Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Kotu / kuttu khaman dhokla

Khaman is one of the most popular breakfast dish in our house. With Navratris, I thought of making Kotu/ buckwheat khaman for a change. I usually make kotu dosas and have them them potato curry.

Kotu / kuttu / buckwheat is a pseudocereal. This means it does not belong to the grass family from which all our grains as wheat, millet, rice etc come from. People especially in North India do not take cereals while fasting. Since, it is not a cereal, it can be easily consumed during those days.

This power packed buckwheat also has plenty of fiber along with iron and zinc. In Japan, soba noodles and guksu in Korea are made from this flour. The benefits of this seeds are innumerable. Without going into its benefits, let me focus my attention on my post.


Ingredients:
1 cup kotu flour
2 tbsp sawaa ke chawal
1/2 tsp ginger-chilli paste
fasting salt to taste
2 tbsp roasted pounded peanuts
7-8 cracked black peppercorns
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1 1/2 tsp sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp eno fruit salt
water to make the batter

for tempering:
2 tsp oil
a pinch of asafoetida
2-3 green chillies
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp sesame seeds
chopped coriander leaves
dessicated coconut

Method:



Mix flour, sawaa ke chawal (I made them into a powder), sugar, ginger-chilli paste, salt in a bowl.


Add sufficient water to make a flowing batter.  I forgot to add cumin seeds, pounded peanuts and cracked peppercorns earlier. Mix everything properly. Let the batter rest for 5 minutes.
If, the batter absorbs a lot of water, add a little more.


Put the steamer on heat and let the water come to a boil.


Grease a plate with oil. I prefer to put the plate in the steamer so that it becomes a little hot.


Add lemon juice to the batter and mix.
Now add eno fruit salt and beat into a homogenous mixture.


Pour the fluffy mixture onto the greased plate.....


Cover and let it steam for 7-8 minutes. Do not open the cover and let them remain inside the steamer.


Meanwhile, prepare the tempering. Heat oil, add asafoetida and slit green peppers.


Add sesame seeds and mustard seeds. Switch off the heat.


The dhoklas should be cooked by now.


Pour the tempering over the dhoklas.


Sprinkle dessicated coconut and chopped coriander leaves. Leave the dhoklas to cool. Do not be in a hurry to cut them or else they will stick to your knife.

When cool, cut into wedges and enjoy.


I like to have them with a very simple sengdana chutney (peanut chutney).
I make it by mixing pounded roasted and skinned peanuts, salt, sugar, chilli powder and cumin seeds powder.

You can also pour some whipped seasoned curd over it. Sprinkle chilli powder, roasted cumin seeds powder, a drizzle of coriander chutney, sweet tamarind chutney and enjoy your kotu chaat!


Friday, March 20, 2015

Kote Sankaralinga Dvikuta temple, Karnataka

In a remote bustling village of Nimbal in Bijapur district in Karnataka is the Kote Sankaralinga Dvikuta Temple. The temple's caretaker said it was built in 580 AD but when I started viewing the pictures, I had taken in detail and studied about the architecture during that time, I figured it belonged to Hoysala era. So, it must have been built much later than the date stated by the caretaker. This is my conclusion. I am no authority so whatever I write in my post is my inference. I might update the post once ASI comes out with a report on this temple.

Nothing much is known about this east facing temple. I have made all attempts at deciphering the relics.

The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has now undertaken the daunting task of renovation and figuring out the relics.

ASI boards outside the temple
Hoysala Kingdom flourished in the South Deccan plateau, now Karnataka, from 10th century to 14th century. The architecture is not as elaborate as the more famous temples of that period, like Belur and Halebidu, and looks very basic, but the characters in the temple are very specific of Hoysala period architecture.
Entrance to temple premises
Hoysala era focussed in architecture, specially building of temples in South India.

entrance from the other side
Elephant heads surround the entrance on all sides.

view of temple from courtyard
The main temple building in the center. Apparently a worn out temple on the side.
The temple

View from outside

 inscribed stone tablet
The inscribed stone information proved difficult to interpret. I requested some Kannad speaking people to read but the script has undergone changes over a period of 700 years and could not be interpreted by them. The temple was built at a  time when Kannada overtook Sanskrit as the common language in this part of India.

 Lord Harihara
If, you look at the pictures above, at first glance it looks Lord Shiva is on one side holding a drum (डमरू) and a trident (त्रिशूल ) and Vishnu on the other side holds a mace (गदा) and what must have been a conch  (शंख ) now seems broken. But on careful observation, Lord Shiva also has a mace and Lord Vishnu has a drum.

Many temples of Lord Shiva and Vishnu, in their various forms and incarnations, were built during Hoysala era. But sometimes, a combined deity of both called Harihara (हरिहर ) were also built. Lord Vishnu is called Hari (हरि ) and Shiv is also known as Hara (हर). Lord Harihara is worshipped both by Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Earlier, when I had ignored this aspect, I wondered where the other sanctum for worshipping Lord Vishnu must be. Now, my puzzle is solved !

Philosophically, this also denotes the unity of Lord Shiv and Vishnu. Lord Harihara is also known as Lord Shankarnarayan (शंकरनारायण). Shankar is Lord Shiva and Narayan is Lord Vishnu.

A pillar in front of the sanctum prevented me from taking a picture of them together.

Entrance to main sanctum
The temples where two deities are worshipped and have two sanctum sanctorum or garbhagraha is known as Dvikuta (द्विकुट) Dvi is two and kuta is house. The temple but is named after one deity. Here, the name of the temple is Sankarlingam but two deities Lord Shiva and Vishnu are worshipped.

The prayer sanctum sanctorum or Garbhgriha (गर्भगृह ) or the "womb chamber" in dvikuta also are separate but here the deity is Lord Harihara who is unified Vishnu and Shiva so there is only one sanctum sanctorum. This chamber is the place where the main deity is kept and forms the most important part of a temple. Only the priests are permitted to enter this chamber.

This area is usually square and dark with no windows with deity in the center. The darkness helps a devotee focus and meditate.

Nandi
A monolith Nandi, the mount of Lord Shiv sits outside the garbhgriha.

Shivlinga, the deity of this temple
The golden head of Lord Shiva which you see in the corner is placed over the Shivalinga at the time of special venerations.

A woman performing prayers
The mandap or the hall outside the sanctum santorum has beautifully carved soapstone pillars.



another set of pillars
The ceilings too are beautifully carved.

                      On the ceiling                                                                          Over the temple sanctum sanctorum entrance
Some etchings depict scenes from Ramayana.

Hanuman carrying Lord Rama and Sita on his shoulders

Lord Shiva and his consort, Devi Parvati on Nandi
All around temple on outside while doing the Pradikshana or circumambulations, one can see on the walls dancers in different poses, drummers, courtesans, Lord Ganesha, incarnation of Vishnu, and also scenes from day today life.

wall just outside the temple


Starting from the lower most carving, we see a a row of elephants which denote strength. Above the elephants is a row of flowers followed by scenes from everyday life. Unlike some temples, erotica was handled very subtly and there was no outright display. One finds such carvings in inconspicous niches.

All around the main temple, stone sculptures are seen.

                   Lord Ganesha                                                  Lord Subramanya                 Vaaman avataar, incarnation of Vishnu
dancers in different poses
Naagraaj and his consort Sarpyakshini                                                  Parashuram                            
Naagraj is king of serpents. Parashuram performed severe penance of Lord Shiva.



The temple has two side doors. They have two stone slabs for people to sit.

sitting place

The above room on the side of temple is full of broken idols, artifacts. Picture below.


The room with plenty of artifacts which still need to be placed in their proper places.

various styles of Shivlinga
The chamber in need of renovation
My visit to the temple ended here and as we were going back, I saw a huge mound over dilapidated walls.


Any guesses for what this structure this? I was amazed when I was told that it was an ant hill.

Another ant hill
This looks like a small fort now inhabited by ants!!

Plenty of work awaits ASI to document and restore this temple fully.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Beachcomber, Fiji Islands

Mamanuca (pronounced Mamanutha), Yasawa and Rotuma islands comprise a group of islands in the west of Viti Levu in Fiji.
Mamanuca is a set of  13 small islands. Manu, Treasure {sland, Mana, Beachcomber are some of the islands in this group. The clear waters provide a perfect oppotunity for diving, snorkelling and fishing. The accomodation in resorts here caters equally from both high end travellers to backpackers.
If living in Fiji Islands then they are perfect for a day trip too.

We planned a day trip to Beachcomber.

shimmering clear water

Time to snorkel
The waters around Fiji are ideal for diving, snorkelling. The water is so clear that the sea life is clearly visible from above.


After the lunch, another activity is planned in Beachcomber where the leftover food is collected and taken to the middle of ocean. I would suggest everyone to be a part of this. The boat has a glass bottom so you see plenty of fish from there as well. The fish sense the timing and hover around the boat to grab the food.


The above picture is not that clear but gives an idea about the fish movements.


Is'nt this what you call paradise?


There was an enclosure where they had kept baby turtles. Once, they become adults, they are released into the ocean.

Enjoying parasailing


and back on land !