On Our Way to Scottish Abbeys

The Road  passing through Scottish border

The Cattle on the grassy plains

Eildon Hills

Scott's View Point

    As we proceeded from Edinburgh to Cumbrian Lake District located on Scottish border, we could feel the wild beauty of the High Lands with rocky crags, vast plains , cultivated fields and clumps of wild Shrubs thickly grown all along the route. Human habitation is scarcely visible. Flocks of sheep and herds of cattle were found grazing freely on the grassy plains presenting a view of absolute freedom uninterrupted by human presence. In Scotland the weather is quite windy and very cold when compared with that of the lower south. As we went up the ghat road it became more pronounced. As our car went up the slope of Bemersyde hill, we caught a very fascinating view of the valley of the river Tweed, a gentle stream flowing through green slopes studded with trees and jagged stones. The low-peaked Eildon hills are seen at a short distance. The point from where we had this beautiful scenic view is called “Scott’s View”. The famous Scottish author, Sir Walter Scott, used to stop at this point while he was on his way to his native village, Abbotsford to get a glimpse of the Scottish borders with distant Eildon hills forming a backdrop to the river Tweed streaming through sylvan valley. Every visitor stops here and takes a photo of this picturesque scenery. In 1832 when Scott’s funeral procession went by this way, it was said that the horses drawing the funeral carriage of Sir Walter Scott, stopped here as if to give a chance to their master to have a last glimpse of his favorite spot. Sir Walter Scott was buried in Dryburgh Abbey, just a few kilometers away from this place.

  View of Tweed River

 The Tweed River 

 In Scotland has many castles and abbeys were built which served as bastions of protection to face the onslaught of English monarchs in various ages . When we heard of our visit to Scottish abbeys, we did not show much interest as we thought that they might be churches with traditional rooms and prayer halls. But this visit gave us at least an idea about the faded glory of these magnificent mansions spreading over  many acres of land with all facilities akin to a self-contained township. Most of these abbeys especially in medieval ages, enjoyed royal privileges with huge income collected as tax and tithes from neighboring villages. The abbot was the head of an abbey assisted by monks, Dean and Prior in religious and general administration. An abbey comprised many rooms and halls for various purposes to cater to the needs of monks and lay people.  The abbey serves as a shelter for travelers  when there were no lodging  houses. The monks in the abbey also performed many works of charity like feeding the poor invalids and orphans. They also helped in nursing the destitute and sick persons disabled by age and diseases. As a center of learning the abbey imparted education and training to people who  wish to enter the church and also to those who wish to enter various other worldly careers of their choice. The abbey also preserved works of classical authors and religious writers and engaged scribes to copy or translate the rare manuscripts of eminent writers so as to pass them to posterity.

 The novices and monks had a rigorous schedule at the abbey.They had to get up at 3.00 am 

and spend most of their time in praying and in studying scriptures. They had to work in the garden, cook food and attend to other domestic chores. Their food was very simple only with two dishes and they had to sleep on mattresses without any comfort of couches to lie on.  There was no fireplace to warm their chambers except in kitchen, in infirmary (room for sick patients) and in Calefactory (Warming house). Every abbey was surrounded by a high wall and a ditch as a means of protection against invaders. Thus the abbey served as a shelter not only to spread religious and spiritual awareness but also to render service and provide help and necessary training in various professions  to the people.Generally kings and lords used to give liberal donations for the maintenance and upkeep of this sacred institution.  With the advent of  Reformation  many abbeys fell into disuse and lost their glory and the remaining members had to yield to the new reforms just to protect their abbeys. These ruined structures  seem to convey how the clash of beliefs and national rivalries take a heavy toll in disrupting the harmonious social fabric and the religious institutions as well.
          
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            30th January, 2014                                                                    Somaseshu Gutala         

ALL SOULS' DAY (Poem--II)

 










                                1)            Behold once more the lovely glow

                                        Upon these sleeping marble squares

                                        As veiled fog spreads her curtains slow

                                        A blissful state from worldly cares.

                        2)            In November’s cool wind , one hears

                                       The tread of kith and kin, who pray

                                       Before their near and dear with tears

                                       A solemn state with sighs convey.

                        3)          The preacher reads the Holy Book

                                      Before the sleeping sacred souls

                                      Whose joy in whispering breezes shook

                                      The leaves around as church bell tolls.

                       4)           The tombs fresh-painted shine in light

                                     Amidst heaped roses with fragrance bright

                                     With candles and burning scented joss

                                     Around the graves and many a cross.

                       5)          Their voices mingle with unheard tones

                                    Of ancestors in whispered moans;

                                    A communion betwixt the living and dead

                                    Like earth and heaven in glory wed.

                      6)          With tears and smiles they kneel and bow

                                   With grateful hearts they pray to show

                                   Their earnest love with melting ease

                                   For those who sleep in God with peace.

                    7)           Suffused with choric melodies sweet

                                  Under the jeweled rows of starry lights

                                  The souls do bless their kin with dumb delight

                                  Like gods invoked from heavenly heights.

                    8)          All Souls’ Day – an occasion dear

                                 To feel our dear ancestors near

                                 To feel the golden days of past

                                 The precious memories not yet lost.

                                ***************************

                               ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

                     

                24th January, 2014                                              Somaseshu Gutala  

      

ALL SOULS' DAY (Poem-I)

       













                                                          ALL SOULS' DAY (POEM--I)

                                                 The dark graveyard became a sparkling scene
                                                 Festooned with colored bulbs and flowery sheen
                                                 Whitewashed in moonlight soft, the sepulchers shine
                                                 Sweet memories swell in rapturous hymns divine
                                                 The pastor's voice in solemn notes did sound
                                                 A sigh of relief did heave from every mound:
                                                 The crowded kith and kin with reverence share
                                                 Their moments past with philosophic air
                                                 A humble tribute to their ancestors dead
                                                 Who in God's lap taste spiritual bread;
                                                 An occasion to link ourselves anew
                                                 With cherished faces erased from our view.

                                                       +++++++++++++++++++++++++
                                                        ***************************

            23-12-2013                                                                            SOMASESHU GUTALA


                                              A Brief Note on ALL Souls' Day :


  In every culture and civilization due respect and importance is shown towards ancestors  who passed on their values and characteristics to us  and whose blessings are needed for  the existing generation. In Rome a festival called “Feralia” was held to honor the dead in February year. In Indian tradition a whole fortnight in the month of October is devoted to show reverence and do charitable works in memory of the ancestral souls. During this period marriages and other happy events are not held. People lead a simple and pious life offering libations and rice balls to the manes of their forefathers. In Christian tradition this kind of honoring the ancestors is seen right from the seventh century when Mass was conducted on the day after the Pentecost by the monks in memory of their deceased brethren. The Benedictine monk abbot Odillo (962-1048) in 998 A.D. designated Nov.2 as a day for the monks of Clony to pray for the souls in Purgatory. This custom gradually spread throughout France by the end of the tenth century. This custom was followed by all Catholic monasteries by the end of the thirteen century. The purpose behind this ceremony is to cleanse and make fit the souls in purgatory to enter the abode of heaven. Conventions like ringing of bells, sharing of soul-cakes, lighting candles, pouring holy water and decorating the graves with flowers, and offering prayers are observed to give peace and pray for the blessings of the Lord towards  suffering souls. There is a church yard just beside the road that leads to my residence. The deserted Churchyard in a gloomy corner suddenly ,one day, wore a festive look with bright lamps, bouquets, cakes and neatly dressed people singing songs accompanied by music. Those dismal tombs came alive and seemed to warm up by the pious and devotional atmosphere breathing sweet incense and music.  My heart was very much moved on seeing that grand spectacle which really seemed to me “ the Commemoration of the departed “ beloved souls.

                                          +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Song of Halloween

                       

Jack-of-Lantern

Bonfire

A Masked Figure

Figures of witches

     

The Celtic Druid

  

Kids In Halloween Dress

                       1)            Grotesque figures and skeletons parade the way
                                       To trick the devil and make us gay :
                                       The kids in witches' robes and coal-black hues
                                       Threaten the elders to claim their dues:
                                       A merry magic spell , this Halloween
                                       Give the Devil his due with a merry grin !

                       2)             When stars stream all over with crystal sheen
                                       When nights become longer with misty screen
                                       When witches whisper and float with mystic spell
                                       To pluck black weeds from darkest dells
                                       Riding on ravens, cats and flying sticks
                                       To test their powers with cunning tricks

                       3)            Bright orange pumpkins grace at every home
                                      With flaming tongues of fire inside the dome
                                      Bon fires and candles hail the heavenly souls
                                      In chilly weather dark the church bell tolls.
                                      This gloomy eve hallowed by their noble tread
                                      A gush of love towards our dearest dead!

                        4)           The Celtic Druids of ancient lore
                                       Moved with torches from door to door
                                       Shouting in darkness to collect their treats
                                       Chanting dark spells with rhythmic beat
                                       When babes were hid by dames afraid
                                       Of tricky goblins of the country side. 

                        5)           When skull-shaped turnips with fire inside
                                      Guarded each house from the devils espied
                                       When the veil of mystery betwixt the worlds turned thin
                                       For seers to watch the twists of Destiny's spin
                                       When bawling beggars roamed crying for bread
                                       Praying for the souls of the people dead.

                       6)           To save their harvests, beasts and children
                                      From the spells of hags and witches of glen
                                      The Druids prayed to Saman , Lord of Death
                                      To bless their tribe with power, joy and health
                                      Offering beasts and grain in sacrificial fire
                                      Masked figures dancing around the fire.

                       7)           This pagan festival with masked attire
                                     Fraught with sacrificial blood and fire 
                                     Became a holy eve of Christian saints
                                    A time to pray in church to free the taint
                                    And bestow peace on departed dear
                                    By keeping vigil with a conscience clear. 

                       8)         This Hallowmas, no more a time to fear and brood
                                   Of Devils, witches and Jack-of-Lantern shrewd
                                   A time to share and sing of Lord again
                                   Mimicking old beliefs in a merry strain
                                   A friendly round of meeting our near and dear
                                   To spread the message of Love --no more to fear.

                                  +++++++)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))+++++++++++++
                                  
       A Brief Note on Halloween:

    Halloween is celebrated on the evening of October 31st Just when winter sets in. Children masked like spirits and goblins roam from house to house to collect their treats and perform some playful tricks. This festival has had its origin in the pagan tradition of Celts called Samhain's Festival celebrated at the end of the harvest season when nights last longer than daytime. It was the time when the dividing  line between the earthly world and the upper world becomes thin and when the spirits of the dead visit their ancestral homes. It was also the period when evil spirits and witches practice mystic rites in dark nights. To appease them and to prevent their evil influence the Celtic priests known as Druids lit bonfires and offered beasts and grain as sacrificial offering. They beat drums and rang bells and moved from door to door to collect fruits and gifts chanting spells and cursing those who shut their doors and refused to give gifts to them.They masked themselves in grotesque attire to scare away the ghosts and to escape from the wrath of vindictive ancestral spirits. In ancient times even human sacrifice was practiced. To welcome the ancestral souls and show the way, candles and bonfires were lit and food was offered to them.  Samhain was worshipped for giving protection to their beasts, children and harvests. The Druids used to carry a lamp in the hollow of a turnip cut in the shape of a skull in memory of the dead. This lamp is called "Jack-of-Lantern". Behind this there is a story of a vicious youth called Jack who used to trick the devil and later after his death could not enter the hell. The devil gave him a burning coal to guide him on his way to find his place of rest. In U.S. instead of turnips big orange colored pumpkins are used to keep the lamp inside the hollowed out part as a kind of protection to ward off evil spirits. 

    During this time witches wandered stealing children and performed black magic adoring evil spirits. Thus Halloween, a shortened form of "All Hallows Eve " or Holy Souls (ancestors) carried sinister and weird implications. In old English the word "Halga" means "a saint". After the advent of Christianity Pope Gregory IV shifted All Saints Day (13th May, 609 A.D.) to Nov.1st in 835 A.D. just to coincide with this Celtic festival. Nov.1st is called Hallowmas or All Saints' Day. Halloween means the evening before Hallowmas. The Christians in medieval times lit candles and offered food to their ancestral souls at home.In churches bells were tolled and prayers were offered for souls in purgatory. The poor people and beggars used to receive bread known as "soul-Bread" in return for offering prayers to the souls of the ancestors.   

 Nowadays boys dress themselves as ghosts and weird creatures and move from house to house to collect candies,fruits and gift items. Thus Halloween, a pagan festival, observed in memory of the dead and placating the Lord of Death, became a friendly and jovial occasion for spreading the message of love and for elders to express their gratitude and renew their relationship with their ancestors.               
                                      
                                      ( Dedicated to those born on Halloween's Day)
                                         
                Dated: 17th January, 2014                                            Somaseshu Gutala                                     
                                        

My Visit to Sterling Castle

     

Entrance to the castle

Sterling Castle

  In Scotland we find not only wilderness with green grass-draped valleys and streams but also many historic castles, abbeys and mansions of feudal lords. Sterling Castle is well-known not only for its strategic location upon a 250 feet-high rocky crag but also as a place where  so many Scottish monarchs and lords fought bravely to defend this castle from the onslaught of the English armed forces. This castle has a long history dating from 10th and 11th centuries. The name "Sterling" is derived from a Scottish word  which means the place of strife. The first royal castle was built here in 11th century. . It was originally made of wood. But later in 13th  century it was re-built in stone. Most of the surviving structures of this castle were built by the Stewart kings-- James IV, James V, and James VI between 1490 and 1600. A few structures of the 14th century still remain undamaged by frequent assaults during the wars of Scottish independence. The architecture reveals a blend of English, French and German styles of construction.

The Old Building

Chapel Royal

 In 1110 King Alexander I dedicated a chapel at this place. He died in 1124. His successor David I made this castle an important place.William I handed over this castle to Richard I under the treaty of Falaise in 1174, but later the castle was given back by the English king in 1189. William I stayed here till his death in 1214. Alexander III laid out the New Deer Park in 1260s. He died in 1286. The English king Edward I occupied this castle in 1296. Since then nearly eight times wars were fought between the English and Scottish forces to occupy this fort. In 1297 William Wallace fought and won in the battle of Sterling Bridge. But the castle was again captured by the English in 1298. At last Robert Bruce defeated the English army in 1314 and secured Scottish independence.

James IV stayed in a simple old building in 1490s but later extended the western side of the building after he married Margaret, daughter of Henry VII in 1503. James IV (who ruled between 1488 and 1513) undertook the construction of the Great Hall and renovated the Royal Chapel in 1496. Mary, Queen of Scots, as an infant  was crowned here in 1543 by her mother Mary De Guise. James V (who ruled between 1513 and 1542) completed the construction of the Royal Palace by employing French masons. As he died at a very young age, his wife, Mary of Guise, completed the unfinished work. The old building served as offices and accommodation for royal household. Now it has been converted into a museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. James V constructed the royal Palace in a grand manner to stay here along with his newly married French queen. The outer walls of the palace were embellished with beautiful statues of Hellenic gods and goddesses and saints polished with gold. These figures were meant to show his royal splendor, virtues and bravery. Now the figures have become worn out and deprived of their past glory.

The Great Hall

Chapel Royal  (inside view)

              













 The Great Hall or Parliament Hall built by James IV is a very spacious hall with beautiful Renaissance  architecture. In the palace there are two separate apartments for king and queen. In each apartment there is an outer hall, a conference room and a bed chamber with various other rooms called closets for private use.  In queen's conference room one can see fine attractive tapestries called unicorn tapestries. The theme of these beautiful woven designs is the hunting of a unicorn by knights and royal courtiers which symbolize royal power, nobility and chastity combining both pagan and Christian implications.The unicorn, being a heraldic symbol of Scottish royalty indicates power and nobility. In pagan tradition it indicated virtues and it is believed that only a chaste virgin can tame a unicorn. In Biblical tradition the unicorn stands for Jesus Christ who is the savior of mankind. The new tapestries seen in the Queen's royal chamber are closely based on a set of seven tapestries produced in 1500's . They are now kept in the Metropolitan Museum of New York at its Cloister's Museum.

King's Royal Chamber

Sterling Heads on the Ceiling

The Unicorn Tapestry

Queen's Bed Chamber

The Unicorn Tapestry

The Sterling Heads

The ceiling of King's Chamber was originally decorated with a series of carved figures on oak panels known as Sterling Heads. On them figures of Scottish kings, queens, Roman and Greek emperors, legendary heroic figures, Scottish nobles and ladies in fashionable costumes and saints were carved within wreaths of fruits and foliage. They have been removed when the ceiling collapsed in 1777. Out of the fifty-six heads thirty six heads are still found. New heads have been re-crated and brightly painted to deck the ceiling of the royal chamber.Visitors can see the original Sterling Heads in the Sterling Head Gallery. When we entered, we saw some people dressed in various royal and traditional costumes and playing the roles of royal household. In Queen's chamber we saw a fair lady with a bejewel led crown  sitting and knitting the beautiful designs on a tapestry. A court jester was seen entertaining with his witty remarks and gestures.

 This construction of this Castle was inspired by the grand and elaborate models of European
 Renaissance to show the Scottish Emperor's (James V) learning, sophistication, royal splendor along with assertion of his power to rule the Scottish kingdom and to convey the messages of power, prosperity, justice and wisdom.The Scottish Govt. and Historic Scotland deserve all applause for their liberal contribution of spending more than twelve million pounds to renovate and re-create the grandeur of this castle and protect its unique identity and heritage by their untiring efforts and sense of dedication.

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       27-12-2013                                                                          SOMASESHU GUTALA

The Thrilling Metropolis (Part-III)

The Famous Balmoral Hotel

Princes Street, Edinburgh

  The main shopping street of the New Town is called the Princes Street starting from Waterloo Station to Shandwick Place at the west end. Originally it was called St.Giles Street facing Edinburgh's Castle and the Old Town.King George III later named the street after his two sons, Prince George and Prince Frederick.On the north side of the street you will a row of shops and a very spacious garden on the south side.A steep rise or embankment is seen on the northern side due to increase in width of the Princes Street.Though the plan of this was laid out by James Craig in 1770, most of the buildings were re-developed in the nineteenth century. The tourists can do a lot of shopping here as this street was lined with many shops, malls, hotels and historic monuments. The famous hotel Balmoral Hotel and the Royal Bank of Scotland are located in this locality.

 The Princes Street Garden is on the south side of the Princes Street spreading over a vast area of nearly 35acres and is divided by a mound . Previously this place was a marshy lake (Nor Loch) which served as a dumping place. It was later drained and a garden was laid out in 1770's and in 1820's. The Nor Loch was created by James II In 1450 to serve as a natural defense. In 1460 James III ordered the area to be flooded to strenghten the castle's defense. In later times the lake became a dumping trench and nearly three hundred witch trials took place here and the victims were thrown into this loch. In 1759 this lake was drained to facilitate the construction of the New Town to the north of this area. In 1820's a beautiful garden was laid out. The East Princes Garden stretching from the mound to the Waverly Bridge is 8.5 acres in area and the West Princes Garden is nearly  29 acres extending up to St.John's and St.Cuthbert's churches near Lothian Road in the west. One can see statues and monuments of many famous persons and celebrities.


                  

Scottish War Memorial

Scott Monument

Ross Fountain

The Mermaid Figures

                               
                                    

   In the East Princes Garden, the famous Scott Monument constructed in Gothic style in 1844 to honor Sir Walter Scott (The famous writer and novelist), attracts the attention of the tourists. The statue of the famous essayist Dr.John Wilson (Who wrote under the pseudonym Christopher North ) and David Livingstone( a famous Scottish Explorer) were also seen. A commemorative stone was erected honoring the soldiers who fought in the Spanish Civil War. In the West Princes Garden the statues of the famous Scottish poet, Allan Ramsay, the Church Reformer, Thomas Guthrie and that of Dr.James Young Simpson are seen. The Ross Fountain is a beautiful structure representing the four Muses of Knowledge-- Science, Arts, Poetry, and Industry. A female figure stands on the pedestal at the apex of the fountain . Just below the four Muses, the figures of mermaids are seen in graceful postures. This metal cast fountain was bought by the Philanthropist and gun-maker, Daniel Ross from the Great Exhibition, London in 1862 and was later installed here in 1872. Various concerts and other events are held at the Ross Band Stand. Apart from the Scottish American War Memorial, there is the world's first Floral clock at the eastern entrance actually showing the time.The design of the Floral Clock varies every year. This Floral Clock was the brain child of John MC Hattie,Edinburgh Parks Superintendent and was designed first by Ritchie& Son Clock Manufacturers and set up in 1903. Later many improvements were made to the clock.

Floral Clock

Allan Ramsay  (1686-1758)

       
















Really it was quite refreshing to stroll through the garden viewing the beautiful statues and monuments which enrich the beauty of this park with their historic presence and noble messages. As we were leaving the park we saw a beggar scarcely dressed, sitting on the steps. He noticed us shivering in the cold weather and smilingly remarked "Sir, come in December to feel the real winter. We smiled back admiring his ability to face such weather in August. As we were bidding farewell to this "City of Spires", the simple but moving lines of that Scottish Bard, Robert Burns echoed through my mind "Edina! Scotia's Darling Seat! All hail Thy Palaces and Towers/ Where once beneath a Monarch's seat/ Sat Legislation's Sovereign Powers."
                       
                                    *******************************************

      15th December, 2013.                                                                    SOMASESHU GUTALA

The Thrilling Metropolis (Part-II)

The Royal Mile

Tattoo military celebrations

The main entrance road to the castle is called "Royal Mile" which is more than one mile by 107 yards in length. It starts at the castle entrance and leads to the gates of the Holy Rood Palace.The Royal Mile is the  busiest tourist street in the old town.On its way it is connected by many side-streets or cross roads. King David I realizing the strategic importance of the castle developed the village surrounding the castle hill (Dun Eidyn in ancient Gaelic means hill fort on the sloping edge). This High Street(main road) was called Via Regis that is the way of the king , from which the present name "Royal Mile" may have originated. The buildings and the gardens existing in this area were destroyed and burnt down by the English army in 1544 during the reign of the British king Henry VIII. This area was densely populated with a large population of more than 70,000 people dwelling in multi-storyed buildings, some of which were fourteen storyes high mainly built with stone in 1645. In 1880s Patrick Geddes, the famous Botanist and town-planner developed this area by re-modelling and adding court yards and gardens in the Royal Mile, thus restoring its past glory as it seemed 500 years ago. At the entrance of the castle on the Esplanade, the Military Tattoo, a ceremonial form of evening entertainment, is organized every year in August. More than two lakhs of spectators attend this grand musical performance and musicians from more than thirty countries particpate in this magnificent spectacle.The Royal Bank of Scotland is one of the sponsors of this function.This show is broadcast in more than thirty countries all over the world and brings considerable benefit to the Govt. and charitable contributions to Army Benevolent Fund.The First Tattoo was organized officially by the British Govt. in 1950.

Witches' Well

Just on the eastern corner of the Esplanade there was a place called "Witches' Well", the spot where the women guilty of practising witchcraft and black magic were tortured and burnt at stake. More than 300 witches lost their lives at this spot in the raging flames.A cast iron wall fountain with a metal plaque indicates the place just as a sign of peace to these ill-fated women.

As we walked through Royal Mile, our attention was caught by a board with letters engraved "Boswell's Court". Now it is an entrance way to "The Witchery Restaurant".This close(space or narrow passage between two buildings) was named after Dr.Boswell, who lived in this tenement in the late 18th century. His nephew James Boswell (1740-1795) was the devoted admirer and famous biographer of Dr.Samuel Johnson, with whom he dined here once.

Inside view of the Tartan Weaving Mill

The Tartan Weaving Mill

Typical Scottish Kilt

Various patterns of Kilts

Another building which attracted our attention was a big shop, actually a mill with five storeys , called " The Tartan Weaving Mill" an exhibition showing the production of woolen clothes through various stages right from shearing wool to making kilts. It is a factory-cum-shop showing the the evolutionary changes in  processes and procedures of woolen cloth manufacturing industry. I saw different types of weaving instruments and looms. The typical Scottish pattern in red with  black and white squares is seen on kilts, caps and jackets etc.We also found many gift items and souvenirs here. In olden days this building used to be the castle hill reservoir for supplying water to the residents of the Royal Mile. The word Tartan (in Gaelic Breacan) refers to the Scottish woolen design - a square where two colors cross, giving a speckled effect-- a network of horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors.
                                                                                                                           

St.Giles Cathedral

Stained Glass Windows

In Between the Royal Mile and Holyrood Palace lies St.Giles Cathedral, also known as High Kirk of  Edinburgh and the Mother Church of Presbyterianism. Though there used to be a small church at this site in 854, the formal dedication of the church took place in 1243 by the Bishop of St.Andrews.During the reign of the Scottish king David I (1124-1153) a bigger church was built at this place. Later many chapels and extensions were added by the merchants and nobles. John Knox(1505-1572) , the Scottish reformer introduced many changes in the system and organization of the church during his tenure of ministership between 1559 and 1572. This church was governed by episcopal bishops only during 1635-1638 and 1661and 1689.backed by the authority of the kings,


As we were looking for a suitable restaurant to find some shelter from chilly blast in cold night, we saw a huge crowd watching the daring feats of an acrobat balancing himself on a long pole and talking through a microphone connected to his head from behind. In the shivering blast of the northern weather he was seated on a pole fixed to cycle wheel on the ground. He was bare-bodied and was turning the gas-lit fire brands in a circle with superb skill . He was cracking jokes as if he was seated comfortably on a plush cushioned seat. He performed his feats so effortlessly that we were wonder-struck to see how he endured such biting cold weather and entertaining the onlookers without showing least signs of any discomfort. We heard of bare-bodied yogis who did penance in snow-covered Himalayas. Such endurance I found in this person who announced that he used to come once a year to regale the audience with his excellent feats. The crowd cheered and threw a shower of coins in appreciation of his wonderful abilities.

Camera Obscura

World of Illusions

 Another unforgettable spectacle of attraction in the Royal Mile is the exhibition called "Camera Obscura", the world of illusions. Though the entry fee is somewhat high, we went inside to seek refuge from the rough cold weather. The meaning of Camera Obscura is "an optical device that projects an image of its surroundings on a screen. It is used in drawing and for entertainment and was one of the inventions that led to photography," (Wikipedia). In common terms it is a dark room with many scientific instruments to view space objects or distant things. In the dark room we saw moving images of important places of Edinburgh projected on a level table surface from a giant telescope. It was quite amazing. We also saw mirrors and lenses that change our physical features and dimensions or swap our face with another one sitting on the opposite side. We realized that whatever we behold is not absolutely true and our visual experiences are conditioned by so many external factors beyond our vision-- a kind of Platonic interpretation felt in reality!
As we stayed in Edinburgh just for one day, we had no time to see the Holy Rood Palace. To voice my feelings properly, let me borrow this apt quotation from Alan Bold, the famous Sottish poet and biographer,

" Edinburgh is an experience.A city of enormous gifts. Whose streets sing of history, whose cobbles tell tales." Alan Bold.
 
   December 2nd 2013.                                                                                       Somaseshu Gutala