A trip to Purendar Fort

Purendar Fort:  It rained heavily when we drove down to the Fort. Mud and slush all around gave the place an eerie atmosphere. Pradeep and Swati  accompanied us and guided us with detailing the history.

The history of the Purandar fort goes back to the 13th century.  The Bahamani Sultans in the 14th century built here some walls and bastions.  From 1484 AD, for about a hundred years, the fort remained in the hands of the Nizamshahi rulers.  In 1596 AD, the fort was given as Jagir to Maloji Bhosale, grandfather of Shivaji.  It is also the birth place of Shivaji. However, Shivaji had to struggle very hard to establish his control over the fort in 1646 AD.  In 1665 AD, Purandar was besieged by the mighty Mughal forces under the command of Jai Singh and Dilir Khan.  In the ensuing battle Murar Baji Prabhu, the gallant commander of the fort, was killed.  Shivaji, under a treaty, had to surrender to the Mughals his 23 forts, including Purandar and Vajragarh.  At the lower fort a statue of Murar Baji Prabhu has been installed in his memory.

Purandar was recaptured by Shivaji in 1670 AD Later it became a favourite retreat of the Peshwas.  Purandar was captured by the British in 1818 AD.  During the Second World War, the British kept here the German war prisoners. Dr. H. Goetz, one of the German prisoners, thoroughly studied Purandar and wrote a monograph on it.  After Independence there also functioned a National Cadet Crops (N.C.C.) Training unit at the top. The Church symbolizes the occupation  of British The security and checking seems quite funny. It is right on the top of hill and miscreants can climb from any side if they so desire. But people like us driving on the proper road leading to the fort has to identify and what not. Be it so. Let the authorities be happy. We wanted to climb to the top but slush and slippery footpath was difficult to scale. satyed for sometime and came down to proceed to Balaji temple.

Balaji Temple in Pune --- surprise n more surprise
There used to be a small unknown town named town named Kapurhol in the district of Pune. One day, someone decided to build a replica of the very famous temple or Tirumala, of Lord Balaji. And, this was created. Now the town is not so unknown. It is wort visiting if one reches in at 6 in the morning, quiet and peaceful as people say. But I reched in afternoon and throngs of people were there all over. Surprisingly no commotion and chaos. Everything was well organised, disciplined and clean - very unusual in Hindu temples, Security was unbelievable, body search and scanning of the bags and purses was done thoroughly. To my utter dismay the photography was totally prohibited inside the temple.

  

The free lunch to all devotees was served and a big fat laddoo in prasadam was excellent.

3. JadhavGarh Fort : 
It was built by Pilaji Jadhavrao who not only rose to fame as the Maratha General in the Army of Chhatrapati Shahuji, but also proved his mettle  each and everytime someone dared to challange the supremacy of Maratha ruler. The stone structure is the representative of the man as strong in mind and body as he envisioned to create this fort.    
The descendants of this family have built a modern palatial house nearby and this has been converted into 4 star hotel. The inside is maintained as it was and the hotelier has taken care to keep the ambieance of a Fort and Mughal/Maratha culture.

We planned to stay here for a night but prohibitive tarrif made us change our mind and we proceeded to Naranayapur.

It is a small town and seems to have importance due to an old Shiv Mandir and one and only temple of one headed Lord Dutta.

Narayanpur is situated at the bottom of famous Purandar fort. Narayanpur is village of Changdev Maharaj. A tree of " Audumbar " here is very old and is worshiped by pilgrims. There is also an old temple of Narayaneshwar. This temple and 3 sculptures in the temple are very pretty. These sculptures are said to be of 'Yadav' era. Narayanpur must be seen by both - the pilgrims as well as the nature lovers - because of 2 temples " Lord Datta " and " Narayaneshwar " and the beauty of the Purandar valley.In Monsoon season the scene of Purandar valley is beautiful.             

Narayanpur is a famous place in Pune region. Narayanpur is famous for their Lord Ek Mukhi Datta. Usually lord Datta has 3 faces but in Narayanpur there is Ek Mukhi Datta. The statue of Lord Ek Mukhi Datta is very beautiful.The idol of Lord Dattatreya here in the sanctum is different from the idols that we see otherwise.You can also see the Padukas i.e. footwear of Lord Datta here. These were placed in the sanctum by Lord Datta himself before he left for Samadhi. Many devotees comes to Narayanpur on the eve of Guruvar and Pournima. The number goes in lacs on the occasion of Datta Jayanti.

On way back to Pune Pradeep suggested that we may spend the night in one of the resort of his friend. We failed to locate that and returned to Pune.

Condolences

Few deaths in the family recently made me think for the people left behind. Sons and daughter loose the binding force which keeps the siblings closer. After the death of parents the family fritters away unless a conscious effort is made.
What about the spouse who is left to carry on with the life? His/her world comes crashing down. How to be ready for such eventualities? It is easily said than done.What words of consolation should be rendered?
Confusing.

Birthday

My birthday has just been over and many friends and relatives wished... may be face book reminded them and they took trouble to write me. I have already thanked each one of them separately and I think I must thank FB the most. It is sort of a reminder to all that one Kavita is somewhere and like many she was born on a particular day.

No offence meant to any one but  all the wishes were a reminder to me that goal post is not far far away. A streak of thought - the birthday is enjoyed most by the parents. At this moment I remember my late parents - it was an unbounded joy for them. They always told me few anecdotes of my childhood. I couldn't miss the sparkle in their aging eyes and a wrinkled smile spread all over their faces.

I am not a pessimist but reality I accept. nonchalantly. Who cares whether I am dead an alive or should live long or short except my husband, Avi. He needs me and really wishes from his heart and soul that I should live longer and healthier and not to leave him to lead a lonely life. He goes overboard in celebrating. It embarrass me but I let him do it. I see his glee and happiness and it is worth ignoring my embarrassment.

In the same vein I sent the birthday wishes to my brother-in-law who is in US and what a wonderful reply he gave me. I copy verbatim:

But it is not much of an achievement for a body that is falling apart - like the parts of an old car that can barely walk, let alone run. I hope you, Avinash, and the whole family, are in good health. You seem to be enjoying life; keep it up. With all good wishes to both of you.

Absolutely right. What great deed did I do to be alive. It is all a mechanical process. The mechanics of the body will stop functioning one day and all will be over for good.

Children will miss but their life will go on.  That is the Law of the Nature

Thinking of life in general when a person becomes spouse-less. Whatever time is left of the togetherness is to be utilized and enjoyed - nothing new I said. My point is that this time may be fruitfully used for the preparation to live alone, mentally and physically.
The mental tuning to the idea takes a longer time than the physical. I think I have to start doing the following gradually.
- Develop relationship around I live.
- Make more friends.
- Look for the contacts which are lost due to the carelessness of youth, engrossing pressures of maintaining family and work.
- Develop or create some hobbies. I find internet quite alluring and engrossing, at least for the time being.
- Keep doing some house chores without taking much help of the house maids. I find bit of cooking satisfying as it makes me eat what I like. Avi and I still get the food from outside often but after 2-3 days I get bored of the expected taste. Lets me see how long I will be able to cook, Health permitting I will keep cooking for long.
- I have to create interest in TV viewing which is minimal now. I have experienced how Ma and Papa passed    many hours of the day with TV.
- Writing mails conventional or otherwise.
The most hateful job for me would be taking care of the finances all by myself. Avi has been insisting me to take over which I am avoiding to the best of my efforts. My MISTAKE \I will have to do this sooner than later.
- Taking care of health by regular walks, exercise, yog, asanas etc and taking health food. Some positive steps I have take in this direction. Much more is needed.

Apology

It has been ages that I could write anything on my blog. It was not that nothing was happening neither I was lazy. It  was my activity on FB and other social commitments that I clean forgot that I have such thing like this blog where I can be more expressive.

So  much is happening all around me that it is difficult to make a start.

Just now I have seen press conference of BJP on the statements made by PM in the parliament today. I also heard that Congress is thinking of bringing confidence motion next week. Congress knows that they have numbers on their side and they can get away with their loot just being in majority. MIGHT IS  RIGHT. This is the biggest mockery or the flaw of democracy.