Text and photos Britt-Arnhild Wigum Lindland
Beautiful in January, beautiful in February amd most of March. But now it is almost April.
Our backyard has been covered in snow since early November.
A pair of magpies are busy building a new home in on of our pinetrees.
As I look out my office window, it is snowing heavy! But the local weather forecast is promising no more snow from tomorrow.
Deep, deep in my heart I so much want to believe them.
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In the middle of the snow I am dreaming of India:
At 6.30 am we started our last adventure together, Vinay and I. With us was Yogi, the young boy who helps in the house. Our goal for the day was Sravanabelagola and Gomateshvara Statue.
"The 17,5 m-high statue of the Jain deity Gomateshvara, said to be the world's tallest monolithic statue, is visible long before you reach the pilgrimage of the town of Sravanabelagola. Viewing the statue close up is the main reason for heading to this sedate town, whose name means 'the Monk of the White Pond'. The statue's simplicity and serenity is in complete contrast to the complexity and the energy of the sculptural work at the Belur and Halebid temples", South India, Lonely Planet.
" The statue was commissioned by a military commander in the service of the Ganga king Rachamalla and carved out of granite by he sculptor Aristenemi in AD 981. Bahubali's father was the great Emperor Vrishabadhadeva, who became the first Jain tirthankar (revered Jain teachet), Adinath. Bahubali and his brother Bharatha competed fiercely for the right to succed their father but, on the point of victory, Bahubali realised the futility of the struggle and renounced his kingdom. He withdrew from the material world, entered the forest and meditated in complete stillness untill he attained enlightenment. The statue has vines curling around his legs and an ant hill at his feet, signs of his utter detachment. The gallery around his statue has many smaller images of Jain tirthankars" . South India, Lonely Planet.
"You must leave your shoes at the foot of the hill......Those who prefere not to tackle the steps can hire a dholi with bearers for Rs 150" South India, Lonely Planet.
It would have been fun to be carried, but of course I walked, fit as a fiddle;-) And had alot of fun doing that. Then you can stop, when you need to get your breath back, and there are always someone else who need to catch thier breath also and you can make friends,
or you can share a good laugh when a small boy comes running up like a puppie, making delighted noises.
India is filled with adventures, and I am filling up my adventure chest.
