Guest guest Posted March 16, 2006 Report Share Posted March 16, 2006 First let me introduce myself. I am priya from Singapore. I would like to thank Nora for inviting me on board. Gosh Nora! Thank you so much. You are right! I was not sure where to begin. But as a child I have always loved Shakthi and I continue to do so. She has appeared to so many people and I am sure she resides in all of us too. Thank you for having me. Here is my qsn again and I can see Nora has already posted it: Shiva was seen as supreme in the Svetasvatara Upanishads while in the Markndeya Purana, Shakthi is glorified and regains her status as the Supreme Mother Goddess. Then again in Devi Bhagavata Purana, it marks the ascendancy of Shakthi into the Puranic genre of Devi, the Goddess as the supreme matrix." Which is it? thank you so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Hi Priya You are looking for scriptural evidence regarding ascendancy of male vs. female and vice versa. I would like to add to the confusion. You say Shiva is supreme as male. What to talk of gender, let's have caste too. Shiva is a brahmin god. There is a name Brahmani occuring in Lalitha Sahasranama. Bhaskararaya while commenting on this has the following to say: "Brahmani, phanjika, sprkka dvijapatnishu vishruta iti vishvakoshaadau oushadhivishesharoopa dvijastrimatraroopa va samvidvishesharoopa va...tathaa cha chhandogye shruyate viroopakshosi dantarchiriti shivam prakrtya tvam deveshu brahmano asi aham manushyeshu brahmanah brahmano brahmanam upadhavati upa tvaadhavami iti parasharadityakaurmavasishthalaingeshu smaryate. Brahmano bhagavan Saambo brahmananam hi daivatam. Visheshaat brahmano rudram ishanamsharam vrajet iti. From the above it is clear that Lalita got the name Brahmani for she is married to a god whose caste is Brahmin. If you visit temples in Tamil Nadu, Parvati is dressed up on important occasions in the way smarta brahmin ladies of Tamil Nadu wrap the sari around them. You alluded to swetaashwatara upanishads; there is only one upanishad by that name and Adi Sankara has given a beautiful commentary on this. Brhadaranyaka upanishad uses the neuter gender when referring to the Supreme being "Neti, Neti...apaanipaada, amanah..". Taitaariya upanishad refers to the Supreme being in neutre as wellas masculine gender. "Satyam, gnanam, anatam brahma...sah akaamayata bahusyam prajayeyeti etc.," Mahanarayanoapnishad uses masculine and feminine genders. "Tasya madhye vahnishikhaa aniyordhwa vyavasthitah, Neelatoyadamadhyastaat vidyullekheva bhaswara, neevarashukavat tanvi peetabhaaswatyanoopama. tasyaah shikhaayaamadhye paramaatma vyavasthitah." I think I have sufficiently confused you. Thanks a lot for the opportunity. Om Namas Tripurasundari smallblessings2001 <smallblessings2001 wrote: First let me introduce myself. I am priya from Singapore. I would like to thank Nora for inviting me on board. Gosh Nora! Thank you so much. You are right! I was not sure where to begin. But as a child I have always loved Shakthi and I continue to do so. She has appeared to so many people and I am sure she resides in all of us too. Thank you for having me. Here is my qsn again and I can see Nora has already posted it: Shiva was seen as supreme in the Svetasvatara Upanishads while in the Markndeya Purana, Shakthi is glorified and regains her status as the Supreme Mother Goddess. Then again in Devi Bhagavata Purana, it marks the ascendancy of Shakthi into the Puranic genre of Devi, the Goddess as the supreme matrix." Which is it? thank you so much Traditions Divine Hinduism Visit your group "" on the web. Mail Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Hi Priya You are looking for scriptural evidence regarding ascendancy of male vs. female and vice versa. I would like to add to the confusion. You say Shiva is supreme as male. What to talk of gender, let's have caste too. Shiva is a brahmin god. There is a name Brahmani occuring in Lalitha Sahasranama. Bhaskararaya while commenting on this has the following to say: "Brahmani, phanjika, sprkka dvijapatnishu vishruta iti vishvakoshaadau oushadhivishesharoopa dvijastrimatraroopa va samvidvishesharoopa va...tathaa cha chhandogye shruyate viroopakshosi dantarchiriti shivam prakrtya tvam deveshu brahmano asi aham manushyeshu brahmanah brahmano brahmanam upadhavati upa tvaadhavami iti parasharadityakaurmavasishthalaingeshu smaryate. Brahmano bhagavan Saambo brahmananam hi daivatam. Visheshaat brahmano rudram ishanamsharam vrajet iti. From the above it is clear that Lalita got the name Brahmani for she is married to a god whose caste is Brahmin. If you visit temples in Tamil Nadu, Parvati is dressed up on important occasions in the way smarta brahmin ladies of Tamil Nadu wrap the sari around them. You alluded to swetaashwatara upanishads; there is only one upanishad by that name and Adi Sankara has given a beautiful commentary on this. Brhadaranyaka upanishad uses the neuter gender when referring to the Supreme being "Neti, Neti...apaanipaada, amanah..". Taitaariya upanishad refers to the Supreme being in neutre as wellas masculine gender. "Satyam, gnanam, anatam brahma...sah akaamayata bahusyam prajayeyeti etc.," Mahanarayanoapnishad uses masculine and feminine genders. "Tasya madhye vahnishikhaa aniyordhwa vyavasthitah, Neelatoyadamadhyastaat vidyullekheva bhaswara, neevarashukavat tanvi peetabhaaswatyanoopama. tasyaah shikhaayaamadhye paramaatma vyavasthitah." I think I have sufficiently confused you. Thanks a lot for the opportunity. Om Namas Tripurasundari smallblessings2001 <smallblessings2001 wrote: First let me introduce myself. I am priya from Singapore. I would like to thank Nora for inviting me on board. Gosh Nora! Thank you so much. You are right! I was not sure where to begin. But as a child I have always loved Shakthi and I continue to do so. She has appeared to so many people and I am sure she resides in all of us too. Thank you for having me. Here is my qsn again and I can see Nora has already posted it: Shiva was seen as supreme in the Svetasvatara Upanishads while in the Markndeya Purana, Shakthi is glorified and regains her status as the Supreme Mother Goddess. Then again in Devi Bhagavata Purana, it marks the ascendancy of Shakthi into the Puranic genre of Devi, the Goddess as the supreme matrix." Which is it? thank you so much Traditions Divine Hinduism Visit your group "" on the web. Mail Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Namaste Priya: A very quick reply to your question: Within Sanatana Dharma, or Hinduism, both Shiva and Shakti can be Supreme deities. Vishnu is also frequently considered Supreme by His followers, and similarly Surya and Ganapati. We are allowed within the tradition to chose which ever path and Ishtadevata that most suits us as individuals. Also, in the case of Shiva vs. Shakti, many would say it would be appropriate to have it be Shiva *and* Shakti. My Guru Maa explained Shiva as the absolute expansion, the blank slate of the universe, which Shakti was the energy and vibration that filled this space with Creation. At certain states of realization, the difference between the God and the Goddess blur and become less relevant. That being said, it is probably good to pick a "side" or a Ishta, and really understand and practice it. Experience is key for any spiritual undertaking. Jai Maa. -Santo "Aum Shanti Shanti Shantih." On 3/16/06, smallblessings2001 <smallblessings2001 wrote: > > First let me introduce myself. I am priya from Singapore. I would > like to thank Nora for inviting me on board. Gosh Nora! Thank you so > much. You are right! I was not sure where to begin. But as a child I > have always loved Shakthi and I continue to do so. She has appeared > to so many people and I am sure she resides in all of us too. Thank > you for having me. > > Here is my qsn again and I can see Nora has already posted it: Shiva > was seen as supreme in the Svetasvatara Upanishads while in the > Markndeya Purana, Shakthi is glorified and regains her status as the > Supreme Mother Goddess. > Then again in Devi Bhagavata Purana, it marks the ascendancy of > Shakthi into the Puranic genre of Devi, the Goddess as the supreme > matrix." > Which is it? > > > thank you so much > > > > > > Links > > > > > > > -- -Santo "Aum Shanti Shanti Shantih." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.