Guest guest Posted June 14, 2005 Report Share Posted June 14, 2005 Insofar as Durga was formed by all the gods by merging their Shaktis, one can argue that Durga is the sum total of all the Goddesses/ Powers in the Universe. MAHA-Lakshmi (a title of Durga), slayer of Mahisha-asura, has three eyes, but Lakshmi as "wealth" deludes humans into involvement in the world of Maya and Samsara, so does not display the Third Eye that sees beyond mundane appearances. All the Gods, all the Goddesses, are manifestations of the One Brahman. We give them individual aspects so that our limited human minds can grasp them. The correct answer to the question, "Are Hindus monotheistic or polytheistic?", is Yes. -- Len/ Kalipadma --- Mary Ann <buttercookie61 wrote: > This is my favorite Lakshmi mantra: > > Ya devi sarva bhuteshu Lakshmi rupena sansthita > Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah > > Oh Mother! You who are established as the energy of > prosperity > everywhere, I bow down to you again and again. > > I think I have seen this with Durga's name in it, > too. But can you > really say that all Hindu Goddesses are one? Are all > Gods one? Then > why are there so many? Isn't reducing them to "one" > a > bit...Christian-like? > Discover Have fun online with music videos, cool games, IM and more. Check it out! http://discover./online.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2005 Report Share Posted June 14, 2005 , Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108> wrote: > The correct answer to the question, "Are Hindus monotheistic or > polytheistic?", is Yes. > > -- Len/ Kalipadma Nice Koan from master Kalipadma! Mary Ann, go figure this one out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2005 Report Share Posted June 14, 2005 Dear Len: You write: "Insofar as Durga was formed by all the gods by merging their Shaktis, one can argue that Durga is the sum total of all the Goddesses/ Powers in the Universe." Actually, it is not a matter of the gods forming or creating Durga; it is a matter of their accessing the Source. This concept is easier to understand if you think in terms of Sri Yantra. Sri Yantra puja is always done either from the inside outward (explosion; creation) or from the outside inward (implosion; dissolution). The closer you move toward the center, toward the Bindu, the closer you move toward Unity, toward One-ness. The closer you move toward the outer enclosures, the more you move into apparent multiplicity; that is, our world of subject and object. The object of sadhana is to gradually adjust our perception to see past apparent multiplicity, and experience ourselves as the Unity, as the One. The fact that serious sadhikas and sadhaks gain siddhis - - seemingly occult powers -- as they progress is merely a natural by- product of shedding our individual, ego-anchored limitations and embracing our birthright of experiencing our essential One-ness. The Devi Mahatmyam illustrates that point: The gods face an enemy that they cannot overcome in their individual capacities. The solution (for them as for us!): Ascend closer toward the center; reduce the dilution and individuation of power. Shakti is the force that created both the Gods and the enemy in the first place; anything that is experienced is Shakti. In order to access Her Power, the Gods must reverse the downward unfolding (or multiplication) of Divine manifestation. Accordingly, all the Gods simultaneously offer their own individual powers back to their common Source. And as they do so, they behold an extraordinary sight, as the Source begins to materialize before their eyes: An exceedingly fiery mass like a flaming mountain Did the Gods see, filling the firmament with flames. That peerless splendor, born from the bodies of all the Gods, Unifying and pervading the triple world with its lustre, became a Woman. (Devi Mahatmyam, 2.11-12) That Woman is, of course, the Devi, who easily decimates Mahisha's armies using lesser Goddesses (i.e. devis, shaktis; that is, various powers) produced from Her own body. We too are Her lesser powers. We too become greater powers by moving toward Her center. Aim MAtangyai NamaH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2005 Report Share Posted June 14, 2005 Some people translate the name "Durga" as meaning "the unapproachable." And seekers who see Durga as a warrior and battle-goddess are certain this means that no enemy can past her assembly of weapons. But I teach my students that Durga is the Goddess of the Center. Her dwelling place is in every mortal heart. Bearing that in mind, she is surely "unapproachable" -- how can you approach what has been with you from the beginning? "And you who think to search for me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you naught, unless you know the mystery -- if that which you seek, you do not first find within yourself, you will never find it outside. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of your desire." -- from the Wiccan Charge of the Goddess, attributed to Doreen Valiente -- Len/ Kalipadma --- devi_bhakta <devi_bhakta wrote: > Dear Len: > > You write: "Insofar as Durga was formed by all the > gods by merging > their Shaktis, one can argue that Durga is the sum > total of all the > Goddesses/ Powers in the Universe." > > Actually, it is not a matter of the gods forming or > creating Durga; > it is a matter of their accessing the Source. > > This concept is easier to understand if you think in > terms of Sri > Yantra. Sri Yantra puja is always done either from > the inside > outward (explosion; creation) or from the outside > inward (implosion; > dissolution). The closer you move toward the center, > toward the > Bindu, the closer you move toward Unity, toward > One-ness. The closer > you move toward the outer enclosures, the more you > move into > apparent multiplicity; that is, our world of subject > and object. > > The object of sadhana is to gradually adjust our > perception to see > past apparent multiplicity, and experience ourselves > as the Unity, > as the One. The fact that serious sadhikas and > sadhaks gain siddhis - > - seemingly occult powers -- as they progress is > merely a natural by- > product of shedding our individual, ego-anchored > limitations and > embracing our birthright of experiencing our > essential One-ness. > > The Devi Mahatmyam illustrates that point: The gods > face an enemy > that they cannot overcome in their individual > capacities. The > solution (for them as for us!): Ascend closer toward > the center; > reduce the dilution and individuation of power. > > Shakti is the force that created both the Gods and > the enemy in the > first place; anything that is experienced is Shakti. > In order to > access Her Power, the Gods must reverse the downward > unfolding (or > multiplication) of Divine manifestation. > > Accordingly, all the Gods simultaneously offer their > own individual > powers back to their common Source. And as they do > so, they behold > an extraordinary sight, as the Source begins to > materialize before > their eyes: > > > An exceedingly fiery mass like a flaming mountain > Did the Gods see, filling the firmament with flames. > That peerless splendor, born from the bodies of all > the Gods, > Unifying and pervading the triple world with its > lustre, became a > Woman. > > (Devi Mahatmyam, 2.11-12) > > That Woman is, of course, the Devi, who easily > decimates Mahisha's > armies using lesser Goddesses (i.e. devis, shaktis; > that is, various > powers) produced from Her own body. We too are Her > lesser powers. We > too become greater powers by moving toward Her > center. > > Aim MAtangyai NamaH > > > Discover Stay in touch with email, IM, photo sharing and more. Check it out! http://discover./stayintouch.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2005 Report Share Posted June 14, 2005 How beautifully you put it. >Actually, it is not a matter of the gods forming or creating Durga; >it is a matter of their accessing the Source. > >An exceedingly fiery mass like a flaming mountain >Did the Gods see, filling the firmament with flames. >That peerless splendor, born from the bodies of all the Gods, >Unifying and pervading the triple world with its lustre, became a Woman. >(Devi Mahatmyam, 2.11-12) -- Max Dashu Suppressed Histories Archives Global Women's History http://www.suppressedhistories.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 I second that emotion , Max Dashu <maxdashu@l...> wrote: > How beautifully you put it. > > >Actually, it is not a matter of the gods forming or creating Durga; > >it is a matter of their accessing the Source. > > > >An exceedingly fiery mass like a flaming mountain > >Did the Gods see, filling the firmament with flames. > >That peerless splendor, born from the bodies of all the Gods, > >Unifying and pervading the triple world with its lustre, became a Woman. > >(Devi Mahatmyam, 2.11-12) > > -- > Max Dashu > Suppressed Histories Archives > Global Women's History > http://www.suppressedhistories.net > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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