William IIII - King of England -Half Silver Rupee, India

Half Rupee 1835- Quite Rare I understand. 1st Indian Coin with a portrait of a british Monarch

Our Lady of Peace

Pictures of Shree ShantaDurga - The Indian 'Our Lady of Peace'.

Bombay Anna. Anna of- The King and I - An original History -By Susan Morgan

Just saw this book on line... About Anna, the real person who went as s governess to Siam portrayed in the movie in the King and I. Wonder of anybody has read the book and would not mind telling me a little bit about it. There was apassing reference that Anna was from Bombay in the movie but no one knows more. This book should tell us all...

Star of India - British India's Emblem. Moto :"Heaven's Light Our Guide"

The star of India was British India's emblem. It was emblazened on the Union Jack and converted into the flag of India.

It was also later used as a medallion for all the King Emperors of India.

India's Old flag was part of the Union Jack themed flags of the commonwealth countries, then parts of the Empire where the sun never set.

The Indian Tricolour replaced the Star of India and the Ancient Three Lions Ashoka Pillar replacing the Star as Modern India's emblem. Emperor Ashoka of the 4 th Century BC was a great ruler and very tolerant to all faiths. He embraced Buddhism and denounced unecessary violence. Pakistan,on the other hand, an Inheritor of Ancient Indi's Lands, became a decidedly Muslim country and their flag had the crescent and star emblem of Islam on a green background, again a colour of Islam. The white band is deemed to represent the minorities in Pakistan and unfortunately the colour is as bland as the celebration of minority religions in that aggressively Muslim country

The Tricolour at Wagah, India's Border with Pakistan

Quote from the Buddha - Gautam Buddha

" Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it. "- The Buddha

Koot - A mixed vegetable Konkani curry- Onion free- saatvik- Jain

This curry is onion and garlic free and hence can be eaten on auspicious days. This can also be eaten by jains using the relevant vegetables.

While koot is the type of curry like vindaloo or madras or dopyaza. it can be eaten with your choice of veggies,

Koot (Konkani mixed vegetable curry)

Boiled potato and raw tomato is one combination.
Cauliflower, potatoes, boiled peas, tomatoes cut into large pieces is another combination.

Masala (Grind the ingredients given below to make a paste)

Coconut (2 cups fresh) or 1 ½ cup desiccated coconut.
8 Roasted red chillies
1 Teaspoon coriander seeds – roasted
Methi (Fenugreek seeds) 1/3 teaspoon roasted
Hing (Asofoetida)- ½ teaspoon roasted.
Mustard seed- 1 pinch roasted
1 teaspoon roasted chanadaal (Chikpea- dry)
Tamarind 1 teaspoon of paste or ½ inch ball of fresh tamarind.


For the Tadka (Tempering)
Mustard seeds- pinch
Hing –Pinch
Chilli – one red.
½ teaspoon kadipatta

In a large wok/kadhai boil the potatoes and other vegetables (Except tomatoes). When cooked add the tomatoes. Boil for 1 minute.

Add the ground masala, salt and boil till you get required consistency. In a smaller wok (Kadhai) add 2 teaspoons of oil, heat- add some mustard seeds, hing, ½ teaspoon kadipatta and red chilli. Add this the tadka(Or Phann in Konkani) to the main curry and allow to simmer.

Vatana Golo ( Konkani Pea and potato dry curry)

1 cup peas
2 medium sized potatoes- cut into small cubes .

Masala (Grind coarsely)
1 fresh coconut grated. Or 1 cup of dessicated coconut soaked in warm water.
4 green chillies (Roasted in 1 teaspoon oil)
½ teaspoon pepper corns.
Pinch of turmeric powder.

Boil the peas and potatoes. Temper the peas and potatoes in a pan with 2 tablespoons of hot oil with mustard seeds sputtering and kadi patta (Karbev Pallo).
Add salt to taste and the Masala.

Boil and stir until dry. This is a dry curry. Serve with Hot dalitoy and rice and koshambir.

Ragda for Ragda Pattice.

Ragda Pattice is a savoury snack which is a favourite at the Mumbai beaches. The pattices are potato pattices while the ragda is this fantastic spicy white pea curry which coverts the pattice.
The curry is served over the pattice and this is garnished with chopped onions and coriander leaves.

Recipe for Ragda.

¼ Kg White dried Peas (Soak for 6 hours and pressure cook until soft)
One can also used tinned marrow fat peas.

Boil the peas. Add ½ Teaspoon tumeric ; 1 teaspoon Dhania (Coriander) powder ; ½ teaspoon Jeera (Cumin) powder ; 1 ½ teaspoon chilli powder and boil until the consistence is quite thick. Add about 5 teaspoons of tamarind water or 2 teaspoons of ready made tamarind paste (adjust according to the level of tartness that one wises)
Add 2 heaped teaspoons of Garam masala Powder , salt to taste and boil on slow heat till the require thick consistency is reached.

Green Peas Barfi - Sweet Pea fudge try this it will surprise you

Green Peas Burfi

This is a fantastic green pea sweet. The sweetness can be reduced if one does not like it very sweet as Indians do :)


300 gms Green Peas
¼ Kg Mava (or Condensed milk if mava is not available)
½ Kg Sugar
2 Desert Spoon of Ghee
Badam , Pista, Elaichi Powder, Silver Foil

Grind the peas to a paste with a little milk. Take the Ghee. Fry the pea paste. When half done add the mava (Or Condensed milk if mava is not available) and fry until the oil separates. Allow it to cool completely.
Take the sugar and a cup of water and heat them together to make a syrup. Add the pea mix and stir continuously till the mix leaves the side of the pan and becomes thick.

Pour in a greased tray. Decorate with the Badam and Pista and silver foil. Cut it into rectangular pieces as it cools.

Shiv Parvati.12th Century Eastern India-British Museum

This beautiful fine statue was carved in India in the 11th Century, Eastern India.

It is rare to find fine carved statues of Shiva as Shiva is traditionally represented bu just the Linga . A beautiful example of the Linga is on the Blog heading.

Here however the sculptor has personified the Lord of destruction in a traditional statue along with Parvati his consort. Parvati is the daugter of Himavan and her name literally means daughter of the Mountains whereas Himavan means snow topped....

Om Namah Shivaya...

Saraswati , Goddess of Knowledge, Jain

Saraswati the Goddess of Knowledge was worshipped by all the subcontinental people of all faiths upto the 11th century.

The above statue is a statue of the Goddess Saraswati from a Jain Temple. This is now in the British Museum.

Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge, Open our eyes ....

Buddha - Buddhism the ideal world religion....

Some simple yet profound quotes of the buddha ...

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. - Buddha

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule. -Buddha

No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.- Buddha

Peace comes from within.Do not seek it without. - Buddha

If God is indeed the creator of all living things, then all things here should submit to His power unquestioningly. Like the vessels produced by a potter, they should remain without any individuality of their own. If that is so, how can there be an opportunity for any one to practice virtue?

If this world is indeed created by God, then there should be no sorrow or calamity or evil in this world, for all deeds, both pure and impure, must come from Him.

If it is not so, then there must be some other cause besides God which is behind Him, in which case He would not be self-existent. -Buddha

Shree Ganeshaya Namah - Obeisance to Lord Ganesha

This is a wonderful image of Lord Ganesha. The statue is in the British Museum and is made of Schist. This has been made in the 12 Century in Eastern India.

Mahisasurmardini

Hail the Goddess, the very force of the Universe

Victory to Thee

Hail the Goddess, Who destroyed the Evil Buffalo demon Mahisasur

Victory, Victory, Victory, Victory unto thee....