Statues, statues, statues...

[Guest guest]

The French scholar of South Indian temples and sari fashions, Dr. Chantal

Boulanger, tells a story of how she was given a gift of a Nataraj statue

when visiting Tamil Nadu. "Lord Shiva will be lonely," said the gift

giver, "You should buy him a Parvati to keep him company."

 

Boulanger refused. "Then Parvati will want her baby Ganesh, and Shiva

will want his son Murugan, each will want their vehicle -- the bull, the

lion, the mouse, the peacock... I'll be lost amidst innumerable bronze

statues! My Shiva is an ascetic, with no desire for a consort. Or, if

need be, I'll be his consort."

 

Perhaps Boulanger was right. I've been collecting <murthies> for over

twenty years, and show no signs of stopping! I just ordered a pretty set

of the Divali deities -- Ganesh, Sarasvati, and Lakshmi. I'd like a Kali

in a similar style. The Tri-Shakti has always fascinated me, and while

Ganesh is an honorary Shakti, I'd like to be able to occasionally remove

the Deputy and call in the Lady Sheriff...

 

It's been pointed out to me that the Tri-Shakti is an abridged form of

the Seven Mothers.

 

Sarasvati (or the Matrika Brahmani)

-- then we skip Maheshvari and Kaumari --

Lakshmi (or the Matrika Vaishnavi)

-- skipping Varahi and Aindri --

and Kali (or the Matrika Chamunda)

 

[Note how the Tri-Shakti lend themselves to the Serenity Prayer:

 

(Lakshmi) "Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

(Kali) the Courage to change the things I can,

(Sarasvati) and the Wisdom to know the difference."]

 

I still want a sow-headed Varahi <murthi>. Or a Miss Piggy doll in a

sari with multiple arms!

 

-- Len/ Kalipadma

 

 

 

 

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