Posts Tagged: religion
St Francis Church, Cochin.
This is a quaint little church but one of the most visited one in Fort Kochi. It is simple in architecture and looks neither grand nor indulgent. But once you enter it, it transports you to a bygone era. Plus the interiors tell us a very different story from what the exteriors do in terms of its importance in history of Christianity in India. The church once housed the remains of Vasco da gama, a Portuguese navigator and will be linked to him for eternity. The plaque on the outside of the church had the following information about its history and origin.
St Francis Church was the first European church to be built in India within the oldest European settlement of fort Cochin. Presumably it owes its origin to the Franciscan friars who accompanied the Portuguese expedition in 1500 AD. Originally it is said to have been erected of wood but later rebuilt in stone and roofed with tiles by 1516 AD and dedicated to St Anthony. It remained in the order of St Francis till 1663 AD when it came under the control of the dutch who reconditioned and converted it into a protestant church. Again during 1779 AD it was renovated as indicated by a tablet fixed over its facade but continued in the possession of the dutch even after the British control over Cochin in 1795. Till it was voluntarily surrendered to the Anglican communion in 1804 AD. Presumably it was renamed after the patron saint during the later half of the 19th century. At present it has been taken over by the church of south India.
Surmounted by a bell-turret over the gable front, the church, facing west, has an impressive facade with arched entrance and windows flanked by stepped pinnacles.
Here in this church, Vasco Da Gama, the first European navigator from Portugal to India, was laid to rest in 1524 AD until his remains here were removed and taken to Portugal in 1538 AD.
The grave stones of the Portuguese and the Dutch that were removed from the floor of the nave have been refixed respectively over the northern and southern side wall of the church. The earliest Portuguese epitaph here dates back to 1562 AD while that of the dutch to 1664 AD
Some of the heraldic designs and armorial bearings on the tomb stones are of fine workmanship.
A few memorial brass plates and marble slabs erected in memory of important persons in service of the church are later additions adorning the walls.
St. Francis Church is one of the oldest European Churches in Kerala. It is a major landmark on Fort Kochi which was built in the 16th Century AD. The history of this church reflects the colonial struggle of the European powers in India from 15th to 20th centuries. The flood in Periyar during 14th century changed Kochi as a natural harbour and the marine trade become prolific along with KozhiKode and Kannur.
The arrival of Portuguese navigator Vasco Da Gama in 1493,the foreign supremacy over India. The Portuguese Commander Admiral Cabral visited Kochi in 1500 AD and Unni Ramakoil, the then Rajah of Kochi pepermittedim to trade here. In 1503 AD Alphonso Albuquerque was given permission by the Rajah to build a fort at the mouth of the river. The five Friars who accompanied Albuquerque to Kochi in 1503 AD, erected a wooden church dedicated to St. Bartholomew within the temporary fort made with mud and bamboo. Later on the church was rebuilt in stone and tile roofed. The Franciscans raised the present edifice, in the name of St. Anthony in 1516 AD. The first Portuguese navigator, Vasco da Gama’s mortal remains was buried in the church. Later on his son Pedro da Silva da Gama took his mortal remains back to Portugal in 1538 AD.
The east facing Church has an impressive frontage that reflects the typical Portuguese style. The facade with an arched opening and one of the tiers has flanking windows, a bell fry over the gabled front and steeped pinnacles on sides. From 1510 AD to 1663 AD the Portuguese officially called St Francis Church as the conventional church of the order of the St Francis of Assisi. The Dutch made changes in name and structure of this Church and did some major restoration works in 1779 AD. After the advent of the british it was the government Protestant church from 1619 – 46 AD. However, this church was known by the names St Francis only after the substantial restoration and renovation carried out by the British in 1886 – 87 AD.
This is a centrally protected monument under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India since 1923.
Bahubali, Shravanabelagola
On my way from Bangalore to Mysore I took a detour to Shravanabelagola. There I visited the monolith statue of Lord Gomateshwara or Bhagwan Bahubali as referred to by Jains. Shravanabelagola is one of the most important pilgrimage centers in Jainism. The 17.38 meter (58 ft) high monolithic stone statue of the Lord Gomateshwara is located above this hill which is called Vindhyagiri or Doddabetta or Indragiri hill. It is estimated to weigh approximately 80 tons. The hill is about 470 feet above the ground and is one solid rock. It must be climbed barefoot. There are 800 steps to the top cutout in the rock. The climb is hard and tiring. But it is worth the effort. It took us more than an hour to climb the 800 or more stairs but once there and you have seen the beautiful statue of Bahubali you forget it all. The beautiful statue is considered to be the world’s largest monolithic stone statue. It is carved beautifully from a single block of rock with accurate sense proportion and expression.
The statue of Gommata has curly really nice hair in ringlets on the head and long, large ears. His eyes are open as if viewing the world with detachment. His facial features are perfectly chiseled with a faint touch of a smile at the corner of his lips and embody calm vitality. His shoulders are broad, his arms stretch straight down and the figure has no support from the thigh upwards. There is an anthill in the background which signifies his incessant penance. From this anthill emerge a snake and creepers which twine around both his legs and his arms culminating as a cluster of flowers and berries at the upper portion of the arms. The creepers encircling the arms and legs are artistic and beautiful. The nude north facing, stand upright stone sculpture of Bahubali (Lord Gomateshwara in the posture of meditation known as Kayotsarga, symbolizing renunciation, self-control and subjugation of ego as the first steps towards salvation. The digambara (nude) form of Bahubali represents the complete victory over earthly desires and needs that hamper spiritual ascent towards divinity. The entire figure stands on an open lotus signifying the totality attained in installing this unique statue. The statue is simple, stylish and splendid. The base of the statue has an inscriptions in Kannada as well as the oldest evidence of written Marathi, i.e. devanagari script, dating from 981 AD. The inscription praises the king who funded the effort and his general, Chavundaraya, who erected the statue for his mother.
Legend
According to Jain theology, there are period of happiness and peace called “Utsarpini”, during this period truth and ‘Dharma’ reign. Alternately, during ‘Avasarpini’, truth and goodness decline. During the period of deteriorations and decline the “Tirthankaras” (the realized souls) incarnate in this world and guide people to truth and the right path. There were supposed to be twenty four Tirthankaras in Jain religion – the first one is Purudeva. He is also called Vrishabhadeva or Adinatha. Vrishabhadeva had two wives. The elder queen was called Yashaswathi, she gave birth to Bharata and other sons and a daughter called Brahma. The younger queen was Sunanda; she gave birth to a son called Bahubali and a daughter Sunadri.
Purudeva the first Tirthankara renounced the world. Of his two sons Bharata the elder was crowned the King and Bahubali was crowned as the Yuvraj (heir apparent). But they squabbled between themselves for the kingdom. In the ensuing fight that happened Bahubali succeeded. However, he soon was overcome by grief and shame of seeing his defeated brother. His mind got transformed. He renounced the Kingdom to his brother and retreated to penance and attained Kevalagnana….. or complete jnana. His brother Bharata got Bahubali’s statue erected in Paudanapura. After several years ant hills and mounds covered it. He came to be recognized as Kukkuteshwara. Only the devout could see the image.
The story goes thus Chavundaraya who had heard of the story narrated it to his mother- Shrimati Kalala Devi. Kalala Devi wished to have a darshan of the golden statue at Paudanapura. The obedient son, seeing the intense spiritual favour of his mother, setout on a long pilgrimage to see the golden statue along with his mother and Guru Acharya Ajithasena, and spent a night at Shravanabelagola en-route to Paudanapura. In identical dreams to Chavundaraya and his mother, the Kushmandini Yakshi ordered Chavundaraya to erect a statue. The next morning, as directed in the dream, Chavundaraya shot his golden arrow at the first shaft of the rising sun from the top of Chandragiri hill to the top of the bigger Vindhyagiri hill on the opposite side. Immediately the prophecy came true and the image of Bahubali appeared. Chavundaraya resolved to have an image of the same description installed on the Vindhyagiri hill at Shravanabelagola. Bahubali was 525 arrows tall, that’s why the 57 feet tall statute got made. The sculpture was got carved out of a huge block of granite by the most skillful sculptors of the land under the guidance of Arishtanemi.
Mahamastakabhisheka
In later years, Chavundaraya, filled with the pride of achievement and arrogance, set out to perform the Mahamastaka Abhisheka. But, the anointing liquids – coconut, milk and the five nectars –would not descend down the navel. At that moment, legend goes, Gullikayajji, an old woman presented herself with a little milk in the shell of a white Gullikai fruit. Many derided her but Acharya Nemichandra advised Chavundaraya to invite her. As the humble devotee of Bahubali poured the milk in the shell, it instantly ran down the image, reaching the feet of the statue and covered the hill around. A chastened Chavundaraya then made it mandatory that Mahamastakabhisheka be performed every 12 years for Lord Bahubali. Every twelve years, thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka, a spectacular ceremony in which the statue is covered with milk, curds, ghee, saffron, turmeric, sandalwood, silver leafs and gold coins. A helicopter showers flowers on the statue. It is a beautiful spectacle spanning 12 days every 12 years. The king of Mysore is given the honor of the first abhishek. This is usually shown live in most television channels. The next Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in 2018.
(Information courtesy : Wikitravel)
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Dakshineshwar Temple, Kolkata
For me….. Dakshineshwar Temple is one the most beautiful temple in the world. Not because it is a vital part of my childhood but also because it is for me the beginnings of my belief in the Almighty. My childhood memories of going to meet my family and grandparents at my native place in Kolkata has always included a trip to the temple.
My family is a strong believer of Kali to whom the temple is dedicated. In fact she is our family Goddess and this temple is the epitome of the belief. Going to the temple is actually homecoming for me. All my holidays in Kolkata or for that matter even all trips to the city of Kolkata have never been complete without a visit to Ma.
Dakshineshwar temple is dedicated to Ma Bhavatarini. It was built in 1855 by Rani Rashmoni the then Zamindar of Dakshineshwar. The temple is built in the nav-ratna architecture, a Bengal form of architecture. You can see many forms of this architecture in the terracotta temples in Bishnupur and Bankura districts of West Bengal.
In Hinduism any Kali or Devi temple cannot be complete without a Shiva temple. Dakshineshwar too is flanked by the 12 Jyotirlinga Shiva Temples and the best part is….. it opens up to the Ganga (or the river Ganges). There is something really peaceful about the Ganga. I am not wildly spiritual but the mere dipping of feet in the Ganga calms you. The bathing ghat at Dakshineshwar is where numerous people take a dip at the Ganga before offering their prayers at the Kali temple.
You cant really talk of Dakshineshwar and Ma Kali without mentioning Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda. They are almost synonymous. Dakshineshwar was the grounds which helped to Gadai (Ramakrishna) reach heights of spirituality.
For me this temple is most peaceful, most cleanest and the most spiritual of all temples. Too many superlatives ehh :D……… but its just the way I feel.
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| The main temple built in 1855 |
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| These are 6 of the total 12 Shiva Jyotirlinga temples. |
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| People taking a dip in the Ganga ghat…… across the Ganga is Belur. |
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery located at Bright Hill Road, Singapore. Like all Buddhist monasteries it emanates peace and tranquility. Just looking at the Buddha tall and big was immensely humbling. There are a lot of stories that I read about the religious aspects of the many hands of the Buddha and a lot of heads. But they are stories that you can find just googling them. For me it was the peace and the tranquility and a really happy place that I took with me.
I am not a very religious nor a ritualistic person……. only that religion has brought peace to me at every stance in life. I don’t care what kind of religious place it is or which religion it belongs to…… just the essence of peace that any and all of these places give me is what I look for. Its like the positive energies of 100s and 1000s of people put together that I get there and what I bring back with me from every such visit. It gives me tremendous strength.
This Buddhist monastery is the home for many Buddhist monks and they pray and live here. It also houses a learning center which teaches you all about the Buddhist religion. The architecture is essentially Chinese. It reminds me of the forbidden city 😀 . atleast of the pics and serials that I have seen of it. I haven’t been there yet but may be someday…… love the stories associated with it.
I spent a whole day there. Also I met a lot of very nice people. They are so friendly and so accepting. Had a great time there.
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, Bright Hill, Singapore
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery located at Bright Hill Road, Singapore. Like all Buddhist monasteries it emanates peace and tranquility. Just looking at the buddha so tall and big was immensely humbling. There are a lot of stories that I read about the religious aspects of the many hands of the Buddha and a lot of heads. But they are stories that you can find just googling them. For me it was the peace and the tranquility and a really happy place that I took with me.
I am not a very religious nor a ritualistic person……. only that religion has brought peace to me at every stance in life. I don’t care what kind of religious place it is or which religion it belongs to…… just the essence of peace that any and all of these places give me is what I look for. Its like the positive energies of 100s and 1000s of people put together that I get there and what I bring back with me from every such visit. It gives me tremendous strength.
This Buddhist monastery is the home for many Buddhist monks and they pray and live here. It also houses a learning center which teaches you all about the Buddhist religion. The architecture is essentially Chinese. It reminds me of the forbidden city 😀 . atleast of the pics and serials that I have seen of it. I haven’t been there yet but may be someday…… love the stories associated with it.
I spent a whole day there. Also I met a lot of very nice people. They are so friendly and so accepting. I couldn’t decide on the pics so I collaged them.
