पहाड़ी मसाले

पिछले दिनों ऋषिकेश से आगे देवप्रयाग की ओर जाना हुआ. आम तौर पे तो सड़क किनारे चाय की दुकानें  नज़र आया करती थीं पर इस बार बहुत सी छोटी छोटी दुकानें दिखाई पड़ीं जिनमें पैकेट्स रखे हुए थे. गाड़ी रोक कर देखा तो स्ठानीय दालें और मसाले किलो और आधा किलो के पैक में बिक रहे थे. पहाड़ी किरयाना !

पहाड़ी खेती आसान नहीं है क्यूंकि सारा काम खुद ही करना पड़ता है ट्रेक्टर वगैरा नहीं चल सकते हैं. सिंचाई के साधन भी नहीं हैं बस मानसून भरोसे है. गाँव में जवान लोग नौकरी के लिए पलायन कर गए हैं और ज्यादातर पेंशनर और बच्चे हैं  खेती के लिए जोश कम होता जा रहा है. 

इनमें से कुछ चीज़ों  के नाम तो आप जानते ही होंगे जैसे तौर या तुर या तुड़, गहथ या गैथ, लोविया याने लोबिया, हल्दी, मिर्च वगैरा बाकियों के बारे में जो जानकारी मिली वो नीचे दी हुई है

चलिए साब सौदा हो गया 

दालें - रैश को रयास या झिलंगी भी कहा जाता है जो हलकी हरी या पीली दाल है. सुन्टा या लोविया का दूसरा नाम लोबिया भी है.
अनाज - भट्ट दो प्रकार के हैं काले और सफ़ेद. सफ़ेद भट्ट सोयाबीन ही है. तवे पर भट्ट बिना तेल के भून कर चबैने के काम आते हैं. कौणी और झंगोरा चावल हैं जिन्हें स्वांत के चावल भी कहते हैं.
मसाले - फरण एक तरह का धनिया है जो सुखा कर छौंक या तड़के में इस्तेमाल होता है. यह ऊँचाई पर ही पैदा होता है. जख्या हरी सरसों या राई की तरह है जो हरी सब्जियों में छौंक लगाने के काम आता है. कंडाली या बिच्छू बूटी हालांकि छू जाने से बुरी तरह से जलन पैदा कर देती है परन्तु इसे उबाल कर एक ख़ास अंदाज में साग की तरह पकाई भी जा सकती है.


- गायत्री वर्धन की प्रस्तुति. Contributed by Gayatri Wardhan.

Hoysaleswara Temple, Karnataka

Hoysaleswara Temple is situated in Halebeedu taluka in Hassan district of Karnataka. It is approx 220 km from Bangalore & 30 km from Hassan. Nearest railway stations are Hassan & Chikmaglur.

Average height of the town is 900 meters above sea-level & breezy weather is similar to Bangalore. Best time to visit is Oct - Mar when the humidity level is low. Halebeedu, Belur & nearby area is predominantly agricultural & village roads are not so good. Take care while driving.

Halebeedu or 'old city' in Kannada language was also known as Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra as the fort there was situated near a huge water body. Halebeedu along with Belur - which is 16 km away, formed the capital of Hoysala empire in 12th century.

There are two temples Hoysaleshwara & Shantaleshwara which were financed by a wealthy landlord of that time named Ketamala. The temple complex was completed in the year 1121. The temples are attributed to prominent Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana Hoysala & his Queen Shantala. Hoyesaleshwara temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

There is a legend about the name Hoysala. It is said that Sala & his guru Sudatta Muni were performing a ritual in Vasantha Parmeshwari temple in nearby Sosevur & a tiger attacked them(some say it was a lion). Sudatta Muni gave a call of 'Hoye' to Sala who struck the tiger down. Thus began the Hoysala dynasty which ruled for 300 years with Sala as the first ruler. The scene of fight between Sala & the tiger has been carved in stone in several places & it became an emblem of the Hoysala Dynasty.

Hoyesala Emblem(This pic is from Channakesava temple Belur)

Of the Hoysala kings name of King Vishnuvardhana is very prominent. He was great patron of art & is said to have commissioned 1500 temples of which 100 have survived. Queen Shantala was an accomplished dancer.  

The capital was ransacked by armies of Delhi Sultans led by Malik Kafur. Thereafter the capital lost the importance & fell in neglect. Some photos:

The temple is built with soapstone on an star shaped elevated platform 'jagati'. Towers of the temples are missing lost perhaps to the elements.

The outer walls of the two temples have rows of exquisite & intricate sculptures 

Eight horizontal rows of friezes run along the temple for about 200 meters. These depict elephants on the bottom row for strength, lions for courage, flowers for decoration, horses for speed, another row of flowers for decoration, mythical  beast Makara & on the top is the row of Hansas. Interesting to note that in the entire length of friezes no two animals are alike

Guide uses a stick to point out small statues to visitors.  Every inch of space has been utilized for sculpting & carving of flowers, animals & human forms. Most of  these statues depict stories from Ramayana & Mahabharata

Beautiful entrance with Dwarpals ( door keepers) in full regal attire & jewellery in intricate details. Several attempts to put arms back have gone in vain 

A row of mythical beast Makara in the middle has features of elephant, lion, crocodile, mahisha, horse & peacock. Over this is a row of Hansas (swans)  

Decorated & massive Nandi bull guarding the temple

Lord Krishna has lifted the Govardhan.  Cows along with residents have taken the shelter underneath

A scene from Mahabharata. Fierce fight is on between Karan & Arjun

Dancing lady with musicians 

Demon has been beheaded

Lord Rama has shot an arrow from behind the seven trees & hit Bali

A touch of 'mithuna'

Stone carving of Abhimanu entering the Chakravuha

Bhim in angry mood has finished five elephants & their mahaouts & fighting with another

Victory of Mahishasur Mardini over the Mahishasur 

.