And a bit of life.., From Yogi's Lens

It's time to stand-up on your feet..
Indian Gazelle or Chinkara

The setting sun plays the lightman throwing mild rays on the tall grass and Gazelle turns back for me. Winters have been mild in this part of Rajasthan this year and the air is showering its warmth. Chinkara, also known as Ravine Deer is blissful.

A Dessert Wheater a migratory small pesserine bird basking in the sun

Meanwhile at the large village Taal, the Pied Avocets have arrived, its time to forage

A Blackbuck Male

Going around the salt areas of Chhapar, we finally found The Indian Eagle Owl, in it's natural habitat, sitting in a large, now abandoned Salt Water Bawli. My first

One legged Bar Headed Goose- The highest flying birds, recorded to fly altitudes of 27,000 ft. They fly over from central Asia to India and are unfortunately hunted or trapped in northern Pakistan and some parts of Russia. May be this one escaped a net or a sharp kite thread. My guide Mahinder was aware enough of this fact and stopped at one occasion to remove a Kite from the fields as a precaution for these birds.

Tal Chhapar is one of the lowest rainfall receipient and principal arid zone. The Shekhawati people have done a tremendous job in protecting this distinct ecosystem. Two Blackbucks quench their thirst in the only waterbody left with some water this year..!

There is always some dance, some celebration....Bar Headed Geese

A large bird of prey, an Eastern Imperial Eagle

Finally it's time for the Blackbucks to retun home and for the most celeberated raptor's of Tal Chhapar-The Montagu's Harrier, to start taking flights and to witness all this with the backdrop of setting sun is a blessing to which we could make us available.

"When you demand nothing of the world, nor of God, when you want nothing, seek nothing, expect nothing, then the Supreme State will come to you uninvited and unexpected-Nisargdutta"

With promise made to my guide and driver Mahinder, to return in next October, it's now time to pack-up...until next time

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.