My bird diary–1

Date–21.05.12,Lucknow.Our terrace.We have our morning tea on the steps of terrace.At the front end of terrace are two pillars on which are placed pots of water and grain.Sparrows and doves visit us daily but sometimes we are blessed with the glimpse of other birds as well.
On this particular morning, a pair of Bulbul came to our terrace at around 6 A.M.They first landed on the telephone wire running parallel and quite near to our terrace.One thing, I have noticed about Bulbuls, they always come flying in pairs. After a careful watch, they landed near the pot of grains albeit one at a time. In the mean time, the other one was, as if keeping the vigil. Today the pot has two varieties of food–one the usual millet and other Laiya.We saw that Bulbul preferred Laiya while we have observed that sparrows invariably love to feed on millets.
Today morning we had other visitors also.We were not able to click the pics of all the varieties of birds but the morning was filled with different kinds of notes and was musically vibrant.
There was this tiny dark chocolate coloured bird. Midst the crisscross running mesh of electric and telephone wires, this little one would have been almost invisible if not for it’s shrill yet sweet call. She came late, around 7.30 A.M. In fact I was not even out on the terrace but was reading newspaper inside. Her call made me come out. At first I was not able to locate it but later on was able to track it near the electric pole midst the wires. She sat there for few minutes as if calling and waiting for someone then flew away spreading it’s tiny feathers. At a distance she was just like a dot but her voice reverberated through the area for quite a long time.
Early in the morning also came the birds with white and black feathers. I feel they have made their nest inside the tin box installed on the pole by T.V. cable suppliers. Mynas and these white and black birds have some issue of proprietorship over this box or the birds have their little ones in the box and Mynas try to harm them ,is not very clear to us but we often see them fighting near that box. Today also, as a pair of Mynas came and sat on the wire near the box, these birds came flying and tried to attack  them in an effort to move them away from the place.We did not have our camera ready at that time hence could not shoot the scene. The surprising part is that neither that bird nor Mynas regularly come to that place. May be they have some other issues to settle or the birds have zeroed in on that box as their nesting place.We have observed that these birds choose box kind of structure for laying their eggs.Once earlier also, last year when the ground floor of our home was not occupied, a pair of this bird made their home for laying the eggs in the main electric meter box. On other occasions also we have observed these birds frequenting in and out of the boxes of cables on the electric poles.
I have to search for the names of these birds. Today almost every variety which we see in our locality was seen near our home. These winged creatures fill our days with melodies and colours and what an inexplicable joy is to watch them engaged in different activities.They too have their own world full of all kinds of emotions, actions, needs and responsibilities.

White Browed Wagtail…..this perhaps is the name of the bird I refer here as black and white bird .While searching on net I found one picture of the bird similar to the bird I talked about and the blog writer referred it by this name. But we shall try to click the bird and then confirm it’s name.

All the pics by Sunder Iyer.

 

Mother is a verb,not a noun..

I feel, I have already talked about the permanent nest of doves above the entrance of my home but there is another nest in my home .This one is in the small open space in front of my kitchen.The nest belongs exclusively to sparrows and is also a permanent one. Many  residents have flown in and out from here for last almost thirteen years.

Every time the nest is to be occupied we know it in advance as a male sparrow starts frequenting it. First he will examine the strength of the nest then ponder on the security and safety issues by visiting it a number of times. Sometimes he sits in the nest  or perched on the grill above he will keep a watch over it. Once fully satisfied, the process to woo a partner starts.While working in the kitchen I am his constant companion sharing his efforts and anxieties. He calls with shrill voices. Sometimes he flies in with a partner on the toe. Lots of discussions go on and oh, on many occasions I am so disappointed as the female flies away perhaps not attracted enough by his arrangements or the ambience. He starts afresh. The day we find a female sparrow sitting at a stretch in the nest we heave a sigh of relief and start waiting expectantly for the new borns.

We have seen many young ones growing and flying away. Though there have been sad moments as well. The place is safe and secured from cats or bigger birds but  once a lizard crept up to the nest and tried to rampage the nest. One of the eggs fell down. We could not know the fate of other egg but the mother flew away the very moment not to return . After some time we found the nest inhabited once again and this time things went on smoothly for quite sometime but one day in the morning we found one of the very small sparrow chick lying on the floor under the nest. After this repeated casualty the nest was empty for quite some time. The silence in that part of house was heartbreaking.The empty nest looked desolate.However  we made a point to shoo away the lizards from that side of the wall even though the nest was unoccupied .

few days ago we were happy to note the hustle bustle of  new occupants of nest. This time the chicks hatched properly and we could hear constant chirping of different frequencies. Parents were busy keeping watch in turns and fetching the food. Our space was full of life .Then we watched mom sparrow coaxing kiddies to fly out of the nest but they appeared to be reluctant to leave the cozy security of the home.To face the harsh world, to fend for ones own chores is definitely not such an alluring temptation. The kids were  enjoying and loving indulgence of parents.They perhaps knew the scaling of heights, venturing into new pastures always demands certain sacrifices but then the course of life has to be followed. Yesterday the kids ventured out of the nest.we captured one of the kid’s moments of his first flight.you also enjoy the same…

 

It flew from nest and sat on the vertical grill. Beyond the horizontal grill at roof level was the blue sky. Is it trying to fathom the expanse, imagining about the voyages it will take. After some time mother came and sat on the grill above and tried to encourage it to take a higher flight.

 

When it did not fly mamma came down. Is she giving a piece of her mind to the little one. some serious conversation going on. parenting definitely is not an easy task.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah ….the pains and pleasures of motherhood. She coaxed, was stern, provided incentives….

 

And finally our little one took its flight to the open world.

Bon Voyage…….

 

(pics- sunder iyer)

 

The white smile…

After two days quite warm weather ,yesterday morning was pretty chill. As I stepped out for morning walk the laps of strong wind hit me with a force. For a fraction of second I felt like retracing my steps and let the cozy warmth of indoor engulf me but then the better sense prevailed and shrugging off the temptation, I walked out to face the wind. It turned out to be quite refreshing.

I have always loved those wee hours of twilight when everything around you is wrapped in a dreamy silence. The harsh realities don’t stand there  glaring at you . The roads without the blaring traffic and chaos spread before you lazily inviting you to venture into the magical vista  of purple haze of dawn. Today was the first day of navratri hence the temples on the way were getting ready to welcome  goddess durga. Bright yellow marigold garlands, the fragrance of dhoop and agar, the music of devotional songs all made the morning holier and more pious.

Invig0rated by my walk as I stepped on my terrace something caught my attention. As if it stopped my movement by holding my dupatta. There midst the green leaves of my lemon plant was this small white bud smiling at me through the misty veil. The first bud of my lemon plant. Oh ..the inexplicable happiness………just like what I felt when my first born showed me his first lower tooth………..

it bloomed today.

 

tales untold…

Crumbling walls, uninhabited houses and battered doors invite you to venture into the mysterious world of lingering shadows.
Bolted doors, though aged with times cling passionately to the naked walls as if guarding secrets lying there for years. The quiet dignity of their commitment pulls a string at your heart.
In a courtyard full of dry leaves, wind walks to you with halting steps as if crossing the distance of ages. Whispering voices call you from shadowy corners. In the moist and diffused light spread across the chipping verandah, the past speaks to you with an intimacy across the time line.
Through the cracks of shriveled doors, escape the sighs of tales untold. The dusty interiors preserve the redolent presence of forgotten ones.
And just when the haunting past reverberates through your entire being, the present peeps down at you through a crevice high above the falling roof. A just born bunch of delicate green leaves smiles at you beckoning to march forward/move onward.

pictures: © sunder iyer

 

entuning….

The endless, glistening blue horizon, the tender green grass blades dancing merrily, the yellow, pink, blue, white varied colours of tiny flowers frolicking all around, the buzzing bees, the chirping birds all seemed to be part of a glorious celebration.They were in tune with one another and with themselves.They all ,as if knew their place and happily accepted it.

How I yarned to be a part of this grand spectacle. I stretched my arms and inhaled deeply but felt choking. What was i trying to do? To seep it in all ! Alas! that humane lust to possess, to own.This was too big, too grand, too marvellous a phenomenon to be absorbed. I slowly slumped to the ground and sat there motionless,trying to surrender to the vastness around.Each passing moment somehow became richer…….I felt entuned.

Pic-Sunder Iyer

 

A Wishing tree

That huge banyan tree stood elegantly at outskirts of our village. It was a big, really big tree, tall, shady and vibrantly green. Ensconced snugly under the tree was the shrine of Baram devta. Baram devta might have been derived from Brahm devta or may be Bhairav dev. Whatever might be the origin but when I got acquainted with this devta, he was referred to as Baram dev and he was the guardian angel, protector, benefactor of our village. As he was the savior, the defender, he had to be valiant and gallant that’s why perhaps he was considered to be a fierce and fiery God. Over such blazingly powerful God spread the blissful canopy of the banyan tree.

At the advent of any auspicious occasion in any family of the village people came to Baramdev’s shrine. Bowing their heads, they used to pray for peaceful completion of the ceremony devoid of any hassles, disturbances and obstacles. The ritual was never complete without a fervent request to Banyan tree to keep Baram devta happy and appeased in case he gets angry due to any fault of any person. That tree was like the wise old man of the family. Such tranquil was the impact of the benign shelter of the tree that the mind automatically became quiescent with quiet assurance that nothing can go wrong.

In case of any problem, illness or difficulty people rushed to the tree. Sitting near the small raised platform, the problem was narrated in detail. The God with his grim expression appeared to be unmoved/unconcerned but banyan’s hanging roots and bent leaves with slow nodding movements as if shared their grief. The rustling of leaves voiced it’s concern.

And it listened…wishes were fulfilled, obstacles removed, illness cured. Any cart or traveler entering the village never ever thought of crossing the path without paying obeisance to God and tree. We all used to spend some time under the blissful shelter of the tree. Just one look of the solid, shady Banyan standing firmly on it’s place with it’s arms stretching wide and we knew ‘all is well’. Palanquin of every daughter of village stopped under the shade of the tree before proceeding to her in law’s place. Relatives and friends accompanied her to that point. Girls after paying respect to deity would cry their heart out embracing the tree. The tree was their confidant and support like an elderly family member. In childhood the hanging  roots, the strong arms of Banyan tree were the swinging paradise. Even though kids held the roots but the feeling was that tree is supporting them. It’s his arms and he will never let them fall. While arranging their dolls marriage under the blissful shade of Banyan, girls never thought that one day they themselves will be standing under it to be away, with the grief of leaving one’s home, the near-dear ones and a prayer was ushered in the ever attentive ears of Banyan…’take care of my parents, dada. I am leaving them and please call me back to you in sawan at the earliest and the memories of carefree childhood, dreamy adolescence poured down with the streams of tears. Banyan dada was testimony to so many blooming love stories, pangs of separations, shattered dreams and soaring hopes.

Every newly wed bride before entering our village first paid her respects to Baram Dev and Banayan dada. The moment the bride put her feet decorated with aalta and payal on the ground the branches seemed to bend a little more to bless her. With hands full of red bangles, her anklets tingling, she circled the tree to pay her obeisance and with that she entrusted her dreams, her wishes to sagely Bargad or Banyan dada and with firm belief of fulfillment she proceeded to start her new phase of life. That Banyan tree was not just a tree. It was a history in its own, secured in its folds were so many tales of emotional catastrophe, treachery, sacrifices. It saw all- the purest of humane heart to the meanest of them, from epitome of ideal to the vilest of them. Nothing escaped from it’s vigilant eyes and just heart. Dreams were woven, desires were sown on the firm base of faith that Banyan dada is there to make them come true, to fulfill them.

And then life’s compulsions brought us away from village. Earlier we used to visit the native place frequently but then the generation of grand parents gradually left us, most of the homes were locked as jobs, education and other such commitments made the family members disperse in different directions. Recently I happened to meet our Bargad dada after a very long time, nearly three decades. If I were not told I could not have thought that it is the same Bargad dada. All those embracing arms, spreading wide and far were hacked to accommodate the multistory buildings with flourishing business establishments, tea shops, restaurants. The platform under it was raised higher and is quite big now. An ornamental, big temple of white marble stood in place as a small shrine of Baram dev. The evident commercialization has robbed off the soul of the place. A busy bus stop has come up nearby. Touching the platform ran a pucca road. Screeching, racing vehicles zoomed in and out. Midst all this hustle-bustle, chaos and din of empty voices was crouched our Bargad dada, with it’s few branches raised towards sky…….as if praying to the God to take him away as its shady shelter, the vast hearted canopy was being considered usurpation of land, the savior was seeking to be saved ……….

pic by sunder iyer

 

Towards you…

The lone boat floating away in the mist, I feel your spirit within me. I can sense the tug, the steering as if encircling within your arm, you are trying to take me …..but I still sail directionless.

…and the boatman…the vast expanse of waters do not scare him, not he waits for a traveler for the company, he travels with these waters and the sky above without a destination. The far off banks do not beckon him. He simply sails towards nowhere, where he belongs. He is one with the limitless. He never wishes a bank or a harbour to anchor. The world there does not exist for him. Beyond the limits he sails, oblivious of everything. A journey within, towards you, to nowhere…far…far away.

I can listen to the call ‘beyond’ but know not how to head to be with it. Will you take me there…

(picture by- Sunder Iyer)

 

She came, cheered me up and flew…..

Nov 29,2011

This afternoon I was reclining on sofa chair ,my back towards the window,which opens in the balcony facing road.Eyes closed,was not thinking anything in particular but was certainly feeling a bit sad.Today by this time I was to be in Kanpur for my friend’s daughter’s marriage but this leg infection has messed up with all my programmes.I was not exactly complaining but silence in and around was laden with a kind of heaviness.Suddenly a sweet chirp stole into my silence.I did not pay much attention to it as on their way from Amaltas tree to the pillar where their pot of grains is kept many birds halt and hop in the balcony.During winters this traffic continues whole of the day.After few notes of melodious chirps it occurred to me that it appears to be coming from much shorter distance than balcony.Opening my eyes I looked around the room .None of the doors or windows were open but there it was this tiny ,cute green colored  bird sitting on the grill of the ventilator above the door.I don’t know when and how it entered but it was there filling the stillness of room with it’s tinkling voice.I opened the door to let it go out but immediately  the partner of the bird entered the room.Both of them now started chirping with much vigour. Of course I could not interpret their conversation but the happiness of meeting was all there to feel.They flew in the room in circles two three times,sat on blades of fan ,on pelmets all the time filling the room with their musical chirping.The mist of gloom was lifted and the silvery strains kept on glistening long after the pair had flew away.

I remembered a line I read somewhere.’If I keep a green bough in my heart,a singing bird will come.’

 

 

 

Lolarka Kund

Lolarka Kund near Tulsi ghat in Varanasi can be traced back to the Purans. Reference of lolarka is found in Kashi khand of Skand Puran. The description says that Lolarka is located at the confluence of Ganges and Assi.

Presently it is a pond about 15mt below the ground level and steep stairs from three sides descend to the  rectangular water pool .On the fourth side there is an arc shaped gate on a high wall. Water through this gate flows into a nearby well.

On lolark shashthi, falling on sixth day of the bright half of Bhadrapad, corresponding to later half of August devotees in large numbers throng at the kund to take a dip. The popular belief is that if issueless couples take a dip in the pond on this particular day, they certainly will be blessed with a child. The custom is that couple take bath together tying their knot and then leave their clothes and all other possessions on their body at the time of taking bath there at kund only. While worshiping at the kund they have to offer one fruit also and then they are not supposed to eat that particular fruit whole of their life. After birth on next lolark shashthi the child is brought there for God’s blessings.

The most sustainable feature of our culture is definitely faith and what varied way of expression we have got. Every thing is steeped in symbolism. The things, the customs and traditions are not just what we perceive through eyes, the meaning goes much deeper. This custom of leaving clothes and all other possessions on body there on the steps leading to kund, does it not instigates /inspires or asks the couple to leave their differences, ego and clashes there itself. It beckons for a new beginning with renewed faith in that supreme power and in each other.

Lolark Kund is located in Bhadaini near Tulasi ghat. The day we visited the place was quiet and gates leading to pond were also locked. We were told that gates are unlocked for public on Lolarka Shashthi only. Near the well is a small temple and a covered verandah. Inside the verandah earthen furnaces in a row were the mute testimonies of the activities of the festival days when people from far flung places visit the place and stay and cook here.

Lolarka is a holy seat devoted to Sun God. Literal meaning of lolark is trembling. The mythological story  in vamana purana which throws light on this name of lolarka aditya goes like this.

Sukeshi, the son of demon king vidyutkeshi was blessed by lord Shiva that he could neither be defeated nor slain by his enemies. Happy with his devotion Shiva allotted Sukeshi an aerial city between heaven and earth. Under the pious leadership of their devout king the demons became very righteous and holy. This was not  in keeping with the duties allotted to asuras by virtue of their birth. Besides that the glory of the aerial city of Sukeshi started to outshine the brilliance of sun. This invited Surya’s wrath. With his angry glare he sent the aerial city reeling down to earth. As sukeshi was Shiva’s ardent devotee, some celestial bodies call out to shiva telling him that his devotee is falling. Shiva’s anger was directed towards Sun. He focussed all his fire towards him proving that his single stare has more brilliance than his fire. Such was the fire of shiva’s anger that the trembling sun hid at the cool, holy confluence of ganges and assi to avoid lord shiva’s wrath. This mythological tale not only establishes Shiva’s supremacy over sun god but also postulates that Shiva did not give much importance to the rule of karmas by virtue of varna rather he believed that one’s destiny is guided by one’s karmas.

Fire and water are two most revered elements of Hindu religion, hence the place of their meeting was considered to be one of the most sacred places on earth. Both these elements are essential to fertility perhaps that lies behind the faith of boon of fertility i.e. birth of child.

The temple near the pool, on the same platform is located the well.

The Lolarka Kund and the steep steps descending to  the pool

The earthen furnaces [chulha]where devotees cook during their stay here

The Arc shaped gate through which water from the pool enters the well.

PICS: sunder iyer

 

lanes of life…

Nowhere on earth, the day unfolds in a way it does in this sacred city of Benaras. Bathing on the ghats on the sacred hours of dawn is like participating in an ethereal, divine phenomenon. As the sun emerges on the eastern sky on the far end of horizon, it pays obeisance to holy mother Ganges. The city of light, Kashi glows with divine radiance. It’s the moment of transition from mundane to the divine.
Sitting there on the ghat facing the stretch of ganga upto the reach of vision, one can feel the pulsating energy of unseen in the flowing waters. Ganga here is as if a flowing form of shiva’s energy. Despite the numerous activities going around you and the prevailing disorder and chaos, you can be with yourself here. The tolling temple bells, blowing conches, the mingled impact of mantras and shlokas recited in many voices ,the backdrop of pinnacles of age old temples, the sky as if arching to take a dip in ganga on the faraway bank, you can listen to that beckoning from another world, can feel the soul lifting and soaring. The presence of ‘beyond’ becomes so real. It takes time to get acquainted with your own new self.
On ghats every person is a testimony to one’s own journey and search. Every symbol present there is what it is but at the same time points towards a bigger unseen reality. Everyone is influenced by the manifestation of spiritual force in own way. One day when we arrived at Assi ghat, an old man sitting on the stairs of the ghat was addressing Lord Shiva loud and clear. Naked upto waist, oblivious of his surrounding , gazing towards river he was saying , “are bhole baba, kah to diye ki kashi chhod ke nahi jayege par kuchh kashi ki fikr bhi karoge ki nahi ki bas bhole ban sab takte rahoge” As per mythology Lord Shiva had given his words never to leave kashi, that is why kashi is also known as avimukta. Old gentlenman was referring to that fact and was ‘warning’ the lord that it is not enough just to be present in the city, he should interfere into the changing scenario as well and take the matters in his hands. Well, this is living devotion. At the ultimate level of devotion the devotee as if becomes one with the God.
Kashi is where divine manifests itself. One can visualize, experience and feel it. Even when we are not able to comprehend it we love the vibe and let us submerge in it. That foreigner couple appeared to be experiencing something like this. I saw them sitting on the ghat for about two hours but seldom caught them talking. They were lost in themselves.
There was this family from south India on Kedar ghat……husband and wife in late forties or early fifties and their parents. Father was so frail and fragile that my eyes stuck there, lean, thin and unable to stand without a support on the wet and slippery stairs of the ghats. Despite the cloudy sky and mighty current of the Ganges, the ghat was full of people from all over the country. I was wondering how did they manage to get that old gentleman down the steep stairs of Kedar ghat, the couple held father from both the sides tightly and gently made him stand in the water. It was a bliss to watch the old gentleman……eyes sparkling with uninhibited joy of experiencing the fulfillment of a long cherished desire. The pull to get absolved of all the wrong doings, to get purified by taking a dip in Ganges is so great that no odd seems big enough to stop oneself and the faith is accepted unquestioned. The holy faith commands an unflinching regard. It would not have been easy for the family to bring the old gentleman on the threshold of the divine city but they did all within their powers to fulfill his wish. Standing on the last step the mother was watching the scene. She could not restrain the tears of joy. The son now held the gentleman by waist and he took the holy water in his cupped palms, poured on his head and splashed on his face. Gradually a calmness spread over his whole being. His face was so calm as if he has experienced nirvana. Bowing to mother Ganges with joined palms he was ready to go back to steps. The whole thing was mesmerizing . It was experiencing Kashi.
That day while travelling on boat from Assi to Raja ghat ,we had several such experiences.every where we were reminded of that vast ,unseen,limitless world of divinity which exits and breaths in every atom on this earth.mind id invariably pulled to the invisible dimension.
Number of boats plying to give tourists a glimpse of the ghats but you get attracted almost with a magnetic force to that faraway boat slowly floating on the water with only the boatman on the board, as if that can take you across to the world beyond. A plethora of symbols which assert the presence of that world, which drags you to the circular complex lanes inside your-self, instigating you to get lost in the maze and then find the self.

(pics by sunder iyer)