Posted on 05/11/2016 7:47:24 AM PDT by Rusty0604
Shiva, in the form of Nataraja, is a beautiful image of the cyclical nature of the universe. Virtually every last element in this image has a deeper, mythic meaning: the drum of creation; the fire of destruction; the uplifted leg and down pointing hand is a nod to Ganesha, remover of obstacles; the flowing hair of sensuality; the trodden dwarf of ego, apathy, laziness, and ignorance; the snake, an image of destruction and reincarnation; the fearless abhaya mudra; the ring of fire as the universe yet the entire dance is on a lotus, which is the center of our heart. It is by far a most enchanting image.
You certainly know your stuff! Very impressive.
I just finished watching the Apu Trilogy, the Indian film classic, about a young man coming of age in Bengal. Criterion Films rescued the original film stock which was nearly destroyed in a fire. Absolute classic, filmed all over India. The poverty is overwhelming and sad in the movie although Apu is a Brahmin whose father was a priest. I recommend it to all people interested in India. It is in the Bengal language/dialect with a little English interspersed.
It’s much, much deeper than I can write. The thing with Hunduism is to understand the symbolism. Before words, there was art. And art speaks to the intellect, and moves your heart.
For the example, a monk asks the Buddha, ‘what is the truth?’ The Buddha simply touches the ground with one hand and with his other hand raises a lotus flower. Nothing was said...but the monk smiled, and bowed. If you don’t understand symbolism, the story makes no sense.
Mohammedans started invading India around 700 AD or thereabouts. The butchery, mass slaughter, torture, rape, looting, destruction of ancient temples and/or turning them into mosques, vast enslavement and so on continued for hundreds of years. Hindus have not been taught their history in public schools for some time as the governemtn has been run by nominal Christians actually leftistpukes and regular mohammedan interests for a long time. Modi is exactly what is needed. He is changing the cirriculum in schools to include the ancient epics like Mahabharat and Ramayan again, for one.
An excellent researched book using contemporaneous sources called “Crimes Against India” I highly recommend. I coould only read about 5 pages at a time it was so horrible.
Since you asked about the mouse and Ganesha...here’s one of my all time favorite stories about Ganesha.
Ganesha is the son for Shiva and Parvati. One day the gods got together to decide who should be the king of the gods. Nobody could come up with a true test until Ganesha says, let’s go ask my dad, Shiva.
Shiva tells all the gods that they have to go around the universe three times. The first one who does the task will be crowned the king of the gods.
All the gods have their own vehicle. Some have eagles, tigers, lions, etc. Ganesh has a mouse. A itty-bitty mouse. And, Ganesha is of course an elephant.
The gods run off to circle the universe. Every god except Ganesha. He looks up at his mom, Parvati, and says, ‘look at my mouse! How can I ride him around the universe three times, and beat every other god? I will fail.’
Parvati says, ‘Ganesha, you are our son. Will we ever give you a task that you won’t succeed at?’
Just then, Ganesha got on the mouse and circled his parents three times. They were his universe. And, that’s why Ganesha wears a crown.
One of my all time favorite stories...
That’s sweet. I must say, I’m having a hard time finding Ganesh with a mouse. I was just over to a religious store that had Christian as well as Hindu art and bought a little Ganesh...but no mouse in any of the images.
The founder of the Living Theater, Judith Malina, was an expert in Hinduism and its texts.
Of course, during Partition, Hindus gave as good as they got. If writer Paul Scott is anything to go by, the British were much more pro-Muslim than pro-Hindu or Shikh.
LOL! Good one!
I don’t know about that.... I do know that some are blue! ... and that, on the artist color wheel, is the complementary color to orange.
That seems close.
If you do not already have one, the Huston Smith book on the world religions is excellent for an overview of the major world religions. Very worthwhile.
I join your heartfelt prayer.
Not to mention the bank tellers who dread handing money over to me!
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Puzzled why the bank tellers dread handing money over to you...did autocorrect get you?
What was heard from the white hut, or NOW, then 2014?
I guess you just have to have an Indian woman teller to understand it. Personally, I don’t think any teller or bank manager happily turns over one’s own money. In fact, Delia Ephron - Nora’s sister - wrote a funny article on this a few years ago.
I love the ‘Nataraj’! His foot, I believe, is crushing ignorance. They all represent something positive - no matter how frightening they look.
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I have been finding the same thing. Very uplifting. There is a guy from Pakistan at our state fair who brings a booth filled with the most wonderful Indian/Hindu art with those statues. And the BLING!!! He has a lot of beautiful jewelry too. We found a lovely Ganesha and and Nataraj there. I got a lovely elephant pendant the last time we were there. Over the years, he has become a special state fair friend.
I have been unfamiliar with the mouse on the shoulder one. I need to look out for that one next fall! Do you happen to know its name?
Hi GoKnow! How very cool that you went to India!!!! I have not, but if the Lord wills it, perhaps I may get to go one day.
I trust your observations. I believe that they are correct and reflect a lot of the kind of socialization that their children undergo in their cultures - globalization efforts notwithstanding.
Take a peek at miss marmelstein’s up thread comments. She has been living around Hindus in America for some time, and has some interesting stories too!
Thank you for the very cogent explanation of the various elements of the Nataraj!
It is in the Bengal language/dialect with a little English interspersed.
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Are there subtitles??? I did a search on the Apu Trilogy and came up with the thumbs up Ebert review:
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-apu-trilogy-1959
Abu Trilogy also appears on Amazon.com, so is obtainable.
I LOVE that story! There are so very many from both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions that are so rich and relevant to ALL cultures!
You mention how art reaches the heart - and it does. It is also reached by music. Some of the Bajans are so very uplifting as are some of the ragas.
I love the story about Maitreya approaching the Buddha and was sorrowful at mankind’s plight of ignorance. How can they be reached? Is it even possible? The answer was, something like “Learn the 144,00 different kinds of love.” Apparently Maitreya rejoiced at hearing this because it meant the it was indeed possible to reach mankind and that they could be enlightened.
You may know the details better than me, but I have found that inspiring over the years.
Thank you for the information about the book “Crimes Against India.” I know from your description that I would weep as you did throughout.
(reposting the link so that I may easily locate it later:)
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