Guest guest Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 >From Vedas: Indra is the brother of Agni; and they are twins born of Aditi. Agni is Rudra, and Rudra has 1,000 eyes. Indra (as the twin of Agni) is thus also 1,000 eyed. Indrakshi is the Shakti of these 1,000 eyes ~ i.e. Rudrani. >From Shakta Pitha tradition: Indrakshi is the ancient Devi of Lanka Pitha (at Nellore, in Sri Lanka), where her Bhairava is Rakshaseshvara, and the Lord of Rakshas is surely Rudra. The fundamental identity of Indrakshi and Rudrani is thus confirmed; and the source of various later stories of the 1,000 yoni/linga with which Indra was cursed is revealed. It is clear that such legends were composed well after these prime vedic deities had fallen from favor in Hindu society! And this also explains how Indrakshi (as Rudrani) may be known as the Shakti (Power) of Indra, without being the Shakti (Consort) of Indra. Indrani and Rudrani (as Indrakshi) are very closely related. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2004 Report Share Posted November 26, 2004 This is very interesting and helpful, Sarabhanga. Thank you for a great analysis ... DB , "Sarabhanga Giri" <sarabhanga> wrote: > > > From Vedas: > Indra is the brother of Agni; and they are twins born of Aditi. > Agni is Rudra, and Rudra has 1,000 eyes. > Indra (as the twin of Agni) is thus also 1,000 eyed. > Indrakshi is the Shakti of these 1,000 eyes ~ i.e. Rudrani. > > From Shakta Pitha tradition: > Indrakshi is the ancient Devi of Lanka Pitha (at Nellore, in Sri > Lanka), where her Bhairava is Rakshaseshvara, and the Lord of Rakshas > is surely Rudra. > > The fundamental identity of Indrakshi and Rudrani is thus confirmed; > and the source of various later stories of the 1,000 yoni/linga with > which Indra was cursed is revealed. It is clear that such legends > were composed well after these prime vedic deities had fallen from > favor in Hindu society! > > And this also explains how Indrakshi (as Rudrani) may be known as the > Shakti (Power) of Indra, without being the Shakti (Consort) of Indra. > > Indrani and Rudrani (as Indrakshi) are very closely related. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 27, 2004 Report Share Posted November 27, 2004 Sarabhanga, Your conclusion appears to be correct; the Indrakshi stotram has Indra praying to Indraksha (perhaps in the same manner as Kama being liberated by Kamakshi at Kanchi). How do you state Agni is Rudra ? Perhaps both are associated with fire but thats all there is to it. Rudra could be the brother, father or uncle of Agni(depending on which story you look at). And there is a reference for almost all deities as being thousand eyed (sahasrakshi). IMHO, we cannot dissect a story just because there is a superficial connection between 1000 eyes, Indra and Indian Marxist historian opinion( which opines that there was an Aryan invasion, early vedic period etc etc). The story is to be intensely meditated upon and the meaning of the story comes as a revelation, an act of grace. The very reason such stories(which are often contradictory) are there is to bypass the left-brain/logical mind altogether to have whole brain functioning(which may explain why women are supremely good sadhaks WHEN they do sadhana, since they are most of the time in this state). Also the main scripture for the Indra-Ahalya episode is the Ramayana (since Ahalya was liberated from her sins by the touch of Rama), where there is no reference to 1000 yoni's or anything (Indra was cursed to be a eunuch). -yogaman ps. someone requested offline that I post the Indrakshi stotram - takes too long to type it out and my scanner is out of order. Will do it as soon as I can fix my scanner. , "Sarabhanga Giri" <sarabhanga> wrote: > > > From Vedas: > Indra is the brother of Agni; and they are twins born of Aditi. > Agni is Rudra, and Rudra has 1,000 eyes. > Indra (as the twin of Agni) is thus also 1,000 eyed. > Indrakshi is the Shakti of these 1,000 eyes ~ i.e. Rudrani. > > From Shakta Pitha tradition: > Indrakshi is the ancient Devi of Lanka Pitha (at Nellore, in Sri > Lanka), where her Bhairava is Rakshaseshvara, and the Lord of Rakshas > is surely Rudra. > > The fundamental identity of Indrakshi and Rudrani is thus confirmed; > and the source of various later stories of the 1,000 yoni/linga with > which Indra was cursed is revealed. It is clear that such legends > were composed well after these prime vedic deities had fallen from > favor in Hindu society! > > And this also explains how Indrakshi (as Rudrani) may be known as the > Shakti (Power) of Indra, without being the Shakti (Consort) of Indra. > > Indrani and Rudrani (as Indrakshi) are very closely related. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 27, 2004 Report Share Posted November 27, 2004 Namaste Yogaman, The Vedas themselves state that Agni is Rudra. You state that "both are associated with fire"; and, certainly, "that's all there is to it"! Agni IS Fire; and Rudra IS Fire. Fire is Fire; but essential Fire is revealed in a variety of aspects. The Vedas also state that both were born of Aditi (Not Darkness ~ i.e. Light). Agni and Rudra are clearly (non-identical) brothers; with the brilliant Light of Agni, and the various dark Lights of Rudra, ranged as necessarily contrasting "opposites". All concepts arise in such pairs; and that is how the Knower has always filled his Ark. Of course there are other legends, exploring almost every possible relationship, but these mythic conceptual liaisons are all incestuously derived from the essential identity of both Agni and Rudra Aditya. Perhaps the first conceptual rupture of the perfect Uncreate (Sadashiva, Nirguna Brahman, the Plenum, the Void, the Flood, etc. etc.) was the cleavage of Diti and Aditi. Both Light and Dark were born simultaneously in the Mind of God, as the first spark of creative reverie, from an ultimate "darkness" that was truly beyond even divine conception. When God proclaimed "Let there be Light", then Creation unfolded inevitably from those first Words ~ nay, from the very Seed of the thought of those words. Although usually left unmentioned, the conception of Light must always imply Darkness. And indeed the name of Rudra was anciently left unvoiced. Only to be spoken (if at all) in hushed tones. Not even the Gods had ever ventured to name that unutterable Darkness, until the dread deity himself demanded of Prajapati the first namavali of Rudra-Shiva. Shiva (Auspicious) is merely a euphemism for Rudra, the unpredictable flame of Rohita, the "Red God", the "One who Roars", the one unnamed and the one with all names. The Sacrificial Fire and the Fire of Life, the Fire that dwells secretly in the wood of Trees, the Fire of Tapasya that burns all Karma, and the Fire of Time that consumes all of Creation. Rudra is Agni ~ believe me, this is true. P.S. Marxist historical opinion has nothing to do with any of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.