Guest guest Posted June 17, 2005 Report Share Posted June 17, 2005 I always found it interesting that, in the OTHER most common 50-50 deity, Hari-Hara, Shiva is almost always on the right, and Vishnu on the left. This implies a certain identity between Vishnu and the Goddess (Parvati is often seen as from Vishnu's darker-complexioned "family"), and of course there is the legend of Vishnu becoming the goddess Mohini and seducing Shiva, giving birth to the South Indian divinity Ayyappa (whose name means "two fathers"). I sort of prefer an Ardhanarishwara (or Ardhanareshwari) where the Goddess side has one arm, whereas the God side has two. Parvati's "two armed form" is symbolic of her being born through a yoni (her mother was Queen Mena, and it's never clear if Mena is a mortal or a Goddess). Most of the other deities are "mind-born," or created in non-biological fashion. I like that Parvati had the same experience of issuing from a womb, living as a child, and growing to adulthood, just like her mortal worshippers have experienced. (I guess THAT's sort of Christian-like...) -- Len/ Kalipadma --- devi_bhakta <devi_bhakta wrote: > This week's Devi photo (i.e., the second photo, > under the weekly > Khadgamala Devi immage) is a rare portrayal of > Ardhanarisvari, > executed by an artist of the Mankot School, Western > Punjab Hills, > c.1710-20. Opaque watercolor on paper, 21.3 X 20.5 > cm. > > What makes it rare? The fact that Devi is on the > right and Siva is > on the left. In an essay on the Exotic India Arts > website, Nitin > Kumar explains: "Barring a few exceptions, the right > half of the > Ardhanarishvara images comprises of male anatomy and > the left that > of the female. A few images, obviously influenced by > Shakta cult, > have a vice versa placing of the male and female > parts also." > > http://www.exoticindia.com/article/ardhanarishvara/ > > On the Shakti Sadhana homepage, you'll find a photo > of another > Ardhanareshwari (a stone sculpture), as well as an > essay detailing > the significance of the left/right distinction at: > > http://www.shaktisadhana.org/DEVI/shivanshakti2.html > > Enjoy ... > > DB > > > > __ Sports Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football http://football.fantasysports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 Thanks for this Len: It's a really different spin on the one-arm vs. two-arm issue surrounding Ardhanareshwara -- do you mind if I add it to our permanent homepage presentation at shaktisadhana.org? Please let me know when you have a chance ... DB , Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108> wrote: > I sort of prefer an Ardhanarishwara (or > Ardhanareshwari) where the Goddess side has one arm, > whereas the God side has two. Parvati's "two armed > form" is symbolic of her being born through a yoni > (her mother was Queen Mena, and it's never clear if > Mena is a mortal or a Goddess). Most of the other > deities are "mind-born," or created in non-biological > fashion. I like that Parvati had the same experience > of issuing from a womb, living as a child, and growing > to adulthood, just like her mortal worshippers have > experienced. > > --- devi_bhakta <devi_bhakta> wrote: > > > This week's Devi photo (i.e., the second photo, > > under the weekly > > Khadgamala Devi immage) is a rare portrayal of > > Ardhanarisvari, > > executed by an artist of the Mankot School, Western > > Punjab Hills, > > c.1710-20. Opaque watercolor on paper, 21.3 X 20.5 > > cm. > > > > What makes it rare? The fact that Devi is on the > > right and Siva is > > on the left. In an essay on the Exotic India Arts > > website, Nitin > > Kumar explains: "Barring a few exceptions, the right > > half of the > > Ardhanarishvara images comprises of male anatomy and > > the left that > > of the female. A few images, obviously influenced by > > Shakta cult, > > have a vice versa placing of the male and female > > parts also." > > > > http://www.exoticindia.com/article/ardhanarishvara/ > > > > On the Shakti Sadhana homepage, you'll find a photo > > of another > > Ardhanareshwari (a stone sculpture), as well as an > > essay detailing > > the significance of the left/right distinction at: > > > > http://www.shaktisadhana.org/DEVI/shivanshakti2.html > > > > Enjoy ... > > > > DB > > > > > > > > > > > > > __ > Sports > Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football > http://football.fantasysports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 Of course, DB! I'd be honored. -- Len --- devi_bhakta <devi_bhakta wrote: > Thanks for this Len: > > It's a really different spin on the one-arm vs. > two-arm issue > surrounding Ardhanareshwara -- do you mind if I add > it to our > permanent homepage presentation at > shaktisadhana.org? > > Please let me know when you have a chance ... > > DB > > , Len Rosenberg > > <kalipadma108> wrote: > > > I sort of prefer an Ardhanarishwara (or > > Ardhanareshwari) where the Goddess side has one > arm, > > whereas the God side has two. Parvati's "two > armed > > form" is symbolic of her being born through a yoni > > (her mother was Queen Mena, and it's never clear > if > > Mena is a mortal or a Goddess). Most of the other > > deities are "mind-born," or created in > non-biological > > fashion. I like that Parvati had the same > experience > > of issuing from a womb, living as a child, and > growing > > to adulthood, just like her mortal worshippers > have > > experienced. > > > > --- devi_bhakta <devi_bhakta> wrote: > > > > > This week's Devi photo (i.e., the second photo, > > > under the weekly > > > Khadgamala Devi immage) is a rare portrayal of > > > Ardhanarisvari, > > > executed by an artist of the Mankot School, > Western > > > Punjab Hills, > > > c.1710-20. Opaque watercolor on paper, 21.3 X > 20.5 > > > cm. > > > > > > What makes it rare? The fact that Devi is on the > > > right and Siva is > > > on the left. In an essay on the Exotic India > Arts > > > website, Nitin > > > Kumar explains: "Barring a few exceptions, the > right > > > half of the > > > Ardhanarishvara images comprises of male anatomy > and > > > the left that > > > of the female. A few images, obviously > influenced by > > > Shakta cult, > > > have a vice versa placing of the male and female > > > parts also." > > > > > > > http://www.exoticindia.com/article/ardhanarishvara/ > > > > > > On the Shakti Sadhana homepage, you'll find a > photo > > > of another > > > Ardhanareshwari (a stone sculpture), as well as > an > > > essay detailing > > > the significance of the left/right distinction > at: > > > > > > > http://www.shaktisadhana.org/DEVI/shivanshakti2.html > > > > > > Enjoy ... > > > > > > DB > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __ > > > Sports > > Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy > Football > > http://football.fantasysports. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2005 Report Share Posted June 30, 2005 Voila! Thanks, Len. Here it is: http://www.shaktisadhana.org/DEVI/shivanshakti2.html DB , Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108> wrote: > > Of course, DB! I'd be honored. > > -- Len > > > --- devi_bhakta <devi_bhakta> wrote: > > > Thanks for this Len: > > > > It's a really different spin on the one-arm vs. > > two-arm issue > > surrounding Ardhanareshwara -- do you mind if I add > > it to our > > permanent homepage presentation at > > shaktisadhana.org? > > > > Please let me know when you have a chance ... > > > > DB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2005 Report Share Posted June 30, 2005 Terrifc article DB; thank you! And thank you too, Len, for your contribution. , "devi_bhakta" <devi_bhakta> wrote: > [...] Here it is: > > http://www.shaktisadhana.org/DEVI/shivanshakti2.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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