Hagia Sophia

Posted on November 9, 2014 by prashant bhatt
HAGIA SOPHIA The domes have spectacular light and shade effects HAGIA SOPHIA The domes have spectacular light and shade effects
Mosaic. The faces of St John and Virgin Mary are said to be serious as they are asking Jesus to forgive. Mosaic. The faces of St John and Virgin Mary are said to be serious as they are asking Jesus to forgive.

The gardens,columns, arches and mosaics speak across millenia. The spirit of places like Hagia Sophia is difficult to convey in words. The walk up the ramp which has stones of antiquity was a reminder of the shortness of human physical life. The weeping column (number 30 on the audio guide ) has many interesting legends associated with it.

WEEPING COLUMN many interesting legends associated. No 30 of audio guide, on the right of the ramp leading to the upper galleries WEEPING COLUMN many interesting legends associated. No 30 of audio guide, on the right of the ramp leading to the upper galleries

Maintining a separate journal diary of these visits is an interesting way to gain perspective. So I turned the pages to October 2006, when I had visited a Byzantine church in Eastern Libya which has mosaics , one of which depicts the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria.

What is it in us that seeks out these walks through time.

As I walked around this area saw a building between Hagia Sophia and Hagia Irene which is the only remaining building site of the 24 hospitals for the public mentioned in records. The Eye department of this hospital was said to be particularly well developed. Got to mention this to my Ophthalmology friends.

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Bosphorus cruise

Posted on November 8, 2014 by prashant bhatt
Understanding the connections between sea of Marmara, Bosphorus, Black sea and Byzantine, Ottomans, modern times whole cruising through this marvellous natural wonder

Understanding the connections between sea of Marmara, Bosphorus, Black sea and Byzantine, Ottomans, modern times whole cruising through this marvellous natural wonder

A 20 year old king built a fort on the narrowest point of the Bosphorus channel. This led to control of a vital trade route and shifted the power structure of this whole region. As we walked up this fortress on a quiet afternoon many historic currents going back thousands of years came through

Watching for gardens, birds, came across an amphitheatre . The European and Anatolian side have interesting palaces, homes, mosques. As we crossed the Albanian quarters, the history of the Balkans after the fall of Constantinople came alive in the buildings. Some houses are 300 years and even before.

Palaces on Bosphorus

Many things changed when Turkey became a republic in 1923. Now 100 years on, the boundaries drawn after world war 1 are being redrawn.

RUMELI FORT.built by Mehmet 11. Nice sea breeze and views, carrying many currents of centuries

RUMELI FORT.built by Mehmet 11. Nice sea breeze and views, carrying many currents of centuries

As we returned to the spice market,walked back to Sultanahmet after this little geography and history orientation, the trams, calls of prayer and mosaics mafe a little bit more sense.

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Mevlana Walks-Konya..A lesson on Mentorship

Posted on November 7, 2014 by prashant bhatt
Mevlana Museum, the shrine of Jalaludin Rumi and other important figures of this spiritual movement. The relations between Asia Minor, Constantinople, Europe come alive through the many exhibits related to books, music. The rose garden around the museum is a particularly charming place to sit in the winter sun.


Mevlana Museum, the shrine of Jalaludin Rumi and other important figures of this spiritual movement. The relations between Asia Minor, Constantinople, Europe come alive through the many exhibits related to books, music. The rose garden around the museum is a particularly charming place to sit in the winter sun.

The relation between Shams of Tibriz and Jalaluddin, the scholar -legal expert who turned into a mystic after contact with Shams is one of the great mentorship stories.

Many come to pay their homage to Jalalaluddin, whom the name Rumi has stuck.

In the times of the Seljuks, the Arabs called this part of the world Rum, and the persons staying here Rumi. Only later, this name was going to stick to one person, the poet, mystic, Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi.

Whirling dervishes

Whirling dervishes

A carpet weaver asked me if I had visited the Tomb of Shams.

“No one knows where Shams is, how he disappeared. Even Rumi could not find him in his life time, and many of his spiritual poems speak of this loss and love. So how can there be a tomb of Shams,” I asked this local person of Konya.

He agreed that no one knows where is Shams.

But then, Shams is everywhere.

Returned at Night, to take a different perspective of the same monument. Night photography has its charms

Mevlana museum- Returned at Night, to take a different perspective of the same monument.                                  Night photography has its charms

This story teaches us about the informal but very important role of Mentors in all aspects of life. Remembered and did a thanksgiving prayer for some of my mentors at the tomb of Shams of Tibriz in Mevlana, Konya

Turkish countryside, on way from Eskisehir to Istanbul

Turkish countryside, on way from                           Eskisehir to Istanbul

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