GOPS CREATIV :: REDISCOVERING MY LOST PASSIONS
Oct 31
by GOPAN NAIR in Indian architecture & Heritage, travel 0 comments tags: aqueduct, Brahmagiri, gopan, gopan g nair, gops, gops photography, gops.org, gunnika, kerala, mahavishnu, pakshipathalam, Panchatheertham, papanasini, river, shiva, temple, thirunelli, vishnu, wayanad

DEVOTION, DEEP INSIDE THE JUNGLE : THIRUNELLI TEMPLE

Thirunelli MahaVishnu Temple stands as one of the most ancient and revered places of worship in Kerala. The name ‘Thiru Nelli’ translates to Holy Gooseberry tree (Amla). According to the sacred Hindu texts or puranas, Lord Brahma was captivated by the beauty of this valley and chose to descend upon it. It was then that he discovered an idol of Lord Vishnu situated on a gooseberry tree. Recognizing the divine presence of Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma consecrated the idol at the site and bestowed blessings upon the temple, declaring it as a sanctum that absolves all sins. As a result, the water stream in this area came to be known as Papanasini. Thirunelli temple, situated in the Wayanad district of Kerala, is surrounded by the lush green mountains of the Brahmagiri ranges, which are adjacent to the Western Ghats. It is located in north Wayanad, 34 kilometers away from Mananthavady. The exact age of the temple is unknown, but historians believe it could be 3000 years old, making it one of the oldest temples in Kerala. According to popular belief, the temple was founded by Chera King Kulasekharan (AD 767 – 834). Copper plate inscriptions discovered in the area date […]
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Jan 14
by GOPAN NAIR in travel, Wonders of Nature 2 comments tags: bloom, blossom, flower, gopan, gopan g nair, gops, gops photography, gops.org, kerala, Kunthiana, kurinji, munnar, neela, NEELAKURINJI, nilgiri, Strobilanthes, Strobilanthes Kunthiana

WHEN NEELAKURINJI BLOSSOMS

The stunning sight of Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes Kunthiana), a fabled purple-blue flower that blossoms once every 12 years in the mountain ranges of Munnar in Kerala. Following the last bloom in 2006, another widespread flowering in the Nilgiris-Palanis-Munnar area is anticipated only in 2018. Interestingly, there was a cluster of plants in the area that bloomed four years earlier than the rest of the community in the region, and I was fortunate to witness this rare event in October 2014. However, it remains uncertain whether these plants will survive for the next season. The Nilgiri Hills, also known as the “blue mountains,” are thought to have derived their name from the Neelakurinji flowers. It is fascinating to note that the Paliyan tribes, who resided in this area, used to determine their age according to the blooming cycle of these flowers.
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