Guru Madiwaleshwara Gudi, Garag

A thought of bicycle ride to Garagada Guru Madiwaleshwara Mata had formed. Somehow the it was decided to just after Amavasya night.

December 24, 2022 I left home around 3-30 AM. I had ridden upto Garag cross on Dharwad-Belagavi highway. It would be the first time I'm venturing on Garag road. On this road are Tata group's two factories, an ancillary unit, Karnataka State Forest Academy, Forest Department Nursery and a nonfunctional distillery. On reaching Garag, I take one of the lanes leading to the Mata. The village was still sleepy, just a few dogs guarding their lanes. It was 4-50 when I reached the Mata. A group of 3 or 4 people were singing bhajan, probably it was an all night bhajan. This is the temple which houses Guru Madiwaleshwara's Samadhi.

Sri Guru Madiwaleshwara was a XIX Century saint, a contemporary of Shishunala Sharief. He is very well known and popular in north Karnataka. Garag Jatre is attended by devotees from Maharashtra. Guru Madiwaleshwara's parents are unknown, he was found in a banana plantation as an infant. He was adopted by Kittur Desai since the family had no children. He was an enlightened Atma even as a very young kid. Later when a son was born into Kittur Desai family, Madiwaleshwara was neglected and eventually insulted. Madiwaleshwara curses Kittur Desai family and leaves Kittur. He comes to Hangarki Desai who receives him with respect and donates land besides the stream here. Madiwaleshwara establishes a Mata here. The Mata building is just opposite this temple.

The old building of the Mata has been demolished for renovation purpose. I was a little disappointed to see the changes, but then changes take place.

The return journey started at 5-00 AM. On the way back, at Airtech junction, I changed the route towards Kelageri. I took a circuitous route back home and made it a 50+ km ride.

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Bili Kanagile White Oleander

An Oleander (Kanagile) cutting was planted mid 2021. The cutting took about 3 months to sprout leaves, then it developed very slowly. On Jan-18th the plant bore it's first flower. Such a pretty flower.

Truly, plant are versatile creatures and survivors.

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crow on a coconut tree

 

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Dec 10th western sky

A spectacular sky at dusk exactly a month ago. 

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Sculptures at Fine Arts College, Dharwad

Dharwad being an educational center has institutions of every academic discipline one could think of... arts, commerce, science, history, teachers training, law, languages, industrial training, diploma, engineering, nursing, medical, dental, agricultural sciences, journalism, forestry, music & fine arts. Apart from schools & colleges, there are a host of museums & galleries dedicated to history, heritage, zoology, geology, science, and arts. There could be more to discover. For now, lets take a look at a few of the sculptures on display inside the Fine Arts College premises. Most sculptures seem to be made of steel & cement concrete except for one which is stone.

This is the simple building of the college. The campus has plenty of open space and greenery, the right ambiance for creative minds.

This sculpture, I assume depicts a mother & her child is placed at the center, lot of importance associated to it.

Along the edge of the open ground are a dozen or so sculptures, probably crafted by the teachers & students. The nearest artwork in this picture looks like an industrial tool. Further away are a hour-faced totem and an wise old man.

Pushpa posing with the open lock and a village lad. The lock sculpture reminds me of the Hindi cine song "Khaike Paan Banaraswala, Kuli Jaye Bund Akal Ka Taala" ...the mouth is chewing paan and the mind gets unlocked... he he hee. The other sculpture, a realistic one, depicts a handsome lad in rural attire.

Next is a dial clock.. the hands are swords, at 9 & 12 are faces which will be slashed off and drop down like the heap of faces on the ground. May be this artwork is called "Death by Time."

Moving on, we have an open clam shell. Inside are a few heads and a fish trying to emerge. Well, this is one is a bit too abstract for me... can't think of a name.

A royal elephant...

...and a bull flank the entrance of a building which seems like an auditorium. In the background is a dancing pair. It seems to depict a mother-child duo holding arms and dancing.

During the few minutes we spent here we saw these sculptures. Perhaps I must make another visit to study the other sculptures too.

To know more about places of interest, do check out the post- What to see in Dharwad?

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