Hidden Gem of Gujarat - Roda Temples, Himmatnagar Part-2

Click to read Part-1 about Roda Temples..

Journey through ancient India begins again.

It was difficult to walk away from idyllic and spiritual surroundings of Shiva temple and "Kund", but temptation to explore further was equally strong.

Side note: Many statues and artifacts of these temples are kept in Baroda museum. ASI has failed in providing any historical or archaeological information about these temples at the site.

We started our walk through ravines of the river Hathmati or of some stream which must be meeting the river nearby. We were on a look out for Navgrah Temple and Shiva temple. I wish ASI had put board showing the way to those temples. Though maybe topography made it impossible for them. And to be truthful it was interesting to search for them and find them.

Both the temples were on the mounds. Maybe to protect them from over flowing river during monsoon.Our first climb was to Navgrah Temple. Temple precinct was peaceful with occasional chatter of jungle babblers breaking that quietness. One feels like whispering at such places so as not to disturb the serenity.

Navgrah temple is so called because 9 planets of astrology are depicted on its door panel. Pillars have statues of Apsaras or dancers. Surprisingly few of the statues are better preserved than at other temples.

Statues of Apsaras on the pillar

As a photographer, I loved the play of light and shadow on the temple and it's compound. Many artifacts , collected by the ASI from surrounding areas can be seen strewn around the compound. We settled down on the stones and enjoyed some quiet moments. One can see lush Green wheat fields on the backside of the temple. ASI has also done plantation on one side of the temple. Take a look at Navgrah Temple!

After a little walk we could see mound on which Shiva temple was situated. Climbing was little tricky as steps were broken and loose.

Climbing was not so easy on this mound , Roda Shiva
 temples

Shiva temple, considered to be the largest in the group is in dilapidated condition. 2001 earthquake has really taken its toll. Beautiful Nandi statue with missing head can be seen in front of the temple. Cracks were visible all over the temple and one rather worried about going inside the temple.

Badly damaged Shiva Temple at Roda group of temples

Ruins of Shiva temple

Sun was really making its presence felt now. Time for lunch and some rest! We left ,enriched by what we saw and carrying beautiful memories forever.

Photography - My point of view

Why give it a meaning?

I have been asked many times, what thoughts run in my mind when I lift my camera to capture an image.  And I am always at a loss to answer this seemingly simple question. I have been advised by many people to think of or to philosophies my reasons for choosing a subject.  Unfortunately for me it does not work that way. Frankly, never ever any deep thoughts or philosophy take over my mind when I see the subject I want to click.  It is just an instinct which makes me choose a subject.  Some inherent beauty I see in it, may be a beauty which only I see.

My vision of Wheat fields

 For me it is something to do with feeling, subject raises in me, which may not be profound at all. It can be just framing I like, composition I like, abstractness of it which I like, face I like, shape I like. At the end they all represent my vision. What I find most difficult is to give reason behind my capture.  What thoughts ran in my mind when I clicked?  I would say none. There is no reason, there is just love of capturing what I see and what I experience. Feeling of oneness I get with my subject obliterates all other thoughts from my mind. It is pure meditation where no thought exists. It is me and my subject to the exclusion of everything else.

Me and My subject - Nothing else exists

So when I am asked what you were thinking, I turn blank, because at the moment of capture I was in conversation with my subject and not thinking.  When I look at my picture later on, I give it a thought, trying to attach a reason and I always fail, because that seed is not there. It is very difficult for me to give my feelings a name, my experience a title. In rare cases, it suddenly springs and then I realise that it is not related to experience of the time of capture, but it is related to something which I may be feeling at that particular moment. 

I do not have a habit to go in search of a meaning of other photographer's photo or try to go deep into photographer's mind. May be a trait I should develop. I feel that each one of us has a different way of "looking" at things. For me it boils down to whether I like the way of his or her, looking at the subject.  And here looking does not have any deep meaning attached to it. For me it is like love at a first sight. I like it at a first glance or I do not.I appreciate the vision of the photographer. 

I do photography to go away from it all, to leave all seriousness of life behind, to attain that blankness of purpose. Can’t something be done for the fun of it, for the enjoyment you get out of it? Why give it a meaning?