Irumbai and Greening of Auroville - a guestpost

Do you remember our vivid travel around the world in 26 days, dear reader? Since my P was Pondicherry and my urge to travel there has not diminished notably since last April, I figured it was time to feed my urge. So, what could be better than to have one of my favorite bloggers Beloo Mehra take us to her Pondicherry?

I came across Beloo's blog in the same challenge - and followed her 26 posts on Education In India with enthusiasm, curiosity and awe. Since then I have been stuck on her blog LetBeautyBeYourConstantIdeal. I am honored and excited to showcase Beloo here, and hope you will enjoy her writings as much as I do. Thanks for accepting my invitation, dear Beloo: the floor is yours:-)

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Irumbai and Greening of Auroville

Beloo Mehra

 Once upon a time, maybe 500 years ago or more, there lived a highly evolved Siddha, a Yogi (Self-realized person) known as Kaduveli Siddha. He lived in a small village presently known as Irumbai, about 10 kms from Pondicherry, and near Auroville, the international township with a deeper aim to realize the inner unity of humankind.

Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity.

To read more about Auroville, visit: Auroville.org
To read Auroville Charter, click here.

Back to the story...

During a time when the village and nearby areas were not getting any rains and the drought condition was making life difficult for people and other creatures, Kaduvella was busy performing his austerities and spiritual practices (tapasya) sitting under a peepal tree. He was so fully concentrated in his tapasya and the intensity of his physical and spiritual heat (tapas) got so strong that soon an anthill started to rise up around him. People thought that the drought was getting worse because the tapas generated by the Siddha's intense tapasya and austerities. But they didn't know how to break the yogi's concentration, especially when they saw the anthill grow bigger and bigger with every passing day.

Suffering because of the drought and resulting deprivation, the villagers approached the king who agreed that the Kaduvella's ongoing tapasya must be 'broken' in order to bring down the intensity of the 'heat'. But he too didn't know how. A temple dancer, named Valli, a woman of enticing beauty and a devotee of Lord Shiva, decided to do her best to get the attention of the yogi, and to rescue the King and people from the adverse effects of his tapasya (penance).

Valli observed that occasionally Kaduveli would, with his eyes shut, put out his hands to catch and consume the falling, withered leaves from the peepal tree where he was sitting. So she prepared a bunch of thinly fired apalam (a flat salty wafer made out of green gram daal), and started placing them in the yogi's outstretched hands as he tried to catch the falling leaves. He would eat the apalams and slowly got his taste back. In a few days he grew fatter until finally the anthill broke and he was once more exposed to the daylight.

One day finally Kaduveli ended his tapasya and opened his eyes. Valli was extremely happy and convinced him to go to her house where she kept him happy with her dedicated service and dancing talents. Meanwhile, the rain gods were relieved from the torture of the heat of the yogi's tapasya. The village received plenty of rains and the people were once again happy and on way to become prosperous due to abundant crops.

This called for special celebrations and the King arranged a special Puja to be held at Irumbai temple, (also known as Mahakaleshwara Temple). As part of the celebrations, Valli performed the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, the Nataraja. It so happened that while she was dancing one of her anklets fell off, and she lost her balance and rhythm. Kaduveli, who saw the Lord Shiva in Valli, picked up the anklet and put it back on her feet. The King and other members of the royal court were shocked to see an enlightened Yogi touch the feet of a mere dancing girl. They mocked and ridiculed him and made sneer remarks. Kaduveli got furious and invoked the Lord Shiva to come out of his temple and prove his innocence by causing a rain of stone. Immediately the shivalingam in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple exploded, and wherever its fragments fell became desert. The Siddha cursed that no greenery will grow in that area.

The King was naturally frightened and begged the pardon of the Siddha, bowing down to him with all his entourage and pleading with him to take back his curse. Kaduveli was by now calm enough to realize the devastating impact of his curse. He told the king that the curse couldn't be taken back, but sometime in the future people from far-off lands would come and make the desert land green and fertile again.

Today, there are villagers in Irumbai and many other villages near Auroville who feel that the Aurovilians, many of whom hail from many different countries, are the people from far-off lands mentioned by the Kaduveli Siddha and that the curse is now beginning to leave them. Spending a little time in Auroville and seeing all the "green" around one gets a sense that the legend may indeed be true.

To learn more about the ongoing afforestation and other 'greening' work going on at Auroville, click here and here.

Love of Nature is usually the sign of a pure and healthy being uncorrupted by modern civilisation. It is in the silence of a peaceful mind that one can best commune with Nature.  (The Mother, Collected Works, Vol 16, p. 401)

All pictures are from Irumbai temple, credits: Suhas Mehra

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Aaaahhh, dear reader. I hope you enjoyed the story? I sure did, nature lover as I am... And my urge to visit Pondicherry area, Irumbai temple and Auroville? Oh yes, still there, maybe even more...:-) Thank you dear Beloo for sharing this wonderful story:-)

About Beloo:
Beloo donned the hats of school teacher, university professor and researcher for many years, and is now happy to be doing what she does best – learn. Living in Pondicherry for the last 7 years and working part-time as an online educator for a private university in the US, she devotes most of her time to studying the works of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo, blogging, reading, gardening and just being. She blogs at http://letbeautybeyourconstantideal.blogspot.in/ and can be reached at beloome@gmail.com

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Have a continuous good week!
Ta ta from Mumbai!  

My 7 top Goa Monsoon Moments

Every time I have been to Goa, the sky has been blue. The sun has been shining and it has been filled up with tourists from all over. Hectic, busy, fun and a bit exhausting.

This week, when I went, the sky was grey. The clouds were dark and rain was pouring constantly. But you know what, dear reader: I totally loved it.

Back in Norway we say: "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing" - so I put on my monsoon plastic shoes and headed off to explore monsoon Goa. These were my top favorite moments:

1. Nothing beats the vibrant colors and the freshness that the rain brings out. The coconut trees seems taller, the rice fields seems brighter and the nature comes to life again. And as I was strolling around in the fields, mesmerized by the green beauty, clicking away - I just hear my friends going: " - Oh, we are impressed Eli - see you walking around without fear for all the snakes and crocodiles." - Eeeeeeeeeeeeek....

2. Having Chicken Cafreal - and lots of other goodies at the local Florentines restaurant. I like the Goan cuisine for their smart use of spices. The restaurant is great: visited by locals, genuine and clean, cheap prices and most important: very tasty food:

3. Feeling the amazing and including atmosphere at The Miraculous Cross at the Holy Cross church in Bambolim:

4. Shopping the best cashew nuts (in the world ?)- in Sawantwadi. A long drive, but totally worth it. A beautiful place - and back in "my" state - Maharashtra.

5. Being the almost only (playful) tourist in a normally very crowded tourist area. How peaceful and calm to go for a stroll along the sea - feeling the breeze and rain at the beautiful Dona Paula beach area - famous for the myths of the Portugese lady Dona Paula and for shooting of the Bollywood films Ek Duuje Ke Linge and Singham. Usually packed with people, but not this week. Not even possible to buy the Fresh Lime Soda with Singham Masala  and Bombay Masala..:-) Hm - gotta come back here:-)  

6. Being invited to new friends' homes and feel happy when they show me their gardens with blooming flowers, the little birdie that they saved, their new kittens, the newly born calf or their old Portugese home which has been in the family for centuries and that they preserve with love, respect and pride.

7. Just sitting there, watching the rain pour down - feeling relaxed and happy - and knowing that the sun is waiting. Patiently. Because over the dark clouds, the sky is always blue..

Bye for now, dear Goa - see you again:-) 

Peace&quiet and the fluffy fashionista chicks

- I am sitting in the hen-house, said my friend on the phone.. - ????? - was my response.....

Yes, my dear childhood friend who live on the countryside outside Bergen, has extended her family with some feather-covered noisy small creatures. Of course I had to go and check out her fascination...

As always, I was excited to see her, especially now because driving out to her is like driving to another world... Passing bridges over clear blue waters, driving through bright green forest, maybe once in a while meeting another car on the road.... Because let me put it like this: this is where - if a car comes by-, the neighbors may stretch their neck to see who is coming...

Passing red barns, bright painted wooden buildings, green fields with yellow flowers, horses running down hillsides, sheep grazing peacefully in the shade of tall trees - trees that seems to have been there forever..

Arriving. Sitting down on the stairs outside her kitchen door with a tea, patting her beautiful dog Lucy, listening to the birds and the wind playing in the leaves --- and not much else...

Feeling the joy of walking around on the green fields surrounding her white painted wooden house. See the dogs run free and crazy around. Smelling the plants in the herb garden. Picking up a red juicy sweet strawberry. So peaceful. So quiet.

And then the babble babble... And I remember my green parrots back in Mumbai. They could for sure babble, but these birds seems to master the art too. The gang of chicken. And the funniest of them all: the two tiny "silk hens". With their white fluffy feathers they look like fashionable diva punk rockers, and they are unstoppable in babbling. They are jumping around in their fluffy outfits... Who do they think they are - fashioning up the hen houses on the Norwegian country side? To funny! And as the chick(en) does not have names yet, we start to discuss vividly: Shouldn't they be named after film stars? From either Hollywood or Bollywood? At least our fluffy fashionista chicks. Ha ha ha ...

Here are some moments from our peaceful days on the countryside:

You can see who is in charge?

A fluffy fashionista chick

Beautiful Lucy - also very interested in the chicks...

Bye bye from the country side, dear reader. All the best from a summerly Norway:-) 

3 naps and The Babbling Parrots

When we lived in Greece I adopted the magnificent local custom of having a  - lets call it power nap. A relaxing time out in the middle of those hot summer days, when the sun is at it's highest and the heat seems unbearable. I must admit that the nap comes kind of natural, after those looong lunches filled with Greek yummies in various forms. What joy then to locate a cool place in the shade of an olive tree, and just doze off to the sound of the waves and cicadas while a soft breeze caresses you. 

In Norway, I did not use to nap, and here in India, I must say my power naps has been less about a caressing breeze, (unless it is from the car's AC), and more about dozing-off-in-the-car (stuck in traffic anyway). But sometimes, my long-lost nap-routine is awoken by naps I see around me: 

1. Sleeping dogs is not an unfamiliar sight in the streets of Mumbai. And they sleep on the most noisy spots, by roads and in the middle of the hustle and bustle. Then, it was more peaceful to watch this guy, occupying one of the nicely painted benches in idyllic Hanging Gardens. He was stretching out there in the sun - making me sleepy just looking at him. -Car! 

2. And nothing like a relaxed cat, right? Lying there, blinking her eyes at you. This majestic lady had found her spot on a top of a box, pretending of course that she had no interest whatsoever in the smelling piles of fish lying around at the market... Ah, those smart cats. She reminds me of some of the Greek cats that use to hang out in the fish harbor, stretching out in the shade, on lazy warm summer days.. -Car! 

3. And don't you just love this little guy? Pretending to nap at the tourist's towel. Ye ye... Who are you fooling? Because can squirrels really nap? If they can, they must be the most active nappers ever. This fellow was up with his head all the time, looking around, watching.. He sure found himself a soft place for his express nap though:-) -Nah - don't need the car after this one 

- Oops! Tourist-Return Alarm: better hit the road, guys! 

So, some relaxing nap moments, a welcomed break from the busy city life. But what a contrast then to my domestic atmosphere. Because did I show you our new alarm clock?

Oh yes! Every morning, this gang have their morning assembly  -- where? Well, conveniently enough (!) - just outside our bedroom! They are always a group of 4-6 together, fly together, hang out together and talk together. And they can really talk. Loud and clear, I tell you. They are babbling and babbling. It goes on forever. Non stop.

So, I take their picture and they stare back at me, nodding their head, but only for a little bit, until they have enough of this paparazzi lady. Their colors are so beautiful, and what an effective alarm clock they are! And an exotic one, I think?!

Only wish I could teach them the difference between weekdays and weekends...

- Hi there, strange lady! We're on to you and your camera!

And while speaking of parrots, I read in The Hindustan Times, that a Green Parrot assisted the police in solving a murder case. Can you believe that? You can read it for yourself here. Amazing:-)

Babble babble from Mumbai! All the best to you, dear reader, and thank you for following.

A hungry little lunch guest

I saw her as soon as I made my turn at the corner, and walked up the dusty narrow alleyway. She was lying next to a pile of garbage, stretching out in the only sunny spot around. She looked up as I passed by, and I could tell she had seen me too. She was so tiny, and her big eyes was blinking reassuringly to me, like she was saying - Hello there foreign lady, I am your friend, you know.. 

A bit later she was outside the door. She was looking at me like - Hey, I know you. Don't you remember? We just met down the street? So tiny. Obviously hungry, but still curious and playful. She was just hanging out there, with her little sister, even tinier than her.

Around lunchtime we gathered as usual. We spread our goodies out and sat down to eat. And there she was. Like a shadow she had sneaked into the room. First she was lying under a chair a bit away from us, trying to look relaxed and uninterested, like she was saying - Oh, don't mind me. I am just here doing my thing. But that stuff sure smells gooood! But then she was crawling a bit closer. And closer. Still blinking to us, like only cats can, you know - Hey, I am your friend. I am just hanging out here with you guys. But sure if you want to share some of those goodies - fine by me:-)

Hi there guys, I am over here..

Who can blame anyone for wanting a piece of this?

So, we were all a bit fascinated by our little lunch guest, and the way she was using all of her skills and charm to win us over. Aaa - those elegant cats, they have their way..

Have a great day dear reader! Take care:-)

PS! The new airport terminal in Mumbai opened yesterday, just as scheduled. And the airline companies are arguing which one was the first to land on it! Read more in this article on Times of India 

The road to Agra

As a 10 year old girl (in the city of Bergen on Norway's west coast), I read a book which made an impression on me. I re-read it, and I tasted the name: - Agra - Agra - Agra - all the way on the other side of the world somewhere.... Where was that? Could I go there sometime? Would that be possible? I kept the book, and when I had kids, I read the book to them too.

And there I was. Some decades later. In the car - on the road to Agra! From Jaipur to Agra to be specific. Oh, dear reader, I could not help myself : every time I saw the sign "Agra", my mind went to my childhood book, and I had that silly little smile on my face: I was going to Agra! Pinch my arm!

In the book The road to Agra* we follow Lalu (13) and his sister Maya (7) on their journey from Allahabad to Agra to seek help for Mayas eye disease (which may cause blindness). It is a dramatic story: the kids meet both bad and good people and they are threatened by snakes and jackals. They get an elephant ride, and see camels. ( Utterly exotic for a 10- year- old in Norway, I tell you!) The journey is hot, dusty and exhausting, but Lalu and Maya never loose spirit - please let the hospital in Agra help Maya! Need I say there is a happy ending??

So, except for the signs saying Agra - we had also had some interesting sights along the way, still exotic for an expat in India. Slowing down in front of a toll booth, this one came up right next to us :

- not sure what he payed :-) - but he got through the toll both a lot faster than we did:-)

Leaving Jaipur, we talked about how we saw most motor-bikers wearing helmets there (in Mumbai, we often see only the driver wearing one). Ladies in sarees with helmets, kids, the whole family - all with helmets - and then this family of 5 on a motorbike appeared:

Of course the cows were in the middle of the road on the road to Agra too! Ok, ok- I was a bit carried away by the touristic atmosphere: Cows on the road everyone! Cows on the road!:-)

So, elephants, snakes and camels: - we saw you too! On the way to Agra---

And yes, dear reader, the road finally took us to Agra. What we found there - might not come as a shocking revelation to you..? Stay tuned, if you want to know....-) Thanks for reading:-)

Have a wonderful day:-)

*The book: The road to Agra was written by Aimée Sommerfelt and was first published in 1959. It has been translated into 17 different languages. 

Spicy stuff in Goa

After my last posting you might have the impression that I spent last week either dozing in the shade of a palm tree or smashing plates and screaming "Opah!" at a Greek taverna..? Well, dear reader, let me ask you:   Do you know what a cardamom bush looks like? Or how the cashew nuts are being harvested? I didn't, but I do now, after a very educational stroll in the Goan jungle.

Well, to be more precise: we visited Sahakari Spice Farm. We were welcomed by given a bindi at the forehead and having flower garlands thrown around our necks. With the lemon grass welcome tea we also received a small lecture of the health benefits of some of the spices, and then we set out on the Spice Safari.

Our friendly In-Nature-We-Trust-Guide led the way on a small path in between the tall palms, trees and bushes. We were put in a group with other spice-knowledge-seeking tourists from Australia, India and Japan, and one by one we followed the Guide to the first stop: The Cardamom Bush.

We also saw peppers, chili, nutmeg, cloves and a lot more in addition to cashew nuts, cocoa, pineapple, banana and ...well, what do you know: - an elephant...!?

Yes, an elephant in a spice farm... Kind of a fancy tourist gimmick, I was thinking, as sweaty spice-tourists enthusiastically lined up for being showered by the elephant in the little river... The rest of the tourists gathered on the little bridge to applaud the scenery. Well, we continued our tour and discovered a vanilla tree, cinnamon, bananas, and - ops - a man in a tree!? 

He was there to demonstrate how to climb the palm to harvest coconuts, just with using a small piece of rope.. "And now ladies and gentlemen, it's your turn.." Ever heard that phrase before? Another moment of giggling in the group... Not exactly the easiest thing.. (not that I tried- but by the look of it I mean..) We also saw:  

Cashew nut fruit - used for both drinks and  well,.. nuts... :-0

One plant. One Pineapple. The cutest little one - going to grow biiig

Vanilla tree

After the guided tour, we were given a shower of ice cold water down our backs, for good luck!? And a buffet lunch was included - with lots of spicy food  - of course:-) If you ever are in Goa, it is an interesting place to visit!

And then we went to the Goan sunset on the beach:-) Ahhhh, wonderful Goa!

Stay tuned dear reader!

Animal Moments in Mumbai

Dear reader,
No, no, this is neither a Mumbai Zoo Tale nor did I go on a sweaty Sunday Jungle Safari today  (I actually had a very lazy Sunday...) Today I simply wanted to drop in, to show you some memorable moments.. You see, many of the animals here are quite exotic for us Europeans. Actually, not too many years ago, jungle life ruled in the area we live in. A National Park is located just north of Powai, so the leopards live just next door, and in Powai lakes there are crocodiles (I had to see that in a picture to believe it!.)

My most exotic animal  moment was the evening I was going home in the car. Waiting for green light at the signal - on the left side of the car - a huge shadow - an elephant - also waiting for the light to change..? I was lost for words and couldn't mooove, so that moment was not caught on camera.

But some other animal moments were captured, so a few photos for you today... Ok, well, maybe cows and dog are not that exotic. For a foreigner it is still fascinating to see the cows stroll around in between cars and people. This cow was almost following me into the car, veeery friendly:-)

And don't you just love this little guy?  - chillin' at a sunbed too! The squirrels are many - and some of them are quite tame - and brave!

Just like the cows, it is quite usual to see goats around in Mumbai - also just by the main streets. This little one was one of a hurd - just by Haji Ali.

And then - the monkeys ... This one is a Malaysian monkey - but just up in the National Park here you will meet them. And hold on to your items! A friend told me that when she went there,  a monkey snapped her water bottle, opened it (!) and sat down to drink from it just next to her:-)

My exotic favorite is the green parrot! One of the first morning at our house here, they woke me up - and I often see them fly by our balcony- usually in the morning. And yes, I say them, because they are always 3-4 or more together. Beautiful creatures - and so see them flying around free like this is wonderful.

And to finish my animal tale with the animal I see and hear all around-  day and night -  the dog...  I just love this moment in hanging garden - no tourists or guards around - just so peaceful, and a perfect moment to relaaax! 

 
Good night from Mumbai:-)