Kamat's Potpourri

AnthoBLOGy: Eat Masala Dosa With the Kamats

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

During the week of Nov 16th, 2009 I invite our readers from Bengaluru to eat one of them famous Masala Dosas of Malleswaram with us.

You can meet Amma and Kimbo as well.

Please let me know via email at . I will let you know the place and time, and if there is interest, I will give a walking tour of the Malleswaram market.

Amma's Column: Story of Punyakoti, the Holy Cow

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CST

By now academic world is fairly familiar with eco-friendly traits imbibed by ancient Indians. Their love and respect for the plant life and animal world is effectively reflected in the folk literature of those times, where animals speak, laugh, cry, fight and at times show superhuman traits as well. Tales of Panchatantra bring forth many moral lessons.

The story of an encounter between a tiger and a cow forms a touching story in Kannada folk literature which children and elders have enjoyed over ages. The story in short runs like this:

Once upon a time, a cowherd by name Kalinga used to take cattle for grazing in the near by forest. Punyakoti a pious and well-behaved cow was one of them. Once a fierce tiger, Arbud by name, was prowling near by, unwatched. He was not able to get a prey for more than a week. Unable to bear pangs of hunger, he eyed grazing cows, which formed an easy target.

Evening arrived. The ringing of small bells of round the neck of cows and Kalinga's call, gave a signal to the tiger that they were returning to the shed. He appeared and roared with all his strength. Extremely terrified and panicky the herd along with Kalinga ran for their lives. Only Punyakoti, who had joined the herd last, remained behind. Arbud made it known that she was to be his food for the day and was about to pounce, when undeterred Punyakoti pleaded to him that her hungry calf was waiting for her at the cow-shed. She would just feed him and return, after which the tiger can finish her off. She swore by God and Mother Earth that she would stick to the promise. Though the tiger was desperately hungry, perhaps understood a mother"s instinct, let her go but ordered her to return without delay!

Punyakoti, honest and God-fearing, hastily came to the shed, fed her calf and narrated the event to him. Told him that her final hour had arrived and she had to return to the fierce tiger. Pleading of the calf not to go and Punyakoti's appealing to her sister-cows to look after her to be orphaned child makes pathetic reading. After giving proper instructions to her calf to graze safely, moving only in the middle of the herd and not to straying, to avoid the cruel tiger, she returned to the forest and the death awaiting her.

She offered herself in entirety flesh, blood and warm heart as well! Arbud was not at all prepared for this unheard of magnanimity and self -sacrifice of a meek cow. He was full of remorse for killing numerous helpless creatures in his lifetime. Tears rolled from his eyes. He told Punyakoti to return to her calf as he dared not kill her. Praying God for liberation, the tiger jumped from a high cliff and ended his life. Punyakoti returned to the cowshed happily. Arbud and Punyakoti were equally blessed.

A small part of the story of tiger and the cow is included in Kannada primary school text for years. Inclusion of this song in a movie based on the novel of S.L. Bhyrappa, "Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane" (Oh child! You have been orphaned) made it still more popular. The name of the author of this verse-story is unknown. Prof. D.L. Narasimhachar, who edited authentic version of this ancient piece through palm-leaf books, writes that this story is found in Sanskrit anthology, Ithihasa-Samuchchya by name. Hence it must have appeared in other Indian languages as well. The story is appealing to one and all, children as well as elders.

Virtues of non-violence, affection, honesty, self- sacrifice and concern for fellow-beings are beautifully brought out. The description of the forest, the dress and ornaments of the cow-herd milieu of the cow-herd culture are quite picturesque in the 114 verses of the folk-tale. It establishes versatility of the anonymous author, who brought out didactic element through the pen-picture on time canvas, very effectively.

Aperture Photo Blog: Krishna as Thief of Women's Clothes

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Gopika Vastraharan in Indian Art

The Bhagavata Purana has an episode of how mischievous Krishna hides away all the clothes of girls bathing in the river. The episode provides a lot of fodder for poets, artists and devotees and is an integral part of the Hindu experience.

Here is a collection of pictures culled from our collection that depict the episode of the girls begging Krishna to return their clothes.

(c) K.L.Kamat

Gopika Vastrapaharana (The Stealing of Clothes)
Painting shows Krishna climbing a tree with the clothes of bathing girls

(c) K.L.Kamat

Krishna Climbs a Tree After Stealing Women's Clothes
Gopika Vastraharan as depicted in a Gokarn temple sculpture

IV

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

Gorur Sheshamma Ramaswamy Iyengar

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

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Database of Indians
Wife of Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar, Bangalore, 1983

Temple Pillar

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

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Pillars of India
The Village of Ashnote near Karwar

Human Figures on Temple Pillar Carvings

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

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Pillarn Art
The Mallikarjuna Temple, Cancone, Goa

Dinshaw Wacha (1844-1936)

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

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Prominent Parsis
President of Indian National Congress, 1901 Calcutta Convention

Mithuna Lovers

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

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Ancient Erotica
Ancient Erotica

A Jain Teacher

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

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A Jain Inscription
Detail from a relief in a Jain monastery in the village of Bilgi

Silver Chariot of Kadri Temple

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

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Temple Chariots
Mangalore, Karnataka

A Silver Kettle

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

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Indian Antiques
From a private collection, Mangalore

Paintings of Masks

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

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Tribal Masks
Chindwara Tribal Museum Collection

Painted Mask

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

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The Crafts of India
Painted Enamel Mask