Goghats

(2) CAR OVERDRIVE

Cycling trails are used by nature lovers to explore places of interest. Using a cycle, one can explore the local countryside, journey across a country, undertake cross-country trips, go around the world, jungle mountain bike in the forest, brave high altitude contours and a host of other unexplored options that are waiting to be unlocked. Apart from being used for sports, commuting or exercise, cycling for adventure tours are favourite eco-tourist gateways. As Dr Swamy outlined his upcoming cycling expedition through the Western Ghats (WG) in Karnataka, I was transported to another world. Not only would it be demanding physically and mentally, but thrilling and exciting to experience natural beauty up close and personal. Bali enrolled for cycling, while I readily agreed to be a lone back-up team pillion for the expedition. I did not want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity……..

DIVINITY IN NATURE:

The ancient people perceived divinity and holiness in all of nature. Maintaining the purity of nature and safeguarding it was an ancient ritual, and an accepted law dutifully followed. They symbolically represented the association of God with the entire universe in the Indian scriptures and mythology. The mountains and hilltops were considered sacred. There is a mention of the veneration of plants and trees such as tulsi, peepul and banyan in these texts99.

Ancient people inferred the five elements to be the fundamental building blocks. They searched for proof from within themselves and outside by observing the workings of nature. They identified plants and trees as sthavara (static), while animals were jangama (moving). Charaka, who lived around 300 BC, was a famous physician and principal contributor to the ancient science of Ayurveda. He defined a living organism as having ‘sharirendriya sattvatma samyoga dharijivitam’ , meaning that a living being has ‘a body, sense organs, mind and soul’……