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Newasa - Encountering an unique form of Vishnu, and Sant Jnaneshwar

The year was 1290 . A crowd had gathered around a clearing, where broken down pillars marked the presence of an ancient temple, now long gone. A young boy, just 14 years old, leaned against one of those pillars, deep in thought. Then, he began speaking, and the crowd fell silent, listening to his every word. He spoke without any notes, translating the Bhagavat Gita, from Sanskrit, which only the pundits knew, to the language everyone in the village knew and spoke – a variety of Prakrit which developed into the Marathi language. Even as he spoke, one of the men in the audience realized how momentous this event was, and how important this composition would be. He began writing down the words the young boy spoke, and this composition was named by its author and composer, the Bhavartha Deepika – the enlightening meaning (of the Bhagavat Gita). Now, the ancient, holy text, was no longer restricted to the pundits, but accessible to all, understood easily by them, composed as it was, in their...
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Coconut Trees

They form an inevitable part of the coastal skyline in Southern India, and are certainly among the most useful among trees.



It is sometimes compared to the 'Kalpavriksha' - the celestial or wish fulfilling tree, since every part of the tree is used for the benefit of mankind. Yes, I am talking about the Coconut tree.





Every part of the coconut tree is useful. South Indian cuisine would be incomplete without the coconut, and summer would be that much more difficult to bear without the always cool and refreshing coconut water. Even the kernel is used, sometimes with the firewood, but mostly as a small container. These days, we even get jewellery made from it! As to the leaf, they are not just used for roofing, but for making the house too, as you can see in this pic!


This old hut has been decorated for a festival - with two banana trees next to the door (that's another plant which is likened to the kalpavriksha!), and a new banner-like thing made with the coconut palm leaf. This apparently not just signifies celebration, but is also useful, since it strengthens the hut by adding a new layer to its wall!

Here is a close look at the palm frond plaited to make the frame....


Simple, yet beautiful, isn't it? and eco-friendly too!

I can't help feeling excited about learning everything I can, even if it is 'just' about coconut trees. Hey, anyone can study abroad these days; with so many online universities to choose from, class can be wherever you are in the world. Online schooling is in high demand, since many people want the flexibility they both offer.


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