Experience

At our campus, we provide experiences for the novice as well the connoisseur. Some of the experiences we provide are listed below. This, however, constitutes only about half of what we can offer the discerning individual. Please click <here> for a list of all the attractions at the Heritage Village.

Entrance

UNDER PASS NOT JUST A PASSAGE BUT A THRESHOLD TO TIME & CIVILIZATION

The entrance of Ahalia heritage village is known as under pass.Here you are about to experience the past the relief works on both sides based on the themes water and time through MANWANTHARAS(AN AGE CALCULATION METHOD OF INDIAN PURANAS) According to Indian mythology, Brahma, the creator is depicted holding a water pot or kamandalu for it was in water the first seeds of creation was sown. This attributed divinity of water succeeds to find its slot in rituals of almost every religion of the world. In Hinduism, it is believed that water has spiritually cleansing powers. To Hindus, there are seven sacred rivers. After cremation, the ashes are cast onto these holy rivers that would bestow the spirit the ultimate liberation.

In Judaism, ritual washing is done to restore or maintain a state of spiritual purity. In Buddhist funerals, water is poured into a bowl placed before the monks and the dead. As it overflows, the monks recite, ‘As the rains fill the rivers and overflow into the ocean, so likewise may what is given here reach the departed.’ A combination of purifying properties of water and its importance as a fundamental life element is clearly mentioned in Zoroastrianism. Almost all Christian churches or sects have an initiation
ritual involving the use of water. Waterfalls are held sacred and standing under them is believed to purify in Shintoism. Believers of Islam make themselves ritually pure before offering prayers.

In many cultures, water is the ultimate healer of diseases as well. Temples of Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu) echoes stories of Vaitheeswaran, who is Shiva himself, who cured leprosy of Mars by asking him to take bath in the holy pond, siddhaamruthatheertha. Achilles, the great warrior in Greek mythology is dipped into river Styx by his mother Tethys and for this reason alone he prevails unconquerable.The beginning of civilizations and settlements despite the geographical
differences always centered a greater source of water, the rivers. Indus
valley civilization around Sindhu and Mesopotamia around Euphrates and
Tigris are only a couple to name. The waters affected not only the
settlements but development of an entirely new way of life among a previously nomadic hunter gatherer population with agriculture as foci. Over time, the Egyptians and Mayans also learned on importance of water. The flooding of rivers during spring became the foundation of their measurement of time and economic structure based on which they harvested crops. The people measured water levels of Nile and altered taxations with them. As time passed, humans mastered in directing water to themselves rather than moving around for water. Dams, aqueducts and reservoirs were built for massive water storage. Egyptian and Indus valley civilizations are renowned for their advanced drainage systems based on gravity. This forever changed the phase of human settlements.

The gone age of forefathers pivoted on water, and lives defined by rivers. With all sort of advancements, current scenario is different. It is shocking rather than surprising to notice the change in attitude that evolved with passage of time. The quality of rivers depend on the number of humans settled around. Ultimately, what is about to bring a change is how early is that moment of introspection prior to his realization about the nature. Here is a depiction of certain aspects of civilizations that developed along
riversides.

Saptarishis

1.KASHYAPA WITH DITI- By DEEPU MOHAN

Kashyapa, the father of Devas, Asuras and the entire humanity is portrayed as being seduced by his wife and daughter of Daksha, Diti. Overcome by lust one evening Diti approached Kashyapa. He, however, told Diti that evening was inauspicious as it was the time ghosts and demons wandered. Upon wife’s insistence, knowing the course of fate, Kashyapa fulfilled her desire leading to the birth of the two demons Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu from whom the entire race of asuras grew.

2.KASHYAPA& JALOLBHAV

According to Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, the valley of Kashmir had a large lake called satisaras, inhabited by a demon called Jalodbhav. As it started killing people of the region, the king pleads Kashyapa for help. Kashyapa approaches Vishnu and Ananda drains off the lake. Vishnu captures and kills Jalodbhav with his sudarshanchakra. Kashmir is named after him, ‘kashyapa+mira’, which means ‘lake of Kashyapa’.

3.ATRI

The relief depicts Atri in meditation. Atri and Anasuya performed deep penance at the drought striken forest of kamad for rain. Once, in the midst of penance when Atri demanded water and Anasuya could not find, Ganga offered water. All deities were pleased by their penance and blessed them, whereas Ganga promised to stay in exchange for all the virtues of the penance attained in an year. The ganga is shown flowing.

The trinity once decided to test virtue of Anasuya. They visited their hermitage and demanded Anasuya to feed them nude. Anasuya, with all her austerities, converted them into kids and fed. The trinity, however, impressed by her serenity, blessed her with offsprings. Soma from Brahma, Dattatreya from Vishnu and Durvasva from Rudra was born. Later, a boon was given that the trinity would merge into Dattatreya. Atri, in a war between devas and asuras is said to have transformed himself into sun and the moon.

4.ATRI & SWARBHANU- By Saji

Atri’s power to dispel solar eclipse is seen. When once Swarbhanu, the asura responsible for solar eclipses, engulfed Surya, Atri rediscovered Surya with four verses of prayer. Swarbhanu’s magic disappeared and Surya was established in heaven.

5.VASISHTA & NANDINI

Vasishta’s wish granting cow, Nandhini was gifted by Indra. Admiring the auspiciousness and aware of its abilities, Kaushika, a king, attempts to possess the cow. However, Vasishta destroys his entire army by chanting ‘ohm’. Another version suggests that Nandhini comes back to Vasishta by herself from the palace of Kaushika, out of affection. It is to attain Nandhini alone that Kaushika leaves for forest and performs tapasya. Kaushika, later with powerful meditation becomes Vishwamitra, a constant rival to Vasishta.

6.VASISHTA &NANDHINI- By Johnson

Vasishta and nandhini are portrayed in front of his ashram. Nandhini is widely considered as the daughter of Kamadhenu. Whereas, some also suggests that Nandhini is Kamadhenu itself. Its origin traces back to samudramanthan from which the cow was given to the saptarishis by devas. It in course of time came to be possessed by sage Vasishta. Its complexion is explained as that of white clouds. Each part of the cow is of religious significance.the four legs symbolize four Vedas and its teats Purusharthas. Its horns symbolizes gods, face the sun and moon and its shoulders agni.

7.VISWAMITRA & MENAKA- By Johnson

The relief shows Menaka attempting to tempt Viswamitra away from his penance. Indra, afraid if Viswamitra’s powers would overpower his, sent apsara Menaka to lure him. Menaka succeeded but only until Viswamitra came to reject her after he became aware of Indra’s plan and returns more ardently into his practice. Indra, again sent apsara Rambha to distract him. She is cursed by Viswamitra to become a rock for 10,000 years. Viswamitra, however realizes that his real enemy is himself and finally wins the title of Brahmarishi.

8.GAUTAMA WITH AHALYA, BRAHMA & KAMADHENU

Ahalya, the daughter of Brahma was brought up in the ashram of sage Gautama. When time had arrived to have her married, Brahma decided that whoever travelled around the three worlds will get her as a bride. In the mean time, Narada who happened to visit Brahma said that Gautama had done an even more auspicious activity by circumambulating the divine cow, Kamadhenu. The instance of Gautama winning Ahalya’s hand is portrayed in the relief.