Nature shots: kerala

Showing posts with label kerala. Show all posts

Friday, May 28, 2010

Erukku

Buds of Erukku

Fruit of Erukku. Seeds can also be seen

Flower of Erukku.

This is an ayurvedic medicinal plant. This flowers are used for the poojas of shiva temple.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Moodilla Thali

A creeper from Kerala which have no leaves. We can not find its root that may be the name 'Moodilla thali'.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Our guests after the first rain...

We are calling this creatures as 'Eeyal' in Malayalam. It was the first sight in early morning in our porch. According to my in law its an indication of heavy raining.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Bharani and manga

Right from the kitchen... 'Chembu kutam' can also be seen.

Cheena bharani from my home. Its a traditional one used by my mother in law.

Mangoes are from the vegetable shop at Pettah near Thripunithura. They are so fresh.

When I googled for Bharanis, a nice shot of big bharanis from Padmanabhapuram palace, Thiruvananthapurm...Have a look

Another type of bharani from my friend's collection. In our ancestral home we had this type of bharani, but now they have painted it and showcased in the living room as an antique material.

Monday, May 17, 2010

These leaves have many medicinal qualities. This tree is originally from Australia. Oil extracted from the tree has medicinal qualities . It has air freshnening quality, which can be used to freshen the air in a room. This oil is good for body aches and its a good medicine for cough.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Same shades from nature...

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Arana Maram

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Naga lingam tree

I didn't got a fresh flower. Its like a lingam at the centre under the sarpa. Its a native of South America. Its not a common species in Kerala. Shots are from Poovakkattuchira park from Changanacherry.

More details about the tree

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Cannon_ball_tree_(Couroupita_guianensis)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Sarpa Kavu from Kerala

Its a good news from Kerala Government to protect the bio diversity of 'sarpa kavu' or sacred grove. Its a rich heritage and a link to the mother earth. In Kerala most of the families have their own 'Kavu'.
I had gone to many 'kavu' for poojas but didn't took any photos. But it was a thick greenery with rare medicinal plants. My father's ancestoral home had a kavu. After its renovation its greenery is not there instead of the green house they are planning to build a small temple for naga raja. Most of the families are taking the dieties to 'Mannara shala temple', 'Ameda temple' or 'Pambummekkattu temple' to escape from the fear of 'Sarpa dosham'. Its a serpant adobe of every home. This will be a little forest itself. There will be poojas only in certain days of an year.
Some homes had two or three kavu.
Mythology behind the kavu has strong connection with the birth of Kerala. According to hindu culture we believe that Parasurama had created Kerala from sea. Then it was a place with thick forest which contains poisonous snakes. Parasurama presented the land to Brahmins to live. They made these groves to worship these snakes.

Image of Sarpa kavu

Thursday, April 16, 2009

vanilla

Vanilla flower

Vanilla pods

Vanilla plant from Kerala

The term vanilla is very popular among our kids. Their icecream taste mostly starts from Vanilla. Its a flavour derived from Vanilla orchid plant. This plant is originally from Mexico..

Now we can see them in eastern regions of Kerala.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Kulamavu dam in summer season

Friday, March 27, 2009

eera pullu

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Vellilavu or vanthekku

Wood used to make furniture.

Aavanakku

Aavanakku plant

Castor oil plant
Its seeds contain oil. The oil extraced is called castor oil. This is widely used in Ayurvedic medicines and beauty enhancers etc. Its also used to make body ointments and hair colouring. India, china and Brazil are the topmost countries in its cultivation. According to Ayurveda it is mainly used for medicines for Arthritis.