Awesome Architecture

 At an altitude of some eleven thousand seven hundred and sixty feet resides Kedarnath. The square and/or oblong stone slabs, rather blocks, built together by the interlocking system that go into the making of His abode would not be available anywhere in the Himalayas. Yet the temple stands tall there, defying bitter winters, fearsome floods and ravaging time. Even before you enter the temple, its very architecture envelops you in its mystique! 

Awesome architecture! That is the first feel Indian temples always awaken in us. Would you believe me if I insist that right in the midst of the ever expanding Pune full of shrieking horns and shrinking spaces are two temples that are architectural marvels? 

Yes, I am referring to the Trishund Ganapati Mandir and Nageshwar Mandir in Somwar Peth nestled on the bank of  the Nagzari river once flowing freely in this central part of Pune. 

The Trishund Ganapati Mandir is in a way a  document built in stone of the Maratha Kingdom, not to forget the Indian Independence struggle. Why, a plaque in the outdoor wall has a stucco engraving commenting on the 1857 War of Independence as well as the lackdaisical self-obsessed attitude of the very many royalties then. 

With the "Hathyogi Gosavi" contribution to its fame, this marvel has stories galore in each of its images. A unique synthesis of the Rajasthani, Southern, and Marathi architectural styles, each carving, every column and all the corners here are deeply symbolic. 

The Ganesh idol in this temple is unique. Hence the nomenclature of the temple where the stone inscriptions clarify that literally all the deities, Shiva, Vishnu, Dattatreya and the goddesses, the Hamsavahini Saraswati to Gajantlakshmi, reside in this unique space whose structure is such that flood waters drain on their own! 

The nearby Nageshwar temple goes back to the fourteenth century, the Yadav era, and even earlier. It is a unique combo of the "hemadpanthi" style, superimposed by the Peshwa wooden built-up area. A complete unit in itself which once housed everybody associated with the temple, truly special is its canopy which tells a unique tale of how Mughal architecture subtly started influencing the temple construction. 

A must-visit wonders are these lesser known temples where divinity resides in ageless (hi)stories.

Pratima@ The Heritage walk was guided by the duo M/S Shantanu Paranjape and Vaidya. Absolutely infectious was their commitment to the oral narratives of-n-about these two heritage gems that sure need better awareness raising. A great Sunday morning, in brief!

Quote of the day:                                                         "We shape our temples, and thereafter they build us, and forever." Winston Churchill would overlook my re-structuring of his famous quote.

Word of the day: serenity.                                 Serenity refers to a state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled, often characterized by an absence of any stress or anxiety. Derived from the Latin serenus, it signifies tranquility, composure, and quietude.                                                                   The term is often used as a title of dignity for royalty or high dignitaries, especially religious.