Love is.......................

Love is........................Here is a video of my wife Shobha  combing grand daughter Mira's hair.I secretly filmed this and hence they both look totally uninhibited. Hope you like it :)

Airateswara Temple Darasuram - UNESCO Heritage Site

Airavatesvara Temple is a Hindu temple of Dravidian Architecture located in the town of Darasuram near Kumbakonam,Tamilnadu. This temple, built by Raja Raja Chola II in the 12th century CE is a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. Along with the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur & the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram these are often referred to as the Great Living Chola temples.
 Legend: The Airavatesvara temple is dedicated to Lord Siva. Siva is here known as Airavateshvara, because he was worshiped at this temple by Airavata  the white elephant mount of Lord Indra, King of Swarga Loka.. Legend has it that Airavata, while suffering from a change of color curse from Sage Durvasa, had his colors restored by bathing in the sacred waters of this temple. This legend is commemorated by an image of Airavata with Indra seated in an inner shrine.
Yama: It is said that the King of Death,Yama also worshiped Shiva here. Tradition has it Yama, who was suffering under a Rishi's curse from a burning sensation all over the body, was cured by the presiding deity Airavatesvarar. Yama took bath in the sacred tank and got rid of the burning sensation. Since then the tank has been known as Yamatheertham.
his temple is a storehouse of art and architecture and has some exquisite stone carvings. The Vimanam (tower) is 24 m (80 ft) high The south side of the front mandapam (pillared hall) is in the form of a huge chariot with large stone wheels drawn by horses.The pictures speak volumes about the temple and the exquisite amazing & awesome art & architecture of this temple.

Travel Photography Contest

Ashok has nominated me to participate in a Travel Photography contest by Rhino Car Hire. I am giving below a pictorial history of transportation - as it evolved in India from traditional, celestial,simple mechanical to the latest state of the art technology driven vehicles. Hope you enjoy this tour… .....All photographs have been drawn from my file photos.Doing this post was a lot of fun.

Transporting Head Loads in Kerala Village

Water Transporting itself by gravity - Athirapally Falls Kerala

Self transport by foot - Athirapally falls

Climbing hill temple by foot - Rockfort Temple Trichy

Celestial transport - Saneeswarar on crow

Temple chariots to transport festival idols - above & below

 Nandi or the bull- Siva's celestial vahana at Big Temple Thanjavur

Horse Transport - above at Marina beach & below at Coimbatore (Mira my grand daughter)

Bullock cart transport - above & below

Elephant Transport - Elephant camp at Mettupalayam

Camel Transport - Chitra Art Gallery Coimbatore

River transportation - By swimming ( River Cauvery) above & by coracles below

Row boats  - Chennai airport above & Thottuva (Kerala) below

Bi cycle transport - This is a foldable cycle at Coimbatore

Victorian Transport - at Chennai Museum

Cycle Rikshas at Marina Beach

Two wheelers - Petrol or battery driven at Coimbatore showroom

Auto Rikshas - Petrol or diesel

Automobiles - Petrol or diesel at Vijaya Hospital Chennai

Luxury Bus at Hyderabad Airport

Battle Tank at Husainsagar in Hyderabad

Toy Train in Coimbatore

Cargo Aircraft at Coimbatore Airport

Electric cart for transporting passengers at Hyderabad airport

Electric winch to take devotees up on Palani hill