The re-awakening of The Mother

[Guest guest]

This is only tangentially related to Santo's response,

but his post made me think of the article:

 

The Black Virgin

By Dr. Kalpana Sahni

Feb. 4th, 2006

 

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C02

%5C04%5Cstory_4-2-2006_pg3_5

or

http://tinyurl.com/q5nmk

 

In 1999 the mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, tried to

prevent the opening of an art exhibition at the city-funded

Brooklyn Museum of Art. The mayor was offended by one of

the exhibits depicting the Virgin Mary and threatened to freeze

the annual funds for the museum if it went ahead with the

show.

 

Catholic organisations labelled the work sacrilegious and

obscene. The art community and the American Civil Liberties

Union in contrast came out in support of the exhibit. The

controversy snowballed. The Museum Director defended the

exhibition, went to court and won the case. The debate ensured

serpentine lines to the box office while devout Catholics

prayed and chanted outside the museum.

 

But there were latent undertones to all this. Chris Ofili, the

painter, is British born, British educated, a British citizen,

recipient of the prestigious Turner Award and an avowed

Roman Catholic. However he is Black and his Virgin Mary is

also Black and decorated with elephant dung -- a threat to

powerful cultural prejudices.

 

So, which image of the Virgin Mary is authentic? Does

European iconography possess the only authentic

representations? What about the images of the Copts or the

Assyrian Christians -- societies that adopted Christianity

before Rome?

 

The Egyptian Coptic church is the oldest of them all. St Mark

the Apostle began preaching in Egypt in 35 AD, whereas St

Thomas is said to have preached and converted in Iraq 40 years

after Christ. Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Persia were regions

where Christian converts existed in the first century, followed a

little while later by Armenia and Georgia. In North East Africa

the Coptic influence percolated to the Ethiopians and Nubians.

The depiction of Mary was widespread and, understandably, in

these regions, Mary is not a blue-eyed blonde. I have even

come across a Virgin Mary seated in padma asana on a lotus in

Georgia's State Museum!

 

But let us return to Europe where Christianity was officially

adopted some 400 years after Christ. Although initially the

church in Rome forbade any kind of imagery there were

numerous shrines all over Europe where the image of the

Virgin Mary was worshipped. These images are said to have

been discovered between the 10th and 12th centuries. How was

she depicted?

 

Believe it or not -- she is black! Her features, in most

instances, are non-European! And ironically, most of these

images are located in Catholic churches in France, Italy, Spain,

Portugal, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Now I am not out

to distort history but the veneration for the Black Madonna has

never ceased, and she continues to be worshipped till this day.

 

France alone has 300 documented Black Madonna shrines --

the largest number, including the famous 13th century statue in

the Chartres Cathedral. Spain has 50 (including one in

Monserat near Barcelona), Italy 30, and Germany 19. Poland's

most sacred site is the shrine of the Charna (black) Madonna of

Czestochowa -- the protector of Poland. Her icon is said to

have been made by St Luke. Over 30 million people visit her

shrine annually.

 

Initially the Catholic Church refused to acknowledge the

presence of the Black Madonnas but later attempted to explain

away the 'black' colour as a deposit caused by the soot residue

from the votive candles and smoking incense. But it was

unable to explain why only the faces and hands had succumbed

to the soot deposits while the clothes had retained their bright

colours or why many of the images had African features.

 

Interest around the Black Virgin or Madonna has grown

tremendously. Explanatory theories have been advanced

claiming the origins of this cult back to the Egyptian Goddess

Isis who was venerated all over the Roman Empire. It is

believed by some that with the advent of Christianity in Europe

the image of Isis with Horus in her lap was transformed into

Mary and Christ. Still others claim that the dark image

represents Mary Magdalene holding in her arms the son of

Christ. Many of these Black Madonnas are said to possess

miraculous healing powers and so continue to attract thousands

of devotees annually.

 

The most intriguing image, however, is in Les Saintes Maries

de la Mere church in France. Here the Black Madonna is

venerated as the patron saint of the Gypsies. Every year they

congregate from all parts of Europe on May 24 or 25 and pay

homage to the image they call, interestingly, Kali Sara.

(Whether this is Kali as Durga, Kali as in black or both is

unclear.)

 

She is dressed up in new attire and her relics are taken to the

sea where they are purified by immersion, and carried back to

the Church. So, which of all these Madonnas is the authentic

one? Or are they all equally authentic, none more so than the

other?

 

Dr. Kalpana Sahni has been a professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru

University, New Delhi. A doctorate in Russian literature, she

has published extensively on literature and cross-cultural

issues.

 

, "Santo Sengupta"

<s.santo.sengupta wrote:

> [....]

> I even see it [the reawakening of the Mother]

> happening, however slowly, in Christianity

> with their rediscovery of Marian theology.

> (IMHO, the Holy Spirit of the Trinity has *always* been

> Feminine, merely covered up and glossed over by the Church)

[Guest guest]

Ah, the case of the Black Madonnas ...

 

Yes, the truth about all of this is gradually (or not so gradually)

expanding into the mainstream. Who knows what its longterm effects

on Christianity may be.

 

*** "msbauju" wrote: "Believe it or not -- she is black! Her

features, in most instances, are non-European! And ironically, most

of these images are located in Catholic churches in France, Italy,

Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. ***

 

For those who enjoy early music, here is an excellent CD of medieval

devotional songs to the Black Madonna:

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000007N63/sr=8-

3/qid=1140832830/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-9781398-2410512?%5Fencoding=UTF8

 

Wanna dig deeper? Try "The Cult of the Black Virgin" by Ean Begg:

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140195106/qid=1140833645/sr=2-

3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/102-9781398-2410512?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

 

*** The most intriguing image, however, is in Les Saintes Maries de

la Mere church in France. Here the Black Madonna is venerated as the

patron saint of the Gypsies. Every year they congregate from all

parts of Europe on May 24 or 25 and pay homage to the image they

call, interestingly, Kali Sara. (Whether this is Kali as Durga, Kali

as in black or both is unclear.) ... She is dressed up in new attire

and her relics are taken to the sea where they are purified by

immersion, and carried back to the Church.***

 

An amazing film document of this event can be found in Tony Gatlif's

1994 film, "Latcho Drom" (which is, by the way, a brilliant,

achingly beautiful film from start to finish and comes heartily

recommended by me to any members with the slightest interest in any

aspect of the Rom/Gypsy experience and musical traditions, from

India across North Africa, through Central Europe, Southern France

and Spain). Unfortunately, there's no DVD version yet, but the VHS

is easily available:

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6304263198/qid%

3D1140833108/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-9781398-2410512

 

*** Still others claim that the dark image represents Mary

Magdalene holding in her arms the son of Christ. ***

 

An excellent summary of these arguments (along with a tight and

helpful survey of the burgeoning literature on the topic) appeared

just last week in the venerable New Yorker magazine. Do not miss it

if you are at all interested in these issues:

 

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060213fa_fact2

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your links about the black madonna. I have read some about her and

find her very interesting - especially as she is operating in Europe.

 

She must be more known within the catholic countries. In the protestantic I am

sure she is very much unknown.

 

 

Lars

[Guest guest]

>

> Yes, the truth about all of this is gradually (or not so gradually)

> expanding into the mainstream. Who knows what its longterm effects

> on Christianity may be.

 

 

Namaste.

 

The popular English fiction/mystery novel, "The DaVinci Code" uses how the

Divine Feminine representations and Gnostic wisdom traditions within

Christianity were hidden and destroyed as part of its melodramatic and

breathless plot. There has been some outrage from fundamentalist Christians

and Opus Dei about the book, but just wait until this summer, when Hollywood

releases the movie version, starring Tom Hanks.

 

Very few people here in America actually pay attention to things in books.

But movies and TV, even temporarily, has a great effect on group

consciousness. Expect to see the fundamentalist Christan "Taliban" be up in

arms about this. Hopefully cooler heads and tolerance will prevail.

 

I'll leave you with my favorite quote from Swami Vivekananda-ji

"I do not see into the future; nor do I care to see. But one vision I see

dear as life before me: that the ancient Mother has awakened once more,

sitting on Her throne rejuvenated, more glorious than ever. Proclaim Her to

all the world with the voice of peace and benediction."

 

-Santo

"Aum Shanti Shanti Shantih."

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

DB,

 

Thank you. Awesome article. Lengthy, lengthy, lengthy but awesome. She

took a wierd twist at the end though, not in my opinion supported by

the balance of the article.

 

I did like her reference to the Hindu pantheon.

 

And this:

Since the nineteen-seventies, there has been a true paradigm shift in

Biblical scholarship. Before, people thought that Christianity was a

truth; even the reformers sought only a modification of that truth.

But, with the publication of the Gnostic Gospels, abetted by

postmodern theory, a number of young scholars came to regard early

Christianity entirely differently—as a process, a vast, centuries-long

argument among competing sects, during which certain choices were made.

 

 

I only wish that that were true. There are too many Xian literalists

in my world.

 

Probably literalists everywhere. But they only really scare me here at

home.

 

blessings,

 

pr

 

, "Devi Bhakta" <devi_bhakta

wrote:

>

> Ah, the case of the Black Madonnas ...

>

> Yes, the truth about all of this is gradually (or not so gradually)

> expanding into the mainstream. Who knows what its longterm effects

> on Christianity may be.

>

> *** "msbauju" wrote: "Believe it or not -- she is black! Her

> features, in most instances, are non-European! And ironically, most

> of these images are located in Catholic churches in France, Italy,

> Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. ***

>

> For those who enjoy early music, here is an excellent CD of medieval

> devotional songs to the Black Madonna:

>

> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000007N63/sr=8-

> 3/qid=1140832830/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-9781398-2410512?%5Fencoding=UTF8

>

> Wanna dig deeper? Try "The Cult of the Black Virgin" by Ean Begg:

>

> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140195106/qid=1140833645/sr=2-

> 3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/102-9781398-2410512?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

>

> *** The most intriguing image, however, is in Les Saintes Maries de

> la Mere church in France. Here the Black Madonna is venerated as the

> patron saint of the Gypsies. Every year they congregate from all

> parts of Europe on May 24 or 25 and pay homage to the image they

> call, interestingly, Kali Sara. (Whether this is Kali as Durga, Kali

> as in black or both is unclear.) ... She is dressed up in new attire

> and her relics are taken to the sea where they are purified by

> immersion, and carried back to the Church.***

>

> An amazing film document of this event can be found in Tony Gatlif's

> 1994 film, "Latcho Drom" (which is, by the way, a brilliant,

> achingly beautiful film from start to finish and comes heartily

> recommended by me to any members with the slightest interest in any

> aspect of the Rom/Gypsy experience and musical traditions, from

> India across North Africa, through Central Europe, Southern France

> and Spain). Unfortunately, there's no DVD version yet, but the VHS

> is easily available:

>

> http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6304263198/qid%

> 3D1140833108/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-9781398-2410512

>

> *** Still others claim that the dark image represents Mary

> Magdalene holding in her arms the son of Christ. ***

>

> An excellent summary of these arguments (along with a tight and

> helpful survey of the burgeoning literature on the topic) appeared

> just last week in the venerable New Yorker magazine. Do not miss it

> if you are at all interested in these issues:

>

> http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060213fa_fact2

>