Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 >A] Nora the cook [ as some of my friends who knows her] >Nora who loves to cook >Nora the one who love to cook chicken curry >Nora the one who love to cook chicken curry using BABA curry powder >Nora the one who loves to cook and listen to her radio >Nora the one who loves to listen to her radio and sing while she does her cooking >Nora the one who loves to listen to her radio, sing and occasionally dance while doing her cooking If I may please be allowed to interject, I think that there is a problem of translation here. The English word "name" does not accurately describe the situation here. In all of the above, your name in the English sense of the term remains Nora. The longer phrases are titles or descriptions, not names. Devi as I view things has perhaps 20 or 30 names in Hinduism. The rest of what are called names are more correctly termed titles or descriptions similar to what you list above. But they are generaly given in Sanskrit, which makes them appear as long and conplex names to someone who has not studied Sanskrit. Sister/Aunt Usha ===== Sister Usha Devi Founder, Divinely Female and worshipper of the Sacred Flame that shines inside every woman Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes http://hotjobs.sweepstakes./signingbonus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 Okay, I understand the naming thing. Instead of simply saying "Devi can do anything she wants" list the things she can do, thus producing a long list of titles for her. Okay. Gotcha. But I'm still not making myself clear on the other question. Sometimes I throw a joke or two into the wording of my questions, which is clear to anybody who knows me but I forget that you guys don't know me. I am really sorry I mentioned Christians and Moslems because my question really did not have anything to do with them. And I did not mean to say that they are all hypocrites, only the ones who act the way I described in my original question. And I certainly understand that you guys are not pushy and not trying to convince anybody of anything (something I really like and appreciate, by the way), but I am just trying to understand. So, let us start over from the beginning. Shaktism is by definition the worship of the Female Divine. Okay. Gotcha. But does worship of the Female Divine mean that you 1) Treat men and women equal in society 2) Treat women as being better than men, so that men are slaves to the women; 3) Put women on a pedestal and worship them while at the same time saying that you are relieving them of mundane concerns by denying them any real power in society. 4) None of the above; choice of gender of deity is irrelevant in determining how men and women treat each other outside the temple. I hope now my question is clearer. Sister Yvonne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 Hi Yvonne: Thanks for your reply and your patience. I'll try to clarify your concerns a bit more: *** Instead of simply saying "Devi can do anything she wants," you list the things she can do, thus producing a long list of titles for her. Okay. Gotcha. *** Well, sort of, though there's a lot more to it than that. You might read message #8320 closely for a better understanding. Also, think about your conclusion: It's a little similar to telling Shakespeare, "Okay, instead of just saying 'Some guy and some chick fall in love and their idiotic parents screw it up,' you write a long, complicated play called Romeo and Juliet. Okay. Gotcha." Sometimes the essence, truth, and beauty are in the details, not the sound-bites. *** I certainly understand that you guys are not pushy and not trying to convince anybody of anything (something I really like and appreciate, by the way), but I am just trying to understand. *** Much obliged. We'll continue to help if we can. Your questions are welcome. *** does worship of the Female Divine mean that you treat men and women equal in society? *** Yes. There is no second-class citizenship based on gender. *** does worship of the Female Divine mean that you treat women as being better than men, so that men are slaves to the women *** No. Women are regarded as possessing a purer distillation of Devi's essence; however, it does not follow from this belief that "men are slaves to the women." In worship, a woman can sometimes "stand in for" Devi in a way that a man cannot. But the spiritual heirarchy does not imply a societal heirarchy. Everyone and everything in the Universe, female or male, animate or inanimate, are in and of Her. *** does worship of the Female Divine mean that you put women on a pedestal and worship them while at the same time saying that you are relieving them of mundane concerns by denying them any real power in society. *** No. Again, the spiritual heirarchy does not imply a societal heirarchy in favor of or against either (or any) gender. *** is the choice of gender of deity is irrelevant in determining how men and women treat each other outside the temple. *** No. It is not irrelevant. The Devi Mahatmyam, a primary scripture of Shaktism, notes, "O Devi! All women in the world are Thy diverse manifestations." This necessitates a certain reverence and deference toward women in all aspects of life; not just in the temple. But it emphatically does NOT imply some cartoonish "mistress-slave" sex- role fantasy (people do sometimes join this group seeking that sort of thing; they tend to be quickly disappointed), or anything along those lines. Rather, what is cultivated is a very subtle, very deep recognition of the spiritual currents constantly at play beneath the mundane surfaces of the world. Again, there is no implication of social inequality toward or against either (or any) gender. *** I hope now my question is clearer. *** And I hope my answers are! Thanks again for the post, Yvonne. Aum Maatangyai Namahe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 Thank you Sister Usha for your input. I am using the "NORA" as an example. I believe Devi Bhakta's message on Conversation on Sri Vidya have explain it. Maybe I should put the sanskrit version of Nora the Cook etc. It will be really fun ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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