Allô Chatrath

  La Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina is one of the most artistically done cemeteries in the world. It is located in the Recoleta neighbourhood of Buenos Aires.  It contains the graves of notable people, including Eva Perón, presidents of Argentina, Nobel Prize winners, the founder of the Argentine Navy, and a granddaughter of Napoleon. I have visited it twice- the first time in 2009 and more recently in 2019. Take a look at one of the many pieces of art:  Rest in Peace, respected lady.   

This is the colossal head of a Jin on display in the Government Museum, Mathura, India. Tirthankara, also called Jina (“Victor”), in Jainism, is a saviour who has succeeded in crossing over life's stream of rebirths and has made a path for others to follow . Mahavira (6th century BC) was the last Tirthankara to appear. This head dates back to the 5 th century AD and was discovered in Kankali Tila in Mathura. It shows fine schematic curls in hair, elongated ear lobes and lotus shaped large eyes, which are symbols of spiritual power.    

         This is a terracotta image from Gupta Period (4th-6th AD) on display in the Mathura Museum. I visited Mathura Government Museum two days back. It was a very rewarding experience. I took Taj Express from New Delhi Railway station at 06.55 am and was at Mathura Junction at 08.40. Took a pedal rickshaw and reached the Braj Wasi restaurant for a poori-aloo breakfast. More about that in a seperate photo article. I was at the Museum at @10.30 am, the hour of its opening. It opened punctually. The staff were very courteous and helpful. Moving through various galleries I noticed that fans had not been switched on making the experience tough.    Renowned as the birth place of Lord Krishna, the 7 th Jain Tirthankara Suparvanatha and a place visited by the Buddha, Mathur attained a holy stature in Brahamanism, Jainism and Buddhism even before the dawn of Christian era. The prosperity and glory of this ancient metropolis of northern Indi attracted a large number of visitors from dist

                                 Indian non-arms carrying labour- photo taken in France during WW-I. Hopefully coming soon - my book on the Indian non-combatants who died in France during WW-I. They were non-arms carrying personnel who had nothing to protect themselves during War and many of whom lie buried /commemorated in various cemeteries in France. 

 

  This is a painting of the last Nizam (ruler) of Hyderbad accompanied by courtiers, some of whom are sporting sherwanis (long coat like dress) except the gentleman in white flowing dress.   This Chowmahalla Palace Royal painting is by Saba Fatima.   Chowmahalla Palace is the palace of the erstwhile Nizams of the then   Hyderabad State and is located in Hyderabad, Telengana, India.   It was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and was the official residence of the Nizams of Hyderabad while they ruled their state. The palace was built by Nizam Salabat Jung.  

                    A golden mask on display in the Museum of Costa Rica in San Jose'.

                  This was constructed at the time of Expo 1958 and is one of the icons of the city.                                                    St. Michels & St. Gudula Cathedral.  It is built in BarbantineGothic design. The Church was built during 11th to 15th centuries and the facade  and towers in 1485. It's construction was completed in 1519.                                                            St. Michels & St. Gudula Cathedral                                                            Church of Our Lady of Laekeen The Church of Our Lady of Laeken is a neo-Gothic Roman Catholic church in Laeken , Brussels , Belgium . It was originally built in memory of Queen Louise-Marie , wife of King Leopold I to the design of architect Joseph Poelaert.                                                            Church of Our Lady of Laekeen Church of Our Lady of Laekeen   

 

I have visited Lepakshi twice, the last time being in 2019. Situated close to Lepakshi or Veerbhadra Temple in Andhra Pradesh, India, is the monolithic idol of Nandi Bull (the mount of Hindu God Lord Shiva). It is crafted out of a single granite stone.  It is 4.5m high and 8.23m long and dates back to 1583.  The big granite bull is on the main road, about 200 meters from the temple. It has been positioned such that it faces the shivalinga shielded by a huge serpent inside the temple. It is the second largest monolith in India, after Gomateshwara.    

  Binzuru (Pindola Bhardvaja), wood, Edo period Japan, 18 th century.   Pindola was one of the 16 arahats who were disciples of the Buddha. Pindolais said to have excelled in the mastery of occult powers. It is commonly believed in Japan that when a person rubs a part of the image of Binzuru, and then rubs the corresponding part of his own body, his ailment there will disappear.   A few years back I visited this Wooden Binzuru (healer) sculpture at Todai-ji temple in Nara, Japan and took these photos.