The Coffee Bean

Coffee: 

The art of roasting it right, grinding it to the right consistency and then using a drip filter to prepare the decoction, strong with an aroma that is so typical of coffee and lastly using freshly heated milk to get the correct brown color in your cuppa...one has to give it to the Public Sector Enterprises in India way back in the 60's to have created mini India's in small unknown towns like Durgapur, Bokaro, Rourkela and Bhilai. East India wasn't known for coffee consumption - Tea was THE primary invigorating drink of the masses.

My father, who hails from Chikkamagalur district in Karnataka, known for its premium coffee estates - it was but natural that he bring along with him the art of making the perfect cuppa when he moved from Kalasapura in Chikkamagalure district of Karnataka to Durgapur in West Bengal to build his engineering career in the Steel City. As a kid, I learnt through observation, how the two principle varieties of coffee beans - Plantation 'A' and Peaberry were roasted separately. The two seeds roast at different rates and if you mix the two raw beans and try and roast them together to save on time, the decoction is sure to have a burnt smell with absolutely disastrous results. If roasted right; when the beans begin to cool down, the roasted beans begin to sweat, basically the oils and fragrances are released at this time. The trick of the perfect cuppa is indeed in roasting!! Thanks to my dad's penchant for 'quality', we as a family had perfected the art of roasting, so much so my dad's neighborhood friends visiting us would look forward to a cup of the rich and legendary brew.

The next step in the process was to grind the beans - through trial and error my dad had hit on a 70:30 ratio of plantation 'A' to Peaberry roasted seeds. Plantation 'A' gives the liquid decoction its strength and Peaberry, the wonderful and heavenly aroma, thus creating a rich blend. We had a table top mechanical dry grinder and we would grind just the quantity required for the morning cuppa for the family. The process would repeat once again in the evening for the 2nd cup of the day!! Being an early bird since childhood, this responsibility of grinding the seeds, boiling water and using the drip filter to prepare the rich strong decoction was entirely mine. By the time others woke up, the freshly supplied and boiled milk and the decoction would be ready for mom to prepare that heavenly cup!!

Thanks to the East, then not having been exposed to the taste of coffee, we were introduced to the finer nuances of coffee making and I must give it to my dad for having kept alive the taste of the "perfect" coffee to this day!!

While we don't roast the seeds at home anymore, we give instructions to the roasters & grinders on the mix and consistency to get the taste we are so familiar with since childhood. The Gen 'Y' these days know their coffee only through the branded ones: Cafe Coffee Day, Starbucks and the likes...or the friendly neighborhood 'Darshini' hotels and their typical by-two coffee!!

Thanks to the Business Today article on the 15th Sep'13 issue - "Smelling the Coffee", I was reminded of the yester years, fond memories of my dad and the art of making "THAT" perfect Cuppa...read on and be enlightened:

http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/start-ups-catering-to-connoisseur-seeking-freshly-roasted-coffee/1/198108.html  

Kalahalli Sri BhooVarahaswamy

Kalahalli – Sri BhooVarahaswamy

Kalahalli, also known as Varahanathana Kalahalli is a small hamlet in Mandya district and very near to village Bookenekere – hometown of earlier Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. It is here that the temple of Sri Varahanathaswamy - Protector of World, is situated.

This tiny hamlet of Kalahalli is situated on the right bank of river Hemavathi in Krishnarajapete taluka of Mandya district, and at a distance of 45 Km’s from Srirangapatna on Bangalore – Mysore state highway 17.

The records state that this temple was gifted to Parakala Mutt & Muzrai Department. It is believed that this Varaha Moorthy was the Samputa Moorthy of Kanva Rishi. Incidentally, Samputa Moorthy is a Moorthy that is carried by the Rishis in Palm leaves box.

The Sri Varahaswamy idol has an imposing height of 25 feet with 6 feet tall Bhoodevi or Mother Goddess sitting on his left lap. On the backside of the idol there is a Sudharshan Chakra engraved on Saligrama Shila. Shrines of Varahaswamy are very rare – 5 or 6 at best  in the entire south!

When Krishnarajasagara dam was being constructed, 24 villages were submerged. But, by the grace of Sri Varahaswamy this Village and Temple escaped from being inundated having been constructed on a high mound at the confluence of the three rivers – Cauvery, Hemavathi and  Lakshmana Theertha.

Historically speaking, this area was under the jurisdiction of the Ganga rulers of Talakadu and later this became a part of Hoysala Dynasty, followed by the empire of Vijayanagara, and finally under the Wodeyar Kingdom. The only ‘Shilashasna’ noticed at this village – now lying near the temple complex has Saka 1257 engraved on it. This period corresponds with the reign of Hoysala Veera Bhallala III.

The temple and the main idol faces east with a flight of steps leading to the main entrance. The superstructure has undergone a lot of changes from its original form. The rubble wall around the temple has functioned as a protective shield from the fiery and often flooding river Hemavathi. The temple consists of a garbhagruha (inner sanctum), Antardwara, Navaranga.

The main idol of Sri Varahaswamy with Bhoo Devi measures 25 feet. Sri Varahaswamy is seated in Sukhasana, with Goddess - Mother Earth seated on the left lap, holding a Lotus flower. Sri Varahaswamy’s left arm embraces the mother Goddess. His right lower hand is in Abhaya Mudra. The upper right and left arms hold the Chakra and Shanku (Conch) respectively. The Goddess sports the Nilothphala flower on her left arm with her right arm around the Lord’s waist. Sri Varahaswamy is seen wearing a Kirita-Mukhuta and Mother sports a Karanda-Mukhuta.

Those who wish to be married soon, pray to Mother Bhoo Devi and those who are afflicted by planet Rahu pray to the Lord and obtain freedom from Rahu Dhosha. Rahu is one of the navagrahas (nine planets) in Vedic astrology.  Astronomically, the Moon in its orbit, on a northerly course from South to North, crosses the ecliptic (apparent path of Sun). This point of intersection is known as Rahu or "Dragon's head". 180 degrees away from this point, the Moon on its southerly course crosses the ecliptic (apparent path of Sun). This point is called "the dragon’s tail" or Ketu. These are celestial occurrences; Rahu and Ketu are not real luminaries and are regarded as shadow planets. They do not have ability to cast aspects, as other planets do, they do not rule any zodiacal signs and hence are not characterized as male or female.

Interestingly, the Raja-Gopuram was built and consecrated by Parakala Mutt and Devotees of Sri Varahaswamy as recent as June, this year – 2013 AD. There are grand plans to build a spacious temple complex with a surrounding wall and a super-size door at the east entrance, in line with other Lord Vishnu temples in the south.

We, as a family visited this temple last weekend to seek the Lord’s Blessings at this picturesque place. We found this place to be historically and culturally very rich and hence recommend to one and all to pay a visit. At a distance of 170 KM’s from Bangalore, it could turn out to be a very interesting weekend getaway.