Saturday, Mar 7th, Mysore, India

Greetings!

The Gommteshwara Bahuball Statue sits at the top of a mountain reached by climbing 650 stairs.  The stairs start off gently, and then it gets harder.  Especially in socks.

Built in 981AD by Chavundaraya, an Indian military commander in the Western Ganga Dynasty, it is carved from a single fine-grain white granite rock.  The largest monolithic statue in the world, it is dedicated to the founder of Jainism.

Of all the major Indian religions, Jainism has the strongest austerity-driven ascetic tradition, and  is an essential part of the mendicant's spiritual pursuits.  Ascetic life may include nakedness symbolizing non-possession of clothes, fasting, body mortification, penance, and other austerities.

Jainists take vows of: non-violence to any living being; a belief in a many-sided reality; and non-attachment to worldly possessions.

Later in the day after lunch at the Cafe Garage (great spring rolls and sweet corn soup), we drove to Somanathapura, and the Keshava Temple.   The temple, built in 1258AD by another general, is surrounded by a large courtyard which frames 64 shrines, two entrances, and the main temple complex.   He also built four other temples in the area, three of which have were destroyed in the wars between the Hindu kingdoms and the Muslim Sultantates in the 15th century.

A platform circles the temple, and the carvings and reliefs are to be read in a clockwise direction (follow the elephants at the bottom).  The elephants are not an exact copy of each other, rather show different natural expressions and playfulness.  Some show elephants in war, throwing enemies, while others show them teasing the riders in front.

Inside are columns depicting lotus stems and flowers, which were completed on site using elephants and horses to turn the stones on lathe-like wheels at the base.

Returning home, our hostess (Yamuna) gave us a cooking demonstration, which led to a wonderful dinner afterward and a walk through her garden.  Clearly, her mother, husband, and staff complete the team which presents this homestay.  The Gitanjali Homestay is not to be missed, and we will miss it dearly when we leave on Monday.

To see all of the photos taken today, click on Saturday, Mar 7th, Mysore, India.