Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram - Narsimha Mantra

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Mysore Chamundi Hill Temple - Chamundi Puja

BOFORS: India's Biggest Defense Scam

The Bofors scandal happened in 1980, where many were accused of receiving kickbacks from a company called Bofors AB. Large sums of money was given by Bofors AB to win a bid to supply India’s 155mm field howitzer for the armed forces. The scam was estimated to be Rs. 400 million and it rocked India as the value of the scam was large, the scam was concerned with national security and allegations were levelled even against the Prime Minister. The scam was brought out during Viswanath Pratap Singh’s tenure as defense minister. It was brought to light through investigative journalism by N Ram and Chitra Subramaniam in The Hindu and The Indian Express.

How BOFORS Happened

The Indian Army required Howitzer guns. A tender was floated in 1984. The French Sofma gun was evaluated and was found to be superior to the Bofors gun. The army needed a gun that could shoot at a range of 30km. The army chief Krishnaswamy Sundarji opted for the Sofma guns since the field trials showed that the Sofma could shoot at a range of 29.2 km as compared to the Bofors gun at a range of 21.5km. It was later on revealed that Bofors was illegally allowed to alter its bid without submitting a tender again. The Bofors scandal came to the forefront after an announcement in the Swedish radio in the year 1987. The firm AE Services was used in the scam. This company had a paid up capital of lira 100 and no employees.
Chitra Subramaniam of The Hindu newspaper got hold of the private diary in which it was mentioned that “Q’s” involvement may be a problem due to the closeness with “R”. Q’s identity became clear when Chitra identified the Swiss Bank where the money from AE Services went into. It was later determined that the account was operated by Ottavio Quattrocchi. The CBI had also obtained documents but was ruled out since it was a photo copy. It was also proved that Ottavio Quattrocchi was paid 3% of the sale amount (USD 7 m) as commission through AE Services.
The key accused was Ottavio Quattrocchi. Ottavio Quattrocchi was wanted in India for criminal charges. He was a conduit for bribes in the Bofors scandal. Ottavio Quattrocchi was seen as the middleman by the CBI’s probe of the Bofors scandal, who was an Italian businessman, owned the petrochemicals firm Snamprogetti.

Ottavio Quattrocchi was also close to Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. This may have led to the downfall of the Congress in the 1989 elections. The case against Ottavio Quattrocchi was strengthened when the Interpol had revealed two bank accounts with the BSI Bank AG in the name of Ottavio Quattrocchi and his wife Maria. The bank accounts had funds of EUR 3m ad USD 1m. This seemed to be a substantial amount of money for a salaried person. In 1993, when the CBI attempted to interrogate Ottavio Quattrocchi, he was allowed to leave the country since Sonia Gandhi had a deal with the late ex-Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao.

Ottavio Quattrocchi was detained in Argentina in 2007, by orders from the Interpol. He was later released but his passport was impounded. Since India did not have an extradition treaty with Argentina, India lost the case in the Argentine Supreme Court due to the fact that the Indian government did not provide a key court order, a basis to arrest Ottavio Quattrocchi. Currently, the Italian businessman does not feature in the list of CBI’s wanted people and the red corner notice by the Interpol.

Ottavio Quattrocchi won 60 projects for Snamprofetti. These include:
-1981: The five Alibag (Thal Vaishnet), plants from RCF, four;Kribhco plants in Hazira, as well as the ONGC gas pipeline in Hazira.
-The National Fertilizers Limited plant in Una and two plants in Guna in 1983.
-IFFCO’s three plants in Aonla in 1984
-The Nagarjuna Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited’s two plants in Kakinada in 1987.
Over a period of time Ottavio Quattrocchi became influential and was known as the man to approach for contracts with India.

What Happened To BOFORS Scam Accused:

Ottavio Quattrocchi, the prime accussed now lives a good life as CBI has withdrawn the red-corner notice against him. India's law ministry under the Congress regime also unfroze his bank accounts in 2006.

Late Ex-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was accused of receiving kickbacks from Bofors AB. In 2004, he was posthumously cleared of the allegation.

SK Bhatnagar: Former defense secretary was accused of abusing his official authority. No actions taken. Died in 2001.

Win Chadha was the arms agent. He was accused of receiving part of the 64 crore kickback by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1986. Died in 2001.
The Hinduja Brothers were also probed in the Bofors scam. The prosecution failed to prove their involvement in the Bofors scam. In 2005, the Delhi High Court also acquitted the Hinduja brothers Shrichand, Gopichand and Prakash Hinduja of all charges.

After almost 30 years when the Bofors scam was committed, no one has been punished yet. Despite glaring proofs of Quattrocchi's involvement, Congress Govt decided to unfreeze his bank accounts and remove the red-croner notice against him. Three other major accused, Rajiv Gandhi, S K Bhatnagar and Win Chadha, are already dead. Hinduja Brothers have been acquitted of all charges. All in all, no major accused are left to be caught in the scam. Despite glaring evidences of the scam being committed, CBI has failed to nail anyone. In all probability no one will ever be held guilty for one of the biggest Defense scams in Indian history.

ಜಂಬೂ ಸವಾರಿ

ಆನೆಗಳು ಮೈಸೂರು ದಸರಾದ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಆಕರ್ಷಣೆ. ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಜಂಬೂ ಸವಾರಿಯ ರೂವಾರಿಗಳೂ ಹೌದು. ಆನೆಗಳಿಲ್ಲದ ದಸರಾವನ್ನು ಊಹಿಸಲೂ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ವಿವಿಧ ಆನೆ ಶಿಬಿರಗಳಿಂದ ಎರಡು ತಂಡವಾಗಿ ಆಗಮಿಸುವ ಗಜಪಡೆ, ಕಾಡಿನಿಂದ ನಗರ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತೆಯೇ ಮೈಸೂರಿಗೆ ದಸರಾ ಕಳೆ ಬಂದು ಬಿಡುತ್ತದೆ.

ದಸರಾಕ್ಕೆ ಸುಮಾರು ಒಂದೂವರೆ ತಿಂಗಳಿರುವಾಗಲೇ ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆಯ ವೀರನಹೊಸಹಳ್ಳಿಯಿಂದ ಬಲರಾಮ ನೇತೃತ್ವದ ಆರು ಆನೆಗಳ ಮೊದಲ ತಂಡದ ಗಜಪಯಣ ಮೈಸೂರಿಗೆ ಆಗಮಿಸಿದರೆ, ಆ ನಂತರ ದಸರಾಕ್ಕೆ ಕೆಲವೇ ದಿನಗಳ ಅಂತರದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಳಿದ ಆರು ಆನೆಗಳ ಎರಡನೆಯ ತಂಡ ಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಗಜಪಡೆಗೆ ಮೈಸೂರಿನ ಅರಮನೆ ಆವರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ದಿನನಿತ್ಯ ವಿವಿಧ ಬಗೆಯ ಭೂರೀ ಭೋಜನ. ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಜಂಬೂ ಸವಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ 750 ಕೆ.ಜಿ. ತೂಕದ ಚಿನ್ನದ ಅಂಬಾರಿ ಹೊತ್ತು ಸಾಗುವ ಬಲರಾಮನಿಗೆ ವಿಶೇಷ ಸತ್ಕಾರಗಳು ನಡೆಯುತ್ತವೆ. ಉದ್ದು. ಗೋಧಿ, ಕುಸುಲಕ್ಕಿ, ಈರುಳ್ಳಿ, ಹಸಿ ತರಕಾರಿಗಳ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಉಂಡೆ, ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಬೆಣ್ಣೆ, ಭತ್ತ, ತೆಂಗಿನಕಾಯಿ, ಹಿಂಡಿ, ಕಬ್ಬು, ಬೆಲ್ಲ, ಉಚ್ಚೆಳ್ಳು ಮೊದಲಾದ ಸೈಡ್ ಐಟಂಗಳೂ ಇರುತ್ತವೆ. ಇದಲ್ಲದೆ, ಹಸಿರು ಮೇವುಗಳಾಗಿ ಆಲದ ಮರದ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಹುಲ್ಲನ್ನು ಆಗಾಗ್ಗೆ ನೀಡಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ದಿನಕ್ಕೆರಡು ಬಾರಿ ಅರಮನೆ ಆವರಣದ ತೊಟ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಜ್ಜನದ ವೈಭೋಗ.

ಜಂಬೂ ಸವಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ಅಡೆತಡೆಗೆ ಬಗ್ಗದೆ ಮುನ್ನಡೆಯಲು ಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗಿರಲು ಬಲರಾಮನಿಗೆ ಸುಮಾರು 750 ಕೆ.ಜಿ. ತೂಕದ ಮರದ ಅಂಬಾರಿಯನ್ನು, ಉಳಿದ ಆನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಮರಳಿನ ಮೂಟೆಯನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಿ ದಿನಕ್ಕೊಮ್ಮೆ ಅರಮನೆಯಿಂದ ಸಯ್ಯಾಜಿರಾವ್ ರಸ್ತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬನ್ನಿ ಮಂಟಪದವರೆಗೆ ಕಡ್ಡಾಯ ಮಾರ್ಚ್‌ಫಾಸ್ಟ್ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಗಜಪಡೆಯ ಉಸ್ತುವಾರಿಗೆ ಮಾವುತರು, ಕಾವಡಿಗರು ಇರುವುದರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಪಶುವೈದ್ಯಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳಿಂದ ಆಗಾಗ್ಗೆ ತಪಾಸಣೆಯೂ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಗಜಪಡೆಯನ್ನು ಜತನದಿಂದ ನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಮಾವುತರ ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳಿಗೆ ಅರಮನೆಯ ಆವರಣದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಶೆಡ್ ಹಾಕಿ ವಾಸ್ತವ್ಯದ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಮಾಡಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.
ಈ ಬಾರಿಯ ದಸರಾ ಜಂಬೂ ಸವಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬಲರಾಮನ ನೇತೃತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಅರ್ಜುನ, ಮೇರಿ, ಗಜೇಂದ್ರ, ಕವಿತ, ವರಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ, ಶ್ರೀರಾಮ, ಅಭಿಮನ್ಯು, ಹರ್ಷ, ವಿಕ್ರಮ್, ಸರಳ, ಕಾಂತಿ ಸೇರಿ ಹನ್ನೆರಡು ಆನೆಗಳು ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಳ್ಳಲಿದ್ದು, ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಆಗಮಿಸಿರುವ ಬಲರಾಮ, ಅರ್ಜುನ, ಮೇರಿ, ಗಜೇಂದ್ರ, ಕವಿತ, ವರಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ಆನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ತಾಲೀಮು ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಉಳಿದ ಗಜಗಳ ಎರಡನೆಯ ತಂಡ ಈ ತಿಂಗಳ ಕೊನೆಯ ವಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೈಸೂರು ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಲಿದೆ.

ಸುಮಾರು ಒಂದೂವರೆ ತಿಂಗಳಿಗೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕಾಲ ದಿನನಿತ್ಯ ಕಠಿಣ ತಾಲೀಮು ನಡೆಸಿ ದಸರಾ ದಿನದಂದು ಕಣ್ಣು ಕುಕ್ಕಿಸುವಂತಹ ವೇಷಭೂಷಣಗಳಿಂದ ಕಂಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಗಾಂಭೀರ್ಯದ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಯನ್ನಿಡುತ್ತಾ ಮೆರವಣಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಗುವ ಗಜಪಡೆಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಿಳಿಯುವ ಕುತೂಹಲ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬರಿಗೂ ಇದ್ದೇ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಬಾರಿಯ ಗಜಪಡೆಯ ವಿವರ ಹೀಗಿದೆ.

ಬಲರಾಮ: ಚಿನ್ನದ ಅಂಬಾರಿ ಹೊತ್ತು ಮುನ್ನಡೆಯುವ ಬಲರಾಮ ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನದ ಮತ್ತಿಗೋಡು ಆನೆ ಶಿಬಿರದಿಂದ ಬಂದಿದ್ದು, ಈಗ 52 ವರ್ಷ. ಸೌಮ್ಯ ಸ್ವಭಾವದ ಈತ 2.70 ಮೀಟರ್ ಎತ್ತರ ಇದ್ದಾನೆ. ಹದಿನಾರು ಬಾರಿ ದಸರಾ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಂಡಿದ್ದು, ಕಳೆದ ಹನ್ನೆರಡು ವರ್ಷದಿಂದ ಚಿನ್ನದ ಅಂಬಾರಿ ಹೊರುವ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ಬಲರಾಮನನ್ನು 1987ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊಡಗು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಕಟ್ಟೆಪುರ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿಯಲಾಗಿತ್ತು.

ಅರ್ಜುನ: ಕಳೆದ 9 ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ದಸರಾ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿರುವ ಅರ್ಜುನನಿಗೆ ಈಗ 49 ವರ್ಷ. ಈತನ ಎತ್ತರ 2.65 ಮೀಟರ್. 1969ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊಡಗು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಹೆಬ್ಬಳ್ಳ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಖೆಡ್ಡಾ ಮೂಲಕ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿದಿದ್ದು, ಹಿಂದಿನ ಅಂಬಾರಿ ಆನೆ ದ್ರೋಣನ ನಂತರ ಒಂದು ಬಾರಿ ಚಿನ್ನದ ಅಂಬಾರಿ ಹೊತ್ತ ಅನುಭವವಿದೆ. ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನದ ಬಳ್ಳೆ ಆನೆ ಶಿಬಿರದಿಂದ ಈತ ಬಂದಿದ್ದಾನೆ.

ಮೇರಿ: 54 ವರ್ಷದ ಹೆಣ್ಣಾನೆ ಮೇರಿ 2.11 ಮೀಟರ್ ಎತ್ತರವಿದೆ. ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನದ ಅಂತರಸಂತೆ ವನ್ಯಜೀವಿ ವಲಯದ ಸುಂಕದಕಟ್ಟೆ ಆನೆ ಶಿಬಿರದಿಂದ ಬಂದಿದೆ. ಇದನ್ನು 1977ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಕನಕೋಟೆ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿಯಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಇದುವರೆಗೆ 9 ಬಾರಿ ದಸರಾ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಂಡಿದೆ.

'ಪಟ್ಟದ ಆನೆ' ಗಜೇಂದ್ರ: ಚಾಮರಾಜನಗರ ವನ್ಯಜೀವಿ ವಿಭಾಗದ ಕೆ.ಗುಡಿ ಆನೆಶಿಬಿರದಿಂದ ಬಂದಿರುವ ಗಜೇಂದ್ರನಿಗೆ ಈಗ 55 ವರ್ಷ. 2.80 ಮೀಟರ್ ಎತ್ತರವಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ಈತನನ್ನು 1987ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊಡಗು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಕಟ್ಟೆಪುರ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಅರಿವಳಿಕೆ ಔಷಧಿ ನೀಡುವ ಮೂಲಕ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿಯಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಮಹಾರಾಜರ ಅರಮನೆಯ ಪೂಜೆಯ ವಿಧಿ ವಿಧಾನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸುವ ಪಟ್ಟದ ಆನೆಯಾಗಿ ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಹಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಗಜೇಂದ್ರನಿಗೆ 14 ಬಾರಿ ದಸರಾ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಂಡ ಅನುಭವವಿದೆ.

ಕವಿತಾ: ಕಾಕನಕೋಟೆ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ 1977ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕವಿತಾಳನ್ನು ಖೆಡ್ಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿಯಲಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಈಕೆಗೆ ಈಗ 69 ವರ್ಷ. ಸುಮಾರು 2.35 ಮೀಟರ್ ಎತ್ತರವಿರುವ ಕವಿತಾ, ಚಾಮರಾಜನಗರ ವನ್ಯಜೀವಿ ವಿಭಾಗದ ಕೆ.ಗುಡಿ ಆನೆ ಶಿಬಿರದಿಂದ ಬಂದಿದ್ದಾಳೆ. 5 ಬಾರಿ ದಸರಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಂಡ ಅನುಭವವಿದೆ.

ವರಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ: ಈ ಆನೆಯನ್ನು 1977ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಕನಕೋಟೆ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿಯಲಾಗಿದ್ದು, ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನದ ಸುಂಕದಕಟ್ಟೆ ಆನೆಶಿಬಿರದಿಂದ ಬಂದಿದೆ. 7ನೇ ಬಾರಿಗೆ ದಸರಾ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ.

ಶ್ರೀರಾಮ: ಇದರ ಅಂದಾಜು ವಯಸ್ಸು 53. ಎತ್ತರ 2.65 ಮೀಟರ್. 1969ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊಡಗು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ತಿತಿಮತಿ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಖೆಡ್ಡಾ ಮೂಲಕ ಸೆರೆ ಹಿಡಿಯಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಚಾಮರಾಜನಗರ ವನ್ಯಜೀವಿ ವಿಭಾಗದ ಕೆ.ಗುಡಿ ಆನೆ ಶಿಬಿರದಿಂದ ಬಂದಿರುವ ವರಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ಕಳೆದ 13 ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ದಸರಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದು, ಪಟ್ಟದ ಆನೆಯ ಜೊತೆ ಅರಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪೂಜಾ ಕಾರ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ.

ಅಭಿಮನ್ಯು: ಇದರ ವಯಸ್ಸು 44. ಎತ್ತರ 2.66 ಮೀಟರ್. ಕಾಡಾನೆಯನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದು ಪಳಗಿಸುವ ಹಾಗೂ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆ ನೀಡುವ ಕಾರ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನೈಪುಣ್ಯತೆ ಪಡೆದಿರುವ ಅಭಿಮನ್ಯು ಎಂತಹ ಬಲಿಷ್ಠ ಆನೆಯನ್ನು ಕೂಡ ಎದುರಿಸಿ ಹಿಡಿತದಲ್ಲಿಡುವ ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯ ಹೊಂದಿದೆ. ಇದನ್ನು 1977ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊಡಗಿನ ಹೆಬ್ಬಳ್ಳ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಖೆಡ್ಡಾದ ಮೂಲಕ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿಯಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. 12 ಬಾರಿ ದಸರಾ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿರುವ ಅಭಿಮನ್ಯು, ಅರಮನೆ ವಾದ್ಯ ಸಂಗೀತದ ಗಾಡಿ ಎಳೆಯುವ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿಯನ್ನು ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನದ ಮೂರ್ಕಲ್ ಆನೆ ಶಿಬಿರದಿಂದ ಬಂದಿದೆ.

ಹರ್ಷ: ಕೊಡಗಿನ ಕುಶಾಲನಗರ ಬಳಿಯ ದುಬಾರೆ ಆನೆ ಶಿಬಿರದಿಂದ ಬಂದಿರುವ ಹರ್ಷನ ವಯಸ್ಸು 44. ಎತ್ತರ 2.57 ಮೀಟರ್. ಇದನ್ನು 1990ರಲ್ಲಿ ದೊಡ್ಡಬೆಟ್ಟ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿಯಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಹನ್ನೊಂದನೇ ಬಾರಿಗೆ ದಸರಾ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ.

ವಿಕ್ರಮ್: ಕೊಡಗಿನ ಕುಶಾಲನಗರ ಬಳಿಯ ದುಬಾರೆ ಆನೆ ಶಿಬಿರದಿಂದ ಬಂದಿರುವ ವಿಕ್ರಮ್‌ಗೆ 38 ವರ್ಷ. ಇದನ್ನು 1990ರಲ್ಲಿ ದೊಡ್ಡಬೆಟ್ಟ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಅರಿವಳಿಕೆ ಔಷಧಿ ನೀಡುವ ಮೂಲಕ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿಯಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಇದು 9ನೇ ಬಾರಿಗೆ ದಸರಾ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದೆ.

ಸರಳಾ: ಕಳೆದ ಆರು ಬಾರಿ ದಸರಾ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿರುವ 69 ವರ್ಷದ ಸರಳಾಳನ್ನು 1977ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಕನಕೋಟೆ ಅರಣ್ಯಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಖೆಡ್ಡಾದ ಮೂಲಕ ಸೆರೆ ಹಿಡಿಯಲಾಗಿದೆ. ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನದ ಸುಂಕದಕಟ್ಟೆ ಆನೆಶಿಬಿರದಿಂದ ಬಂದಿದೆ.

ಕಾಂತಿ: ಗಜಪಡೆಗಳಿಗೆಲ್ಲಾ ಹಿರಿಯಜ್ಜಿಯಾಗಿರುವ ಕಾಂತಿಗೆ ಈಗ 71 ವರ್ಷ. 2.10 ಮೀಟರ್ ಎತ್ತರವಿರುವ ಇದು ಚಾಮರಾಜನಗರ ವನ್ಯಜೀವಿ ವಿಭಾಗದ ಕೆ.ಗುಡಿ ಆನೆ ಶಿಬಿರದಿಂದ ಬಂದಿದೆ. 1968ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಕನಕೋಟೆ ಅರಣ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಖೆಡ್ಡಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿಯಲಾಯಿತು. ಇದುವರೆಗೆ 16 ಬಾರಿ ದಸರಾ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವದ ಜಂಬೂ ಸವಾರಿ ಮೆರವಣಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದೆ.

Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya

Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya
15 September 1860 - 14 April 1962
was a notable Indian engineer, scholar, and statesman born at Muddenahalli, near Kanivenarayanapura, in present day Chikballapur District of Karnataka State. He is a recipient of the Indian Republic's highest honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1955. He was also knighted as a Commander of the Indian Empire by King George V for his myriad contributions to the public good. Every year, 15 September is celebrated as the Engineer's Day in India in his memory. He is held in high regard as the first and pre-eminent Engineer of India..
Early years
Sir M. V. was born to Srinivasa Sastry and Venkachamma at Muddenahalli village, Kanivenarayanapura hobli, Chikkaballapur District of present-day Karnataka, in what was then the princely state of Mysore. His father Srinivasa Sastry was a Sanskrit scholar and an authority on the Hindu scriptures, besides being an Ayurvedic practitioner. Sir M. V.'s ancestors actually hailed from the village of Mokshagundam near Giddalur in the Prakasam District of present-day Andhra Pradesh; they had migrated to Mysore state perhaps three centuries ago. The family name "Mokshagundam", preserves the memory of his association with Andhra Pradesh. His mother tongue was Telugu
The young Visvesvaraya lost his father at the age of 15. The family was resident at Kurnool of Andhra Pradesh when this calamity befell them; they moved back to Muddenahalli thereafter. Sir M. V. attended primary school at Chikkaballapur and high school at Bangalore. He earned his B.A. from the Madras University in 1881 and later studied civil engineering at the College of Science, Pune, now known as the College of Engineering, Pune (COEP).
Career as engineer
Upon graduating as an engineer, Visvesvaraya took up a job with the Public Works Department (PWD) of Bombay now known as Mumbai, and was later invited to join the Indian Irrigation Commission. He implemented an extremely intricate system of irrigation in the Deccan area. He also designed and patented a system of automatic weir water floodgates which were first installed in 1903 at the Khadakvasla reservoir near Pune. These gates were employed to raise the flood supply level of storage in the reservoir to the highest level likely to be attained by its flood without causing any damage to the dam. Based on the success of these gates, the same system was installed at the Tigra dam in Gwalior and the Krishnaraja Sagara (KRS) dam in Mandya but many of them say that it is in mysore
Visvesvaraya achieved celebrity status when he designed a flood protection system to protect the city of Hyderabad from floods. He was also instrumental in developing a system to protect Vishakapatnam port from sea erosion.
Sir M. V. supervised the construction of the KRS dam across the Cauvery River from concept to inauguration. This dam created the biggest reservoir in Asia at the time it was built[citation needed]. Sir MV was rightly called the "Father of modern Mysore state" (now Karnataka): During his period of service with the Government of Mysore state, he was responsible for the founding of, under the aegis of that government, the Mysore Soap Factory, the Parasitoide laboratory, the Mysore Iron & Steel Works (now known as Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited) in Bhadravathi, the Sri Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic Institute, the Bangalore Agricultural University, the State Bank of Mysore, The Century Club, Mysore Chambers of Commerce and numerous other industrial ventures. He also encouraged private investment in industry during his tenure as Diwan of Mysore. He was also instrumental in charting out the plan for road construction between Tirumala and Tirupati.He was known for sincerity,time management and dedication to a cause.
As the Diwan of Mysore
After opting for voluntary retirement in 1908, he took a foreign tour to study industrialised nations and there after, for a short period he worked for Nizam of Hyderabad. He suggested flood relief measures for Hyderabad town,which was under constant threat of floods by Moosi river. Later, during November 1909, Visvesvaraya was appointed as Chief Engineer of Mysore State. Further, during the year, 1912, he was appointed as Diwan or First Minister of the princely state of Mysore. With the support of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, Maharaja of Mysore, Visvesvaraya made an arguably unprecedented contribution as Diwan to the all-round development of the state. Not only the Krishnaraja Sagara dam and reservoir, the steel works at Bhadravathi, the Sri Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic Institute at Bangalore, the University of Mysore, Bank of Mysore Limited (now State Bank of Mysore) at Bangalore [1913]Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited (KSDL) - Govt Soap Factory [1916] and many other industries and public works owe their inception or active nurturing to him. He was instrumental in the founding of the "Government Engineering College" at Bangalore in 1917, one of the first engineering institutes in India. This institution was later named the "University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering" (UVCE) after its founder. It remains one of the most reputed institutes of engineering in Karnataka. He also commissioned several new railway lines in Mysore states.
Honours
In 1915, while he was the Diwan of Mysore, Visvesvaraya was made Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire by the British for his myriad contributions to the public good. After India attained independence, Sir M. Visvesvaraya was given the nation's highest honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1955.
Sir M.V. was honoured with honorary membership of the international Institution of Civil Engineers (based in London) and a fellowship of the Indian Institute of Science (based in Bangalore). He was also awarded several honorary doctoral degrees like D.Sc., LL.D., D.Litt. from various universities in India. He was president of the 1923 Session of the Indian Science Congress. Sir MV was also awarded honorary Membership of London Institution of Civil Engineers for an unbroken period of 50 years.[1]
The family temple at Muddenahalli

Sir M.V.'s mother discovered a stone that had a structure carved on it. One day, when she was returning home by a bullock cart, she noticed a stone lying in a field at the edge of the road. A few days later, she found the stone still there. After several trips past the stone, she stopped the bullock cart and asked the villagers about it.The villagers also had no idea about the stone.The stone was taken to her house and a temple was constructed which exists even to day.



Memorial at Muddenahalli
There is a beautiful and very picturesque memorial of Sir M. V. located on the family-owned land at Muddenahalli, with the Nandi Hills as a backdrop.
Developments in Muddenahalli
In honor of Sir Visvesvarayya, a number of educational institutions are currently being constructed in the Muddenahalli-Kanivenarayanapura region. Among these is the Sathya Sai Baba University and School of Medicine [2], the elite Indian Institute of Technology Muddenahalli, as well as the 600 crore Visvesvaraya Institute of Advanced Technology [3][4]. These developments will make the historical town of Muddenahalli the premier educational hub in northern Bangalore

Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple, Srirangapattana

Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple, Srirangapattana , Mandya
Location:
Although situated a mere 19 km from Mysore city, Srirangapattana lies in the neighbouring district of Mandya. The entire town is enclosed by the river Kaveri to form an island, northern half of which is shown in the image to the right. While the main river flows on the eastern side of the island, the Paschima Vaahini segment of the same river flows to its west. The town is easily accessible by train from Bangalore and Mysore and is also well-connected by road, lying as it does just off the Bangalore-Mysore highway. The highway passes through this town and special care was taken to minimize any impact on the monuments here.
History:Sri Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapatna is considered to be one of the most important Vaishnavite shrines in South India. Built by the Gangas in the 9th century, this temple is noted for beautiful carvings and architecture of Hoysala and Vijayanagar style. The temple is a tribute to Lord Ranganatha (Vishnu) and the idol of Lord Ranganatha is seen in sleeping posture on Kalinga – the seven-headed serpent. Srirangapatna or Srirangapatnam a city situated on the banks of River Kaveri is in Mysore in Karnataka, India.
The temple is the abode of Lord Vishnu as Sri Ranganatha swamy. The lord is resting on adhi sesha here and the temple is on kaveri banks. The temple has a big gopuram and huge walls surrounding it depicting ancient architecture.Srirangapatna is among the Pancharanga kshetram along the river kaveri, others being srirangam, tiruvindalur, kumbakonam and Koyiladi.
How to Reach:
Srirangapatna is on the Bangalore –Mysore State Highway. It is closer to Mysore.
Nearest Rail head- Mysore
Nearest Airport- Bangalore
Sannadhis(other shrines):
1. Sri Ranganatha Perumal
2. Ranganayaki Thayar
3. Panchamukha Hanuman
4. Krishna
5. Lord Srinivasa
6. Alwars
7. Vaishnava Acharyas
Other Temples:
1. God Ganesha Temple In Front of Ranganatha Swamy Temple
2. Gangadhareswara Swamy Temple
3. Lakshminasimha Swamy Temple
4. JyothiMahaswara Temple
5. Bidhcotta Ganesha Temple
6. Panduranga Swamy Temple
7. Sathyanarayana Swamy Temple
8. Anjunaya Swamy Temple in main Road.