BEST PHOTOGRAPHY 2012

SANCHI -WORLD HERITAGE OF INDIA

                     SANCHI

  Emperor Asoka (273-236 B.C.) built stupas in  Buddha's honour at many places in India. Stupas at Sanchi  are the most magnificent structures of ancient India. UNESCO has included them as  one of the heritage sites of the world. Stupas are large hemispherical domes, containing a central chamber, in which the relics of the Buddha were placed. Sanchi stupas trace the development of the Buddhist architecture and sculpture at the same location beginning from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D.

    Asoka when he was a governor  married Devi, the daughter of a respected citizen of Vidisha, a town 10 km from the Sanchi hill. Prince Mahendra  visited Sanchi with his mother before leaving for the island of Lanka for taking Buddhism there. Emperor Asoka had put up at Sanchi a pillar edict and a stupa containing relics of the Buddha. Addition of new stupas and  expressions in stone of legends  around the life of the Buddha  and the monastic activities at the Sanchi hill continued under several dynasties for over fifteen hundred years. Also, the Brahmi script could be deciphered from the similarities in inscriptions carved at different places in the main stupa.

    Sanchi stupas are noteworthy for their gateways as they contain  ornamented  depiction of incidents from the life of the Buddha and his previous incarnations as Bodhisattvas described in Jataka tales. Sculptors belonging to different times tried to depict the same story by repeating figures. The Buddha has been shown symbolically in the form of tree or through other inanimate figures. One of the sects of Buddhism opposed depiction of the Buddha by a human figure. 

    The top of the Asoka pillar, which comprises of four lions, has been kept in the museum maintained by the Department of Archaeology. The size and the weight of the pillar point to advanced construction technology that was existent at the time of Asoka. It must have been an incredible feat of engineering  to bring  the stone for carving the pillar from the mine to Sanchi  and  installing it up the hill.

REIKI THE POSITIVE ENERGY

                                       Reiki 

                         POSITIVE ENERGY

Reiki is a complementary health approach in which practitioners place their hands lightly on or just above a person, with the goal of facilitating the person’s own healing response. There is a lack of high-quality research in this field. However, this fact sheet provides basic information about Reiki and suggests sources for additional information.

Key Points

• Do not use Reiki to replace conventional care or to postpone seeing a health care provider about a health problem.
• Overall there is a lack of high-quality research on Reiki, and studies that have been done show conflicting results.
• Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

TIME MACHINE SMALL THINGS BIG DEAL

Top 10 Most Expensive Watches

Are you in the market for an elegant timepiece that will compliment any outfit? Take your old analogue watch and have it traded for one of these beauties. Lots of trading firms can find you an individual watch that can be yours for slightly more than the old one. After you have traded the old watch in and have upgraded to one of these works of art bedecked with jewels or as masculine as they come, you will never miss another appointment. These feminine masterpieces dripping with jewels are a unique art piece alongside your man's ultra modern or fashionable pocket watch.

10. Brequet Pocket Watch 1970 BA/12 $734,000

This very stylish pocket watch in 18 karat gold is a beautiful piece of work. It is hand engraved and features a silver face of exquisite workmanship. A secure watch chain is called for after you have traded an old watch for this piece.

9. Blancpain 1735 Grande Complication $800,000

This magnificent representation of the watchmaker's art is another self winding watch. No more batteries are you have traded your old watch for this. Some parts of this watch have been crafted from 18 karat gold.

8. Louis Moinet Magistralis $860,000

This remarkably stylish man's watch contains a genuine piece of meteorite that was found on the moon. After you have traded in your old watch for this you will have no excuse about what day of the year it is as it has a perpetual calendar mechanism.

Hublot Black Caviar Bang $1 million

After you have traded your husband's watch for this beauty he will never miss an anniversary again. Its 18 karat case of white gold is embellished with black diamonds and white diamonds are mounted on the face.

6. Chopard Super Ice Cube $1.1 million

What woman would not want her old watch traded for this beautiful diamond watch? With its 60 karats of diamonds this watch and bracelet is water resistant to 100 feet and also resistant to scratches.

5. Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon $1.3 million

This incredibly complicated watch has the night sky on one side that has precision that is all of its own. The front is also complex with date and the moon phases. This is an amazing watch and a piece of modern art.

4. Vacheron Constatin Tour de I'lle $1.5 million

This 18 karat gold watch has a blue sapphire non-reflective glass. It is a two sided watch that is definitely worth being traded for. You can set this watch to a second time zone. Wonderful for the world traveller.

3. Patek Philippe Platinum World Time $4 million

What a stylish watch after you traded you old digital for. This watch winds itself and you find the time anywhere in the world. This watch has a variety of finishes to choose from, yellow, white and rose gold and platinum for the discerning buyer.

2. Patek Philippe Super Complication $11 million

An 18 carat gold pocket watch with over 900 parts took 5 years to make. Originally it was made for an American banker called Henry Graves. A good trading firm should be able to locate one for you. Another great watch from master makers "Patek Philippe" who make a watch suitable for every man.

1. Chopard 210 karat $25 million

With its 201 karats of coloured diamonds, this watch is for the love of your life. It is a spectacular piece of jewellery first and a timepiece second. This watch is beautiful and simple time piece that looks like it is surrounded by flowers.

HANDS WORLD

MY PASSION

                                               INDIAN PAINTING

indian painting has a very long tradition and history in Indian art. The earliest Indian paintings were the rock paintings of pre-historic times, the petroglyphs as found in places like Bhimbetka, some of them from before 5500 BC. India's Buddhist literature is replete with examples of texts which describe palaces of the army and the aristocratic class embellished with paintings, but the paintings of the Ajanta Caves are the most significant of the few survivals. Smaller scale painting in manuscripts was probably also practised in this period, though the earliest survivals are from the medieval period. Mughal painting represented a fusion of the Persian miniature with older Indian traditions, and from the 17th century its style was diffused across Indian princely courts of all religions, each developing a local style. Company paintings were made for British clients under the British raj, which from the 19th century also introduced art schools along Western lines, leading to modern Indian painting, which is increasingly returning to its Indian routes.

Indian paintings provide an aesthetic continuum that extends from the early civilisation to the present day. From being essentially religious in purpose in the beginning, Indian painting has evolved over the years to become a fusion of various cultures and traditions.