Pregnant Goddess....

[Guest guest]

I agree to trisdale remarks. There is no such thing as 'clean'

or 'unclean'. Its all in your mind. If you are being told again and

again that you are stupid and hopeless, you eventually grow up to be

one.

[Guest guest]

I'm glad this discussion came up again, and I'd like to thank

everyone who contributed. The restriction of individuals from

religious functions on account of gender (specifically, female) or

social class is not a feature of Shaktism, despite the religion's

close *theological* and *theoretical* affinity to Shaivism.

 

Shaktism's Sadhana, that is, its religious practice, tends to be a

private affair, placing the devotee alone, face-to-face with Devi in

whatever form. Yes, some beautiful temples (such as the Yoni Pitha at

Kamarupa or Kamakhya in Assam, in which devotions are timed around

the menstrual periods of the Goddess) and great holidays (such as

Durga Puja) have sprung from Shaktism. But on the whole, it remains

a primarily private, internal affair -- as should any religion, for

that matter.

 

However, religions have their external characteritics as well.

Shortly before his death late last year, the renowned Shaivite

leader, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, promulgated a list of 365

sutras, or aphorisms, describing the ideal life guidelines of the

Shaivite. Hinduism Today published them in December of 2001

(http://www.hinduismtoday.com/2001/11-12/29-60_sutras.html).

 

Now, it should be realized that Subramuniyaswami was deeply

conservative in matters of doctrine. However, his sutras

(particularly the groups beginning at Sutra 81) will give a very

accurate idea of what an "ideal" traditional, Shaivite social

arrangement is conceived as, even today. While most of the advice

here is undoubtedly prudent and sensible for persons of any religious

persuation, the sections on relations between men and women might

come as a shock for non-Hindus.

 

I would strongly request, therefore, that members refrain from

attacking these sutras, which, after all, represent ancient and

respected cultural norms. (In fact, I was going to post some of the

more "un-Shakta" sutras here in the Group for comparison's sake, but

Nora vetoed the idea, arguing that people who do not fully understand

Hinduism might give them an unwarranted socio-economic spin that

might be perceived -- out of context -- as an "attack" on Shaivites.

So I am posting the link to the whole article, strictly for those who

might be interested.)

 

My point in doing draw attention to the fact that Shaktism -- while

it is certainly not a "feminist religion" -- certainly has feminist

repercussions when applied in one's everyday life. Anyone familiar

with Shaktism's tenets, as frequently discussed here, will find any

number of advices in Subramuniyaswami's sutras that "don't quite fit"

with Shaktism.

 

By focusing on partnership -- rather than dominance and/or

segregation -- of the sexes, Shaktism (in addition to its profound

spiritual power) does open up a new world of social possibilities.

Again, all of this does not affect Shakta's high theology, nor is

mere social activism and reform a substitute for serious Sadhana.

However, every religion, applied at "street level," produces its own

brand of cultural and social reality. Shaktism, being the modern

incarnation of an ancient "Chalice" (Mother-Goddess-focused)

religion, necessarily has some very different grassroots

ramifications than the "Blade" (Father-God-focused) religions that

are its Hindu brethren.

 

Aum Maatangyai Namahe