
Shere Khan: Yes, isn't it. I just dropped by. Now forgive me if I've interrupted anything.
Kaa: Oh no, no, nothing at all.
Shere Khan: [brandishing his claws] I thought perhaps that you were entertaining someone up there in your coils.
Kaa: Coils? Someone? Oh no, I was just curling up for my siesta.
Shere Khan: But you were singing to someone. Who is it, Kaa?
[Shere Khan grabs Kaa's throat with his paw]
Kaa: Ah, um, oh no, I was just singing, uh, to myself.
Shere Khan: Indeed.
Kaa: Yes... yes, you see I have... trouble with my sinuses.
Shere Khan: What a pity!
Kaa: Oh, you have no idea. It's simply terrible. I can't eat, I can't sleep, so I ssssssing myself to sleep. You know, self-hypnosis. Let me show you how it works.
[Kaa prepares to look in Shere Khan's eyes and try to hypnotize him]
(from the movie “The Jungle Book” - 1967)

Deep in the jungle of Bandhavgarh in the Indian state Madhya Pradesh this beautiful tiger was waiting for us, soon another one joined and both stayed with us during more than 45 minutes.

A Dreamer Among the Humblest

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:16:03 +0000

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“I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires.”
(Kahlil Gibran - Lebanese American artist, poet, and writer, 1883 – 1931)

This Sadhu was sleeping at Munsi ghat in Varanasi (Benaras).
It was before sunset when the golden light was reflecting from the holy waters of the Ganges providing a dreamy atmosphere to the oldest living city in the world.
Whenever I talk to those ascetic men I find out that most of them had a diferent life before, sometimes with a wife and children, and a job.
One day they left the modern world for this life where they realize their dreams with visions...

Lal Baba, the Ultimate Sādhu

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:23:11 +0000

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“Some offer their wealth, their austerity, and their practice of yoga as sacrifice, while the ascetics with strict vows offer their study of scriptures and knowledge as sacrifice.”
(Bhagavad Gita)

This is a picture of Lal Baba who is a Saivite (follower of Shiva) sādhu.
He was born in the Indian state of Bihar but he stays most of the time in Varanasi (Benaras).
I didn’t see him since a few months, no one could tell me where he was whenever I was asking at the ghats so I was happy to see him again a few days ago as I was walking with my friend Rajesh along the Ganges.
People call him Lal Baba because he mostly wears garments in red shades, in Hindi “lal” means red.
His huge turban keeps a few meters of dreadlocks and gives him an impressive presence.
Sometimes people think that he can’t see much because of cataract but in fact his eyes have an amazing deep blue colour.
I told him that Benaras is not the same without him and he laughed.
This is a link to another picture with him shot a few years ago:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/designldg/422170201/in/set-72157600...
I might go and see him tomorrow as I told him that I’ll give him a few pictures this week.

Whoever Brought Me Here

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:30:32 +0000

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All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that,
and I intend to end up there.
This drunkenness began in some other tavern.
When I get back around to that place,
I'll be completely sober. Meanwhile,
I'm like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary.
The day is coming when I fly off,
but who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?
Who says words with my mouth?
Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?
I cannot stop asking.
If I could taste one sip of an answer,
I could break out of this prison for drunks.
I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way.
Whoever brought me here, will have to take me home.
This poetry. I never know what I'm going to say.
I don't plan it.
When I'm outside the saying of it,
I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.
(“Whoever Brought Me Here” a poem by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi, known as Jelaluddin Rumi - 1207–1273)

This picture was shot a few days ago along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).

The Lady with a Red Sari

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:34:52 +0000

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This picture was shot a few days ago at Prayag ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
I was watching this lady and I thought that whatever the sari can be it always gives a kind of radiance and a touch of dignity to women.
It is amazing that it is done by only a single straight length of cloth and yet it offers so much of variety provided by the fabrics, designs and colours.

Shopping at Nai Sadak

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:29:54 +0000

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Nai Sadak market is an amazing market in the center of Varanasi (Benaras) where most of the Muslims shopkeepers sell any kind of fabrics.
I always enjoy going there not only for some inspiration that I find for my work but also because this place allows my mind to travel with its fantastic touch of Orientalism.
It is a timeless bazaar where most of the people wear traditional garments, where so many colours, music and scents are mixing.
This picture was shot there, those ladies who must belong to the same family were happy to find what they were looking for.
Their happiness attracted my camera.
Nai Sadak means “New Road”.

An Ocean of Meanings

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:13:33 +0000

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“Rise up nimbly and go on your strange journey to the ocean of meanings.”
( Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi, known as Jelaluddin Rumi - Persian poet, jurist, theologian, and mystic, 1207–1273)

This was shot last Sunday at Prayag ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
I believe that it was the last very hot day of the year here and many people came to river in order to find a way to feel fresh.
This woman was pouring the holy water on her, I took several pictures as the colours were coming so well.

A Land of Wheat

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:31:19 +0000

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“For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.”
(Bible)

Those woolen threads are drying under the sun after the dyeing process.
They look like a field at the end of summer in a land of wheat.
I took this picture last afternoon in the courtyard of our factory which is in the countryside at 45 km away from Benaras.

Pieces of Cloud in the Sunlight

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:34:17 +0000

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“This is how I would die into the love I have for you:
As pieces of cloud dissolve in Sunlight.”
(Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi, known as Jelaluddin Rumi - Persian poet, jurist, theologian, and mystic, 1207–1273)

My friend Anand was rowing a boat on the Ganges, we left Varanasi (Benaras) and we were crossing the river on the way to Ramnagar.

The Power of Atman

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:18:36 +0000

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“Hinduism is a living organism.
One and indivisible at the root, it has grown into a vast tree with innumerable branches.
Knowledge is limitless and so also the application of truth.
Everyday we add to our knowledge of the power of Atman (soul) and we shall keep on doing so.”
(Mahatma Gandhi,1869-1948)

This was shot at Munsi ghat along the holy waters of the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
Those two oil lamps were burning in a basket while a group of elder women were preparing a ritual.

<untitled>

nobody@ipernity.com (Akiruna) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:59:02 +0000

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"God has no religion"

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:31:18 +0000

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“God has no religion”
(Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948)

Those words by Gandhiji take their plain meaning when I have the chance to be among so many religions which are so different and yet so close...
I took this picture of Shiva temples roofs as I was stepping down the narrow staircase which leads to Ahilyabai ghat which is along the holy waters of the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).

Mae West

nobody@ipernity.com (Baywhale) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:27:05 +0000

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From the Banks of the Ganges

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:15:06 +0000

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“I am convinced that everything has come down to us from the banks of the Ganges, - astronomy, astrology, metempsychosis, etc.
It is very important to note that some 2,500 years ago at the least Pythagoras went from Samos to the Ganges to learn geometry...
But he would certainly not have undertaken such a strange journey had the reputation of the Brahmins' science not been long established in Europe.”
(Voltaire - French Enlightenment writer, essayist, and philosopher, 1694-1778)

This was shot at sunset along the holy waters of the Ganges at Jatar ghat in Varanasi (Benaras), the oldest living city in the world.

Happy Navratri to everyone !

The Wings of my Song

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:47:05 +0000

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“There is nothing to stop me,
from getting lost,
anywhere at all,
if only I make a wish in my mind.
So I open the wings of my song,
I go beyond the stony wilderness of fairy tales,
I lose my way and reach some far away place,
where silence reigns.
I get to know the “Champa” flower in “Parul” grove
all in my own mind.
There is nothing to stop me,
from getting lost,
anywhere at all,
when the wings of my songs are afloat.
As the sun sets in the horizon,
when masses of clouds look like flowers in the sky,
I float away somewhere far off.
And in my mind,
I burst open the closed door, of a fairy tale home.“
(by Rabindranath Tagore)

This is another glimpse of Varanasi (Benaras), the Eternal city, shot at dusk from Scindia ghat along the holy waters of the Ganges.
A few years ago I was reading those words by Tagore, I kept the first sentence in my note book without obvious reason.
Today as time has passed swiftly, I know that there is nothing to stop me from getting lost in Benaras...

A Request to Nandi

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:04:40 +0000

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Lord Shiva said, "Nandi has surrendered into me so completely that he has all my powers and my protection"...

I took this picture one evening at dusk near Manikarnika ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
Nandi means “The joyful” in Sanskrit.
This white bull with a black tail is the vâhana of Lord Shiva and is the symbol of the powerful instinctive force tamed by Him.
Nandi is the perfect devotee, the soul of man, kneeling humbly before Lord Shiva, ever concentrated on Him.
The ideal and goal of the Shiva bhakta (devotee) is to behold Shiva in everything.
Statues of Nandi are standing at the entrance of the temples dedicated to the Lord of the oldest living city in the world also called Nandishvara (The Lord of Nandi).
Devotees bring floral offerings and touch the stone, usually their prayers are for fertility.
It is also considered a custom among some to whisper the fact of their visit, to that shrine, while requesting the faithful attendant to inform his master of the same.

Eternity at Dusk

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:20:10 +0000

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This is a glimpse of Eternity, shot at dusk from a platform which is located at Ahilyabai ghat along the holy waters of the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras), the Eternal city.

I thought that the music of Gustav Mahler, in particular the Adagietto from his Fifth Symphony, would frame this picture:

Eid Mubarak عید مُبارک

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:20:54 +0000

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Today it is Eid ul-Fitr, a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan and the first day of Shawwal.
Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fitr means "to break fast"; and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period.
In India the night before Eid is called Chand Raat, which means, night of the moon.
During Eid, the traditional greeting is Eid Mubarak (Urdu: عید مُبارک ) which means "blessed festival", and frequently also includes a formal embrace.
Women and young girls paint each others' hands with traditional "henna" and wear colourful bangles.
Gifts are frequently given mostly new clothes and it is also common for children to be given small sums of money (Eidi) by their elders.
After the Eid prayers, families visit graveyards and pray for the salvation of departed family members.
It is the time for special celebratory dishes like sivayyan, a dish of fine, toasted sweet vermicelli noodles with milk & dried fruit.
Some people also avail themselves of this opportunity to distribute Zakat, the Islamic obligatory alms tax on one's wealth, to the needy.
There is a lot of excitement in the celebration of this festival.
Eid is a public holiday and is celebrated all over India.
Even non-Muslims visit their Muslim friends on this occasion, to convey their good wishes.

This picture was shot at Ahilyabai ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
Those Muslim ladies must belong to the same family, they came with a few children at the end of a summer afternoon in order to find some freshness on the river.

“Eid Mubarak” to everyone.

Ô Benaras

nobody@ipernity.com (Designldg) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:57:38 +0000

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Most of the pictures that I upload are from the Eternal city however I don’t often show large views like this one.
Maybe because Benaras allows to make inner journeys and to feel the deepest parts of the soul.
As time goes by my I am making more close-ups than landscapes as if I was trying to go inside the mind of the people I meet or of the things I see.
I believe that this must be a normal step in my quest for the “Remembrance of Things Past” which I started searching there several years ago.
This image was shot from Anand’s boat along the Ganges while we were approaching Dasashvamedha ghat, the main ghat of the City of Lights.

“The Ganges front is the supreme showplace of Benares.
Its tall bluffs are solidly caked from water to summit, along a stretch of three miles, with a splendid jumble of massive and picturesque masonry, a bewildering and beautiful confusion of stone platforms, temples, stair flights, rich and stately palaces....soaring stairways, sculptured temples, majestic palaces, softening away into the distances; and there is movement, motion, human life everywhere, and brilliantly costumed - streaming in rainbows up and down the lofty stairways, and massed in metaphorical gardens on the mile of great platforms at the river's edge.”
(Mark Twain, American Writer - 1835-1910)