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Take one last look, because you will never again see me in the red jacket and blue scrubs!! Nor will I ever torture you with tales of work life. Nor will I attempt to find hidden spaces within these walls to make my own. Nor will I attempt to carry my 20 pound camera bag a half-mile to work and shove it in my locker.
Ever
Again
It has been a challenge to make this project work in the dark working months when i arrive and leave this place in the dark. And since increasing my work hours, it has just meant one more day of trying to be creative here at work. I am thankful to be leaving work today knowing I will never have to bring my camera here again ..........
Located at a height of over 4000 metres and along the famous Karakoram Highway (KKH) and near the Kunjrab Pass, Khunjrab National Park is Pakistan's third largest National Park. The park is adjacent to Taxkorgan Natural Reserve in China. This park was established in 1975 on the recommendation of renowned wildlife biologist Dr. George Schaller, since the population of Marco Polo Sheep was declining at an alarming rate. In fact the construction of the Karakoram Highway provided an easy access to the hunters to the wildlife in the area. The Marco Polo Sheep’s trophy sells for as much as $60,000 and this rare animal was hunted to near extinction. Also, the building of the highway has disturbed the wildlife in the area and many animals have migrated across the border to China and Afghanistan.
Khunjerab National Park consists of three different valleys: Khunjerab (through which the Karakoram Highway passes), Ghujerab and the remote Shimshal valley. As local communities had traditionally used the entire area for grazing domestic livestock in summer, Dr. Schaller recommended a 12 kilometre portion of the park to be closed for grazing in order to provide protection to Marco Polo sheep against disturbance and food competition. This portion of the park was declared the core zone of the park. However, imposing a ban on grazing of livestock without compensation or concessions to grazing for the local communities created serious conflicts between the park management and the local people.
Now with the emergence of this park, the number of this species is very slowly increasing. Marco Polo Sheep is recognized by the very long outward curving horns, developed in the mature males. An aged ram is is very impressive and majestic, mainly because of massive spiraling horns which can span a man's outstretched arms and almost twice the height and size of most other wild or domestic sheep. The Marco Polo sheep is an inhabitant of very high mountains subject to severely cold winds and climatic conditions throughout the year. Currently, its population is confined to northwestern part of Hunza district along the Chinese border. Here, between spring and autumn, it occupies two separate valleys in the northwest section of Khunjrab National Park, and also inhabits the Kilik-Mintaka border area, just west of the National Park. Marco Polo sheep is probably the most endangered of Pakistan's wild sheep and goats, and unless action is taken immediately they will probably become extinct. Kilik/Mintaka Game Reserve along the border with China, east of the KKH and the Khunjerab National Park has been specially created to provide 65,000 hectares for preservation of Marco Polo sheep habitat.
The the total remaining population of Snow Leopard is estimated around 7,000-10,000 worldwide, of which around 300 are found in Pakistan. Anyone who can venture up to Nagar Valley, 65 kilometres north of Gilgit, one has a fair chance of siting the big cat, preferably at dawn or dusk. The Baltistan Wildlife Sanctuary covering 415 square kilometres in Baltistan, contiguous with the Astor Wildlife Sanctuary to its south and east and south of the Indus River, is basically established to protect the Snow Leopard besides Brown Bear, Lynx, Tibetan wolf, Tibetan fox, Markhor, Blue sheep and Asiatic ibex. Recently, an animal husbandry program in Chitral has been established which combines science to provide a new approach to save snow leopards. Snow Leopard is also found in Khunjrab National Park
Other wild life that is found in the park include the Himalayan Ibex, Brown Bear, Tibetan Red Fox, Tibetan Wolf, Blue Sheep, Tibetan Wild Donkey, Ermine, Alpine Weasel, Stone Martin, Golden Marmot, Large-eared Pika, Cape Hare and many other small mammals. Most of these animals are considered to be in the threatened species category.
Beside the mammals, a wide variety of birds is also found in the park area, which include Golden Eagle, Lammegier, Himalayan Griffon and Eurasian Black Vultures, Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Sparrow Hawk, Eurasian and Lesser Kestrel, Saker and Peregrin Falcon, Himalayan Snow Cock, Snow Partridge, Grey Heron, Hill and Snow Pigeon, Northern Eagle Owl, Eurasian Cuckoo, Common Swallow, Magpie, Alpine Cough and Raven.
With the establishment of the park and laying down strict rules for the locals as well as the hunters, visitors can view plenty of wildlife from the main KKH. Ibex can easily be seen grazing on distant ridges, Golden Marmots play alongside the road and sometimes even a brown bear can be spotted. A four-day trek to the Karchanai Nullah rewards visitors with a close-up view of a herd of Marco Polo sheep. According to estimates supplied by members of the KVO, there are now around 1000 Ibex, 300 Blue Sheep, 60 Marco Polo Sheep, and a handful of brown bears and Snow Leopards (which have been spotted) living in the park. Since these animals tend to migrate across the border, these numbers are not accurate.
The Khunjerab National Park has the potential to develop into one of the world’s foremost national parks. According to WWF officials, a plan is now afoot to turn it into an ‘International Peace Park’ with conserved areas on both sides of the border. Negotiations with the Chinese are underway. If this plan can be realized, it would mean one ecological park with open boundaries for the wildlife – a truly spectacular habitat on top of the world.
Source: www.pakistanpaedia.com/parks/khunjrab/national_parks_of_p...
We met this gentleman while walking back from the Mahon Falls. He has had this barn owl since it was about three days owl and the bird is very tame. He bring the owl to the mountains so it can hunt away from any danger of catching prey who have been poisoned. It appears the owls are almost extinct in Ireland because their natural food source, mice and rats are being poisoned to such an extent the poison is being transmitted to the owls and other birds of prey.
One of world's most endangered species, in a 2006 count there were less than 100 Guam kingfishers left in the world and not a single one in the wild. Primarily as a consequence of the introduction of the brown tree snakes, these birds only live in zoos.
Captive breeding efforts, first successful at the Bronx Zoo, are underway in the hopes of returning a viable population to the wild.The goal is to put captive-bred birds back in the wild, though that may be impossible for the foreseeable future on Guam, where a few mating pairs are held in a well-protected captive breeding center. Millions of brown tree snakes still live on the island, defying all efforts to eradicate them.
When Robert Griggs first arrived here in 1919 he found it as a geothermal area. It became known as The Yellowstone of the North. It was however, not geothermal at all. The fumeroles had been created by super-heated steam created by the molten lava and ash boiling the River Lethe. Fumeroles are long gone now however. It is said that the Lunar Rover and astronauts trained here for the moon landings. Just saying! .... It is 1985 here. Filmed on Kodachrome 64 and scanned at 4000dpi.
Rano Kau Crater - Humedal Rano Kau Wetland - Easter Island
Rano Kau is a 324 m (1,063 ft) tall extinct volcano that forms the southwestern headland of Easter Island, a Chilean island in the Pacific Ocean. It was formed of basaltic lava flows in the Pleistocene with its youngest rocks dated at between 150,000 and 210,000 years ago.
Rano Kau has a crater lake which is one of the island's only three natural bodies of fresh water. Most of the volcano is on the coast and has been eroded back to form high sea cliffs which at one point have started to bite into the crater wall.
Rano Kau is in the world heritage site of Rapa Nui National Park and gives its name to one of the seven sections of the park. The principal archaeological site on Rano Kau is the ruined ceremonial village of Orongo which is located at the point where the sea cliff and inner crater wall converge. One ahu with several moai was recorded on the cliffs at Rano Kau in the 1880s, but had fallen to the beach by the time of the Routledge expedition in 1914.
As well as basalt, it contains several other igneous rocks including obsidian (for which it was one of the major sources for the island's stoneworkers) and pumice.
The crater is almost a mile across and has its own micro climate. Sheltered from the winds that wet most of the rest of the island, figs and vines flourish at Rano Kau. The inner slope was the site of the last toromiro tree in the wild until the specimen was chopped down for firewood in 1960.
- This is a cast of one of the Dmanisi Homo erectus. As the tag says, this individual is 1.75 million years old ancestor of modern humans.
Deutschland / Sachsen-Anhalt - Schloss Wernigerode
Wernigerode Castle (German: Schloss Wernigerode) is a schloss located in the Harz mountains above the town of Wernigerode in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The present-day building, finished in the late 19th century, is similar in style to Schloss Neuschwanstein, though its foundations are much older and have been reconstructed several times. Wernigerode Castle was first built at the beginning of the 12th century (1110-1120) as a Romanesque architecture medieval fortress for German emperors to have a secure spot to stop during their hunting trips to the Harz. Few of these medieval walls and foundation remain today. At the end of the 15th century the castle was enlarged in a Gothic architecture style, with large arched windows. During the 16th century, it was rebuilt as a Renaissance fortress. A spiral staircase tower still remains intact today.
History
The first mention of the Saxon noble Adalbert of Haimar, Count of Wernigerode, in an 1121 deed is also the first documentation of the settlement, which had been founded about a century earlier in connection with the deforestation of the area. The counts built the castle on a slope south of the town as their residence; it was first mentioned as a castrum in 1213. When the line became extinct in 1429, the Wernigerode lands were inherited by the neighbouring County of Stolberg. The castle became the seat of the subordinate Amt administration and was put in pledge several times.
When in 1645 the Stolberg-Stolberg line split, Wernigerode again became the capital of the County of Stolberg-Wernigerode. The counts however struggled with the citizens in the course of the Thirty Years' War and had to take their residence at nearby Ilsenburg House. The castle was also heavily damaged during this war. It was not until 1710 that Count Christian Ernest could relocate the seat of government back to Wernigerode, when he had the castle rebuilt as a schloss in a Baroque style. He ruled for 61 years, though he had to accept the overlordship of King Frederick William I of Prussia in 1714.
Christian Ernest's descendant Count Otto, first president of the Prussian Province of Hanover from 1867, president of the Prussian House of Lords from 1872 and German Vice-Chancellor from 1878, had the schloss again extensively rebuilt in a Neo-Romantic half timber and half stone, style known as historicism, finishing the project in 1893. Later when Otto became German ambassador the castle became a representation of North-German historicism. The entire complex includes a chapel built in 1880 by German architect Carl Frühling according to drafts by the renowned Vienna architect Friedrich von Schmidt. The original chapel was inaugurated in honor of patron saint Panthaleon and St. Anna and it was situated on the north-western part of the castle circle. Its baroque shape remained unchanged until its demolition in 1870. The new chapel is located in the same location as the old chapel and was inaugurated in 1883. The historic hall is decorated with built-in galleries, while the choir is decorated with stained glass designed by artist Carl Christian Andrea.
(Wikipedia)
Das Schloss Wernigerode im sachsen-anhaltischen Wernigerode erhielt seine jetzige Gestalt im ausgehenden 19. Jahrhundert und wurde zu einem Leitbau des norddeutschen Historismus. Es beherbergt heute ein vielbesuchtes Museum.
Geschichte
Die erste urkundliche Erwähnung eines Grafen von Wernigerode im Jahre 1121 ist gleichzeitig die Ersterwähnung der Rodungssiedlung Wernigerode, deren Anfänge jedoch etwa ein Jahrhundert früher zu datieren sind. Die Burg Wernigerode wurde zwischen 1110 und 1120 über der bereits bestehenden Siedlung Wernigerode erbaut. Ihre erste urkundliche Erwähnung als „Castrum Wernigerode“ stammt aus dem Jahr 1213. Sie galt damals als eine der festesten Burgen im Harzgebiet. Ihr Bauherr war Graf Adalbert, der im Jahr 1121 als „Comes de Wernigerothe“ zum ersten Mal in einer Urkunde des Halberstädter Bischofs Reinhard von Blankenburg genannt wurde. Die Grafen von Wernigerode stammten nicht aus dem Harz, sondern der ehemalige schwäbische Ministeriale Adalbert von Haimar, der im Hildesheimer Gebiet eine Grafschaft besaß, wurde erst durch Kaiser Heinrich V. am Nordharzrand angesiedelt, um hier die kaiserliche Machtstellung zu festigen.
Die Grafen von Wernigerode hatten ihre Herrschafts- und Besitzrechte in einem Bereich, der durch eine Vielzahl von anderen kleinen Territorialgewalten geprägt war. Unmittelbar benachbart waren die Grafen von Blankenburg und von Regenstein, mit denen es häufig Auseinandersetzungen gab.
Die Grafen ließen die Burg als ringförmige Anlage mit einer vieleckigen Ringmauer auf einer vorgeschobenen Bergkuppe des Agnesberges als gut verteidigungsfähige Höhenburg errichten. Zu ihren Füßen kreuzten sich zwei Handels- und Heerstraßen, was einer der Hauptgründe war, warum sich im Schutz der Burg zahlreiche Handwerker und Händler in Wernigerode niederließen. Auf der zur Siedlung Wernigerode hin liegenden Talseite wurden die notwendigen Wohngebäude direkt in den Mauerring eingefügt. Die dazu gehörenden Gebäude wie „Hofstubenbau“, „Steinernes Haus“, und „Neues Haus“ sind heute nur noch teilweise erhalten, da sie im 16. und 19. Jh. umgebaut wurden. Heute bestimmen sie in ihrer veränderten Gestalt große Teile der West- und Nordfassade des Schlosses und beherbergen im Museumsrundgang die Stilzimmer der Renaissance, des Barocks und Klassizismus sowie die sogenannten „Königszimmer“.
Der rasch anwachsenden Siedlung verliehen die Grafen von Wernigerode am 17. April 1229 das Stadtrecht nach dem Vorbild des benachbarten Goslar. Das weitgehend in sich abgeschlossene Territorium der Grafschaft Wernigerode, wie es über viele Jahrhunderte bestand, bildete sich hingegen erst 1343 heraus. Damals wurden die in einem verheerenden Nachbarschaftskrieg unterlegenen Grafen von Regenstein gezwungen, große Teile ihres Gebietes an die Grafen von Wernigerode abzutreten.
Innerhalb des heute so geräumig wirkenden Innenhofs befanden sich ursprünglich die Burgkapelle und der Bergfried. Beide Gebäude wurden bereits im 14. Jahrhundert abgerissen. Die Kapelle wurde durch eine neue, größere Kirche auf der Ostseite des Territoriums der Burg ersetzt. Die Funktion des Verteidigungsturmes übernahm der heute noch erhaltene, im 14. Jahrhundert erbaute Turm an der Nordwestecke des Burggeländes. Er hatte die Aufgabe, die Talseite der Burg mit dem Burgaufgang zu schützen.
Als die Grafen von Wernigerode 1429 in männlicher Linie ausstarben, übernahmen die verwandten Grafen zu Stolberg die Grafschaft Wernigerode und damit auch die Burg. Während der neu erworbene Besitz zunächst an Graf Heinrich von Schwarzburg verpfändet wurde, ließen sich im 16. Jahrhundert hier mehrere Vertreter der Grafen zu Stolberg nieder.
Zur besseren Verteidigung der Burg wurden vom 14. bis 16. Jahrhundert die ursprünglich hölzernen Palisaden über dem Ringgraben durch steinerne Ringmauern ersetzt. Um die Kernburg entstand ein zusammenhängendes Verteidigungssystem, das sich aus verschiedenen Gräben, Wällen, Mauern, Toren und Zwingeranlagen zusammensetzte und die Burg bis hinein in das 16. Jahrhundert nahezu uneinnehmbar machte. So wurde sie auch während des deutschen Bauernkrieges, im Gegensatz zu den Burgen Hohnstein, Stolberg und Heimburg, nicht von den Aufständischen erobert. Diese militärische Bedeutung wurde jedoch im 17. Jahrhundert durch die Entwicklung schwererer Feuerwaffen und die damit verbundenen entscheidenden Veränderungen in der Kriegsführung aufgehoben. Während des Dreißigjährigen Krieges konnte die Burg nicht mehr verteidigt werden und wurde nach Auseinandersetzungen mit Vertretern der Stadt Wernigerode als Herrschaftssitz aufgegeben und die stolbergische Residenz nach Ilsenburg verlegt. Sie wurde von den Grafen verlassen und stand jahrelang leer. Durchziehende Truppen plünderten das Inventar, und die Mauern und Gebäude verfielen. Erst nach Beendigung das Dreißigjährigen Krieges entschlossen sich die Grafen, die Burg wieder instand setzen zu lassen. In der Zeit von 1671 bis 1676 wurde die Burg in ein barockes Wohnschloss umgebaut, das keine militärische Verteidigungsfunktion mehr hatte. Den Schwerpunkt der Bautätigkeit in dieser Zeit bildete die Errichtung eines neuen barocken Fachwerkbaues, des sogenannten „Sommerbaues“, an der Südseite des Schlosses. Der Eingang zum Oberschloss dieses „Sommerbaues“ erfolgte damals über eine Terrasse, die sich bis in die Mitte des heutigen Innenhofes erstreckte. Das mit Wappen und geschnitzten Engeln verzierte hölzerne Portal dient heute noch als Fenstereinfassung, da die Zugangsterrasse verlagert wurde.
Der junge Graf Christian Ernst zu Stolberg-Wernigerode, dem die Herrschaft 1710 durch Erbfolge zugefallen war, verlegte seinen Hofhaltungssitz wieder nach Wernigerode zurück. In der zweiten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts wurde dieses Barockschloss architektonisch noch einmal entscheidend verändert. Nach seinem Regierungsantritt im Jahre 1858 begann Graf Otto zu Stolberg-Wernigerode erst kleinere, dann immer umfangreichere Um- und Neubauten am Schloss durchführen zu lassen. Dem gewachsenen Repräsentationsbedürfnis des Grafen, der als Präsident des preußischen Herrenhauses und als Vizekanzler des Deutschen Reiches zeitweise sehr maßgebliche politische Ämter ausübte, genügte das einfache und provinzielle Barockschloss nicht mehr. Er ließ es zwischen 1862 und 1885 zu einem geräumigen, repräsentativen Prunkschloss umbauen.
Der Innenhof des Schlosses erhielt seine malerische Gestaltung. Dabei entstand auch die 1880 nach Plänen des Wiener Architekten Friedrich von Schmidt vollendete Schlosskirche. Die Kerbschnitzereien in den Brüstungsfeldern des Neorenaissancefachwerks am von 1878 bis 1881 errichteten Saalbau und am Holzhaus schuf der Wernigeröder Holzbildhauer Gustav Kuntzsch. Im historistischen, vorwiegend neugotischen Stil entstand damals mit rund 250 Räumen und zahlreichen Türmen und Einzelgebäuden, die untereinander durch Treppen verbunden sind, der heutige Gebäudekomplex. Den besonderen Wert des Schlosses machen seine innenarchitektonischen Details, wie die Kassettendecken, Wandvertäfelungen und Parkettfußböden aus.
1929 wurde das Schloss als ständiger Wohnsitz der Familie der Fürsten zu Stolberg-Wernigerode aufgegeben, die umfangreiche Bibliothek war bereits 1827 in das leerstehende Gebäude der Orangerie verlegt worden. Teile der Außenanlagen und inneren Räumlichkeiten des Schlosses konnten von April 1930 bis Ende Dezember 1943 im Rahmen von Führungen gegen Entgelt öffentlich besichtigt werden. Jährlich besuchten damals über 40.000 Personen das Schloss. Ab 1944 wurde der größte Teil des Schlosses von der Rüstungskontor GmbH für Wohnzwecke genutzt. Botho Fürst zu Stolberg-Wernigerode als Eigentümer des Schlosses wurde 1945 durch die Bodenreform enteignet.
Mitte Dezember 1946 kam es zu einer unkontrollierten Zerstörung aller historischen Waffen und Rüstungen sowie der Gemälde von Personen in Uniformen oder mit militärischen Ehrenzeichen durch sowjetische Militärangehörige.
Die im Schloss befindliche gewesene Außenstelle der Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt wurde von Konrad Breitenborn geleitet.
Museum
Im Schloss wurde nach Übergabe an die Stadt Wernigerode 1946 ein „Feudalmuseum“ eingerichtet, „das nicht nur den Glanz früherer Jahrhunderte, sondern auch deren Elend dokumentiert“. Dafür wurden unter anderem aus den Schlössern Blankenburg und Ilsenburg „Möbel, Kisten und Kasten herangeschafft“, wie der Spiegel in einer Reportage 1949 berichtete. Die Ausrichtung des Museums beschreibt der Spiegel-Autor wie folgt: „Sinnige Hinweisschilder an den Ausstellungsstücken geben die Richtung an. „Dem Fürsten das Prunkbett, den Untertanen der Strohsack“, steht an einem altmodisch geschnitzten Alkoven.“ Der Museumsführer drehe täglich „viermal dieselbe Walze vom degenerierten Adel im Untergang, frei nach Ludwig Renn.“
Von 1990 an firmierte das Schloss zunächst als Schlossmuseum und dient seit 1998 als erstes deutsches museales Zentrum für Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte des 19. Jahrhunderts. In annähernd 50 Räumen werden original eingerichtete Wohnräume des deutschen Adels vor 1918 sowie thematische Räume zur Geschichte der Familie Stolberg-Wernigerode und zum zweiten deutschen Kaiserreich gezeigt. Unter anderem befindet sich im Speisesaal eine festlich eingedeckte Tafel, welche die Tafelkultur des Adels vor 1918 repräsentiert. Zusätzliche Schwerpunkte sind außerdem Kunsthandwerk und Möbel vom 16. bis ins 19. Jahrhundert. In einem Raum sind Exponate mit den dazugehörigen originalen Kommentaren aus der Zeit des „Feudalmuseums“ ausgestellt.
(Wikipedia)
CO2 good or bad ? The one gas essential for all life on earth is now universally termed a pollutant. Nuclear power is now classed as green energy?
O'h I forgot debate is not allowed any more. I must burn those old science books and ask the search engine providers to algorithm out alternative science from results as fake news. Silly Me I am too late they thought of it first.
It was even worse in the 1970's when they told us were were heading for an ice age and electricity was in short supply in the hard winters. They said Nuclear power was deadly and would pollute the planet for 10's of thousands of years so we needed to burn more coal instead. Yes they had us in fear then too.
Wake up world question everything and your consciousness will rise.
Agendas politics and science need clear boundaries for us to grow in understanding of the world we live in.
If someone in power tells you there is no debate it means they can't win one.
The politics of fear must be ignored and understood for our consciousness to rise a level.
The greening effect of CO2 is real and even recognised at NASA also know as Never a Straight Answer. Temperature rises do release CO2 from the oceans. Does CO'2 release increase air temperature ? A chicken an egg situation.
I am more inclined to think the sun's activity and changing distance from the earth which causes ice ages as the magnetic poles shift has some relevance to the peaks and troughs in out climate, Varying amounts of cosmic rays as the sun travels through the universe could also be important.
The thousands of nuclear explosions below the pacific oceans in the 20th century may just have warmed the sea a bit too and melted some ice. Oh no it looks like three is a debate, Silly me we are not allowed one. Blame yourselves for impending doom not the governments. They will be happy then.
Lets not keep protesting for the World Government Agendas and question more. Science can contain the mind or free it. The choice is yours,
First Transpennine Express and Northern Rail now have new operators in the shape of TransPennine Express (solely First, no Keolis) and Arriva Rail North, transferring on the 1st April 2016. No fool joke here. Here is a photo taken before the changes, when the prior operators were still there earlier in March 2016, during a visit to Manchester.
This is a photo of the logo on a poster advertising the Class 319 trains, showing the old Serco/Abellio alliance operating the previous Northern franchise.
CN 5545, an SD60F, leads IC 1025 and multiple other units westbound at Dyer, Indiana. Almost all the SD60F units are now in storage.
The Wollemi Pine is one of the world's oldest and rarest tree species belonging to a 200 million-year-old plant family. It was known from fossil records and presumed extinct until it was discovered in 1994 by a bushwalker in the Wollemi National Park just outside Australia's largest city, Sydney. Dubbed the botanical find of the century, the Wollemi Pine is now the focus of extensive research to conserve this ancient species.
HBW
Belgium.
Antwerp National Zoo
The southern crested caracara (Caracara plancus), also known as the southern caracara or carancho, is a bird of prey in the family Falconidae. As presently defined, the southern crested caracara is restricted to central and southern South America. It formerly included the northern crested caracara (C. cheriway) of the southern United States, Mexico, Central America and northern South America, and the extinct Guadalupe caracara (C. lutosa) as subspecies. As its relatives, it was formerly placed in the genus Polyborus.
Lotus berthelotii is a perennial plant endemic to the Canary Islands, in the genus Lotus. This plant is either extinct in the wild or persists as a few individuals. In 1884 it was already classed as "exceedingly rare" and plant collection probably hastened its decline.Lotus berthelotii has a creeping or trailing habit, with leaves divided into 3-5 slender leaflets, each leaflet 1–2 cm long and 1 mm broad, densely covered with fine silvery hairs. The flowers are orange-red to red, peaflower-shaped, but slender, 2–4 cm long and 5–8 mm broad.The flowers of Lotus berthelotii and some other Canary Island species appear to be adapted for bird pollination. It was once thought that the original pollinators of these plants (and other genera such as Isoplexis and Canarina) were sunbirds which had become extinct on the Canary Islands, explaining why they are rare and considered endangered species (Vogel 1954; Vogel et al. 1984; Valido et al. 2004). However more recent work has shown that these plants are adequately pollinated by non-specialist flower visiting birds, particularly the Canary Islands Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus canariensis), and in fact show some specific adaptations to infrequent pollination by these birds, such as extended flower lifespans.Lotus berthelotii is cultivated in the horticulture trade and widely available as an ornamental plant with its needle-like silvery foliage and red flowers for: traditional gardens, container (pots), and drought tolerant water conserving gardens. A golden orange flowering cultivar is also grown.
Pianta erbacea perenne originaria delle isole Canarie da dove si è praticamente estinta allo stato naturale, ha portamento rampicante o prostrato, raggiunge i 25-30 cm di altezza, ma tende ad allargarsi molto rapidamente, costituendo un ampio cespuglio; ha fusti sottili, che portano lunghe foglie lineari, di colore verde-argentato o bluastro, sono verticillate o riunite in piccoli fascetti. I fusti sono molto sottili, dello stesso colore delle foglie, oppure rossastri, flessibili e prostrati; da marzo a ottobre i lotus producono innumerevoli fiori di medie dimensioni, a forma di becco o di fiammella, riuniti verso l'alto. Molto adatte in panieri appesi, queste piante si possono porre a dimora anche nei giardini rocciosi, come piante tappezzanti. I lotus tendono ad assumere una forma molto allargata ed abbastanza disordinata, per mantenerle più compatte è consigliabile cimare i rami eccessivamente lunghi.
The extinct relative of the zebra, this is from the Museum of Natural History in London.
"Photograph of a Quagga taken in London Zoo between 1892 and 1907. The Quagga is now extinct."
Hanuman is a Hindu god and an ardent devotee of Rama. He is a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and its various versions. He also finds mentions in several other texts, including Mahabharata, the various Puranas and some Jain texts. A vanara, Hanuman participated in Rama's war against the demon king Ravana. Several texts also present him as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. He is the son of Kesari, and is also described as the son of Vayu, who according to several stories, played a role in his birth. Several sects including Arya Samaj believe that Hanuman was a human and not vanara.
ETYMOLOGY & OTHER NAMES
The Sanskrit texts mention several legends about how Sri Hanuman got his name. One legend is that Indra, the king of the deities, struck Sri Hanuman's jaw during his childhood (see below). The child received his name from the Sanskrit words Hanu ("jaw") and -man (or -mant, "prominent" or "disfigured"). The name thus means "one with prominent or disfigured jaw". Another theory says the name derives from the Sanskrit words Han ("killed" or "destroyed") and maana (pride); the name implies "one whose pride was destroyed". Some Jain texts mention that Sri Hanuman spent his childhood on an island called Hanuruha, which is the origin of his name.
According to one theory, the name "Hanuman" derives from the proto-Dravidian word for male monkey (ana-mandi), which was later Sanskritized to "Hanuman" (see historical development below). Linguistic variations of "Hanuman" include Hanumat, Anuman (Tamil), Anoman (Indonesian), Andoman (Malay) and Hunlaman (Lao).
Hanuman came to be regarded as an avatar (incarnation) of Shiva by the 10th century CE (this development possibly started as early as in the 8th century CE). Hanuman is mentioned as an avatar of Shiva or Rudra in the Sanskrit texts like Mahabhagvata Purana, Skanda Purana, Brhaddharma Purana and Mahanataka among others. This development might have been a result of the Shavite attempts to insert their ishta devata (cherished deity) in the Vaishnavite texts, which were gaining popularity. The 17th century Oriya work Rasavinoda by Divakrsnadasa goes on to mention that the three gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva – combined take to the form of Hanuman.
Hanuman became more important in the medieval period, and came to be portrayed as the ideal devotee (bhakta) of Rama. His characterization as a lifelong brahmachari (celibate) was another important development during this period. The belief that Hanuman's celibacy is the source of his strength became popular among the wrestlers in India. The celibacy or brahmacharya aspect of Hanuman is not mentioned in the original Ramayana.
BIRTH & CHILDHOOD
Hanuman was born to the vanaras. His mother Anjana was an apsara who was born on earth due to a curse. She was redeemed from this curse on her giving birth to a son. The Valmiki Ramayana states that his father Kesari was the son of Brihaspati and that Kesari also fought on Rama's side in the war against Ravana. Anjana and Kesari performed intense prayers to Shiva to get a child. Pleased with their devotion, Shiva granted them the boon they sought. Hanuman, in another interpretation, is the incarnation or reflection of Shiva himself.
Hanuman is often called the son of the deity Vayu; several different traditions account for the Vayu's role in Hanuman's birth. One story mentioned in Eknath's Bhavartha Ramayana (16th century CE) states that when Anjana was worshiping Shiva, the King Dasharatha of Ayodhya was also performing the ritual of Putrakama yagna in order to have children. As a result, he received some sacred pudding (payasam) to be shared by his three wives, leading to the births of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna. By divine ordinance, a kite snatched a fragment of that pudding and dropped it while flying over the forest where Anjana was engaged in worship. Vayu, the Hindu deity of the wind, delivered the falling pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it. Hanuman was born to her as a result. Another tradition says that Anjana and her husband Kesari prayed Shiva for a child. By Shiva's direction, Vayu transferred his male energy to Anjana's womb. Accordingly, Hanuman is identified as the son of the Vayu.
Another story of Hanuman's origins is derived from the Vishnu Purana and Naradeya Purana. Narada, infatuated with a princess, went to his lord Vishnu, to make him look like Vishnu, so that the princess would garland him at swayamvara (husband-choosing ceremony). He asked for hari mukh (Hari is another name of Vishnu, and mukh means face). Vishnu instead bestowed him with the face of a vanara. Unaware of this, Narada went to the princess, who burst into laughter at the sight of his ape-like face before all the king's court. Narada, unable to bear the humiliation, cursed Vishnu, that Vishnu would one day be dependent upon a vanara. Vishnu replied that what he had done was for Narada's own good, as he would have undermined his own powers if he were to enter matrimony. Vishnu also noted that Hari has the dual Sanskrit meaning of vanara. Upon hearing this, Narada repented for cursing his idol. But Vishnu told him not repent as the curse would act as a boon, for it would lead to the birth of Hanuman, an avatar of Shiva, without whose help Rama (Vishnu's avatar) could not kill Ravana.
BIRTH PLACE
Multiple places in India are claimed as the birthplace of Hanuman.
According to one theory, Hanuman was born on 'Anjaneya Hill', in Hampi, Karnataka. This is located near the Risyamukha mountain on the banks of the Pampa, where Sugreeva and Rama are said to have met in Valmiki Ramayana's Kishkinda Kanda. There is a temple that marks the spot. Kishkinda itself is identified with the modern Anegundi taluk (near Hampi) in Bellary district of Karnataka.
Anjan, a small village about 18 km away from Gumla, houses "Anjan Dham", which is said to be the birthplace of Hanuman. The name of the village is derived from the name of the goddess Anjani, the mother of Hanuman. Aanjani Gufa (cave), 4 km from the village, is believed to be the place where Anjani once lived. Many objects of archaeological importance obtained from this site are now held at the Patna Museum.
The Anjaneri (or Anjneri) mountain, located 7 km from Trimbakeshwar in the Nasik district, is also claimed as the birthplace of Hanuman.
According to Anjan Dham, Hanuman was born on Lakshka Hill near Sujangarh in Churu district, Rajasthan.
CHILDHOOD
As a child, believing the sun to be a ripe mango, Hanuman pursued it in order to eat it. Rahu, a Vedic planet corresponding to an eclipse, was at that time seeking out the sun as well, and he clashed with Hanuman. Hanuman thrashed Rahu and went to take sun in his mouth.[18] Rahu approached Indra, king of devas, and complained that a monkey child stopped him from taking on Sun, preventing the scheduled eclipse. This enraged Indra, who responded by throwing the Vajra (thunderbolt) at Hanuman, which struck his jaw. He fell back down to the earth and became unconscious. A permanent mark was left on his chin (हनुः hanuḥ "jaw" in Sanskrit), due to impact of Vajra, explaining his name. Upset over the attack, Hanuman's father figure Vayu deva (the deity of air) went into seclusion, withdrawing air along with him. As living beings began to asphyxiate, Indra withdrew the effect of his thunderbolt. The devas then revived Hanuman and blessed him with multiple boons to appease Vayu.
Brahma gave Hanuman a boon that would protect him from the irrevocable Brahma's curse. Brahma also said: "Nobody will be able to kill you with any weapon in war." From Brahma he obtained the power of inducing fear in enemies, of destroying fear in friends, to be able to change his form at will and to be able to easily travel wherever he wished. From Shiva he obtained the boons of longevity, scriptural wisdom and ability to cross the ocean. Shiva assured safety of Hanuman with a band that would protect him for life. Indra blessed him that the Vajra weapon will no longer be effective on him and his body would become stronger than Vajra. Varuna blessed baby Hanuman with a boon that he would always be protected from water. Agni blessed him with immunity to burning by fire. Surya gave him two siddhis of yoga namely "laghima" and "garima", to be able to attain the smallest or to attain the biggest form. Yama, the God of Death blessed him healthy life and free from his weapon danda, thus death would not come to him. Kubera showered his blessings declaring that Hanuman would always remain happy and contented. Vishwakarma blessed him that Hanuman would be protected from all his creations in the form of objects or weapons. Vayu also blessed him with more speed than he himself had. Kamadeva also blessed him that the sex will not be effective on him.So his name is also Bala Bramhachari.
On ascertaining Surya to be an all-knowing teacher, Hanuman raised his body into an orbit around the sun and requested to Surya to accept him as a student. Surya refused and explained claiming that he always had to be on the move in his chariot, it would be impossible for Hanuman to learn well. Undeterred, Hanuman enlarged his form, with one leg on the eastern ranges and the other on the western ranges, and facing Surya again pleaded. Pleased by his persistence, Surya agreed. Hanuman then learned all of the latter's knowledge. When Hanuman then requested Surya to quote his "guru-dakshina" (teacher's fee), the latter refused, saying that the pleasure of teaching one as dedicated as him was the fee in itself. Hanuman insisted, whereupon Surya asked him to help his (Surya's) spiritual son Sugriva. Hanuman's choice of Surya as his teacher is said to signify Surya as a Karma Saakshi, an eternal witness of all deeds. Hanuman later became Sugriva's minister.
Hanuman was mischievous in his childhood, and sometimes teased the meditating sages in the forests by snatching their personal belongings and by disturbing their well-arranged articles of worship. Finding his antics unbearable, but realizing that Hanuman was but a child, (albeit invincible), the sages placed a mild curse on him by which he became unable to remember his own ability unless reminded by another person. The curse is highlighted in Kishkindha Kanda and he was relieved from the curse by the end of Kishkindha Kanda when Jambavantha reminds Hanuman of his abilities and encourages him to go and find Sita and in Sundara Kanda he used his supernatural powers at his best.
ADVANTURES IN RAMAYANA
The Sundara Kanda, the fifth book in the Ramayana, focuses on the adventures of Hanuman.
MEETING WITH RAMA
Hanuman meets Rama during the Rama's 14-year exile. With his brother Lakshmana, Rama is searching for his wife Sita who had been abducted by Ravana. Their search brings them to the vicinity of the mountain Rishyamukha, where Sugriva, along with his followers and friends, are in hiding from his older brother Vali.
Having seen Rama and Lakshmana, Sugriva sends Hanuman to ascertain their identities. Hanuman approaches the two brothers in the guise of a brahmin. His first words to them are such that Rama says to Lakshmana that none could speak the way the brahmin did unless he or she had mastered the Vedas. He notes that there is no defect in the brahmin's countenance, eyes, forehead, brows, or any limb. He points out to Lakshmana that his accent is captivating, adding that even an enemy with sword drawn would be moved. He praises the disguised Hanuman further, saying that sure success awaited the king whose emissaries were as accomplished as he was.
When Rama introduces himself, the brahman identitifies himself as Hanuman and falls prostrate before Rama, who embraces him warmly. Thereafter, Hanuman's life becomes interwoven with that of Rama. Hanuman then brings about friendship and alliance between Rama and Sugriva; Rama helps Sugriva regain his honour and makes him king of Kishkindha. Sugriva and his vanaras, most notably Hanuman, help Rama defeat Raavana and reunite with Sita.
In their search for Sita, a group of Vanaras reaches the southern seashore. Upon encountering the vast ocean, every vanara begins to lament his inability to jump across the water. Hanuman too is saddened at the possible failure of his mission, until the other vanaras and the wise bear Jambavantha begin to extol his virtues. Hanuman then recollects his own powers, enlarges his body, and flies across the ocean. On his way, he encounters a mountain that rises from the sea, proclaims that it owed his father a debt, and asks him to rest a while before proceeding. Not wanting to waste any time, Hanuman thanks the mountain, touches it briefly, and presses on. He then encounters a sea-monster, Surasa, who challenges him to enter her mouth. When Hanuman outwits her, she admits that her challenge was merely a test of his courage. After killing Simhika, a rakshasi, he reaches Lanka.
FINDING SITA
Hanuman reaches Lanka through flight and marvels at its beauty. After he finds Sita in captivity in a garden, Hanuman reveals his identity to her, reassures her that Rama has been looking for her, and uplifts her spirits. He offers to carry her back to Rama, but she refuses his offer, saying it would be an insult to Rama as his honour is at stake. In order to give Sita faith, Hanuman gives her a ring that Rama wanted Hanuman to give her. After meeting Sita, Hanuman begins to wreak havoc, gradually destroying the palaces and properties of Lanka. He kills many rakshasas, including Jambumali and Aksha Kumar. To subdue him, Ravana's son Indrajit uses the Brahmastra. Though immune to the effects of this weapon Hanuman, out of respect to Brahma, allows himself be bound. Deciding to use the opportunity to meet Ravana, and to assess the strength of Ravana's hordes, Hanuman allows the rakshasa warriors to parade him through the streets. He conveys Rama's message of warning and demands the safe return of Sita. He also informs Ravana that Rama would be willing to forgive him if he returns Sita honourably.
Enraged, Ravana orders Hanuman's execution, whereupon Ravana's brother Vibhishana intervenes, pointing out that it is against the rules of engagement to kill a messenger. Ravana then orders Hanuman's tail be lit afire. As Ravana's forces attempted to wrap cloth around his tail, Hanuman begins to lengthen it. After frustrating them for a while, he allows it to burn, then escapes from his captors, and with his tail on fire he burns down large parts of Lanka. After extinguishing his flaming tail in the sea, he returns to Rama.
SHAPESHIFTING
In the Ramayana Hanuman changes shape several times. For example, while he searches for the kidnapped Sita in Ravana's palaces on Lanka, he contracts himself to the size of a cat, so that he will not be detected by the enemy. Later on, he takes on the size of a mountain, blazing with radiance, to show his true power to Sita.
Also he enlarges & immediately afterwards contracts his body to out-wit Surasa, the she-demon, who blocked his path while crossing the sea to reach Lanka. Again, he turns his body microscopically small to enter Lanka before killing Lankini, the she-demon guarding the gates of Lanka.
He achieved this shape-shifting by the powers of two siddhis; Anima and Garima bestowed upon him in his childhood by Sun-God, Surya.
MOUNTAIN LIFTING
When Lakshmana is severely wounded during the battle against Ravana, Hanuman is sent to fetch the Sanjivani, a powerful life-restoring herb, from Dronagiri mountain in the Himalayas, to revive him. Ravana realises that if Lakshmana dies, a distraught Rama would probably give up, and so he dispatches the sorcerer Kalanemi to intercept Hanuman. Kalanemi, in the guise of a sage, deceives Hanuman, but Hanuman uncovers his plot with the help of an apsara, whom he rescues from her accursed state as a crocodile.
Ravana, upon learning that Kalanemi has been slain by Hanuman, summons Surya to rise before its appointed time because the physician Sushena had said that Lakshmana would perish if untreated by daybreak. Hanuman realizes the danger, however, and, becoming many times his normal size, detains the Sun God to prevent the break of day. He then resumes his search for the precious herb, but, when he finds himself unable to identify which herb it is, he lifts the entire mountain and delivers it to the battlefield in Lanka. Sushena then identifies and administers the herb, and Lakshmana is saved. Rama embraces Hanuman, declaring him as dear to him as his own brother. Hanuman releases Surya from his grip, and asks forgiveness, as the Sun was also his Guru.
Hanuman was also called "langra veer"; langra in Hindi means limping and veer means "brave". The story behind Hanuman being called langra is as follows. He was injured when he was crossing the Ayodhya with the mountain in his hands. As he was crossing over Ayodhya, Bharat, Rama's young brother, saw him and assumed that some Rakshasa was taking this mountain to attack Ayodhya. Bharat then shot Hanuman with an arrow, which was engraved with Rama's name. Hanuman did not stop this arrow as it had Rama's name written on it, and it injured his leg. Hanuman landed and explained to Bharat that he was moving the mountain to save his own brother, Lakshmana. Bharat, very sorry, offered to fire an arrow to Lanka, which Hanuman could ride in order to reach his destination more easily. But Hanuman declined the offer, preferring to fly on his own, and he continued his journey with his injured leg.
PATALA INCIDENT
In another incident during the war, Rama and Lakshmana are captured by the rakshasa Mahiravana and Ahiravan), brother of Ravana, who held them captive in their palace in Patala (or Patalpuri) - the netherworld. Mahiravana keeps them as offerings to his deity. Searching for them, Hanuman reaches Patala, the gates of which are guarded by a young creature called Makardhwaja (known also as Makar-Dhwaja or Magar Dhwaja), who is part reptile and part Vanara.
The story of Makardhwaja's birth is said to be that when Hanuman extinguished his burning tail in the ocean, a drop of his sweat fell into the waters, eventually becoming Makardhwaja, who perceives Hanuman as his father. When Hanuman introduces himself to Makardhwaja, the latter asks his blessings. Hanuman enters Patala.
Upon entering Patala, Hanuman discovers that to kill Mahiravana, he must simultaneously extinguish five lamps burning in different directions. Hanuman assumes the Panchamukha or five-faced form of Sri Varaha facing north, Sri Narasimha facing south, Sri Garuda facing west, Sri Hayagriva facing the sky and his own facing the east, and blows out the lamps. Hanuman then rescues Rama and Lakshmana. Afterwards, Rama asks Hanuman to crown Makardhwaja king of Patala. Hanuman then instructs Makardhwaja to rule Patala with justice and wisdom.
To date Chandraloak Devpuri mandir is located at Dugana a small village 17 km from Laharpur,Sitapur district,Uttar Pradesh. A divine place where Chakleswar Mahadev situated.
HONOURS
Shortly after he is crowned Emperor upon his return to Ayodhya, Rama decides to ceremoniously reward all his well-wishers. At a grand ceremony in his court, all his friends and allies take turns being honoured at the throne. Hanuman approaches without desiring a reward. Seeing Hanuman come up to him, an emotionally overwhelmed Rama embraces him warmly, declaring that he could never adequately honour or repay Hanuman for the help and services he received from the noble Vanara. Sita, however, insists that Hanuman deserved honour more than anyone else, and Sita gives him a necklace of precious stones adorning her neck.
When he receives it, Hanuman immediately takes it apart, and peers into each stone. Taken aback, many of those present demand to know why he is destroying the precious gift. Hanuman answers that he was looking into the stones to make sure that Rama and Sita are in them, because if they are not, the necklace is of no value to him. At this, a few mock Hanuman, saying his reverence and love for Rama and Sita could not possibly be as deep as he implies. In response, Hanuman tears his chest open, and everyone is stunned to see Rama and Sita literally in his heart.
HANUMAN RAMAYANA
After the victory of Rama over Ravana, Hanuman went to the Himalayas to continue his worship of the Lord Rama. There he scripted a version of the Ramayana on the Himalayan mountains using his nails, recording every detail of Rama's deeds. When Maharishi Valmiki visited him to show him his own version of the Ramayana, he saw Hanuman's version and became very disappointed.
When Hanuman asked Valmiki the cause of his sorrow, the sage said that his version, which he had created very laboriously, was no match for the splendour of Hanuman's, and would therefore go ignored. At this, Hanuman discarded his own version, which is called the Hanumad Ramayana. Maharishi Valmiki was so taken aback that he said he would take another birth to sing the glory of Hanuman which he had understated in his version.
Later, one tablet is said to have floated ashore during the period of Mahakavi Kalidasa, and hung at a public place to be deciphered by scholars. Kalidasa is said to have deciphered it and recognised that it was from the Hanumad Ramayana recorded by Hanuman in an extinct script, and considered himself very fortunate to see at least one pada of the stanza.
AFTER RAMAYANA WAR
After the war, and after reigning for several years, the time arrived for Rama to depart to his supreme abode Vaikuntha. Many of Rama's entourage, including Sugriva, decided to depart with him. Hanuman, however, requested from Rama that he will remain on earth as long as Rama's name was venerated by people. Sita accorded Hanuman that desire, and granted that his image would be installed at various public places, so he could listen to people chanting Rama's name. He is one of the immortals (Chiranjivi) of Hinduism.
MAHABHARATA
Hanuman is also considered to be the brother of Bhima, on the basis of their having the same father, Vayu. During the Pandavas' exile, he appears disguised as a weak and aged monkey to Bhima in order to subdue his arrogance. Bhima enters a field where Hanuman is lying with his tail blocking the way. Bhima, unaware of his identity, tells him to move it out of the way. Hanuman, incognito, refuses. Bhima then tries to move the tail himself but he is unable, despite his great strength. Realising he is no ordinary monkey, he inquires as to Hanuman's identity, which is then revealed. At Bhima's request, Hanuman is also said to have enlarged himself to demonstrate the proportions he had assumed in his crossing of the sea as he journeyed to Lanka and also said that when the war came, he would be there to protect the Pandavas. This place is located at Sariska National Park in the Alwar District of the State of Rajasthan and named as Pandupole (Temple of Hanuman ji).Pandupole is very famous tourist spot of Alwar.
During the great battle of Kurukshetra, Arjuna entered the battlefield with a flag displaying Hanuman on his chariot. The incident that led to this was an earlier encounter between Hanuman and Arjuna, wherein Hanuman appeared as a small talking monkey before Arjuna at Rameshwaram, where Rama had built the great bridge to cross over to Lanka to rescue Sita. Upon Arjuna's wondering aloud at Rama's taking the help of monkeys rather than building a bridge of arrows, Hanuman challenged him to build a bridge capable of bearing him alone; Arjuna, unaware of the vanara's true identity, accepted. Hanuman then proceeded to repeatedly destroy the bridges made by Arjuna, who decided to take his own life. Krishna smiled and placed his divine discus beneath the bridge,and this time hanuman could no longer break it.Vishnu then appeared before them both after originally coming in the form of a tortoise, chiding Arjuna for his vanity and Hanuman for making Arjuna feel incompetent. As an act of penitence, Hanuman decided to help Arjuna by stabilizing and strengthening his chariot during the imminent great battle. After, the battle of Kurukshetra was over, Krishna asked Arjuna, that today you step down the chariot before me. After Arjuna got down, Krishna followed him and thanked Hanuman for staying with them during the whole fight in the form of a flag on the chariot. Hanuman came in his original form, bowed to Krishna and left the flag, flying away into the sky. As soon as he left the flag, the chariot began to burn and turned into ashes. Arjuna was shocked to see this, then Krishna told Arjuna, that the only reason his chariot was still standing was because of the presence of Himself and Hanuman, otherwise, it would have burnt many days ago due to effects of celestial weapons thrown at it in the war.
According to legend, Hanuman is one of the four people to have heard the Bhagwad Gita from Krishna and seen his Vishvarupa (universal) form, the other three being Arjuna, Sanjaya and Barbarika, son of Ghatotkacha.
OTHER TEXTS
Apart from Ramayana and Mahabharata, Hanuman is mentioned in several other texts. Some of these stories add to his adventures mentioned in the earlier epics, while others tell alternative stories of his life.
Paumacariya (also known as Pauma Chariu or Padmacharit), the Jain version of Ramayana written by Vimalasuri, mentions Hanuman as a Vidyadhara (a supernatural being), who is the son of Pavangati and Anjana Sundari. Anjana gives birth to Hanuman in a forest cave, after being banished by her in-laws. Her maternal uncle rescues her from the forest; while boarding his vimana, Anjana accidentally drops her baby on a rock. However, the baby remains uninjured while the rock is shattered. The baby is raised in Hanuruha, his great uncle's island kingdom, from which Hanuman gets his name. In this version, Hanuman is not celibate. He marries princess Anangakusuma, the daughter of Kharadushana and Ravana's sister Chandranakha. Ravana also presents Hanuman one of his nieces as a second wife. After becoming an ally of Sugriva, Hanuman acquires a hundred more wives. Hanuman is originally enraged at Rama for murdering his father-in-law Kharadushana. However, he becomes a supporter of Rama after meeting him and learning about Sita's kidnapping by Ravana. He goes to Lanka on Rama's behalf, but is unable to convince Ravana to surrender. Ultimately, he joins Rama in the war against Ravana and performs several heroic deeds. After the victory and subsequent celebrations, both Rama and Hanuman take Jaineshwari Diksha and become Jain Munis and achieve salvation. Later Jain texts such as Uttarapurana (9th century CE) by Gunabhadra and Anjana-Pavananjaya (12th century CE) tells the same story.
The Brahma Purana mentions that the vanaras built several Shiva lingams in Kishkindha. After his return to Ayodhya, Rama asks Hanuman to destroy these lingams, as they are no longer required. However, when Hanuman is unable to uproot these lingams, Rama orders them to worshipped permanently. The Skanda Purana mentions a variant of this story, which happens in Rameswaram. The Narada Purana describes Hanuman as a master of vocal music, and as an embodiment of the combined power of Shiva and Vishnu.
Apart from the Puranas, the Agama Saunaka Samhitha, and Agastya Sara Samhitha explains certain stories which are not mentioned in other Hindu texts along with the worship rituals of Hanuman. Recently a simple English Translation of some of stories are released as a book named Tales Of Hanuman: Tales from the eternal life of Hanuman
The 16th-century Indian poet Tulsidas wrote Hanuman Chalisa, a devotional song dedicated to Hanuman. He claimed to have visions where he met face to face with Hanuman. Based on these meetings, he wrote Ramcharitmanas, an Awadhi language version of Ramayana. The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple (Varanasi) is said to be located on the spot where Tulsidas had these visions. The works of Tulsidas played an important role in increasing the popularity of Hanuman worship in North India.
Durga Chalisa mentions that Hanuman leads and welcomes the procession of the ferocious lion-riding Bhavani.
The non-Indian versions of Ramayana, such as the Thai Ramakien, mention that Hanuman had relationships with multiple women, including Svayamprabha, Benjakaya (Vibhisana's daughter), Suvannamaccha and even Ravana's wife Mandodari. According to these versions of the Ramayana, Macchanu is son of Hanuman borne by Suvannamaccha, daughter of Ravana. The Jain text Paumacariya also mentions that Hanuman married Lankasundari, the daughter of Lanka's chief defender Bajramukha. Another legend says that a demigod named Matsyaraja (also known as Makardhwaja or Matsyagarbha) claimed to be his son. Matsyaraja's birth is explained as follows: a fish (matsya) was impregnated by the drops of Hanuman's sweat, while he was bathing in the ocean.
PROPHECY & LEGACY
A number of religious leaders have claimed to have seen Hanuman over the course of the centuries, notably Madhvacharya (13th century CE), Tulsidas (16th century), Samarth Ramdas (17th century), Raghavendra Swami (17th century) and Swami Ramdas (20th century).
Swaminarayan, founder of the Hindu Swaminarayan sects, holds that other than worship of God through the Narayana Kavacha, Hanuman is the only deity who may be worshiped in the event of trouble by evil spirits.
Others have also asserted his presence wherever the Ramayana is read.
“Bow down to Hanumān, who is the slayer of demons, and who is present with head bowed and eyes full of flowing tears wherever the fame of Rāma is sung.”
This can be found in other texts such as the Vinaya Patrika by Tulsidas and the Mahabharta, and in other texts with only slight variation in language. During the readings of the Ramayana (Ramayanpath), a special puja and space (asan) are reserved for Hanuman.
TEMPLES
Hanuman is worshipped by villagers as a boundary guardian, by Shaiva ascetics as a Yogi, and by wrestlers for his strength. There are numerous temples for Hanuman, and his images are usually installed at all temples where images of avatars of Vishnu are installed. Hanuman temples are believed to keep the area and surroundings free of rakshasas (demons) and other evil beings. Hanuman idols are found on mountain roads because it is believed that he protects people from accidents.
Jakhu temple is a famous temple at Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. The word "Jakhu" is derived from "Yaku"/"Yaksha". The hill is the legendary abode of Yaksha, Kinners Nagas and Asuras. The temple was founded on a plain where, according to legend, Hanuman's sudden landing flattened a hill. A 33-metre statue of Hanuman has been erected at the top of the 2,591-metre tall Jakhu Hill, the highest point in Shimla.
According to the Ramayana, during the battle between Lord Rama and Ravana at Lanka, Lakshmana, brother of Lord Rama, was mortally wounded by an arrow. To save his life, Hanuman journeyed to the Himalayas to retrieve the Sanjeevani herb. En route, he encountered a meditating sage on Jakhu mountain; as he paused to inquire about the herb, Hanuman's landing on the mountain compressed the earth, changing the shape of the mountain to its present state. In his haste to depart, Hanuman is said to have left his friends behind, and they are said to continue to roam the area even today. A temple honoring Lord Hanuman was constructed by the Jakhu sage.
The oldest known independent Hanuman statue is the one at Khajuraho, which has an inscription dated Sam. 940 (AD 883) mentioning that it was erected by Gahil's son Gollak.
Sankat Mochan Shri Hanuman Mandir, located in the Punjab town of Phillaur is one of the popular temples of Hanuman. Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Varanasi, believed to be built by Tulsidas, is second most popular temple in the city.
Namakkal Anjaneyar temple is located in the town of Namakkal, Tamil Nadu. There is an 18-feet idol of Sri Hanuman in the temple facing east, worshipping Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami (one of the avatar of god Vishnu) in this temple. Anjenayar idol is Swayambu, believed to be growing in height; thus, temple has no roof enclosing.
Sholinghur Sri Yoga Narasimha swami temple and Sri Yoga Anjaneyar temple, located in Sholinghur, a town which is about 30 km from Arakkonam of Vellore District.Sri yoga Anjaneyar temple located over small hill containing 480 steps from ground. Lord Anjaneyar with Sathurpujam (sathur=four, pujam=arms) Sri Sangu and Sri Chakaram 2 hands and Jabba Malai and Jaba Shankaram in other two respectively facing Sri yoga Narasimha swami and Yoga Amurthavalli Thayar present over hill (periya malai= big hill) with 1305 steps from ground. Sholinghur shetram one among 108 divya desams also one of most famous temple of our Lord Anjaneya.
Ragigudda Anjaneya temple is a Hanuman temple located in JP Nagar Bangalore. The temple is located on a hillock.
The Hanuman temple at Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India is situated inside SIES complex. The Hanuman idol is 10 m tall and is installed on a pedestal of height 4 m, bringing the total height to 14 m. In the picture shown, Hanuman has silver coverings (Silver Kavasam). The 33 feet Hanuman idol is carved out of single granite stone. This is the tallest single granite stone Hanuman idol in India as per the temple.
Similarly, a 10 m idol of Sri Anjaneyar was entrenched in 1989 at Nanganallur in Chennai, India. The distinguishing factor of the idol is that it was molded out of a single rock.
An 26-m Karya Siddhi Hanuman statue was installed at Carapichaima in Trinidad and Tobago, by Avadhoota Dattapeetham's Pontiff Ganapathy Sachchidananda. It is the tallest in the Western hemisphere and second tallest in the world. One has also built a Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco, Texas in the U.S.
The tallest Hanuman statue is the Veera Abhaya Anjaneya Hanuman Swami, standing 135 feet tall at Yerravaram, 46 km from Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh, installed in 2003.
The image of Hanuman is said to have come alive and moved when installed at the Shri Hanuman Mandir, Sarangpur. The temple is noted for getting rid of evil spirits.
Suchindram temple is a pious place lying about 14 km from Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. The temple is famous for it 18 feet tall Hanuman idol. This idol is decorated fully with butter (Vennai kappu in Tamil) and Sandalwood paste (Chandana kappu in Tamil).
In Rajasthan,Hanuman Temples at Mehendipur Balaji in Dausa district (80 km from Jaipur) and Salasar dhaam in Churu district (160 km from Jaipur) attract a large number of devotees from all over India. [{Chandraloak Devpuri Balaji}] is located in Dugana 17 km from Laharpur district-sitapur,UttarPradesh
Bhaktha Anjaneyar is Temple is located in Vedasandur, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.
Kaviyoor is a small village about 5–6 km from the town of Thiruvalla, Kerala The Kaviyoor Mahadevar Temple here is about 100 years old and the Hanuman temple inside the Shiva temple is considered as very auspicious by devotees. Hanuman idol consecrated here is made of Panchaloha and is depicting him telling the story of Ramayana to Sita in the Asoka Vana.
Yalagur, a small village about 30–35 km from the town of Bagalkot in Karnataka, also has a temple dedicated to Hanuman.
Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple, Ramboda.Sri Lanka. Ramboda is a place where Hanuman was searching for Sita Devi.
WORSHIP
Some of the prayers, songs, mantras, shlokas, devoted to Hanuman include Hanuman Chalisa, Bajranga Baan, Maruti Strotam, Anjaneya Dandakam, Vadvanal Strotam, Hanuman Sathhika, Hanuman Bahuk, Hanuman Dwadesha, Bhimrupi Strotam, Sundara Kanda, Maruti Gayatri Mantra, Hanumansahasranam stotra (Stotra of thousand names of Hanuman), Ek-mukhi Hanuman Raksha Kavacham, Pancha-mukhi Hanuman Raksha Kavacham and Sapta-mukhi Hanuman Raksha Kavacham.
"Ram Raksha Strotam", the Sanskrit Strota, a Shield of Rama has lines devoted to Hanuman, saying, whoever, reads this, will be protected by Hanuman.
PANCHAMUKHA SRI HANUMAN
Sri Hanuman assumed Panchamukha or five-faced form to kill Ahiravana, a powerful rakshasa black-magician and practitioner of the dark arts during the Ramayana war. Ahiravana, brother of Ravana, had taken Lord Rama and Lakshmana to netherworld as captive, and the only way to kill him was to extinguish five lamps burning in different directions, all at the same instant. Sri Hanuman assumed His Panchamukha form and accomplished the task, thus killing the rakshasa, and freeing Rama and Lakshmana.
This form of Sri Hanuman is very popular, and is also known as Panchamukha Anjaneya and Panchamukhi Anjaneya. (Anjaneya, which means "son of Anjana", is another name of Sri Hanuman). These faces show there is nothing in the world which does not come under any the influence of any of the five faces, symbolic of his all around security to all devotees. This also signifies vigilance and control over the five directions - north, south, east, west and the upward direction/zenith.
There are five ways of prayer, Naman, Smaran, Keerthanam, Yachanam and Arpanam. The five faces depict these five forms. Lord Sri Hanuman always used to Naman, Smaran and Keerthanam of Lord Sri Rama. He totally surrendered (Arpanam) to his Master Sri Rama. He also begged (yachanam) Sri Rama to bless him the undivided love.
The weapons are a parashu, a Khanda, a chakra, a dhaalam, a gada, a trishula, a kumbha, a Katar, a plate filled with blood and again a big Gada.
Chitrakoot in Central India is claimed to be the resting place of Sri Hanuman. The Hanuman Dhara Temple is situated on the peak of mountain where there is natural rock formation image of Shri Hanuman inside the cave and a natural stream of water falling on the tail. It is believed that after the coronation of Lord Rama, Sri Hanuman requested for a permanent place to settle in the Kingdom of Lord Rama, where his Injury of burns on his tails will be cured. Lord Rama, then with his arrow, spurred a stream of water on the tip of mountain and asked Sri Hanuman to rest there with water of the stream falling on his tail to cool down burning sensation in his tail. The access to the cave temple is through stairs starting from bottom of the mountain to its top. It takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes to reach the temple. Over time the temple has gained a new name, namely Hanuman Dhara.
Sri Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami was the main deity of Sri Raghavendra Swami. The place where he meditated on this five-faced form of Sri Hanuman is now known as Panchamukhi, wherein a temple for him has been built. There is also a shrine for Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami at Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. A 12 m tall monolithic green granite murti of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has been installed in Thiruvallur, also in Tamil Nadu. This place was known as Rudravanam in olden times when many saints and seers had blessed this place with their presence. The Panchamukha Hanuman Ashram itself was established by a saint called Venkatesa Battar. A four foot image of Panchmukha Hanuman has been consecrated West of Lusaka, Zambia in Oye Kapi farm.
RELATION WITH SHANI
In Hinduism, Hanuman is one of the few deities not afflicted by Shani. Hanuman is the one of the deities in Hindu religion, over whom Shani could not cast his spell. Shani could not overcome Hanuman and as such people worship Hanuman to get rid of malefic effects of Shani.
In the Ramayana, Hanuman is said to have rescued Shani, from the clutches of Ravana.
In gratitude, Shani promised Hanuman that those who prayed him (Hanuman) would be rescued from the painful effects of Saturn, which in Hindu astrology, is said to produce malefic effects on one's life when one is afflicted "negatively" with Saturn.
Another version of the encounter between Lord Hanuman and Shani Bhagavan is that the latter once climbed on to Lord Hanuman's shoulder, implying that he (Hanuman) was coming under the effects of the influence of Shani. At this, Hanuman assumed a large size, and Shani was caught painfully between Hanuman's shoulders and the ceiling of the room they were in. As the pain was unbearable, Shani requested Hanuman to release him, promising that he (Shani) would moderate the malefic effects of his influence on a person praying to Hanuman. Hanuman released Shani thereafter.
In the verse with a thousand Names of Hanuman the Hanumansahasranam stotra, Shani is one of the Names of Hanuman. In some regions of India, Hanuman is also seen sporting an iron whip akin to Shani.
WIKIPEDIA
'Endangered and Extinct' by creative recycling artist Val Hunt, an exhibition at Gloucester Cathedral, Saturday 26 September-Sunday 1 November 2020 in the Cloisters
From the Cathedral's website:
"This exhibition presents a subtle message about recycling and preservation, raising awareness of why the creatures on show are endangered or extinct...
Having worked for the past 29 years as a professional maker, Val Hunt continues to be amazed at the versatility of creative recycling. There is an enormous variety of discarded material just waiting to be reconstructed and given a new identity, especially Val's favourite material of drinks can metal. Intricate constructions and interesting textures are key elements found in her work, humour is also an added ingredient whenever possible.
Through experimentation, ingenuity and skill her work is always changing as she discovers new techniques and ways of constructing recycled materials to signal a new meaning. Her works recycles a diverse selection of throwaway material, from these she creates a fascinating selection of large and small sculptural pieces which are both appealing and informative.
Despite her use of manufactured materials, her main inspiration comes from the natural world. Val has a special interest in endangered and extinct species and most of her work reflects this. She makes animals, exotic birds, dinosaurs, insects and species of flora all on the edge or now extinct.
The increasing awareness of the effects of pollution, climate change, plastic in the Ocean and environment destruction on the habitat have influenced Val's work. She now dedicates her making to highlighting the plight of species that are on the edge or gone forever in her touring educational exhibition 'Endangered and Extinct'...
Val's work has been shown in exhibitions around the UK, Denmark, Japan, United Emirates, USA and toured overseas with the British Council. She has work in many permanent collections."
Extinction Rebellion climate protesters block Paris at Place du Châtelet @extinctionrebellionfrance #urgenceclimatique
#urgenceecologique
#suitedumonde
#occupationparis
#extinctionrebellionfrance
#extinctionrebellion
#suitedumonde
#internationalrebellion
#occupationparis
#chatelet
I wonder if these are now extinct in the UK? Scanned from a brochure, I can't recall seeing one for many years. Saloons pretty rare too, though there is a saloon still on SORN which I photographed when it was still on the road back in 1995 or so.
Odd that these had wheels without any slots or styling, I like the look of them though.
Scimitar-Horned Oryx – Oryx algazelle (Oryx dammah) was declared Extinct-in-the-Wild by IUCN in 2000. The Scimitar-horned Oryx Reintroduction Programme in Chad is a joint initiative of the Government of Chad and the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi. On-the-ground implementation of the project is carried out by the Sahara Conservation Fund, with further technical support by the Zoological Society of London, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Marwell Wildlife, and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center.
Tracking Scimitar-Horned Oryx, a species previously extinct in the wild, in the Chad desert is a very exciting experience. Doing so in family with appropriate explanations of Sahara Conservation Fund experts is a privilege and an unforgettable memory! Many thanks to Céline H., Marc & Annabelle Dethier and Tim Wacher.
More information: Sahara Conservation Fund www.saharaconservation.org/node/187
Thank you so much for your visits, comments and favs.
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Press L and then F11 to fully enjoy this picture in a large view
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©2018 Bruno Portier, All Rights Reserved. All images of this gallery are not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
On October 21, 2015, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (@goCMNH) had their monthly Think & Drink with the Extinct (#ThinkandDrink). The evening's theme was "Paleontology - Fossils and Ferments."
Raise a glass and increase your knowledge of the natural world at one of the brainiest happy hours in Cleveland!
Third Wednesday at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History is #ThinkandDrink. Each month highlights a different field of research or Museum area, and offers exclusive access to professional staff and researchers, paired with unique experiences and interactive demonstrations. Cash beer/wine bar. Complimentary light snacks. Food available for purchase.
Kona grosbeak
Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands (North Kona, Hawaiʻi Island, extinct 1894)
Sadly, this wonderful species with a huge bill disappeared within a decade of European discovery.
They fed almost exclusively on the dried fruits of naio (Myoporum sp.).
Naio
www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/5516156691/in/photolist-...
Exhibit that enclosed several extinct native Hawaiian birds
www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/28160654715/in/datetaken...
Fossil Honeycomb Oyster (Pycnodonte newberryi), an extinct species, weathered out of the Dakota Sandstone. The upper layers of late Cretaceous Dakota include densely packed beds of marine oysters with other shallow near-shore organisms. The formation is composed primarily of clean, resistant sadstones interbedded with thinner organic-rich mudstones deposited in beach, deltaic and estuarine environments. The shells here are about 75 million years old. Waterpocket Fold. Adjacent to Capitol Reef National Park. Wayne Co., Utah.
The last few pairs of Hand-made rubber riding boots are to be found lurking in odd corners of the world.
The Hand made Le Chameau Riding Boot was believed to be the last hand made boot to be found across the world.
Due to its high quality finish, the amount of labour need to finish the boot was too expensive for the average rider, however once a rider tried a pair on, they would soon decided that was to be the only form of boot to purchase.
The normal UK price was around £300 ($400) inc tax.
There is a newer design for ladies, but this is not made to the original high standards and has only a limited of sizes and fittings.
If you spot a pair of the original hand made boots in your size, purchase them now, I don't think any other company will even make a copy.