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...
As the summer sun rages, I hide inside the house while Samhith makes the most of his summer vacations playing outside with his friends, unmindful of the heat. I have been busy though, for the last few weeks, and haven't been able to write at all. Today, for Skywatch, are some images I clicked in these past few weeks... my only respite from the sun and the pending work....
The gorgeous Golden Laburnum has bloomed outside my window..... Right now, they cover just a few branches.... in a few weeks more, the tree will be filled with these beautiful yellow flowers.
Summer is the time we see a lot of sunbirds.... this Female Purple Rumped Sunbird is just one of many...
A pair of Red Whiskered Bulbuls visit the tree every morning...
A pair of Tailor Birds have arrived to, but I haven't yet been able to discover where they have set up shop...
White Browed Fantail Flycatchers.... four of them are here, and they create such a racket, and seem to be playing, hopping from one branch to another, spreading their feathers and putting on a show! Now if only I could capture that!
Pigeons are common, but in the last few weeks, we have been noticing this white one, which seems to have set up house in the building next to ours.... it looks so pretty, doesnt it?
The Coppersmith Barbet is one bird whose call I have now begun to recognise... I hear this one calling out almost all day.... though I see him less often.... so good is he at blending with the leaves.
The gorgeous Golden Laburnum has bloomed outside my window..... Right now, they cover just a few branches.... in a few weeks more, the tree will be filled with these beautiful yellow flowers.
Right opposite are more trees, the yellow flowers providing a bright contrast to the shades of green...
Summer is the time we see a lot of sunbirds.... this Female Purple Rumped Sunbird is just one of many...
A pair of Red Whiskered Bulbuls visit the tree every morning...
And this Red Vented Bulbul looks like it has had a hair-raising experience...
White Browed Fantail Flycatchers.... four of them are here, and they create such a racket, and seem to be playing, hopping from one branch to another, spreading their feathers and putting on a show! Now if only I could capture that!
Pigeons are common, but in the last few weeks, we have been noticing this white one, which seems to have set up house in the building next to ours.... it looks so pretty, doesnt it?
The Coppersmith Barbet is one bird whose call I have now begun to recognise... I hear this one calling out almost all day.... though I see him less often.... so good is he at blending with the leaves.
The sight of these beautiful flowers and birds has really helped make up for the terrible heat, and all the work I have been stuck with. However, what is really helping me get through all this is the thought of the trip coming up...... Next week, I am off again, first for a wedding, which is the best excuse for a family gathering, and then, for a short trip with just Samhith for company. Yes, mother and son are looking forward to a week of travel... without dad in tow! That should be interesting, don't you think?
wow Anu, loved all the pics, but that pair of red whiskered bulbuls is just awesome... I too find these birds near my place, but camera matters a lot, with my digital cam, i don't think i can make justice to their beauty....
ReplyDeleteThanks Meghana. yes, you do need a better camera for capturing birds, but even I dont have a dslr yet... managing samhith is quite enough at the moment, and i dont want to handle a camera just as carefully for now :D
DeleteBut all your pics are awesome, i always thought you carried a dslr...
DeleteNo Meghana... if u see my oldest posts, the first ones were taken with the kodak.... and then about 6 years back, i bought a canon powershot.. which i used till last year.. i now have a nikon p510 which is just one year old!!! i did think of buying a dslr, but travelling with my son, i neither have the time, the patience or the inclination to keep changing lenses. maybe when he grows up!
DeleteNo Meghana... if u see my oldest posts, the first ones were taken with the kodak.... and then about 6 years back, i bought a canon powershot.. which i used till last year.. i now have a nikon p510 which is just one year old!!! i did think of buying a dslr, but travelling with my son, i neither have the time, the patience or the inclination to keep changing lenses. maybe when he grows up!
DeleteFabulous shots! That pair of red bulbuls is fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Ladyfi!! thats one of my fav pics too!!
DeleteHave a good trip and look the birds that come to visit you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mridula!!!! we are really lucky to have so many winged visitors!
DeleteOh the beautiful Cassia flowers... The whiskered bulbuls look in conference mode
ReplyDeleteThanks Desi Traveler!oh they were more than in conference mode... flying all over the place together.... but this was the best capture of the lot!
DeleteAs Meghana has said the Camera matters a lot, not demeaning your efforts in capturing those beautiful birds so beautifully. Amaltash (Konnai) is very soothing. Here at Chennai I am practically living in a Jungle for the last two months but the digital camera I have, proves inadequate.
ReplyDeletethank you, PNS! and as I mentioned to Meghana, I dont yet have a dslr.. its too much trouble!!! and i envy you living in a 'jungle'....would love to see ur pics , even from your digital camera!
Deletethank you, PNS! and as I mentioned to Meghana, I dont yet have a dslr.. its too much trouble!!! and i envy you living in a 'jungle'....would love to see ur pics , even from your digital camera!
DeleteI am jealous that you have this beautiful view. Happy sky watching.
ReplyDeleteMy sky.
Thanks Liz!
Deletebeautiful clicks......
ReplyDeleteI love to click birds
Thanks Jidhu! Your photos of birds are absolutely beautiful!!
DeleteLovely photographs.
ReplyDeleteThank you, bnomadic!
DeleteReally nice blog and very well managed. I am read this post and find this is well written and nice use of different nature pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks Manu!
DeleteHi
ReplyDeleteVery good Collection Of Birds Pic.I like Pics Very Much.
Very good Job,Keep It Up.
Thank you!
DeleteLovely pictures, all.
ReplyDeleteLove the Cassia Fistula. It's an important display item for the Vishu Kani. :)
Thank you, D Nambiar! its much in demand here thanks to the number of Keralites in our building. unfortunately, this tree is a late bloomer. the flowers are never on during Vishu, so they stay safe :D
DeleteHi Anuradha,
ReplyDeleteYou see all these birds from your window? That's amazing!
Enjoy the trip with your son :)
Yes, Neeraj, we are indeed lucky to see all these from our window!
DeleteThe Article was good.Thanks for sharing fabulous post.
ReplyDeleteThanks sai Snehita
DeleteLovely series of bird portraits. The red-whiskered bulbuls have posed beautifully for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Thomas! nice to see u here after so long!
DeleteThe yellow laburnums are so beautiful, Anu as are the yellow Mayflowers. Nothing like the colour yeallow to perk up my day :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, Sudha.. they brighten up my day too...
Delete