Maricha's end

Everyone who knows Ramayana is aware of Sita's abduction. The story in which Lanka king Ravana hatches a plot to abduct Sita. Ravana wanted his maternal uncle Maricha to take the form of a deer to lure Rama away from Sita for a while during which Ravana would carry out his evil deed of nabbing Sita. Aware of Rama's prowess, Maricha tries to dissuade Ravana but the latter unleashes his wrath to which the former surrenders. However, in the back Maricha's mind is a consolation that his end would be in Rama's hand. On the appointed day, Maricha assumes the form of an outlandishly beautiful deer and appears near Rama, Sita & Lakshmana's dwelling in Panchavati forest. The golden deer with silver spots mesmerized Sita evoking an irresistible urge to possess it. She begs, pleads and manipulates the unwilling Rama to give in. Lakshmana sensing a vile force in the deer tries to dissuade Rama but fails. Rama commands Lakshmana to guard Sita while he goes after the deer. Once out of sight, Rama's arrow hits Maricha reveals his true form, and cries out for help taking Sita and Lakshmana's names mimicking Rama's voice before dying. Rama realizes the trickery but it's a bit late.

Meanwhile at the hut, hearing the impersonated cries, Sita becomes uncontrollable and forces Lakshmana to rescue Rama. Lakshmana draws three lines around their hut and warns Sita not to cross-over under any circumstance and goes in search of Rama. As soon as Lakshmana leaves, Ravana appears at the hut in the form of an ascetic seeking alms. In our culture, one seeking alms is never to be sent empty hand. Sita noticing the ascetic steps out of the hut with a bowl of fruits then remembers Lakshmana's warning. Seeing Sita hesitate Ravana cunningly manipulates Sita with his words to which Sita yields. The second Sita steps across Lakshman-Rekha, Ravana reveals his real form, grabs hold of the terrified Sita and flees Panchavati.

Now, when we look back at the emotional failures in this story, there are lessons to be learnt.

sculpture of Maricha's end at Vijaya Vittala Devastana

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Baobab of Fadnavis Wada

Another discovery by my friend Vijay Menon. This time the Baobab's at Fadnavis Waada, Wai, Satara district.

This is one of the few discoveries in which Baobab fruit is seen. The fruit has high nutritious content and can be preserved for a long time. Apart from the fruit, it's leaves and bark have herbal properties and used for various health conditions.

Built in the XVIII Century, Fadnavis Wada is a historical monument. I'm quoting it's description verbatim from Nana Fadnavis Wada website: This palace (wada) at village Menavli was constructed by Rajamanya Rajashri Nana Faadnavis in 1770s and is situated on the banks of Krishna River. The 250+ year old wada structure comprises of the main stone plinth above which rises the two storeyed wooden framed structures with walls made of bricks and dried mud, hay and lime mortar. The wada has some excellent specimens of art in the form of well-carved wooden ceilings, and cypress pillars with cusped arches and Maratha style wall paintings, that are adorned with faunal and floral motifs.

Baobab originates from the African continent. Between the XIV and XVII Centuries CE, groups of Sufi ascetics travelled to the Indian subcontinent carrying Baobab seeds & saplings. The Sufis planted them wherever they camped which was usually for months at stretch. Baobab, though a rare tree in our country, thousands of trees are said to have survived in the western parts i.e. Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh. Baobabs made their way interior regions i.e. the Deccan plateau and even down south to Tamil Nadu. For the reader's benefit, below is a list of known Baobab trees of India-

1. Hilltop Nightclub, Vagator, Goa
2. Cabo Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula, Goa
3. Quepem, Goa
4. Bamboo Motels, Goa
5. next to Yogapur mosque, Bijapur
6. Mahalakshmi Gudi premises, Martur, Kalburgi district
7. Dodda Hunashe Matha, Savanur, Karnataka
8. Near the aquarium in Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bengaluru
9. on the outskirts of Devadurga, Raichur district, Karnataka
10. Purana Qilla, Golconda Fort, Hyderabad, Telangana
11. Attapur, Hyderabad
12. Vansthalipuram, Hyderabad, Telangana
13. near Chappel Road, Hyderabad, Telangana
14. Ranganath temple at Nanakramguda, Hyderabad, Telangana
15. Shivalaya on Balachandruni Guttalu, Nalagonda, Telangana
16. Uppal in Chengicherla Reserve Forests, Hyderabad, Telangana
17. Nellore, Andhrapradesh
18. Theosophist Society Gardens, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
19. The American College campus, Madurai, TN
20. Chinmaya Vidyalaya's campus at Ilanthope, Rajapalayam, TN
21. Mangaliawas near Ajmer, Rajasthan
22. Vadodara, Gujarat
23. Dayapur, Gujarat
24. Kutch, Gujarat
25. Bhanagar, Gujarat
26. Baroda, Gujarat
27. Victoria Garden, Sukharamnagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
28. Mulund, Mumbai, Maharashtra
29. Byculla zoo, Mumbai, Maharashtra
30. Tilak road and Ghokale road, Pune, Maharastra
31. near Aurangabad, Maharashtra
32. inside Shirala fort, Maharashtra
33. Revdanda-Murud road near Korlai, Maharastra
34. opposite Mandvi Darwaza at Vasai Fort, Maharastra
35. Nana Fadnavis Wada premises, Menawali, Maharashtra
36. Mandavgad or Mandu, Madhya Pradesh
37. Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, Bihar
38. Purani Jhunsi, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh

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