Guest guest Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 Dear Shakti Sadhana Members: It just occurred to me this evening to ask about this. The operatic piece by Delibes called "Lakme" was featured in the American movie The Hunger back in the '70s. Catherine DeNeuve's character explains that Lakme is a Brahmin princess in India who falls in love with her slave girl Malika. DeNeuve's character is a vampire and she seduces Susan Sarandon while playing music from "Lakme" on the piano. The movie soundtrack includes a famous version of "Lakme" that was used in a British Airways commercial, and I've heard it in other things, too. It's a beautiful duet of two operatic female voices, which is why the below example of "forbidden love" doesn't quite fit, but I found it online tonight and am sharing in case there is any historical significance to it. "In writing Lakme, Delibes took the common theme of forbidden love and sets it in British-controlled West Bengal. The star-crossed lovers are Lakme, the sacred daughter of Nilakantha, a fervently anti-British Hindu priest, and Gerald, a lieutenant in the British army. Gerald is intrigued by the legend of the beautiful priestess who no man is allowed to look on. When he sees her he is mesmerised and enraptured while Lakme, is herself drawn ineluctably towards this forbidden love. ..." My questions are: 1) Was Lakme a person in history? 2) Is there any connection between Lakme and Lakshmi? Someone gave me a beautiful picture of Lakshmi with Ganesha and Saraswati on either side of her, and I was looking at the picture tonight and these questions came to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 this is just a fiction Mary Ann <buttercookie61 wrote:Dear Shakti Sadhana Members: It just occurred to me this evening to ask about this. The operatic piece by Delibes called "Lakme" was featured in the American movie The Hunger back in the '70s. Catherine DeNeuve's character explains that Lakme is a Brahmin princess in India who falls in love with her slave girl Malika. DeNeuve's character is a vampire and she seduces Susan Sarandon while playing music from "Lakme" on the piano. The movie soundtrack includes a famous version of "Lakme" that was used in a British Airways commercial, and I've heard it in other things, too. It's a beautiful duet of two operatic female voices, which is why the below example of "forbidden love" doesn't quite fit, but I found it online tonight and am sharing in case there is any historical significance to it. "In writing Lakme, Delibes took the common theme of forbidden love and sets it in British-controlled West Bengal. The star-crossed lovers are Lakme, the sacred daughter of Nilakantha, a fervently anti-British Hindu priest, and Gerald, a lieutenant in the British army. Gerald is intrigued by the legend of the beautiful priestess who no man is allowed to look on. When he sees her he is mesmerised and enraptured while Lakme, is herself drawn ineluctably towards this forbidden love. ..." My questions are: 1) Was Lakme a person in history? 2) Is there any connection between Lakme and Lakshmi? Someone gave me a beautiful picture of Lakshmi with Ganesha and Saraswati on either side of her, and I was looking at the picture tonight and these questions came to mind. / Discover Stay in touch with email, IM, photo sharing & more. Check it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 Honestly, the first time I heard the name Lakme was from the ad's for the series of beauty products. Never in any other context. , sankara menon <kochu1tz> wrote: > this is just a fiction > > Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote:Dear Shakti Sadhana Members: > > My questions are: > > 1) Was Lakme a person in history? > 2) Is there any connection between Lakme and Lakshmi? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 Namaskar, Nothing true in the movie, just pure fiction. False projection of Hindu culture and showing Hindu people to be like tribals to the foreign minds has always shown Hindus to be a poor in thoughts and Ideas. Please do not follow Hindu culture from movies and media. To know the true profound Hindu culture which is filled with spirituality and highest thoughts of life, please use authentic books and true organisation propagating Hindu culture. Namaskar, Anish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 Okay, thanks all for clarifying! I did read online last night, though, the "laksme" in Sanskrit means "goal." Not that that has anything to do with French composer Delibes' fiction, but I like knowing that in terms of Lakshmi. From my reading, that particular Hindu Goddess represents wealth in the physical and material world, which is a wonderful goal, I feel. , "ganpra" <ganpra@r...> wrote: > Honestly, the first time I heard the name Lakme was from the ad's for > the series of beauty products. Never in any other context. > > , sankara menon <kochu1tz> > wrote: > > this is just a fiction > > > > Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote:Dear Shakti Sadhana Members: > > > > My questions are: > > > > 1) Was Lakme a person in history? > > 2) Is there any connection between Lakme and Lakshmi? > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 It is NO "Laksme: but "Lakshya". Thee is no wokd laksme in Sanskrit as far as I know. Mary Ann <buttercookie61 wrote:Okay, thanks all for clarifying! I did read online last night, though, the "laksme" in Sanskrit means "goal." Not that that has anything to do with French composer Delibes' fiction, but I like knowing that in terms of Lakshmi. From my reading, that particular Hindu Goddess represents wealth in the physical and material world, which is a wonderful goal, I feel. , "ganpra" <ganpra@r...> wrote: > Honestly, the first time I heard the name Lakme was from the ad's for > the series of beauty products. Never in any other context. > > , sankara menon <kochu1tz> > wrote: > > this is just a fiction > > > > Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote:Dear Shakti Sadhana Members: > > > > My questions are: > > > > 1) Was Lakme a person in history? > > 2) Is there any connection between Lakme and Lakshmi? > > / Discover Have fun online with music videos, cool games, IM & more. Check it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 Drat, these online resources! Thanks kochu! , sankara menon <kochu1tz> wrote: > > It is NO "Laksme: but "Lakshya". Thee is no wokd laksme in Sanskrit as far as I know. > Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote:Okay, thanks all for clarifying! I did read online last night, though, the "laksme" in Sanskrit means "goal." Not that that has anything to do with French composer Delibes' fiction, but I like knowing that in terms of Lakshmi. From my reading, that particular Hindu Goddess represents wealth in the physical and material world, which is a > wonderful goal, I feel. > > , "ganpra" <ganpra@r...> wrote: > > Honestly, the first time I heard the name Lakme was from the ad's > for > > the series of beauty products. Never in any other context. > > > > , sankara menon <kochu1tz> > > wrote: > > > this is just a fiction > > > > > > Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote:Dear Shakti Sadhana Members: > > > > > > My questions are: > > > > > > 1) Was Lakme a person in history? > > > 2) Is there any connection between Lakme and Lakshmi? > > > > > > > > > Links > > > / > > > > > Terms of Service. > > > > > > Discover > Have fun online with music videos, cool games, IM & more. Check it out! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 BTW in case anyone is interested, here is one of the many links I found with the word "laksme" defined. Does "lakshya" mean "goal"...? http://www.hindudevotion.com/lakshmi.html , "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61> wrote: > Drat, these online resources! Thanks kochu! > > , sankara menon <kochu1tz> > wrote: > > > > It is NO "Laksme: but "Lakshya". Thee is no wokd laksme in Sanskrit > as far as I know. > > Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote:Okay, thanks all for > clarifying! I did read online last night, though, the "laksme" in > Sanskrit means "goal." Not that that has anything to do with French > composer Delibes' fiction, but I like knowing that in terms of > Lakshmi. From my reading, that particular Hindu Goddess represents > wealth in the physical and material world, which is a > > wonderful goal, I feel. > > > > , "ganpra" <ganpra@r...> wrote: > > > Honestly, the first time I heard the name Lakme was from the ad's > > for > > > the series of beauty products. Never in any other context. > > > > > > , sankara menon > <kochu1tz> > > > wrote: > > > > this is just a fiction > > > > > > > > Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote:Dear Shakti Sadhana > Members: > > > > > > > > My questions are: > > > > > > > > 1) Was Lakme a person in history? > > > > 2) Is there any connection between Lakme and Lakshmi? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > > > / > > > > > > > > > > Terms of > Service. > > > > > > > > > > > > Discover > > Have fun online with music videos, cool games, IM & more. Check it > out! > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 many of these "resource" are utterly unreliable. Mary Ann <buttercookie61 wrote:BTW in case anyone is interested, here is one of the many links I found with the word "laksme" defined. Does "lakshya" mean "goal"...? http://www.hindudevotion.com/lakshmi.html , "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61> wrote: > Drat, these online resources! Thanks kochu! > > , sankara menon <kochu1tz> > wrote: > > > > It is NO "Laksme: but "Lakshya". Thee is no wokd laksme in Sanskrit > as far as I know. > > Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote:Okay, thanks all for > clarifying! I did read online last night, though, the "laksme" in > Sanskrit means "goal." Not that that has anything to do with French > composer Delibes' fiction, but I like knowing that in terms of > Lakshmi. From my reading, that particular Hindu Goddess represents > wealth in the physical and material world, which is a > > wonderful goal, I feel. > > > > , "ganpra" <ganpra@r...> wrote: > > > Honestly, the first time I heard the name Lakme was from the ad's > > for > > > the series of beauty products. Never in any other context. > > > > > > , sankara menon > <kochu1tz> > > > wrote: > > > > this is just a fiction > > > > > > > > Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote:Dear Shakti Sadhana > Members: > > > > > > > > My questions are: > > > > > > > > 1) Was Lakme a person in history? > > > > 2) Is there any connection between Lakme and Lakshmi? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > > > / > > > > > > > > > > Terms of > Service. > > > > > > > > > > > > Discover > > Have fun online with music videos, cool games, IM & more. Check it > out! > > > > / Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2005 Report Share Posted June 14, 2005 One dictionary says "Laksham = Target." More comment usuage is "lakshaya" or "lakshayam". Laksham as in numerical values, is a commonly used figure in India. It represents 100,000. Laksham is written in Sanskrit as la-ksha-m - just 3 letters. So, may be someone decided to look cute and transliterate it as la-ks-m (e). Lakshaya is written in S'krit as la-ksha-ya (3 letters) and lakshayam as la-ksha-ya-m. In the latter, "m" could be represented as a shortened "ma" or represented by a "dot" above the "ya." This may also be the case with "Laksham" above. When I googled for the word "laksme," most of the relevant hits had the same (almost exact) sentence saying "Origin of lakshmi is from the sanskrit word laksme which means goal." I would not be surprised if someone first made a mistake (?) and rest followed with copy & paste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2005 Report Share Posted June 14, 2005 , "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61> wrote: > BTW in case anyone is interested, here is one of the many links I > found with the word "laksme" defined. Does "lakshya" mean "goal"...? Lakshya does mean "goal" Lakshmi and Lakshya are etymologially related. Lakshmi is one who helps "clarify and refine goals" Jai Ma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2005 Report Share Posted June 14, 2005 Thank you very much for the information. It makes sense how someone culd get "laksme" after all, wrong though it is. Yes, that same line does repeat all over the internet. It seemed like hindudevotion.com would at least have it right, but no. , "ganpra" <ganpra@r...> wrote: > One dictionary says "Laksham = Target." More comment usuage > is "lakshaya" or "lakshayam". Laksham as in numerical values, is a > commonly used figure in India. It represents 100,000. > > Laksham is written in Sanskrit as la-ksha-m - just 3 letters. So, > may be someone decided to look cute and transliterate it as la-ks-m > (e). > > Lakshaya is written in S'krit as la-ksha-ya (3 letters) and > lakshayam as la-ksha-ya-m. In the latter, "m" could be represented > as a shortened "ma" or represented by a "dot" above the "ya." This > may also be the case with "Laksham" above. > > When I googled for the word "laksme," most of the relevant hits had > the same (almost exact) sentence saying "Origin of lakshmi is from > the sanskrit word laksme which means goal." I would not be surprised > if someone first made a mistake (?) and rest followed with copy & > paste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2005 Report Share Posted June 14, 2005 IMHO the word Lakme does not exist in any dictionary. Someone committed a mistake IMHO and the tendency of net to replicate a misake has taken its first victims. *smile*. ganpra <ganpra wrote:One dictionary says "Laksham = Target." More comment usuage is "lakshaya" or "lakshayam". Laksham as in numerical values, is a commonly used figure in India. It represents 100,000. Laksham is written in Sanskrit as la-ksha-m - just 3 letters. So, may be someone decided to look cute and transliterate it as la-ks-m (e). Lakshaya is written in S'krit as la-ksha-ya (3 letters) and lakshayam as la-ksha-ya-m. In the latter, "m" could be represented as a shortened "ma" or represented by a "dot" above the "ya." This may also be the case with "Laksham" above. When I googled for the word "laksme," most of the relevant hits had the same (almost exact) sentence saying "Origin of lakshmi is from the sanskrit word laksme which means goal." I would not be surprised if someone first made a mistake (?) and rest followed with copy & paste. / Discover Get on-the-go sports scores, stock quotes, news & more. Check it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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