My Butterflies...

A butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough"- Rabindranath Tagore.

Cabbage White Butterfly this morning..

Except humans, all creatures treat nature delicately, taking what they need only, existing in harmony.

"ONE DIES & ONE SURVIVES.."

This unknown species of spider seems venomous as the Cupid Butterfly has turned black, entangled in the web.

"The real question is not whether life exists after death, the real question is whether you are alive before death..Osho"

Oriental Plains Cupid- Backyard.

A Common Grass Yellow- Backyard

When butterflies fall in love, do they have humans inside their stomach..?
A mating pair of Dark Grass Blue and one in background.

Can't have enough of the Red Pierrots , every time is a different setting.

"I drank that wine of which the soul is its vessel. Its ecstasy has stolen my intellect away. A light came and kindled a flame in the depth of my soul. A light so radiant that the sun orbits around it like a butterfly.--Rumi"

 An Indian Red Pierrot Butterfly pair mating. From the backyard.

“If you find me not within you, you will never find me. For I have been with you, from the beginning of me.” Rumi

A Plains Cupid settles down for some rest on Sunday afternoon.

“This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet.” Rumi

A little playfulness, that's all is to life and what the heck I was thinking.

An Indian Cabbage White (Pieris Canidia), I just like the way it sits quietly amidst blue flowers.

"Just like the butterfly, I too will awaken in my own time"

-Deborah Chaskin

A Pale Blue Pansy pair...carefree as they always are..!!

Chinese Lemon Pansy and Indian Cabbage Butterflies engrossed in savouring the nector.
आप ही कीजिए, मंदिर मस्जिद में सजदा
हमने मैकदे के पास ही, घर बना लिया...

मरिजे ए इश्क़ ने, क्या खूब मर्ज़ निकाला
हुस्न को छोड़ कर, मय से दिल लगा लिया...

दंगो की आग में, जब जल गया शहर सारा
कुछ रिन्दों ने मिलकर, मैकदा बचा लिया...
By Prabhat Parvana.

An Indian Red Pierrot Butterfly..tiny as thumbnail
इश्क दी नवीयों नवीं बहार ।

उमर गवाई विच मसीती, अन्दर भरिआ नाल पलीती,
कदे नमाज़ तौहीद ना कीती, हुन की करना एं शोर पुकार ।
इश्क दी नवीयों नवीं बहार ।

इश्क भुलाइआ सजदा तेरा, हुन क्यों ऐवें पावें झेड़ा,
बुल्ल्हा हुन्दा चुप्प बथेरा, इश्क करेंदा मारो मार ।
इश्क दी नवीयों नवीं बहार ।

A Northern Lime Swallowtail Butterfly..

इश्क दी नवीयों नवीं बहार ।

हीर रांझे दे हो गए मेले, भुल्ली हीर ढूंडेदी बेले,
रांझा यार बुक्कल विच खेले, मैनूं सुध रही ना सार ।
इश्क दी नवीयों नवीं बहार ।

बेद कुरानां पढ़ पढ़ थक्के, सज्जदे करद्यां घस्स गए मत्थे,
ना रब्ब तीरथ ना रब्ब मक्के, जिस पाइआ तिस नूर अनवार ।
इश्क दी नवीयों नवीं बहार ।
Ever new, ever fresh is the spring of love!
Heer and Ranjha are united at last!
Deluded Heer had sought him in woods
While beloved Ranjha played in her veil,
Before Him I lost my senses and wits.

Sick of reading the Vedas and the Qurans,
My forehead is worn by constant obeisance.
God is not found at shrines or mosques,
Whoever found, found Him as Light of lights
Ever new, ever fresh is the spring of love!
Bulle Shah...2,contd..

An Oriental Cupid Butterfly.

इश्क दी नवीयों नवीं बहार..

जां मैं सबक इश्क दा पढ़आ, मसजद कोलों जीउड़ा डरिआ,
डेरे जा ठाकर दे वड़्या, जित्थे वज्जदे नाद हज़ार ।
इश्क दी नवीयों नवीं बहार ।

जां मैं रमज़ इश्क दी पाई, मैना तोता मार गवाई,
अन्दर बाहर होई सफ़ाई, जित वल्ल वेखां यारो यार ।
इश्क दी नवीयों नवीं बहार ।

Ever new, ever fresh is the spring of love
When I learnt the lesson of love,
My heart dreaded the sight of mosques.
I then entered the abode of the Lord,
Where resounded a thousand melodies.

When I understood the depths of love, all that's learnt like a Myana and Parrot is dead and lost.
Inside and outside are cleansed, I see my beloved everywhere.
Ever new ever fresh is the spring of love..
Bulleh Shah...1 contd..

I used to have lot of butterflies in my stomach, I have brought them out now :)
"No amount of effort or practice can lead to liberation. Don't waste your time making efforts to get enlightenment. You are already free, here and now..."Sh. H W L Poonja-Papaji" 

"Come let's drink from the same cup full of divine love.." said the Great Oriental Eggfly to the Ant

An Oriental Tiger Butterfly can't have enough of this little flossy flower this morning.

Rumi said " If you were a blade of grass or tiny flower, I will pitch my tent in your shadow. Only your presence revives my withered heart. You are the candle that lights the whole world and I am an empty vessel for your light."

These Calliandra Flowers ( Fire Cracking Indian ) are the main attraction for the Cabbage Butterflies.
" If you want butterflies to visit you, grow flowers in your garden.."

A day in Kathmandu, Nepal
22 Oct'16
It's soothing warm sun and this "Common Sailor Butterfly" has been floating around all day long in front of my room, I take it as an invite to capture her for my record.

A day in Kathmandu, Nepal.

An Indian Cabbage White is what it's called..Soft, Delicate, Restless & Carefree.

Earnings of the day..A bunch of beauties..

"Know yourself as seeing, not the seer, and you will find yourself everywhere.".Rupert Spira.

When a flower invites a Butterfly...!

And BulleShah is singing..

भांवे जाण ना जाण, वे वेहड़े आ वड़ मेरे

मैं तेरे क़ुर्बान वे वेहड़े आ वड़ मेरे ।

You may not take notice of me

But do come to me

I am a sacrifice unto you

Do come to me

तेरे जिहा मैंनु होर न कोई ढूंडा जंगल बेला रोही,

ढूंडा ताँ सारा जहान वे वेहड़े आ वड़ मेरे ।

I’ve looked around in fields and forest

There is none like you

Do come to me

लोकां दे भाने चार महिं डा राँझा लोकां विच कहिंदा,

साडा ताँ दीन ईमान वे वेहड़े आ वड़ मेरे ।

Cowherd you are to others

You are my faith, my beau 

Do come to me 

मापे छोड़ लगी लड़ तेरे शाह इनायत साईं मेरे,

लाईयां दी लाज पाल वे वेहड़े आ वड़ मेरे ।

Leaving my parents, I am tied to you,

Oh Shah Inayat, my beloved teacher

Do come to me

भांवे जाण ना जाण, वे वेहड़े आ वड़ मेरे

मैं तेरे क़ुर्बान वे वेहड़े आ वड़ मेरे ।

You may not take notice of me

But do come to me

I am a sacrifice unto you

Do come to me

Monsoon Special from around the house..!
1 Aug'16
Let this be a good day..!

Self realization is a strange term. You don't actually realize your "self". If anything, you move away. A caterpillar enters the cocoon of meditation: A butterfly emerges-Metamorphosis
Frederick Lenz

An Oriental Blue Tiger..had been dancing carelessly amidst sweet smell of Pine Trees, just when we arrived at Jamta Village, last week in H.P. Can I resist not framing it..Naaah 25 June'17.

Just love..

I have watched you now a full half hour; self poised on that yellow flower And, little butterfly..!Indeed I know not if you sleep or feed. How motionless.! not frozen seas More motionless and then What joy awaits you, when the breeze Hath found you out among the trees, and calls you forth again.....William Wordsworth

The pollens from the flowers have made this Cabbage Butterfly look even more gorgeous. You can look at beauty of nature with a scientist eye and start dissecting it..or you have a choice to look at it with a poets' eye....Enjoy.

WATCH BUTTERFLIES AND BE CALM

Life is happening all around..A Chinese  Pansy..I guess

Earnings of the day..20 Sept'14

When I passed by Siliguri ( W.B)....Feb 2016

JOI MAA...Saraswati Pooja is around the corner and the street are busy and vendors selling Maa Saraswati idols are up for display everywhere.

Driving through the tall Saals with dried leaves littered carelessly..

Alone with myself the Trees bend to caress me The shade hugs my heart..

 Wooden Houses..without the chaotic citylife, amidst freshness of air, chirping sound of birds, what seems to be less is actually a life of abundance.



Few miles from city, we have arrived at the Mahananda river bed..
 
The gentle sounds of flowing water, chirps of birds returning home, the smell of tress, the hues in sky and all that is in site assure me that nature is fully conscious and alive.
Life is one single unit..and I do not make the mistake of separating living and non living beings.

Camouflaged in the rocks is a family of River Lapwings. 

I have known you, but we are meeting for the first time and you have been generous to allow me a good view.

As I watch this little bird ( which I hve yet to recognise), feeding in the water stream, jumping from one stone to another, I wonder what great trust she has in life. The whole of existence seems to be providing for her. Bird later identified as Plumbeous water redstart female

We have actually come deep into Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary to stop by a Forest Post cum watch tower. And Sahil from Nepal is happy to offer us a refreshing cup of Darjeeling Tea..and this is his Kitchen. I am quite amused to hear few stories of his experience with Elephants and Leaopards, before turning back..!

There will always be birds and more birds...and here is a White Browed Wagtail

Believe me this is the real LIGHT & SOUND show.

Is there anything better to do...? Till next time...from Mahananda Widllife Sanctuary..W.B

BIRDING ON ROYAL ENFIELD...!

Its taken me roughly a month to modify my Royal Enfield CDI and the theme is Military Classic. Right from choosing a fabricator to make new Fuel Tank, Front and Rear Mud Guards, selection of paint color and finish, Buffing and Chrome plating a good mechanic to de assemble and assemble, it was a lot of work and patience. Several trips to Mayapuri, Karol Bagh and Jhandewala, eventually paid off and I was quite pleased with the outcome. And now we ( me and my RE Military Classic- named lovingly AZAD) are ready to Rock n Ride. My first trip, I have decided to be around Gurgaon to Basai Wetlands. Lets see what unfolds.

Just as I arrive searching for the spot I had heard quite often amongst debris of constructions and diminishing water bodies, somewhere on the way to Sultanpur from Gurgaon..I am greeted by Indian Pond Heron with flutter of wings..Welcome Bullet Baba

Bar Headed Geese-Migrating south from Mangolia, Khazakistan, Tibet and Russia they arrive in Indian sub continent in winters, and have been reported to be one of the highest flying birds.Ancient Sanskrit literature refers it as Kadamb...How fancy to find them so near, in Gurgaon..I liked the reflected light from coming-up buildings in the background...which will eventually destroy there breeding grounds.

BLUETHROAT..I had only seen pictures of this small passerine insectivorous bird migrating for winters in India...and this day, when I never expected, the beauty was here to greet me with all kind of poses, very friendly. She was all around me. Nature's treat for those seeking..smile emoticon I am really delighted

PIED AVOCET & BLACK WINGED STILTS...In deep meditative mode these four friends are immersed in song of the soul, oblivious to the surroundings and nearby humming of the traffic. Who knows who we are....
Bulle Shah is singing...
Na main momin vich maseetaan
Na main vich kufar diyan reetaan...
Na main paakaan vich paleetaan
Na main moosa na firown
Na main moosa na firown
Ki jaana main Kaun Bulleya
Ki jaana main Kaun
Ki jaana main Kaun Bulleya
Ki jaana main Kaun
Ki jaana main Kaun ?

Not a believer inside the mosque, am I
Nor a pagan (infidel) disciple of false rites
Not the pure amongst the impure
Neither Moses, nor the Pharaoh
Bulleya! To me, I am not known

TREASURES..from nature need not be hunted, they are revealing themselves and you just have to be present.

Just when I had hit the highway all packed ( as it always happens), I thought of motoring towards newly build highway going to Dwaraka. Looking at the open fields I recalled it to be natural habitat of Sarus Cranes. The beauties I had missed to watch closely in my last trip to Bharatpur. And to my utter surprise, I saw two tall figures in the field on my left, bringing my bike to a streaking halt..I jumped, loaded my lens again, with my Helmet on ( no time to loose)..and here they are, a beautiful pair, The Tallest of Birds ( 6 Ft) of India, known to court for life and pine the loss of their mates to starving death-The Sarus Cranes...Wowing.!!

 Let today be a good day, until next time