Author : Shri.Maruti B. Chitampalli (Devanagari: श्री. मारुती चितमपल्ली is a naturalist, wildlife conservationist and Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India. The birthdate of Maruti B. Chitampalli is given by him in his autobiography 'Chakvachandan' as 12 November 1932. He grew up in Solapur and then went to enroll himself in State Forest Service College in Coimbatore. After completing his training, he joined the services with Maharashtra State government. During his professional life, he moved at various forests and national parks, having live experiences with various entities. This laid the foundation of his interest in writing his literary works, mostly in Marathi.
He retired from Maharashtra state government service as the Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests. He was instrumental in the development of Karnala Bird Sanctuary, Navegaon National Park, Nagzira Sanctuary and Melghat Tiger Project; also constructing orphanages for displaced wildlife at the last two institutions.
“Kasturichi Mati” “कस्तुरीची माती” is a beautiful article written by Chitampalli sir in book “केशराचा पाऊस”.
Kasturi (Musk) is a natural aromatic substance known for its rich, sweet fragrance. It is traditionally obtained from the musk gland of the male musk deer, found in the Himalayan regions and parts of Central Asia. Since ancient times, kasturi has been highly valued for its use in perfumes, traditional medicine, and spiritual rituals. In Ayurveda, it is believed to have calming and healing properties. Beyond its physical fragrance, “kasturi” carries deep symbolic meaning in Indian philosophy and literature. It represents inner beauty, purity, and the divine essence that resides within every being. A famous verse says, “Kasturi kundal base, mriga dhunde ban mahi” — the deer searches the forest for the fragrance that actually comes from its own body. This poetic idea teaches that the true source of peace and happiness lies within ourselves, not in the external world.
“कस्तुरी कुण्डल बसे, मृग ढूंढे बन मांहि” — meaning “The musk lies within the deer, yet it wanders searching for it in the forest.” This is used as a metaphor for spiritual realization — the truth or divinity one seeks is within oneself. • Musk is a natural substance secreted by the male musk deer (found mainly in the Himalayas and Central Asia). It comes from a musk gland located near the deer’s navel.
The musk deer is a small, shy, and rare species known for producing natural musk, one of the most precious animal secretions in the world. It belongs to the genus Moschus and is found mainly in the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, as well as parts of Siberia, Mongolia, and China.
Due to illegal hunting for musk and habitat loss, musk deer populations have declined sharply.The species is endangered and listed under CITES Appendix I, which bans international trade of musk. In India, musk deer are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.Conservation efforts are ongoing in regions like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh to protect and breed musk deer.
The following are some of Chitampalli Sir’s works:
Ratawa (रातवा)
Ranvata (रानवाटा)
Nilawanti (निळावंती)
Pranikosh (प्राणीकोश)
Pakshikosh (पक्षीकोश)
Suwarna Garud (सुवर्ण गरुड)
Nisargawachan ( निसर्गवाचन)
Shabdanche Dhan (शब्दांचे धन)
Jangalache Dene (जंगलाचं देणं)
Mrugpakshishastra (मृगपक्षीशास्त्र)
Kesharacha Paus (केशराचा पाऊस)
Gharatya Palikade (घरट्या पलिकडे)
Anandadayi Bagale (आनंददायी बगळे)
Pakshi Jaya Digantara (पक्षी जाय दिगंतरा)
Chitragriwa: Eka Kabutarachi Katha (चित्रग्रीव : एका कबुतराची कथा)
Navegavbandhache diwas: (नवेगाव बांधचे दिवस)
Chaitrapalawi: 2004, Chakva Chandan : Ek Vanopanishad (चकवा चांदण : एक वनोपनिषद) (Autobiography) An Introduction to Mrugpakshishastra of Hansadev (in English)
My Sincere thanks to,
BGM Flute : Mr. Ainuddin Warsi Sir
Photography : Saurabh J.
Books Available at :
1. shabdnirantar.myshopify.com › products
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