Guest guest Posted May 31, 2002 Report Share Posted May 31, 2002 I'm certain I read a post here, I think from Devi Bhakta that there are no pregnant Goddesses in the Hindu pantheon. I'm quite curious about that. It seems that pregnancy is a taboo image for female divinity commonly. As I recall, as the Greek Pagan world became more organized and civilized the imgages of Goddesses changes and their aspects changed. Birth was eliminated from the mythos and in some instances appropriated by the male deities, e.g. in Zeus (the dominant father God) giving birth from his thigh or the top of his head. Are there lower order supernatural female beings who are permitted to be envisioned as pregnant? Are there taboos about pregnant women, or women who have recently given birth that prevent them from full participation in ritual? Are there any female only religious orders? Still trying to catch on. Thank you for your patience and your invaluable insight. Bright Blessings, prainbow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2002 Report Share Posted June 1, 2002 Hi Prainbow, Loved the description of you altar, by the way. There was a repost of Devi Bhakta's remarks at number 2215. I responded at number 2216 with a quote from Jean Shinoda Bolen's book, "Crossing to Avalon" of which this is a part: "Once she is obviously pregnant, a woman resembles the earliest sculptured images of the Goddess. She is an embodiment of famous pregnant `Venuses,' of which the Venus of Willendorf is the most well known." It seems in the oldest days, pregnant Goddess images were frequent, at least among certain populations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2002 Report Share Posted June 1, 2002 "Are there taboos about pregnant women, or women who have recently given birth that prevent them from full participation in ritual?" Im basically familiar with the South Indian Traditions. There are taboos about women who have recently given birth to participate in ritual. The tradition is that one [ the women, new born baby and the family ] will have to wait for 30 days grace period. After the 30th days or on the 30th days, a ritual done in a temple. A special Pooja. More like a cleansing ceremony. Maybe Adi_Ma or Chumki will be able to elaborate this further. Om ParaShaktiye Namaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2002 Report Share Posted June 1, 2002 hi nora, namaste! i know one thing for sure! when i was pregnant , i was not allowed to attend the funeral services for my husband's maternal grand-mother ! i was advised by my father-in-law not to participate ! father-in-law said it was not auspicious for me! but on the other hand, soon after i delivered my baby,i was asked to be present by the side of my sister-in-law during the 'valaikappu' ceremony (where ladies slip bangles on the hands of the pregnant lady) - the theory being that i have successfully given birth to a male child and my sister-in-law should also have similar luck. actually, most of these customs are fading away slowly! but you are right, women after delvering a baby do not attend a temple or any other religious ceremony for 30 days ! having migrated to usa some 22 years ago, i am slowly losing touch with many of thse customs! love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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