Symbolic language?

February 24, 2005

Namaskar to all!

I am new in this and i am interested to learn more about

tantra and shaktism.

As I am an artist, in some sense part of my sadhana is drawing and

painting yantras and Goddesses. I would like to understand symbolic

language, used in traditional images of Gods, Goddesses and yantras.

First of all i want to ask about 15 Nityas. For example, Nityaklinna

is described as always wet, Vahnivasini dweller in fire etc. I am not

sure, but i suppose that all 15 Nityas may be connected with 5

elements - ether, air, fire, water and earth. Is it correct? If it is

so, where can i find exact details - which Nitya is connected with

which element?

Other question is which way every element is represented in symbols,

forms and colours in traditional indian paintings? And how to

represent 5 senses - hearing, sight, touch, taste and smell?

Also it is interesting what Goddesses hold in those hands and what

they wear, and what does it mean. For example: sugar cane bow,

parrot, flowering arrows, noose, goad, lotus, lily, mace,

thunderbolt, citron, golden horn, cleaver, axe, book, skull,

tortoise, flame etc. Are there scriptures, where all that is

explained?

I will be happy and thankfull to get any reply.

Rohinipriya

February 24, 2005

--- Yuliana <rohiniatma wrote:

>

> As I am an artist, in some sense part of my sadhana

> is drawing and

> painting yantras and Goddesses. I would like to

> understand symbolic

> language, used in traditional images of Gods,

> Goddesses and yantras.

>

<snip>

> Other question is which way every element is

> represented in symbols,

> forms and colours in traditional indian paintings?

>

I know in Chakra symbolism, Earth (and sense of smell)

is represented by a yellow square; Water (& taste) by

a silver crescent; Fire (& sight) by a red triangle;

Air (& touch) by a blue (or black) circle; and Akasha

(& hearing) by a purple almond-shape.

-- Len/ Kalipadma

Read only the mail you want - Mail SpamGuard.

February 24, 2005

Dearest Yuliana :

you wrote: Namaskar to all! I am new in this and i am

interested to learn more about tantra and shaktism.

Namaskar to you too. And thank you for joining. You have come to the

right place. We are all in the learning process here. We have

members all from different walks of life and different spiritual

stages. Learning I believe is a continous and lifelong process.

"As I am an artist, in some sense part of my sadhana is drawing and

painting yantras and Goddesses. I would like to understand symbolic

language, used in traditional images of Gods, Goddesses and yantras."

Personally I believe everything can be made into a Sadhana. Even

when you are cooking for your family etc, it is sadhana itself. I

have sat and watch as a sculpture works on a image of DEVI on a

temple wall. He was so engross in his work, that it seem he is not

aware of what is happening around him. It is like he and the object

of his attention is at one. We have several artist with us here in

the group. I am sure they know what Im talking about.

"First of all i want to ask about 15 Nityas. For example,

Nityaklinna is described as always wet, Vahnivasini dweller in fire

etc. I am not sure, but i suppose that all 15 Nityas may be

connected with 5 elements - ether, air, fire, water and earth. Is it

correct? If it is so, where can i find exact details - which Nitya

is connected with which element? Other question ......"

YOu have asked questions that can last a life time. Why dont we go

slow and step by step. Too much information can really overwhelmed

you and lead to confusion. We did on the 15 nithyas long time back.

All the information all buried in the group archives. Do take your

time to browse through, but becareful as you might get "lost" in

there. Alternatively you might want to browse through our

homepage/messageboard listing the ongoing and past discussion. Just

click, click and who knows, SHE might bring you to "Places"

you never imagine you would be. LOL. Thats is when the Fun starts. I

am being told, Sadhana should be fun. You remove the element of Fun,

Sadhana becomes a burden. Relax! and enjoy! the journey.

February 25, 2005

Hello Rohini,

This is something that fascinated me as well .. however I presume most of the

symbolisms are lost in varied interpretations ..

Irrespective of the symbolic representations, I would like to share that most of

the diety forms are something that come to the rishi discovering the mantras in

a superconscious state ..

Two things have to be noted here:

a) Mantras per say have existed all the time .. albeit not in verbal or sound

forms

b) A sage who is in a super conscious state identifies with a diety in a

particular form that he describes in a moola mantra .. followed by a mantra that

actually captures the essence of the diety in that form, which is to say

encapsulating the mantra that always existed as told in a) ..

For example, let's talk about a case of a say astakshari mantra of shiva .. it

was formulated by Rishi Vamadeva (presumably in a state of intution), who

visualized shiva in a reddish white form with 4 hands, each hand having a

different object (vedas, axe, snake etc) and with shakti sitting on his lap.

This can been seen in the moola mantra associated with that form ... this would

be followed by the mantra "Aum Hrim Haum namashivaya" ... aum standing for the

absolute brahman, Hrim for shakti, Haum for Shiva .. the overall mantra would

then invite the grace of Lord shiva in this form (shown to be inseperable from

shakti) and cause spiritual upliftment .. part of the symbolism is evident from

the mula mantra and the mantra itself, that there cant exist shiva without

shakti or vice versa and that together they form the complete essence of the

absolute .. the rest as to why he holds vedas in one hand and an axe in the

other is just open to interpretations ... can anyone other than

vamadeva give the best description of what the axe in shivas hand stands for as

compared to say the axe in the hand of ganapthi in a different form?

Just sharing!

Yuliana <rohiniatma wrote: