Guest guest Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 I am thinking too much -- about fixing malas, about gaffes and goofs arund Mother, about why we know Shiva's vahana (vehicle) by a name but not Devi's lion/tiger's name, about why my picture of Saraswati, who the bhajans always describe as one who rides the swan (hamsa) also has a peacock and a peacock feather in it. Sarada = Radhe? I "know" these are all "aspects" of the Divine Mother, but the unity of the duality is plaguing my intellect at the moment and there are much subtler minds than mine on this list who might help. Regarding malas, however, I did ask Satya, the brother who gives astrological gems advice at mother's program, about a moonstone mala fix. And he said "it is better to restring it yourself" (rather than asking for help from one of the brahmachari/inis). Any bead shop, he said, would have various good filaments or pre-threaded beading needles. Erika, maybe you would want to even just do something with that one rudraksha, and leave the rest of the wrist beads on your altar (or near it). I have mine in a large clamshell on the shelf where I keep incense and camphor for puja. I am so grateful to all the "newbies" who are so inspiring with their love and shakti-intoxication, for reminding me about the bliss I felt when I first started spending time with Mother. Of course Mother's "Thought of the Moment" is "Spiritual bliss cannot be experienced by the intellect. The heart is needed." Can anyone suggest some heart-centered practices for my book/word/library-orientedness? p.s. there may be room for two in our car leaving from Flushing, NYC on Weds eve, maybe spending that night in Syracuse area, checking out Niagra Falls Thursday lunchtime, and then headed to Toronto Devi Bhava. Its about a 7.5 hr car drive, plus stops and border check where I think you need either your passport or a birth certificate these days, not just your driver's license or state-issuedphoto. email rbmgallop. I should be at Sujata's satsang on Tues night too if you want to talk about it there. love, Prashanti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 I am thinking too much -- I "know" these are all "aspects" of the Divine Mother, but the unity of the duality is plaguing my intellect at the moment and there are much subtler minds than mine on this list who might help. Dear Prashanti, Namah Shivaya, I don't know about this mind being any subtler than yours, but I did have a recent experience that seems related to the non-duality of the Divine Mother's aspects. Last summer while sitting near Amma as She gave darshan, I silently prayed that God would open peoples' hearts. At that, Amma turned Her head and gave me the most beautiful, loving glance. This summer I met another Guru who expresses the Saraswati aspect of the Divine Mother. While sitting in the audience, I again spontaneously prayed that people's hearts would open to God as they received individual blessings. Wouldn't you know it, this Guru picked me out of the audience & gave me the exact same look as our Amma's. Although their physical appearances differ, it seemed that the same being was communicating to me through 2 different female bodies. Their eyes looked the same to me! My preconditioned mind also struggled to understand how this could be. Maybe our hearts can more easily begin to understand God's many faces when our minds just take a rest. Love, Sweta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 On Mon, 26 Jul 2004 09:33:11 -0500 (CDT) Rachel Barrett Gallop <mart0167 writes: > I am thinking too much -- about fixing malas, about gaffes and goofs > arund > Mother, about why we know Shiva's vahana (vehicle) by a name Shiva's bull is Nandi. > but not > Devi's lion/tiger's name, I believe Durga's lion is called Sudharma. about why my picture of Saraswati, who the > bhajans always describe as one who rides the swan (hamsa) also has a > peacock and a peacock feather in it. The hamsa (swan) is the symbol of religious knowledge. The mayura (peacock) is the symbol of mundane or scientific knowledge. The swan's power is discrimination -- it can (mythically) draw milk from a bowl of mixed milk and water, and leave the water behind. The peacock's power is assimilation -- it can (alledgedly) eat the most deadly poisons without harm, and transform them into beautiful blue and green colored feathers. Similarly, Sarasvati's mala (rosary beads) represent religious knowledge, and her pustaka (palm-leaf book) represents scientific knowledge. I wrote this song: Devi Sarasvati Chant your hymns on crystal beads along my spine Voice of all vibration May your mantra change my hovel to a shrine Wherever words of truth are sung You dwell upon the Poet's tongue Devi Sarasvati Won't you chant your mantric hymns down my spine? Devi Sarasvati Let your lessons bless my brow's unsullied page Source of every science Where your words are read, the fool becomes a sage Where text and scripture wisdom grant The literate your praises chant Devi Sarasvati May your lessons bless my brow's empty page Devi Sarasvati Won't you come and play your songs upon my heart? You who yeild all knowledge Give your gifts of music, scholarship, and art When dawn's light stirs the morning breeze We dance forth to Thy melodies Devi Sarasvati Won't you come and strum the lute of my heart? -- Len/ Kalipadma ______________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Thanks, Len, for the beautiful poem share. I am curious as to where you got the name Sudharma for Her Simham? I had already looked through my copy of the Devi Mahatmyam, and several scholarly books David Kinsley and Hawley/Wulff's The Divine Consort anthology but found no satisfaction there. I do know that Shiva's bull's name is Nandi -- that knowledge is in fact the basis of my query. WHY do we all know Nandi's name but not the Lion's name? For example, you look at an image of Ardhanarishvara and say, there's Shiva, there's Parvati, there's Nandi, and there's Parvati's lion (or tiger as the case may be). Why doesn't the Lion go by a name too? Amma told me in Rhode Island that asking that is like asking why the sky is called sky. Nandi just means bull, and that is why that is its name. Or why gold is called gold. That's just what it is called. But because it was Devi Bhava, there wasn't really time to explain further. Foolish ego-identified "moi" thought actually Devi was the perfect "person" to ask, ya know?! But perhaps this is another instance of "information knowledge" requiring greater AWARENESS. Sigh, just thought that fuschia hot pink sari-dressed Kameshswari would indulge my desire. But as Niseema gently pointed out to me offlist, this kind of fascination with names and forms creates its own kind of filter on top of the devotion, anyway. Jai Ma. Love, Prashanti On Mon, 26 Jul 2004 kalipadma wrote: > > > but not > > Devi's lion/tiger's name, > > I believe Durga's lion is called Sudharma. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Prashanti! List! Loved ones, I miss your misadventures and spiritual hijinks so much. And how I miss Amma. Have exchanged job that I loved for job with benefits and more money. Sigh. Am now surrounded by conservative, right-wing lawyers. Office environment is suffocating. Feels like Ma is having a good laugh somewhere. Question: how do we keep the heart open and established in Her love/peace when we are constantly confronted with that which we despise? I had politely asked mother to bring down Her sword in New Mexico.... is this another of Her timely responses to my earnest prayers? Having some anxiety issues while adjusting to new surroundings, too. Am trying to remember to breathe, and have been franticly clutching my mala.... change is scary. On the flip side, am loving attending services and classes at the Vedanta Society. Can anyone elaborate on why in Amma's names it makes the tie between Amma and Sri Ramakrishna/Sarada Devi? love to all, Prajna (Brianna) --- Rachel Barrett Gallop <mart0167 wrote: > Thanks, Len, for the beautiful poem share. > > I am curious as to where you got the name Sudharma > for Her Simham? I had > already looked through my copy of the Devi > Mahatmyam, and several > scholarly books David Kinsley and Hawley/Wulff's The > Divine Consort > anthology but found no satisfaction there. > > I do know that Shiva's bull's name is Nandi -- that > knowledge is in fact > the basis of my query. WHY do we all know Nandi's > name but not the Lion's > name? For example, you look at an image of > Ardhanarishvara and say, > there's Shiva, there's Parvati, there's Nandi, and > there's Parvati's lion > (or tiger as the case may be). Why doesn't the Lion > go by a name too? > > Amma told me in Rhode Island that asking that is > like asking why the sky > is called sky. Nandi just means bull, and that is > why that is its name. > Or why gold is called gold. That's just what it is > called. But because > it was Devi Bhava, there wasn't really time to > explain further. Foolish > ego-identified "moi" thought actually Devi was the > perfect "person" to > ask, ya know?! But perhaps this is another > instance of "information > knowledge" requiring greater AWARENESS. > > Sigh, just thought that fuschia hot pink > sari-dressed Kameshswari would > indulge my desire. But as Niseema gently pointed > out to me offlist, this > kind of fascination with names and forms creates its > own kind of filter on > top of the devotion, anyway. Jai Ma. Love, > Prashanti > > > > On Mon, 26 Jul 2004 kalipadma wrote: > > > > > > but not > > > Devi's lion/tiger's name, > > > > I believe Durga's lion is called Sudharma. > > > > > ===== sarvabhauma_yoga/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 09:26:53 -0500 (CDT) Rachel Barrett Gallop <mart0167 writes: > Thanks, Len, for the beautiful poem share. > > I am curious as to where you got the name Sudharma for Her Simham? There is a devotee at Integral Yoga Institute who has that name. Then I ran across the reference to the lion is a text (I think iy may have been a book by Alain Danielou. Sorry I'm such an awful scholar.) Sudharma means "good practice" or "highest virtue." Nandi means "joyous" or "blissful." Vrishcha is "bull." Now we have to find out the name of Ganesha's mouse! (An Amar Chitra Katha comic book says the mouse is a transformed gandharva or celestial musician named Krauncha.) -- Len/ Kalipadma > I had > already looked through my copy of the Devi Mahatmyam, and several > scholarly books David Kinsley and Hawley/Wulff's The Divine Consort > anthology but found no satisfaction there. > > I do know that Shiva's bull's name is Nandi -- that knowledge is in > fact > the basis of my query. WHY do we all know Nandi's name but not the > Lion's > name? For example, you look at an image of Ardhanarishvara and say, > there's Shiva, there's Parvati, there's Nandi, and there's Parvati's > lion > (or tiger as the case may be). Why doesn't the Lion go by a name > too? > > Amma told me in Rhode Island that asking that is like asking why the > sky > is called sky. Nandi just means bull, and that is why that is its > name. > Or why gold is called gold. That's just what it is called. But > because > it was Devi Bhava, there wasn't really time to explain further. > Foolish > ego-identified "moi" thought actually Devi was the perfect "person" > to > ask, ya know?! But perhaps this is another instance of > "information > knowledge" requiring greater AWARENESS. > > Sigh, just thought that fuschia hot pink sari-dressed Kameshswari > would > indulge my desire. But as Niseema gently pointed out to me offlist, > this > kind of fascination with names and forms creates its own kind of > filter on > top of the devotion, anyway. Jai Ma. Love, Prashanti > > > > On Mon, 26 Jul 2004 kalipadma wrote: > > > > > > but not > > > Devi's lion/tiger's name, > > > > I believe Durga's lion is called Sudharma. > > > > > > > ------------------------ Sponsor > --------------------~--> > Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Companion Toolbar. > Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! > http://us.click./L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/XUWolB/TM > --~-> > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > Links > > > > > > ______________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Nandi is a great rishi, not just an animal/vehicle; he is the most fortunate one to have been chosen as the vehicle for the Divine Father of all life. He is referred to as Nandi natha, who is the patron of yoga and Guru to patanjali, vyaghrapada and other sages (vide Tirumantiram). The lion (or the tiger as there is a controversy as to which) was just a vehicle that Durga adopted in her battle with Mahisha. -yogaman Ammachi, Rachel Barrett Gallop <mart0167@t...> wrote: > Thanks, Len, for the beautiful poem share. > > I am curious as to where you got the name Sudharma for Her Simham? I had > already looked through my copy of the Devi Mahatmyam, and several > scholarly books David Kinsley and Hawley/Wulff's The Divine Consort > anthology but found no satisfaction there. > > I do know that Shiva's bull's name is Nandi -- that knowledge is in fact > the basis of my query. WHY do we all know Nandi's name but not the Lion's > name? For example, you look at an image of Ardhanarishvara and say, > there's Shiva, there's Parvati, there's Nandi, and there's Parvati's lion > (or tiger as the case may be). Why doesn't the Lion go by a name too? > > Amma told me in Rhode Island that asking that is like asking why the sky > is called sky. Nandi just means bull, and that is why that is its name. > Or why gold is called gold. That's just what it is called. But because > it was Devi Bhava, there wasn't really time to explain further. Foolish > ego-identified "moi" thought actually Devi was the perfect "person" to > ask, ya know?! But perhaps this is another instance of "information > knowledge" requiring greater AWARENESS. > > Sigh, just thought that fuschia hot pink sari-dressed Kameshswari would > indulge my desire. But as Niseema gently pointed out to me offlist, this > kind of fascination with names and forms creates its own kind of filter on > top of the devotion, anyway. Jai Ma. Love, Prashanti > > > > On Mon, 26 Jul 2004 kalipadma@j... wrote: > > > > > > but not > > > Devi's lion/tiger's name, > > > > I believe Durga's lion is called Sudharma. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 On Tue, 27 Jul 2004, childofdevi wrote: > > The lion (or the tiger as there is a controversy as to which) was > just a vehicle that Durga adopted in her battle with Mahisha. > > -yogaman Well maybe this part of the story is one of the missing verses that would make the Chandi 700 verses, but I thought thee was not really a simplifying "just" to that adoption, but that Her Father, Himavan, gave Her the Lion to ride. In any case, why would Devi's mount be any less of a Rishi than Shivas's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Question: how do we keep the heart open and > established in Her love/peace when we are constantly > confronted with that which we despise? Here's a thought. While receiving my mantra, I was told that Amma wants us to see her in everthing and everyone. Someone had said, "but how can we do that in all circumstances?" The basic answer was, imagine that whoever or whatever you're dealing with is Amma in carnation 'checking up' on us...and tread lightly on what you say and do. Is it something you'd do or say to Amma herself?? I've found it easier when I remember these things. We can't always be successful, but Amma knows we're trying. Namah Shivaya! Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Ammachi, Rachel Barrett Gallop <mart0167@t...> wrote: > > In any case, why would Devi's mount be any less of a Rishi than Shivas's? This femininist twist is amusing. I have no answers to console you, but let's remind ourselves at this time, that Shiva or Devi are just representations of the Infinite, that the Reality is neither male nor female, and that the representations are just sports (lila) for the Infinite for its own fun. Jai Ma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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