MY STILLS

Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Punarjani Guha

Punarjani Guha is a natural tunnel 150 meters long in a rocky cliff in Thrissur district of Kerala state, south India. Punarjani Guha is situated 2 kilometres from the Thiruvilwamala Temple where the chief presiding deity is Sri Rama. The idol is believed to be ‘swayamboo’ ie. born on its own. It is believed that performing ‘noozhal’ or crawling through the tunnel from one end to the other will wash away all of one’s sins and thus attain freedom from rebirth or moksha. Only men are allowed to do the ‘noozhal’ and women can only visit the cave. The legend is that sage Parasurama once observed this ritual 101 times in a row to atone the sin of annihilating the kshatriyas.

This ritual is practised only one day in a year on Guruvayur Ekadasi day, in the malayalam month of vrichikam. The "noozhal" is a challenging task and not all can perform this ritual. There is utter darkness in the cave,except in the middle. The source of light there is still unknown. Even those who have performed this ritual many times need about half an hour to finish the ritual. The movement through the cave demands all kinds of bodily postures like standing, sitting, creeping, crawling etc. yet every year thousands of men flock to this place on Ekadasi day to avail themselves of a chance to be reborn.

Punarjani Guha entrance......

theertham ...near punarjani

way to punarjani ...thiruvillamala

costumes of kavadiyyattam

ambal ...photo from poochunnipadam (thrissur)

Sunday, 1 August 2010

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is a 285 km² Protected area in Chittur taluk in Palakkad district of Keralastate, South India. Established in 1973, it is in the Sungam range of hills between the Anaimalai Hills andNelliampathy Hills.^[1], ^[2], ^[3] The Western Ghats, Anamalai Sub-Cluster, including all of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.^[4] The sanctuary is the home of 4 different tribes of indigenous peoples including the Kadar, Malasar, Muduvarand Maha Malasar settled in six colonies. Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary will be declared as a Tiger Reserve on February 17, 2010.^[5] ^[6]

Friday, 23 July 2010

annamali

Anaimalai Hills (Tamil: ஆனைமலை, Malayalam: ആനമല) is a range of mountains in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of South India. The name "Anaimalai" derives from the Tamil word 'Anai' meaning elephant^[2] and 'Malai' meaning hill, thus Elephant Hill. The highest peak of the Anaimalai Hills isAnamudi, (2,695 meters (8,842 ft)), located in the Idukki district of Kerala. It is the highest peak in India, south of the Himalayas. To the north, Palghat Gap divides the Western Ghats. The lower slopes of hills now have coffee and tea plantations as well as teak forests of great economic value.

The Western Ghats, Anamalai Sub-Cluster, including the Anaimalai Hills, is under consideration by theUNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.^[3]