Monday, October 22, 2012

Lines written on the Half Moon Bay






Halfmoon Bay Shore

   Halfmoon Bay is located near the coastal city of the same name at a distance of twenty-five miles south of San Francisco. Previously this bay was known as San Benito. One can reach this place along the State Route No.1(the Cabrillo Highway). This bay is well-known as a habitation for a variety of birds,marine creatures,plants and wild brushwood. All along the way one can experience the scenic beauty with pacific beaches on one side and the rocky terrain of hills dotted with trees and bushes on the other side..One can also enjoy the colourful spectacle of nurseries, orchards, strawberry farms and vine yards with spacious lawns where horses are bred and trained.
                                                 ===       ====    ====

                               1)         The brown grey hills with clustering trees
                                            With wild brushwood and fluffy reeds
                                            With mountain goats,deer and elks bluish grey
                                            All along the way to the beauteous bay.

                              2)           As squirrels nibble nuts with twinkling eyes
                                            As nimble hares rush out leaping surprise
                                            The long-tailed weasels burrow underground
                                            A dynamic display of life in forests found.

                              3)          A colorful flock of birds in sight
                                           The blue heron and pelicans bright
                                           The black ravens and mighty kites
                                            Eagerly waiting to grab their bite.

                              4)          A fabulous treasure of floating hues
                                           This bluish deep hides from our view
                                           The silver salmon,mackerel and pink shrimps swim
                                           In darker depths dolphins and grey whales grim.

                             5)          The bluish peaks of Santa Cruz appear
                                          Bordering the lapping waves so clear
                                          Fringed with red wood and lofty pine
                                          A secure shelter for creatures marine.

                            6)          So many pretty potted plants are seen
                                         Fine nurseries with enchanting green
                                         Passion-flowers with lilies white 
                                         With exotic hibiscus and orchids bright.
                   
                            7)         Full-blown roses in various shades
                                        Blue Iris and violets--a fashion parade!
                                        Thick-stemmed Cactus and ivy green
                                        A colorful fragrant spectrum seen. 

                            8)        The farms with various crops full-grown
                                        In autumnal brown  not yet mown
                                        Fields rich with berries,carrots and beet
                                        With kiwis,blue grapes and apples sweet.

                            9)        The Christmas Trees bedecked with co loured bells 
                                        Fine orchids and tulips cast a magic spell
                                        Red juicy pumpkins with swelling glow
                                        A feast indeed --Nature's captivating show!

                         10)         The leafy growth spreading far and wide
                                       On the marshy ground before the rising tide
                                       Bright hollyhocks and iris blue
                                       Amidst the green-a charming view!
                      
                        11)        As parents sit on the wooden log-seats
                                     To share with children cakes and sweets
                                     Beside the bed of dark green weeds
                                     Dotted with blooms like tiny beads.

                        12)       As children play with swinging ocean near
                                    Elders bounce back to their yesteryear
                                    Standing knee-deep in ripples that fold
                                    A creeping thrill in icy waters cold.
 
                        13)      Some bold youth seen surfing through seas        
                                   Tossing like leaves in stormy breeze
                                   Thrown off like shells onto the shore.
                                   By playful laughing waves that roar.

                        14)     Warming their bodies in golden light
                                  Some lie on soft bed before the swelling tide
                                  Some lads enjoy their horseback ride
                                  While others leapt and played by the ocean side.

                       15)     The splashing spray with dynamic swing
                                 With rhythmic motion the ocean swings
                                 A moving wonder majestic and free
                                My bosom springs with vibrant glee.

                      16)     The Half Moon Bay glistens in silver light
                                Of the rising moon--a thrilling sight!
                                The silky waves with bubbling glee
                                To swing and sing a dreamy lullaby!

                      17)    The jagged cliffs and distant dense woods
                               In cool fresh air the ocean broods
                               As evening darkens silent and strange
                               In weird gloom around the mountain range.

                             ==    ==   ==   ==
                                                                                                SOMA GUTALA
         22nd October, 2012       
                    

Thursday, October 11, 2012

The Visions of Childhood



                                                         The Visions of Childhood




                      1)           He saw the luminous faces of fairy girls
                                    Floating through clouds of mother-of-pearl
                                    Over the starry boughs like glow-worms bright
                                    Scattering colorful showers- a heavenly sight;
                                    Absorbed in his musings like a fish under the deep
                                    A blissful state unlike our restless sleep;
                                    A pristine sense of purity nearer to heaven
                                    The child enjoys in worlds beyond our ken.

                      2)           Gargantuan monsters raging wild
                                    Quick-jerked his sleep and loudly cried
                                    With blood-shot bulging eyes and flaming hair
                                    Pouncing like snarling beasts as if to tear
                                    With sharp-curved fangs and projecting jaws
                                    With dreadful threatening dagger-like claws;
                                    A tangled maze of nightmares made him scream.
                                    Impact of distant past moulded in dreams?

                     3)            The fluttering wings with spotted colors agile
                                    Making tossing blossoms respond with fragrant smile;
                                    Swinging on branches monkeys display
                                    Cute acrobatic skills in playful way;
                                    Striped squirrels munching nuts and seeds
                                    With shining sable eyes like crystal beads:
                                    The throb of life he feels in soft cool green
                                    Pure sensations of innocence serene.

                    4)             Riding with joy upon his rocking steed
                                    His mind entered new realms with speed
                                    Unaware of distance he had covered
                                    New lands unseen his mind discovered
                                    The rolling wheel and leaping paper kite
                                    The whirling top and marbles-a merry sight!
                                    The leaping puppets and merry-go-round

                    5)             A horde of pleasures in everything he found.
                                    The steaming engine spouting clouds of smoke          
                                    Moving pistons and wheels with rhythmic stroke
                                    A running marvel on the gleaming steel
                                    A vibrant gush of speeding mirth to feel
                                    He wished to drive that gigantic wonder
                                    Carrying so many with roaring thunder
                                    Passing through different lands and bridges along
                                    Waving to people with shrill whistling song.

                   6)              The thrilling flight of whizzing bird in skies            :
                                    With broad spread wings and majestic rise
                                    From earth to sky with propelling speed
                                    Man's miraculous invention indeed
                                    Gliding through space with uninterrupted flow 
                                    Giving a painted picture of the earth below;
                                    On fancy's wings he wishes upward to ride
                                    Piloting the magic machine with pride.

                   7)              Deeply engrossed in worldly pretty charms
                                    He faintly remembered the celestial forms
                                    Dim images in slumber he revived
                                    Bygone events remote no more survived
                                    In childhood games and pleasures his senses glued
                                    Nature's treasures abundant his joys renewed
                                    Unaware of deeper complexities within
                                    Untouched by snares and deeper shades of sin.

                  8)               His selfless effulgence he felt undimmed by worry
                                    Retained those blissful moments of spotless glory
                                    Bonds of egoistic self though narrowed down
                                    Seeds of divinity one can't disown;
                                    His soul shines still though mild like sunny light
                                    Beaming through mist momentary flashes bright;
                                    Truth and innocence his simple nature reveals
                                    The heavenly visions of childhood still he feels.

                                                     ===   ====   ====
                                                                                                            SOMA GUTALA
                                                                                                            1st October, 2012

                             
                         
                          

                        .

                


               


                                        

                                                                                                  

                                
 
                             

                           
                                   
                                   

                               
                                     

                                         





     

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

A Rhapsody on Street Dogs





                             


                                                     A Rhapsody on Street Dogs


                                 1)   These weird unclaimed creatures --none calls them own
                                        They roam along the streets in the town
                                        No showy flourish of bands around their throats
                                        These goalless wanderers-- remote
                                        Far from homely pleasures move idle and vain
                                        Unnoticed strangers treated with disdain.

                               2)   Though they strive to sincerely share
                                      Responding with loud barks, none listens to care
                                      With spurning looks they shoo them off
                                      As useless nuisance they laugh to scoff
                                      No welcome notes for you rejected by all
                                      Debarred by status-- impregnable wall!

                               3)  They run with busy tread to show their zeal
                                     As people celebrate with sumptuous meals--
                                     With callous blows and unceremonious kicks
                                     Driven away they stand apart  and lick
                                     The morsels thrown by the luxurious lot
                                     No feeling for these poor creatures with hunger fraught !

                            4)    Self-styled sentinels of the street! you guard
                                    Us day and night though we disown and discard;
                                    Ignoring your selfless services as noisy nuisance
                                    Spoiling our sleep with restless disturbance;
                                    You do your duty with loud ringing barks
                                    At every knave and stranger in the dark.

                         5)     Some lucky creatures born of noble breed
                                  Well-known for figure,grace and speed
                                  Honored with collars pride themselves too great
                                  Avoid the stray brethren with snarling hate;
                                  Showpieces of status-- and just for bread
                                  Obey their masters' commands with slavish tread.

                      6)      With friendly fawning looks you beg for food
                                As people drive them off with curses rude
                                Still wagging your tails at courteous distance you stand
                                Hoping for remnants from charitable hands
                                Who cares for starving millions in this land?
                                Even of men-- where do these humble creatures stand?
     
                    7)        Naughty children chasing thee for pleasure
                                Ignorant of their your state beyond their measure
                                Hitting you lustily with stones and bricks
                                They play their pranks and cruel tricks
                                And as you limp with bleeding pain
                                They laugh aloud with heartless disdain!

                   8)        Being provoked some mongrels become insane
                               And bite the passers-by on the lane
                               A flood of fury surges on the streets
                               Dire vengeance and slaughter everywhere meets
                               Bundled together so many guiltless dogs
                               Whirled round by noose to be hurled into the carts.

                 9)         Stuffed like vile culprits caged inside the cart
                              Their innocent pleas not heard by human lot
                              Poisoned to death or by deadly prick
                              A nice humane way to exterminate the sick
                              In getting rid of the dogs-- they feel too glad
                              A menace to society they think--who's mad?

             10)         So many rotting dogs on highway struck
                            Crushed to death by fast moving cars and trucks;
                            Who is to blame? No time to think or spare
                            Unburied do they turn to dust, not fair!
                            Like old people bed-ridden uncared, they  die
                            A bitter truth from street-dogs to learn and sigh!

             11)        How Strange this society! A confusing maze!
                           Dogs deified as Anubis by the Egyptian race
                           Fabled as Cerberus by the Hellenic bards
                           Worshipped by Indians as the sacred hounds of God:
                           Yet treated by us in the most inhuman way;
                           If questioned by Heaven what should we say?

             12)      Their sordid state brought to my sympathizing heart
                          The pitiable plight of the poorer lot;
                          Abandoned to their fate and fatal disease
                          Who yearn for speedy death-their final release:
                          Are we true humans? Doubts assailed my mind--
                          Mere mechanical toys bereft of feelings kind. 

                                  ===       ====       =====                            
                
            
            18th September, 2012                                 Somaseshu Gutala


                References:

            a)    Anubis-- Egyptian god with dog's face presiding over the underworld.
            b)    Cerberus-- Three-headed dog guarding the underworld of Pluto, God
                     of the underworld in Greek mythology.
            c)    Sacred hounds-- Kalabhairava, the powerful aspect of Shiva,is shown
                    with four black hounds accompanying him. They represent f                                        sacred Vedas, epitome of Dharma or righteousness.
                                                             
                                                                 

   
                       
             

    
                         
                         
                   
                       
                       

Monday, June 4, 2012

In Fresh Morning Glory




                                                       In Fresh Morning Glory

                                           In fresh morning glory Nature appeared
                                          Smiling like a baby just awoke from sleep
                                          No bustling sound or hurried beep
                                          Of smoke-emitting cars: the air is clear
                                          With gentle smell of blooms; I hear 
                                          Soft rustle of winds  through leaves and sweep
                                          Of its cool touch as morning rays do peep
                                          Through pastel shades of atmosphere:
                                         No need to know the names of these petalled features
                                         Enough to feel their unpolluted glossy shine;
                                         They shared their joys with mine, these darlings divine!
                                         Unspoiled by vicious destructive creatures
                                         Hidden in a nook these wayside common flowers
                                         Beckon me as I move in early morning hours.
                                                                                                                       
                                      ****************************          
                     28th April, 2012                                                   SOMA GUTALA
                              

Friday, February 17, 2012

A Wonderful Gift

             
                               
                               





                               
                                            Oh, Let me activate my indolent quill
                                            This happy event let us celebrate
                                            In simple lines my hearty greetings let me state
                                            A new beginning in your lives to fulfill
                                            Your dreams: a new pathway to taste
                                            The joys of parenthood: by shaping skill
                                            Of Nature to feel the utmost thrill
                                            A wonderful surprise bestowed by Creator Great :

                                            More precious than materialistic gain
                                            No gold can surpass the miraculous birth
                                            Of a budding rose or heavenly rainbow
                                            Why brag of lifeless machines with knowledge vain?
                                            Can they infuse our hearts with spontaneous mirth?
                                            Enjoy this beautiful gift with grateful love.


         17th February, 2012                                                                      SOMA GUTALA

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

ON MY SISTER'S RETIREMENT


                                   My words,too feeble to commend thy blessed name
                                 Your long meritorious service beyond any taint
                                 So precise and prompt,no chance for any complaint
                                 In every cadre you do sparkle--far from blame;
                                 The call of duty ever you obeyed-- just not for fame;
                                 Unruffled by hard testing times,you lived with restraint
                                 Trusting in God, always smiling like a saint;
                                 In spite of changing times your virtues remained the same;

                                 A generous heart of gold gifted to thee by God
                                 A rare unassuming gentle soul working hard
                                 My earnest greetings I express, my sister dear!
                                 A noble example of patience,your innocent mind
                                 In helping others unsought immense joy you find;
                                 Hurting none with harsh words with a conscience clear.

                                        ******************************************* 
  
                                                                                                                      
                 14-02-2015                                              SOMA GUTALA

Monday, January 9, 2012

ON LEAVING THE HOSPITAL

                               
                                            ON  LEAVING  THE  HOSPITAL  


                                   Young faces younger than my daughter's age
                                   Flitting briskly from patient's cell to cell
                                   Clad in snow-white like lillies in a dell
                                   Comforting ailing hearts with counsel sage
                                   With healing touch,kind words and tender gaze
                                   More than dry drugs they cast their magic spell
                                   Young faces without any selfish craze
                                   Serving with zeal both day and night so well

                                  My eyes turned misty moved by their service sweet

                                  Angels in white helping the suffering lot
                                  With soothing words and smiling faces bright;
                                  In their parting farewells I truly meet
                                  Friendly faces with mercy and patience fraught;
                                  Sisters spreading moments of joy and hopeful delight.


                                                 *********************************                                                      
                                                                                               Somaseshu Gutala
                                                                                                     
          
          

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A Holy Shrine near Santa Monica


    
                                                                                                                (Golden Lotus Archway)
              
   Most of you, interested in yoga, might have read the famous book"Autobiography of a yogi"(1946) which  reveals the innermost feelings and thoughts of a great spiritual master and also the hidden powers and mysterious secrets of the soul experienced by enlightened persons only. Swami Yogananda's unique contribution to this world lies in showing a path to world peace by his universal and harmonious approach to religions through the powerful instrument of Kriya Yoga suitable for all men of all ages.Paramahamsa Yogananda (1893-1952) established his first self-realization centre in Mt.Washington in  Los Angeles.Recently I got a chance to visit his peaceful spiritual retreat "Lake Shrine" established by him in 1950 in Pacific Palisades,just  three miles from Santa Monica towards north, and nearly twelve miles from Malibu.

  We started from Malibu to visit the holy "Lake Shrine" located in an affluent residential area where many Hollywood celebrities reside. On the way we saw many beaches with cafes,snack bars and shops selling souvenirs and refreshments.Some people were surfing while others were standing in knee deep waters to enjoy the cool laving touch of ripples of the pacific ocean.


     As we entered the "Lake Shrine" to our left we saw a beautiful garden with religious symbols, called "the Court of Religions" representing the five important religions of the world.(the star for Judaism, the cross for Christianity, the the star and crescent for Islam, the wheel of law for Buddhism and the sacred latter Om for Hinduism). The beautiful surroundings with shady trees, rocky slopes, water falls and marble statues and arches made us feel as if we had entered the real abode of peace far from wordly commotion.The statue of Madonna with infant Christ near the gift shop attracted our attention. We entered the gift shop and found many books, photos, holy rosaries, idols and photos. As we moved on, the statue of Jesus Christ near the waterfall was seen as if welcoming us to slake our thirst with eternal love. The statue of the Buddha in the dark groves suffused with silence seemed a suitable place for peaceful meditation. The statue of Lord Krishna is another center of attraction with His valuable teaching of Gita engraved beneath "He who perceives me everywhere / and beholds every thing in me/ never loses sight of me / nor do I ever lose sight of him."


   A big archway beside a lake is another important feature of this holy shrine. The Golden Archway is trimmed with blue tiles and five gold lotus blossoms are seen on the top of the arch. These lotus blossoms symbolise spiritual awakening and enlightenment. This arch serving as an entrance to a temple without any walls signifies a universal shrine open to all without any boundaries of race, religion and creed. On the other side of the lake we saw an open shrine called Gandhi World Peace Memorial.A portion of Gandhiji's ashes were kept here in a one thousand year-old

Chinese sarcophagus flanked by two statues of Guan Yin,the Chinese goddess of mercy.The ashes of Mahatma Gandhi had been sent by Dr.V.M.Nawle, a publisher and journalist from Pune and a friend of Swami Yogananda .This is only place where Gandhiji's ashes were seen outside India. Swami Yogananda met Mahatma Gandhi at Wardha in 1935 and at his request initiated him in the science of Kriya yoga.

   We saw a boat house on the lake and we were informed that Sri Yogananda used to spend hours together in meditation in this floating residence. The gardens and rocky slopes with dense growth of shrubs  around with white swans and ducks on waters present a picturesque view of the lake shrine. The two decked white Missisipi house boat with tiny apartments provides a silent and spiritual retreat for meditation amidst scenic surroundings. We sat in the house boat and spent some time looking at the herons and floating swans.


   Later we visited the "Windmill Chapel" a  replica of the 16th century Dutch windmill with a residential hall and a wooden bridge over a small lotus pond near it. Here memorial and prayer services are held. Visitors may pray here silently . The photos of Swami Yogananda and his spiritual masters could be seen in the chapel. Before the construction of the new temple prayers and meetings were held in this chapel only. A box was kept there for dropping slips in which one can ask doubts and questions and they would be spiritually answered. Mr. Mc Enroy, asst. superintendent for 20th Century Fox Studios purchased this site filled with water and weeds, and constructed this chapel in the model of a Dutch windmill with a peaked roof and carved figure heads to serve as his temporary residence. There are benches all along the way with quotations form Vedas and other religious books engraved on plaques to make visitors imbibe the essence and universal truths of all spiritual paths with one and same goal that is self-realisation. Here visitors may sit and meditate without any distractions amidst sylvan surroundings.


  We were escorted to the new temple on the hill by the custodian who gave a lengthy lecture about philosophy in general .We had to stand nearly for one hour so that a batch of visitors would be led together. After climbing 106 steps we saw the 58-foot high 4000 square-foot temple crowned with a golden lotus.The white octagonal building has a big auditorium with a seating capacity of four hundred persons and is equipped with video facility.There is provision for conducting Sunday school class rooms, and for studying in the book room.  As Windmill chapel was not spacious enough to accommodate all people Swami Yogananda expressed his wish that a new shrine should be built. In 1996 this new hill shrine was constructed thereby fulfilling his wish. After reaching the new shrine the custodian gave a lengthy introduction about the training and service-oriented activities of the Self Realization Fellowship organization. On the walls we saw the portraits of Swami Yogananda and his spiritual preceptors. We had to return in the middle of  the lecture due to some personal problems. We thought that it would have been better if the custodian had directly approached the topic of Kriya Yoga  without her lengthy introductions making most of the visitors feel exhausted.


   As we were returning we learnt that once this place had been a barren canyon called Santa ynez. Alphonzo Bell Sr. a real estate magnate bought this land in 1927 and tried to level the canyon. During the levelling process a natural spring-fed lake called Santa ynez lake was formed in the part of the canyon that had not been levelled. Mr.Everett Mc Elroy, Asst.Supdt. of construction for 20th century Fox Studios, purchased the property,cleared the ground,dredged the lake and set up a boat house on the lake as his temporary residence. Later he built a mill house to stay in and rented the boat house for movie stars and other celebrities to stay in. Mc Elroy built another residence in the model of a 16th century Dutch windmill near a pond. In the late 1940's he sold the property to an oil company president who planned to build a hotel complex there. He dreamt three times that his property would become a place to serve as a church of all religions.Referring to the telephone book he learnt that there was only one institution with that name"Self Realisation Fellowship Church of all religions"in Hollywood. He wrote a letter to its founder,Swami Yogananda offering to sell the property. Even before the letter reached him,Swami Yogananda answered the telephone call asking the owner when he could come to see the property offered for sale.Thus as divine providence ordained,the beautiful Lake Shrine was established in 1950 under the masterly supervision of Swami Yogananda who used to stay in the Mississippi house boat and personally saw to the creation of a holy shrine with befitting natural scenery and symbolic patterns near the surrounding Santa Monica hills. We came out of   this peaceful retreat which is the meeting point of all religions and races showing a  universal path for upliftment of all mankind.


"He who is persistent will realize God. So try your best to make meditation a regular experience in your life."  


     --(Paramahamsa Yogananda)

                                                                                                                          

20th December, 2011                                                                                 Soma Gutala

Saturday, December 10, 2011

The Enchanted Castle in San Simeon



                                             
                                          The Enchanted Castle in San Simeon

   
     Some of you might have heard of the fabulous summer palace in Xanadu built by Kubla Khan , the famous Mongolian emperor.S.T.Coleridge immortalised the beauty of that palace"a stately pleasure dome" surrounded by "sunny spots of greenery" in his fragmentary poem "Kubla Khan" composed in 1797.  Such a wonderful palace one can see here built amidst beautiful scenic surroundings near the coast just twenty-three miles from High Way No.1 California that is "Hearst Castle", a palatial building, one of the National Historic land marks in U.S.A.

   After paying entry fee, we were asked to see a forty-minute I.max film briefing the life history of Mr.William Randolph Hearst who undertook this Herculean task of constructing a castle on the top of a hill at a height of 16,00 feet from sea level.We were also shown some of the highlights of the castle which was built in a rare combination of various styles of architecture found in European countries. The swift movement of images on the screen with changing points of focus and view points made us feel as if we were lifted up and down. Later we travelled in a luxury bus through winding paths of hills with vast tracts of hilly slopes . Here and there we saw the vestiges of past glory like log cabins, cages and enclosures meant for keeping wild animals.
 
  After travelling five miles we reached our destination , a huge mansion with towers surrounded by a
 esplanade decked with various sculptures, fountains and antique art objects. An agile, beaming
 gentleman introduced himself as a guide and ushered us into the castle after climbing steps. We were  allowed to see "Casa Grande"(The main castle) , that too , only a few rooms on the first floor. The
 guide,though enthusiastic, went on talking in a jovial manner without giving information in a brief
  and specific manner. He spoke mostly about the luxurious and fashionable life led by Mr. Hearst.

 The first hall is the drawing room with a raised platform in one corner which might have served as
 a place for delivering speeches . Costly paintings and art objects were seen in the room . The second
 hall was meant for dining. A long dining table with rows of chairs is seen with a neat arrangement of
 porcelain plates and cutlery with crystal and silver bowls containing fruits and refreshments. Hearst
 used to entertain many guests in his palatial mansion. Celebrities and political dignitaries like   Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, Mark Twain and others used to attend his parties. The dining room looked gorgeous with sparkling chandeliers and richly embroidered tapestry  with a carved wooden ceiling showing various saintly figures. In another hall Hearst used to sit with a limited number of friends and relatives and take his breakfast. There is also a big hall for the guests to entertain themselves by playing games like snooker and bridge. We were not shown the kitchen in the adjacent room as our tour did not include viewing it. So what we saw was a very little portion of the castle which has nearly 165 rooms.

 As we came out we noticed a beautiful pool filled with crystal-clear blue water surrounded by  ancient columns with a statue of the sea god (Neptune)  seen on the top of the temple. This Roman
 temple front was transported from Europe to beautify this swimming pool. Statues of nymphs and
 swans seen around the pool ("Neptune Pool") were carved by the famous French sculptor , Charles    Cassou.

 Just before we reached the way to exit we saw another big indoor swimming pool decorated with
 marble statues. The walls and the ceiling of the whole room were covered with glass mosaic tiles of
 blue and gold colour providing a grand spectacle of the pool which was designed in the style of a
 Roman Bath. The sunlight streaming through glass windows adds splendour to this shining pool.
 This  Roman Pool is based on the design of Mausoleum with its blue and gold colour scheme and  star  patterns. Around the castle we saw the marble statues of Roman gods , goddesses and heroes in  graceful postures. This castle was an inspiration for the "Xanadu" mansion of Orson Welles' film "Citizen Kane" in which Oheka Castle in New York was shown as a location.

 After coming out I could not but wonder to think of Mr.Hearst who successfully transformed
 his lofty dream of constructing this palatial residence on this isolated remote hill which has now  become one of the historic monuments of the U.S.A. We often use the phrase"building castles  in the  air". But here was a person who dared to build a dream castle of his aspirations spending
 all his wealth and boldly facing all the challenges with patience and perseverance. It took nearly  twenty-eight years(1919 to 1947) for Hearst to build this magnificent castle with 165 rooms, gardens  terraces , pools and walkways. Using his experience of visiting various castles in Europe, and after careful comparative study of various styles of other countries , he decided to build the  castle in the Renaissance and Baroque styles of Southern Spanish cathedrals and palaces. He also  tried to blend various styles in designing and decorating the castle by transporting or by shaping the  replicas of the beautiful structures and sculptures he had seen. He used his precious art collections in  adding more splendour to this wonderful work of artistic creation. At the same time Mr.Hearst took  much care to adopt modern techniques and provide modern facilities like water supply, electricity, sports, and a movie theatre. He also took keen interest in conserving and also in enhancing  the charm of the scenic surroundings by setting up his own private zoo with more than 300 animals of various exotic species in a fenced area of 2000 acres of his estate. Many varieties of plants and  trees like palms, citrous trees,dahlias,oleandars and roses were planted on the hill slopes. But during  the period of depression of 1930's Hearst could not maintain his zoo and so was compelled to donate  or sell his animals like zebras,mountain elks and bisons to public zoo's. Even now, a few animals like  goats and mountain elks are spotted in the ranch by visitors.                                                                                                      

 Mr. William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) son of a rich miner and ranch owner, George Hearst,
 inherited nearly 2,50,000 acres of ranch at San Simeon . As a prosperous business magnate owning
 twenty-eight newspapers, eighteen magazines, several radio stations and movie companies, he led a
 a very busy life. He thought of building a decent bungalow to settle on the hill of Santa Lucia range.
 Julia Morgan (1872-1957) , an architect from San Francisco, took up this stupendous task of constructing this castle on a rocky terrain in an aesthetic and attractive manner in conformity with the lofty aspirations of Mr.Hearst. Really she deserves due applause and credit for giving shape to the dreams of a generous  person into solid reality. Hearst renamed the earlier known as Camp Hill as"The Enchanted Hill".

 The castle was built in an area of 127 acres with a built in area of nearly 90,000 square feet. The area of Casa Grande is 60,645 square feet . Three guest houses were built around the castle. After Hearst's demise in 1951, the Hearst Corporation donated the property to the State of California. Since then this historic monument is being managed by State Park Service. As the main estate is used as a museum, an older Victorian house in the estate has been used by Hearst's family as a retreat. This castle joined the National Register of Historic Places on June22,1972, and became a U.S.National Historic Landmark on May11,1976. Lord John Julius Norwich, the famous architectural historian, aptly said,"Hearst Castle is a palace in every sense of the word."

 On our return journey by bus down the hill, we saw a few wild animals roaming freely on the ranch while a few cages and empty enclosures were seen that once were the cosy shelters for exotic animals. The audio commentary in the bus during our journey was quite clear,informative and interesting. In the gift shop one could find many CDs,books,photos and souvenirs that would serve as reminders and tokens  of the grand masterpiece of this real dream castle.

                                              *************************
             10-12-2011                                                                                             Soma Gutala