City lad Sagar G. Kashyap, has done every Mysorean proud with his feat of being selected to officiate in the Wimbeldon Grand Slam tennis championships 2014.
Sagar, a resident at Gokulam in Mysore, will be officiating in the qualifying rounds of the championships which begin from June 16th 2014. A former tennis player from Mysore Tennis Club, Mysore and B.E. graduate from Vidya Vikas College of Engineering, Sagar took up to officiating and has been an ITF referee and has officiated in ITF tournaments World over.
He will also be officiating in the main draw which will begin from June 23rd and he will officiate till the finals. This is the sixth consecutive time he will be officiating in the Wimbledon championships and he is the only Karnataka referee to be selected to represent the country in the championships.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / June 16th, 2014
by Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, former Head, Department of Ancient History & Archaeology, University of Mysore
Two years ago, I was introduced to the respected Swamiji of famous Kanakagiri (Hill of Gold) Mutt by Dr. Gopal, Director of Archaeology and Museums in Karnataka. The Swamiji invited me to visit the holy Kanakagiri and write a book if possible. I could not take up the assignment but suggested Swamiji to write a book himself. In the meantime a small informative brochure has been published giving the salient features of Kanakagiri.
Kanakagiri is situated in Chamarajanagar district near Maleyur, in a thick forest area, famous for sandalwood. Thus it is not only a picturesque place but also an important place for forest products. Ancient saints and sages of different religious denominations deliberately selected such forests for their dwelling and built mutts or Ashramas or monasteries, so that the disturbance of urban life would not detract them and provide serene atmosphere suited for religious penance. From this point of view, Kanakagiri is an ideal place.
Kanakagiri has a hoary antiquity going back to the early centuries of the Christian era. That Jainism entered into Karnataka quite early is attested to by records. According to legends Maurya King, Chandragupta, came to Karnataka, accompanied by his teacher Bhadrabahu who established Jaina Centre of which Shravanabelagola was the most important one. Perhaps Kanakagiri also had its origin as a Jaina Centre during that period. Anyway it has a great antiquity. It is mentioned in ancient literary works and also in epigraphs. It also has the stone footprints of Jaina saints, mandapas for penance and memorial stones called ‘Nisidi stones.’ All these are built on a huge but broad rocky boulder giving the impression of an ancient township.
Though hundreds of Jaina saints lived and preached here, the records mention the names of Supratishta of Suryapura and Jnanachandradeva. They preached hundreds of students at this place the principles of Jainism. An interesting anecdotes is narrated in this connection. The Jaina teacher, addressing his students, told, when all of us are engaged in the discussion on non-violence (ahimsa) here, a robber arrives on the scene. What will you do? Most of the students said that they will run away without harming the robber because they have been taught ahimsa. Immediately the teacher said non-violence is not cowardice; it is to make all efforts to convince the robber of non-violence and make him act accordingly. In course of time, Jnanachandradeva died and became a great saint in hierarchy. The latter is said to have travelled throughout the country preaching Jainism and attained knowledge at the confluence of Gandhakuti.
Finally at his ripe old age, he returned to Kanakagiri and took up serious penance and cast off his body here and Kanakagiri became famous as Siddhakshetra or a pilgrimage centre.
Another great Jaina saint who lived here was Pujyapada. Fortunately inscriptions refer to him while describing his exalted place in Jainism, from which we can understand his life and achievements. Historians have considered him to be a Kannadiga as he was in the court of Ganga King Durvinita (529-79 BC). Actually Pujyapada was Durvinita’s Guru. Pujyapada was named so because his feet were worshipped by the Gods; and his original name Devanandi faded into background. He was a great scholar. An inscription gives the following details of Pujyapada. “Then came Pujyapada, so called because his feet were worshipped by Gods;who had originally the name Devanandi and because of his towering intellect got the name Jinendrabuddhi. His unequalled knowledge in grammar is proclaimed by his Jinendra Vyakarana; his proficiency in philosophy is attested by his great work Sarvarthasiddhi; his poetical talent and knowledge of prosody is attested by his work Samadhi Shataka. Such is the greatness of Pujyamuni who is worthy of being honoured by groups of saints and sages.” Another record refers to his achievement as the conqueror of heretic faiths and states that he had the power of healing and people used to flock to him for getting cured from the diseases. In an exaggerated way the record states that his body was purified by a visit to the respected Jina at Videha country and the water used to wash his feet had the power of converting iron into gold. Finally, it states that his feet are worthy of being washed by Sri (Lakshmi) and he is Sripujyapada and not simply Pujyapada. Though he flourished in the early centuries of Christian era, he had attained eminence as a great saint by sixth century AD. Kanakagiri became important because Pujyapada lived here. Thus Kanakagiri gave the great saint Pujyapada to South Indian in general and Karnataka Jainism in particular. This is another contribution of Kanakagiri.
Another equally great and distinguished Jaina saint of the ancient period was Umasvati. He was also a highly respected Jaina saint of South India. Whether he visited Kanakagiri or not is a point of difference among scholars. However some historians have argued that Umasvati visited Kanakagiri because of its sacred nature and stayed there for sometime. Umasvati is respected next only to the highly distinguished Kunda Kundacharya, the most venerated Jaina saint in South India. Fortunately there are many records which throw historical light on saint Umasvati. The latter belonged to the lineage of Kunda Kundacharya but flourished some time later. Umasvati is described as the one who wrote the work (sutras) on the Jaina texts and helped the devotees to undertake the path of salvation. Though early records of Umasvati have not been discovered, he is considered to have lived during the early centuries of Christian era but later than the date of Kundakunda. Thus South Indian Jainism had three great saints — Kunda Kundacharya, Pujyapada and Umasvati.
The name and fame of Kanakagiri as a great Jaina Centre in South India spread easily. Many Jaina saints who had distinguished themselves, thought that Kanakagiri is worthy of being chosen as the last abode of their life to cast off their body. In fact the Jainas believed that casting off this body as per the rules enunciated in Jaina texts would bring in religious merit by which one can merge with Jina, the conqueror. Hence many Jaina saints visited Kanakagiri to cast off their body, as per the Jaina rites. Some of the saints are Ajayamuni, Chandrasenacharya, Chandrakeerti, Siddhanthadeva, Vidyananwwda, etc.
Kanakagiri and its saints were patronised by successive ruling dynasties of Karnataka starting from the Gangas of Talkad, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara kings and Wadiyars of Mysore. Thus it has a continuous history till today.
In recent times it became famous by the presence of Sri Chandrasagaramuni who attained Samadhi in 1986. He took great interest in developing this place and built 24 Jinakutas and constructed steps to the hill. Because of him, many philanthropists gave donations for creating modern amenities for the devotees. In 1997, Swasthi Sri Bhuvanaika Bhattaraka Swamiji was consecrated as the head of this Mutt and he has been taking great interest in improving this Jaina Centre. Even for non-Jainas, a visit to Kanakagiri hill will be a highly rewarding experience.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / June 14th, 2014
A condolence meeting to mourn the demise of senior journalists S. Pattabhiraman and Khaleel Bebak was held at Mysore District Journalists Association (MDJA) office on Thyagaraja road in city this morning.
Senior Journalist Krishna Vattam, former VC of Yenepoya University (Mangalore) Prof. Syed Akheel Ahmed, Retired Professor R.N. Padmanabha, MDJA President C.K. Mahendra, Vice-President Pragathi Gopalakrishna, General Secretary K. Deepak and others offered floral tributes to the portraits of the two departed journalists.
Speaking on the occasion, Vattam said the demise of the two veteran journalists has saddened the press fraternity.
Recalling the services of the two journalists, he pointed out that Pattabhiraman reached out to the readers through his innovative style of reporting.
Prof. Syed Akheel Ahmed said that boldness, impartiality and an open mind formed the basic qualities of a journalist and he saw all these qualities in both Pattabhiraman and Bebak.
The meeting also observed a one-minute silence as a mark of respect to the two .
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / June 14th, 2014
The Florence Nightingale award recipients are seen with dignitaries at the award presentation ceremony organised by the District Wing of Karnataka State Government Nurses’ Association to mark the Nurses’ Festival at Jaganmohan Palace here yesterday.
Mysore :
“Private hospitals have become extortion zones where deliveries are being deliberately done under caesarian section,” alleged MLA M.K. Somashekar.
He was speaking after inaugurating a function organised by the District Wing of Karnataka State Government Nurses’ Association at Jaganmohan palace here yesterday to mark Nurses’ Festival and presentation of Florence Nightingale Awards for the 6th year.
Somashekar lauded Cheluvamba Hospital where normal deliveries were common, thanks to the good doctors and nurses. He said that an appeal has been made to the Chief Minister to establish a District Government Hospital in K.R. Constituency.
Speaking on the occasion, Police Commissioner Dr. M.A. Saleem said that nursing profession was a noble one and asked nurses to emulate Florence Nightingale. The Association General Secretary Vijaya Nayak presented a charter of demands to the MLA.
The Florence Nightingale award for 2014 was presented to nurses Uma H. Bellary, Indiramma, Sunandamma, Winfred, V. Sowbhagya, Elizabeth Saralakumari, Susheelamma, D.K. Leelavati, R. Leela, Jayanandakumari, Sumitra Bai and Tanuja. The Best Service Award for 2014 was presented to T.M. Meenakshi, B.P. Ghanavati, B.M. Anita, S.V. Padmalata, P.P. Kamini of K.R. Hospital, Dhanalakshmi of Lakshmidevamma Hospital in Jayalakshmipuram, lecturer Pushpalata and student Lingarajamma.
DHO Dr. H.T. Puttaswamy, MMC&RI Dean and Directo Dr. B. Krishnamruthy, K.R. Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. B.G. Sagar, Cheluvamba Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. S. Radhamani, ESI Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Ramesh Jevur, Association District President Shivamma, State President B.S. Bhyramma and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / June 08th, 2014
NR Group is bringing to Mysore for the 1st time ever the National-level Ladies Golf Tournament. The Golf Tournament is called NR Group All India IGU Ladies Golf Championship. The Tourney will be conducted by the Indian Golf Union (IGU) at the JW Golf Club Mysore. The 1st Tee Off is on June 8 at 8 am and the prize distribution ceremony will be held on June 10 at 1.30 pm.
The three-day tournament will witness 70 amateur golfers from across the country vying to be crowned as champions. The Championship will have Top national-level golfing ladies such as Seher Atwal, Gaurika Bishnoi and Aftha Madan.
The event will feature competition in four categories — Ladies Open for women who are 18 years of age and above; Junior Girls Category-A for young girls between 15-18 years of age; Junior Girls Category-B for girls aged between13-14 years of age and Sub-Junior for girls aged 11-12 years.
Speaking about the tournament, Arjun Ranga, Managing Partner, NR Group said, “NR Group has legacy of supporting and nurturing sporting talent. We are confident, that the NR Group IGU Ladies Amateur Championship will offer amateur golfers a platform to display their golfing talent. This national event will present the golfers of Mysore an excellent opportunity to treat their golfing spirits as well.”
For details, contact Mob: 97422-79654 or 97422-72210, according to a press release.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / June 07th, 2014
“Children should be allowed to pursue education in the subject of their choice instead of their parents forcing them to choose a course,” opined Dr. M.R. Ravi, Addl. Regional Commissioner.
He was speaking at the Prathibha Puraskar award presentation function organised by Bankers’ Recreation Club at its premises in Sharadadevinagar here last evening.
Dr. Ravi said that during earlier days only a few students used to score high marks in examinations and used to go unnoticed. However, he pointed out that many students excel in examinations because of good parental support and encouragement.
SBI Deputy General Manager S. Ramesh Rao advised the students to widen the scope of their learning as competition was prevalent in every sector.
Totally, 25 students who had excelled in SSLC exam were presented with Prathibha Puraskar. They are: Nithyasurabhi (622 – MMHS), daughter of Roopasri and Ananthashayanam; Hymavathi (620, SVHS), daughter of Gowramma and B.K. Udayashankar; Gaurav (619 – VVHS), son of Aparna Dattatri and Dattatri; Sumitha S Rao (618 – SVHS), daughter of B.S. Suchetha and B. Suresh Rao; M. Aashik Narayan (618 – RKVS), son of Ashabharathi and M. Ganapathy Prasad; Monisha Gowda (617 – SVHS), daughter of Mamatha and Dr. Ankegowda; Chandana Shravani (617 – CKC), daughter of N. Shobha and Mahadevegowda; H. Parikshith (617 – SVHS), son of Shobha and Honnegowda; Aashritha (617 – SVEI), daughter of J. S. Poornima and S. Dinesh; M. Ganavi (617 – BVB), daughter fo Rohini and T. N. Harish; Ancia D’ Souza (617 – SVEI), daughter of Dr. Alphonsus D’ Souza and Dr. Veena D’ Almeida; Y. K. Sai Supreth (616 – RKVS), son of Divyaraj and Y. B. Kuppuraju; Praneetha (615 – SVHS), daughter of Dakshaynini and Thammaiah; B. Namratha (615 – SVHS), daughter of D. L. Savitha and T. V. Bhanuprakash; B. Niranjan (614 – SVHS), son of Rajamma and Gangadharaiah; Mohammed Faidh (614 – SVHS), son of Razia Sultana and Mohd. Aslam; L. Sangeetha (614 – SVHS), daughter of Nagasulochana and B. Lingaraju; Ravi Kiran (614 – SVHS), son of Gowramma and Doddaswamy; B. S. Raveesh (614 – RKVS), son of Dr. H.R. Nalina and B.T. Suresh; Sanjay N. Shastri (614- Gnagaganga), son of Sujatha and D. Shankar Narayana; Shamitha Shekar (613 – SVHS), son of Shubhada Shekar and K. L. Rajashekar; P. Samhith Sharma (613 – CFTRI), son of Dr. K.S. Bharathi and Dr. P. Ramesh Kumar; Apoorva (613 – VVHS), daughter of Swaroopini and T. Ramesh; Amitha (613 – VVHS), daughter of Roopasri and Gopalakrishna; Sahid Nehal (613 – MMHS), son of Shahida Begum and Aleemullah Khan.
Club President M.S. Umesh, Vice-President H. Balakrishna, General Secretary P. Suresh Nayak and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / June 06th, 2014
Trekking through snow is an unforgettable experience for the simple reason, there is no path or trail waiting for you; you have to create your own path, where even a small miscalculated step can be your last, says Aishwarya Sunaad, Trekker, International Academy of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Mysore.
by Aishwarya Sunaad
As the IAMAS (International Academy of Mountaineering and Allied Sports) team bid good bye to Mysore on the evening of 30th April, nobody could anticipate the adventure that awaited us 3000 kilometres away. We were 47 of us, of all ages and sizes, from 3 different States, making our way to conquer (as we would later learn) one of the toughest expeditions in the past 6 years.
Our journey took us backpacking through 5 States and several cities before we could officially start our endeavour up the mountains from Manali. There is a certain unexplored joy in visiting a new city everyday and as our team wound its way through each of these new places, it was like unravelling a different world. New people, new cultures, new experiences, new stories.
The star highlights of our backpacking being an exclusive visit to the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi; reliving history in Agra and Mathura, experiencing sanctity at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, reliving the stories of partition at the Wagah Border with Pakistan at touching distance, 14 kilometres of White Water Rafting amidst class 6 rapids in the Ganga at Rishikesh and a VIP visit to the prestigious Indian Military Academy at Dehradun, to name a few.
After these indelible experiences, we arrived at our Base Camp in Manali on the 8th of May. Set in the Beas River Valley in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, Manali is a treat to ardent trekkers and tourists alike. Our base camp, set amidst apple orchards with snowcapped mountains and pine forests on all sides marked the beginning of one of the greatest adventures we could experience. After acclimatising to the cold of Manali from the heat of the plains with some thrilling rappelling and river crossing, we started our trek officially on the 11th of May to Segli, our first camp.
The team descended down to a landmark point called ‘15 Mile’ before beginning the 12-kilometer ascend to Segli, at a height of 7,100 feet. The trail wound through small villages and dense vegetation, with the Dhauladhar mountain ranges surrounding us. Just as the team halted for lunch, we were greeted by the first spells of heavy showers. With raincoats and ponchos and an undying spirit, we trekked through the rain and reached the camp site by evening. Sipping some hot tea to combat the chill, we geared up for the next day.
The rain had subsided as we wound upwards towards the camp of Haura Thatch, at 10,700 feet on May 12; ‘Thatch’ means ‘plateau like land.’ Our camp site was actually on a Plateau up a Mountain! This goes to say, nature has her own mysterious ways. We trekked about 10 kilometres through dense green forests and gurgling streams with occasional glimpses of the mountains through the canopies. The sights that we saw and the scenes that we experienced are beyond description.
Trees, flowers, leaves, mosses, birds, insects and all other wonders of nature of all shapes and sizes ! It was paradise. As we were taking in the surroundings, we were greeted by rain, heavier than before. We couldn’t stop. With the rain and hail pounding, we continued upwards. It was getting cold and we were drenched to the bone. At one point, it seemed impossible to go any further when we reached a clearing that seemed suitable to camp. Tents were pitched and a fire was lit under a rock. After vain attempts to dry ourselves we retired to our tents. It rained the entire night and the next morning of 13th, the weather was so ruthless we couldn’t move camp. It was a truly chilling experience. By evening, on the 13th, the weather cleared and the sun peeped out. As we saw the first rays of sun in 2 days, the world seemed magical. We had set up camp near a small stream in an evergreen forest with pine trees on the fringes. There were colours even our cameras couldn’t capture!
But now, there was a crisis. Before starting the trek, we had already decided to forego our fourth camp at Dohra because of extreme snow conditions. Now we were lagging behind yet another day as we could not trek to Camp 3, Maylee, because of the rain. To make up the distance and keep the time schedule, a bold decision was taken. A decision of risk and daring. A decision that would test our courage and endurance, our mental strength and will power. A decision of ultimate adventure. A decision to cover the entire distance to Saurkundi Pass Summit in one day!
We started on the trail at 4 am in the morning on May 14. With torches in our hands and adventure in our hearts, we continued upwards. We encountered the first patches of snow and the first rays of light around 5.30 am. It was breathtaking. By 6.15 am, we had hit the snow.
[ Part 01…To be continued]
TRAVELOGUE…: SCALING SAURKUNDI PASS-2
Aishwarya Sunaad
Trekking through snow is an unforgettable experience for the simple reason, there is no path or trail waiting for you; you have to create your own path, where even a small miscalculated step can be your last. The temperature kept dropping to subzero values and the sun shone harsher. It was maddeningly white everywhere and without goggles one could go blind. The snow seemed never ending and the summit was nowhere in sight. It was getting colder and colder.
There was snow in our shoes and pants, our feet were going numb and we couldn’t feel our fingers. We had walked for nearly 6 hours up the mountain without stopping and still there was no sign of the Summit. Finally, at around 11.06 am, after a grueling walk, we reached the Saurkundi Pass. The snow was about 3 feet deep and it was snowing heavily.
Despite this, we crossed the Pass and summited, at a height of 13,500 feet. There is no greater feeling than having successfully summited an expedition. You are literally and figuratively on top of the world. We had the frozen Saurkundi Lake on one side and never ending ranges of mountains on all sides. We could almost touch the clouds.
By this time, our feet were frozen and our fingers non-existent. That was the day we realised that cold is the most unforgiving condition you can experience. But the joy of having summited one of the most difficult treks, however easy I may make it look, overshadowed everything else.
The 20 minutes we spent on the summit with the Indian flag and the IAMAS banner fluttering proudly in the wind, I can guarantee, will be the most important moments of our lives. But it did not end there. What we thought was difficult while climbing up was nothing compared to what we encountered while descending.
The snow was falling heavily and there was no route we could follow. We were numb and hungry but had to soldier on. We had no choice but to slide down the slopes ! Slide down with no equipment apart from a rope, which we used occasionally.
That was real adventure and the adrenaline rush was simply superb. With everything at stake, we made it down to the tree line by around 4 pm. We had trekked through the most extreme conditions for 12 hours. We finally reached our campsite at Longa Thatch by 6 pm after 14 hours of ascending and descending. We had done it with zero casualties! It was the most satisfying feeling one can feel.
After a good night’s sleep and merry making, we set off for base camp. The weather was sunny with the city of Manali, which looked like the Map of India from that height, sprawling beneath us. We descended down to Lekhni on May 15. The sights were like a poem. After staying at an authentic log hut that night, we finished our expedition on the 16th of May 2014 after successfully reaching Base Camp.
The next few days saw us exploring the city of Manali and seeking some more adventure while rafting in the Beas River. The team left for Delhi on the evening of 18th, where a privileged visit to the Parliament House added another feather to our caps. We caught the Duronto Express back home on the 19th with truckloads of memories and made it home on the 21st of May 2014, successfully.
Every expedition brings your best side to the forefront because it is the ultimate challenge one can face alone. And if you are an adventurous person and need the adrenaline, it is the call of the mountains you must answer. And finally, if you want to test your daring and mettle, it is the Saurkundi Pass you must conquer. For, if there is a paradise, it is this, it is this, it is this.
[Concluded]
Part 01:
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles /by Aishwarya Sunaad / June 06th, 2014
Part 02:
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles /by Aishwarya Sunaad / June 07th, 2014
A 19- year-old boy from Mandya district underwent a rare surgery at JSS Hospital in city recently. The surgery was performed by Dr. Arun Srinivas and Dr. H.P. Guruprasad, Senior Interventional Cardiologists of JSS Hospital here.
He had stents implanted in his abdominal aorta and kidney arteries for a rare disease called Aortoarteritis, also called Takayasu’s disease in which major arteries supplying blood to the arms, brain, intestine, kidneys and legs can get blocked and can cause severe complications in young adults.
According to Dr. Arun Srinivas, this is a rare disease and the first time such a treatment has been performed in Mysore. The patient made an excellent recovery after the procedure and was discharged with good recovery of his kidney function.
Stents and treatment were given free of cost as he was a poor patient and was a beneficiary Below Poverty Line (BPL) card.
Dr. Arun Srinivas also stated that all heart diseases including heart attack and emergency care are provided free of cost at JSS Hospital Cardiovascular Services for poor patients with BPL card.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / June 06th, 2014
Mysore Round Table-21 and Mysore Ladies Circle-9 will be felicitating deserving Police Constables in its 42nd annual event ‘Knights in Khaki’ today at 4.30 pm at Hotel Olive Garden.
Eight Constables including one lady Constable from Mysore City and District from the categories of Crime, Traffic, Law and Order, Women’s Police Wing will be felicitated during the event.
Police Commissioner Dr. M. A. Saleem will be the chief guest. Tr. Anand Ramu, Chairman, Area 6, Cr. Namratha Shenoy, National Editor, Ladies Circle India, will be the guests of honour.
‘Knights in Khaki’ honours the unsung heroes — the Police Constables — who do the real legwork in the Police Force and receive very little in terms of recognition. The Police Constables selected for this year’s awards are: Mysore City Police- R. Manjunath, CPC34-Metagalli Police Station, M.P. Purushothama, CPC299-Udayagiri Police Station, N.M. Mallesh, CPC450 -KR Traffic Police Station, Gayathri, MPC91-Mahila Police Station. Mysore District Police: P. Ramesh, CPC 491, S. J. Manjunath, CPC 484, Nayeem Ahmed CPC 548 and T. Nagaraju, AHC80.
The awardees will be presented with a rolling shield, a memento, a certificate and gifts donated by the sponsors.
For details contact Convenor Tr.Manish Salian- 9845227249.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / June 06th, 2014
