Photo of the Week Captions

[Guest guest]

Here are the captions for this week's featured photographs, located on

the group's splash page, just below the Sri Chakra:

 

/

 

1. A young girl watches Hindu women apply sindhoor or vermillion on

each others faces, unseen on the final day of the Durga Puja Festival

in Allahabad, India, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar

Singh)

 

2. SA Hindu woman, hand alone seen, applies sindhoor or vermillion on

another's face on the final day of the Durga Puja Festival in Gauhati,

India, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/ Anupam Nath)

[Guest guest]

Pranam. That was sweet to see.

 

Thanks.

 

With Love

 

Shankaree

 

Let my every word be a prayer to Thee,

Every movement of my hands a ritual gesture to Thee,

Every step I take a circumambulation of Thy image,

Every morsel I eat a rite of sacrifice to Thee,

Every time I lay down a prostration at Thy feet;

Every act of personal pleasure and all else that I do,

Let it all be a form of worshiping Thee. "

 

From Verse 27 of Shri Aadi Shankara's Saundaryalahari

 

 

 

t

durgangam <durgangam

 

Tuesday, 20 November, 2007 4:05:01 AM

Photo of the Week Captions

 

Here are the captions for this week's featured photographs, located

on

the group's splash page, just below the Sri Chakra:

 

http://groups. / group/Shakti_ Sadhana/

 

*****

 

1. Indian sex workers performs rituals as they worship Kartikeya, a

Hindu god at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the

eastern Indian city of Kolkata November 17, 2007. REUTERS/Jayanta

Shaw (INDIA)

 

2. An Indian sex worker, Urmila (2nd L) smiles as she speaks with

other sex worker after her marriage ceremony with her client Krishna

(L) at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the eastern

Indian city of Kolkata early November 18, 2007. Two Indian sex

workers get married to their regular clients on the night hundreds

worship Kartikeya, a Hindu god. REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw (INDIA)

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

||Namah Tripurasundari||

 

is it ok for them to worship the sacred deities?

 

On Nov 20, 2007 9:34 AM, durgangam <durgangam wrote:

 

> Photo of the Week Captions

>

> Here are the captions for this week's featured photographs, located

> on

> the group's splash page, just below the Sri Chakra:

>

> /

>

> *****

>

> 1. Indian sex workers performs rituals as they worship Kartikeya, a

> Hindu god at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the

> eastern Indian city of Kolkata November 17, 2007. REUTERS/Jayanta

> Shaw (INDIA)

>

> 2. An Indian sex worker, Urmila (2nd L) smiles as she speaks with

> other sex worker after her marriage ceremony with her client Krishna

> (L) at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the eastern

> Indian city of Kolkata early November 18, 2007. Two Indian sex

> workers get married to their regular clients on the night hundreds

> worship Kartikeya, a Hindu god. REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw (INDIA)

>

>

>

 

 

 

--

Haridev S V

 

 

इनà¥à¤¦à¥à¤°à¤‚ मितà¥à¤°à¤‚

वरà¥à¤£à¤®à¤—à¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤®à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤°à¤¥à¥‹ दिवà¥à¤¯à¤ƒ स

सà¥à¤ªà¤°à¥à¤£à¥‹ गरà¥à¤¤à¥à¤®à¤¾à¤¨ |

à¤à¤•à¤‚ सद विपà¥à¤°à¤¾ बहà¥à¤§à¤¾

वदनà¥à¤¤à¥à¤¯à¤—à¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤‚ यमं

मातरिशà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤¨à¤®à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤ƒ ||

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

By karmic vision.

 

-

" Kirk " <kirk_bernhardt

 

Wednesday, November 21, 2007 10:17 AM

Re: Photo of the Week Captions

 

 

> They were created just as everyone else.

>

> -

> " Haridev S V " <haridevsv

>

> Wednesday, November 21, 2007 5:56 AM

> Re: Photo of the Week Captions

>

>

> ||Namah Tripurasundari||

>

> is it ok for them to worship the sacred deities?

>

[Guest guest]

How would you define the prana flowing through a sex-worker; is it any

different than the prana that animates the rest of the creation? What

embodies the sex-worker? Is it not shakti Herself that embodies

everything, and is it not the life sap flowing through everything

created? Does a well give its water only to the " worthy? " The

concept of " worthy " and " unworthy " has been created by

us. God looks only for love.

 

This reminds me of an incident from Swami Vivekananda's life.

Swamiji had gone to Khetri at the invitation of his disciple Raja Ajit

Singh to bless the Maharaja's newborn son. While he was there, the

Maharaja invited him to attend a musical performance by a dancing girl.

Swami Vivekananda declined the invitation saying that he could not

indulge in such pleasures. Hurt by his refusal, the dance girl sang this

song (I am quoting it below):

 

" Look not, O Lord, upon my sins!

Is not same-sightedness Thy name?

One piece of iron is in the image in the temple,

And another, the knife in the hand of the butcher;

Yet both of these are turned to gold

When touched by the philosopher's stone.

So, Lord, look not upon my evil qualities.

 

Swamiji was deeply moved. This dancing girl, whom society condemned as

impure, had taught him a great lesson: Brahman, the ever-pure,

ever-free, ever-illumined, is the essence of all beings. He immediately

realised his mistake and joined the party. He later said: " That

incident removed the scales from my eyes. Seeing that all are indeed the

manifestation of the One, I could no longer condemn anybody. " " [God

lived with Them by Swami Chetananda]

 

 

 

, " Haridev S V " <haridevsv

wrote:

>

> ||Namah Tripurasundari||

>

> is it ok for them to worship the sacred deities?

>

> On Nov 20, 2007 9:34 AM, durgangam durgangam wrote:

>

> > Photo of the Week Captions

> >

> > Here are the captions for this week's featured photographs, located

> > on

> > the group's splash page, just below the Sri Chakra:

> >

> > /

> >

> > *****

> >

> > 1. Indian sex workers performs rituals as they worship Kartikeya, a

> > Hindu god at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the

> > eastern Indian city of Kolkata November 17, 2007. REUTERS/Jayanta

> > Shaw (INDIA)

> >

> > 2. An Indian sex worker, Urmila (2nd L) smiles as she speaks with

> > other sex worker after her marriage ceremony with her client Krishna

> > (L) at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the eastern

> > Indian city of Kolkata early November 18, 2007. Two Indian sex

> > workers get married to their regular clients on the night hundreds

> > worship Kartikeya, a Hindu god. REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw (INDIA)

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

> --

> Haridev S V

>

>

> इनà¥à¤¦à¥à¤°à¤‚ मितà¥à¤°à¤‚

वरà¥à¤£à¤®à¤—à¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤®à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤°à¤¥à¥‹

दिवà¥à¤¯à¤ƒ स सà¥à¤ªà¤°à¥à¤£à¥‹

गरà¥à¤¤à¥à¤®à¤¾à¤¨ |

> à¤à¤•à¤‚ सद विपà¥à¤°à¤¾ बहà¥à¤§à¤¾

वदनà¥à¤¤à¥à¤¯à¤—à¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤‚ यमं

मातरिशà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤¨à¤®à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤ƒ ||

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

I love what you've posted here. We all need to celebrate the divine

and it is so important to recognize that in everyone.

 

Currently I'm following the trial of an alleged serial killer in

Canada who (as usual) preyed primarily on sex workers - the most

vulnerable among us to violence.

 

As a woman I know that those who abuse these women are just practicing

on those whose lives are nearly invisible to us, but they'll work

their way up the social ladder as they get more bold.

 

To me these women are like the canaries in the mines, the troubles

they experience first serve as a warning to the rest of us.

 

The Mother loves all of Her children.

 

Blessings,

 

pr

 

 

, " durgangam " <durgangam wrote:

>

>

> How would you define the prana flowing through a sex-worker; is it any

> different than the prana that animates the rest of the creation? What

> embodies the sex-worker? Is it not shakti Herself that embodies

> everything, and is it not the life sap flowing through everything

> created? Does a well give its water only to the " worthy? " The

> concept of " worthy " and " unworthy " has been created by

> us. God looks only for love.

>

> This reminds me of an incident from Swami Vivekananda's life.

> Swamiji had gone to Khetri at the invitation of his disciple Raja Ajit

> Singh to bless the Maharaja's newborn son. While he was there, the

> Maharaja invited him to attend a musical performance by a dancing girl.

> Swami Vivekananda declined the invitation saying that he could not

> indulge in such pleasures. Hurt by his refusal, the dance girl sang this

> song (I am quoting it below):

>

> " Look not, O Lord, upon my sins!

> Is not same-sightedness Thy name?

> One piece of iron is in the image in the temple,

> And another, the knife in the hand of the butcher;

> Yet both of these are turned to gold

> When touched by the philosopher's stone.

> So, Lord, look not upon my evil qualities.

>

> Swamiji was deeply moved. This dancing girl, whom society condemned as

> impure, had taught him a great lesson: Brahman, the ever-pure,

> ever-free, ever-illumined, is the essence of all beings. He immediately

> realised his mistake and joined the party. He later said: " That

> incident removed the scales from my eyes. Seeing that all are indeed the

> manifestation of the One, I could no longer condemn anybody. " " [God

> lived with Them by Swami Chetananda]

>

>

>

> , " Haridev S V " <haridevsv@>

> wrote:

> >

> > ||Namah Tripurasundari||

> >

> > is it ok for them to worship the sacred deities?

> >

> > On Nov 20, 2007 9:34 AM, durgangam durgangam@ wrote:

> >

> > > Photo of the Week Captions

> > >

> > > Here are the captions for this week's featured photographs, located

> > > on

> > > the group's splash page, just below the Sri Chakra:

> > >

> > > /

> > >

> > > *****

> > >

> > > 1. Indian sex workers performs rituals as they worship Kartikeya, a

> > > Hindu god at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the

> > > eastern Indian city of Kolkata November 17, 2007. REUTERS/Jayanta

> > > Shaw (INDIA)

> > >

> > > 2. An Indian sex worker, Urmila (2nd L) smiles as she speaks with

> > > other sex worker after her marriage ceremony with her client Krishna

> > > (L) at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the eastern

> > > Indian city of Kolkata early November 18, 2007. Two Indian sex

> > > workers get married to their regular clients on the night hundreds

> > > worship Kartikeya, a Hindu god. REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw (INDIA)

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > Haridev S V

> >

> >

> > इनà¥à¤¦à¥à¤°à¤‚ मितà¥à¤°à¤‚

> वरà¥à¤£à¤®à¤—à¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤®à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤°à¤¥à¥‹

> दिवà¥à¤¯à¤ƒ स सà¥à¤ªà¤°à¥à¤£à¥‹

> गरà¥à¤¤à¥à¤®à¤¾à¤¨ |

> > à¤à¤•à¤‚ सद विपà¥à¤°à¤¾ बहà¥à¤§à¤¾

> वदनà¥à¤¤à¥à¤¯à¤—à¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤‚ यमं

> मातरिशà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤¨à¤®à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤ƒ ||

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

||Namah Tripurasundari||

 

ok and after their creation?

 

On Nov 21, 2007 9:47 PM, Kirk <kirk_bernhardt wrote:

 

> They were created just as everyone else.

>

>

> -

> " Haridev S V " <haridevsv <haridevsv%40gmail.com>>

> < <%40>>

> Wednesday, November 21, 2007 5:56 AM

> Re: Photo of the Week Captions

>

> ||Namah Tripurasundari||

>

> is it ok for them to worship the sacred deities?

>

[Guest guest]

||Namah Tripurasundari||

 

Firstly, the reference to " prana " is a blunt argument, that even dont touch the

heart of the teller. one can say that the prana of a stray animal is same to

him, but you wont share your bed for the sake of that animal.or will you give

shelter?

 

a well is also a blunt reference, it is a resource, anyone can draw water. it

doesnt " give " water to anybody.

 

maybe the gods are looking for love,but are these people worshipping out of

love? we are not sure.

 

yes sure, " the concept of " worthy " and " unworthy " has been created by

us. " the sacred deities are also created by humans. The persons who create them

also gives the eligibility criteria.

 

Seeing a dance is similar to worshiping a vedic deity?? Really?

 

 

On Nov 22, 2007 1:06 AM, durgangam <durgangam wrote:

 

>

> How would you define the prana flowing through a sex-worker; is it any

> different than the prana that animates the rest of the creation? What

> embodies the sex-worker? Is it not shakti Herself that embodies

> everything, and is it not the life sap flowing through everything

> created? Does a well give its water only to the " worthy? " The

> concept of " worthy " and " unworthy " has been created by

> us. God looks only for love.

>

> This reminds me of an incident from Swami Vivekananda's life.

> Swamiji had gone to Khetri at the invitation of his disciple Raja Ajit

> Singh to bless the Maharaja's newborn son. While he was there, the

> Maharaja invited him to attend a musical performance by a dancing girl.

> Swami Vivekananda declined the invitation saying that he could not

> indulge in such pleasures. Hurt by his refusal, the dance girl sang this

> song (I am quoting it below):

>

> " Look not, O Lord, upon my sins!

> Is not same-sightedness Thy name?

> One piece of iron is in the image in the temple,

> And another, the knife in the hand of the butcher;

> Yet both of these are turned to gold

> When touched by the philosopher's stone.

> So, Lord, look not upon my evil qualities.

>

> Swamiji was deeply moved. This dancing girl, whom society condemned as

> impure, had taught him a great lesson: Brahman, the ever-pure,

> ever-free, ever-illumined, is the essence of all beings. He immediately

> realised his mistake and joined the party. He later said: " That

> incident removed the scales from my eyes. Seeing that all are indeed the

> manifestation of the One, I could no longer condemn anybody. " " [God

> lived with Them by Swami Chetananda]

>

> <%40>,

> " Haridev S V " <haridevsv

>

> wrote:

> >

> > ||Namah Tripurasundari||

> >

> > is it ok for them to worship the sacred deities?

> >

> > On Nov 20, 2007 9:34 AM, durgangam durgangam wrote:

> >

> > > Photo of the Week Captions

> > >

> > > Here are the captions for this week's featured photographs, located

> > > on

> > > the group's splash page, just below the Sri Chakra:

> > >

> > > /

> > >

> > > *****

> > >

> > > 1. Indian sex workers performs rituals as they worship Kartikeya, a

> > > Hindu god at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the

> > > eastern Indian city of Kolkata November 17, 2007. REUTERS/Jayanta

> > > Shaw (INDIA)

> > >

> > > 2. An Indian sex worker, Urmila (2nd L) smiles as she speaks with

> > > other sex worker after her marriage ceremony with her client Krishna

> > > (L) at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the eastern

> > > Indian city of Kolkata early November 18, 2007. Two Indian sex

> > > workers get married to their regular clients on the night hundreds

> > > worship Kartikeya, a Hindu god. REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw (INDIA)

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > Haridev S V

> >

> >

> > इनà¥à¤¦à¥à¤°à¤‚ मितà¥à¤°à¤‚

> वरà¥à¤£à¤®à¤—à¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤®à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤°à¤¥à¥‹

> दिवà¥à¤¯à¤ƒ स सà¥à¤ªà¤°à¥à¤£à¥‹

> गरà¥à¤¤à¥à¤®à¤¾à¤¨ |

> > à¤à¤•à¤‚ सद विपà¥à¤°à¤¾ बहà¥à¤§à¤¾

> वदनà¥à¤¤à¥à¤¯à¤—à¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤‚ यमं

> मातरिशà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤¨à¤®à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤ƒ ||

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

If a person can think they can do sadhana. What form sadhana takes is

nobody's business. Many do sadhana sitting but some do it on their backs.

Who's to say who takes on suffering more and who lessens it more for others.

 

 

-

" Haridev S V " <haridevsv

 

Thursday, November 22, 2007 4:54 AM

Re: Re: Photo of the Week Captions

 

 

> ||Namah Tripurasundari||

>

> ok and after their creation?

>

> On Nov 21, 2007 9:47 PM, Kirk <kirk_bernhardt wrote:

>

>> They were created just as everyone else.

>>

>>

>> -

>> " Haridev S V " <haridevsv <haridevsv%40gmail.com>>

>> < <%40>>

>> Wednesday, November 21, 2007 5:56 AM

>> Re: Photo of the Week Captions

>>

>> ||Namah Tripurasundari||

>>

>> is it ok for them to worship the sacred deities?

>>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

For what it's worth, I think Durga and Kirk have the right idea.

 

Haridev's original post appears not to have been a sincere query, but

rather a " straw post " (a very common ruse in groups) designed to

elicit responses so that he could then use them as an excuse to regale

us all with his previously held opinions. Having gone thru all of that

trouble, however, his response strikes me as oddly random and confused.

 

Okay, so Haridev doesn't think prostitutes are as entitled to worship

God as he is: Wonderful. I compliment him on his " human-defined "

purity and worthiness compared to the various " stray animals " of the

world.

 

Nonetheless I would ask him to kindly spare us the self-congratulatory

sermons in the future. We claim no particular superiority of person or

philosophy in Shakta sadhana, but there are plenty of belief systems

that do. Go find some worthy peers, and have a blast jeering at those

below you.

 

Peace.

 

aim mAtangyai namaH

 

, " Haridev S V " <haridevsv

wrote:

>

> ||Namah Tripurasundari||

>

> Firstly, the reference to " prana " is a blunt argument, that even

dont touch the heart of the teller. one can say that the prana of a

stray animal is same to him, but you wont share your bed for the sake

of that animal.or will you give shelter?

>

> a well is also a blunt reference, it is a resource, anyone can draw

water. it doesnt " give " water to anybody.

>

> maybe the gods are looking for love,but are these people worshipping

out of love? we are not sure.

>

> yes sure, " the concept of " worthy " and " unworthy " has been created by

> us. " the sacred deities are also created by humans. The persons who

create them also gives the eligibility criteria.

>

> Seeing a dance is similar to worshiping a vedic deity?? Really?

>

>

> On Nov 22, 2007 1:06 AM, durgangam <durgangam wrote:

>

> >

> > How would you define the prana flowing through a sex-worker; is it any

> > different than the prana that animates the rest of the creation? What

> > embodies the sex-worker? Is it not shakti Herself that embodies

> > everything, and is it not the life sap flowing through everything

> > created? Does a well give its water only to the " worthy? " The

> > concept of " worthy " and " unworthy " has been created by

> > us. God looks only for love.

> >

> > This reminds me of an incident from Swami Vivekananda's life.

> > Swamiji had gone to Khetri at the invitation of his disciple Raja Ajit

> > Singh to bless the Maharaja's newborn son. While he was there, the

> > Maharaja invited him to attend a musical performance by a dancing

girl.

> > Swami Vivekananda declined the invitation saying that he could not

> > indulge in such pleasures. Hurt by his refusal, the dance girl

sang this

> > song (I am quoting it below):

> >

> > " Look not, O Lord, upon my sins!

> > Is not same-sightedness Thy name?

> > One piece of iron is in the image in the temple,

> > And another, the knife in the hand of the butcher;

> > Yet both of these are turned to gold

> > When touched by the philosopher's stone.

> > So, Lord, look not upon my evil qualities.

> >

> > Swamiji was deeply moved. This dancing girl, whom society condemned as

> > impure, had taught him a great lesson: Brahman, the ever-pure,

> > ever-free, ever-illumined, is the essence of all beings. He

immediately

> > realised his mistake and joined the party. He later said: " That

> > incident removed the scales from my eyes. Seeing that all are

indeed the

> > manifestation of the One, I could no longer condemn anybody. " " [God

> > lived with Them by Swami Chetananda]

> >

> >

<%40>,

> > " Haridev S V " <haridevsv@>

> >

> > wrote:

> > >

> > > ||Namah Tripurasundari||

> > >

> > > is it ok for them to worship the sacred deities?

> > >

> > > On Nov 20, 2007 9:34 AM, durgangam durgangam@ wrote:

> > >

> > > > Photo of the Week Captions

> > > >

> > > > Here are the captions for this week's featured photographs,

located

> > > > on

> > > > the group's splash page, just below the Sri Chakra:

> > > >

> > > > /

> > > >

> > > > *****

> > > >

> > > > 1. Indian sex workers performs rituals as they worship

Kartikeya, a

> > > > Hindu god at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the

> > > > eastern Indian city of Kolkata November 17, 2007. REUTERS/Jayanta

> > > > Shaw (INDIA)

> > > >

> > > > 2. An Indian sex worker, Urmila (2nd L) smiles as she speaks with

> > > > other sex worker after her marriage ceremony with her client

Krishna

> > > > (L) at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the eastern

> > > > Indian city of Kolkata early November 18, 2007. Two Indian sex

> > > > workers get married to their regular clients on the night hundreds

> > > > worship Kartikeya, a Hindu god. REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw (INDIA)

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > --

> > > Haridev S V

> > >

> > >

> > > इनà¥à¤¦à¥à¤°à¤‚ मितà¥à¤°à¤‚

> > वरà¥à¤£à¤®à¤—à¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤®à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤°à¤¥à¥‹

> > दिवà¥à¤¯à¤ƒ स सà¥à¤ªà¤°à¥à¤£à¥‹

> > गरà¥à¤¤à¥à¤®à¤¾à¤¨ |

> > > à¤à¤•à¤‚ सद विपà¥à¤°à¤¾ बहà¥à¤§à¤¾

> > वदनà¥à¤¤à¥à¤¯à¤—à¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤‚ यमं

> > मातरिशà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤¨à¤®à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤ƒ ||

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I am afraid I have to agree with this.

 

Righteousness is admirable, but going to the point of painful

self-righteousness, belittling other beliefs, does not strike me as a healthy

practice for a healthy community - especially a religo-spiritual community,

online or not.

 

I always try to tell people the difference between righteousness, feeling

strongly that what one believes is right, and self-righteousness, where one

belittles others based on race, class, religion, etc. An inclusive community

always preserveres by keeping it to a minimum, if at all possible.

 

This is not me saying such people are no longer welcomed, per se...at least not

at a first glance. It is not my place to judge, and I am definitely no

authority figure here. But as a humble observer and member of the group, I

think it would serve them, as well as the group as a whole, to be mindful of the

line between righteousness and self-righteousness.

 

Do not get me wrong, I am not one to advocate prostitution, but life is life.

All life was made by Devi. All life deserves the right to dignity. I am not

claiming to be a saint in this matter, but I think S/he would definitely " beat

sense into me " eventually, if I have any basic view short of that, in this

lifetime or the next. This is just how I believe, though.

 

Forgive me, I sometimes get on one of my own tangents, per se, when it come to

religo-philosophical conversations. :-)

 

Jai Ma!

 

 

Sincerely,

Christina H.

 

---- Devi Bhakta <devi_bhakta wrote:

> For what it's worth, I think Durga and Kirk have the right idea.

>

> Haridev's original post appears not to have been a sincere query, but

> rather a " straw post " (a very common ruse in groups) designed to

> elicit responses so that he could then use them as an excuse to regale

> us all with his previously held opinions. Having gone thru all of that

> trouble, however, his response strikes me as oddly random and confused.

>

> Okay, so Haridev doesn't think prostitutes are as entitled to worship

> God as he is: Wonderful. I compliment him on his " human-defined "

> purity and worthiness compared to the various " stray animals " of the

> world.

>

> Nonetheless I would ask him to kindly spare us the self-congratulatory

> sermons in the future. We claim no particular superiority of person or

> philosophy in Shakta sadhana, but there are plenty of belief systems

> that do. Go find some worthy peers, and have a blast jeering at those

> below you.

>

> Peace.

>

> aim mAtangyai namaH

>

> , " Haridev S V " <haridevsv

> wrote:

> >

> > ||Namah Tripurasundari||

> >

> > Firstly, the reference to " prana " is a blunt argument, that even

> dont touch the heart of the teller. one can say that the prana of a

> stray animal is same to him, but you wont share your bed for the sake

> of that animal.or will you give shelter?

> >

> > a well is also a blunt reference, it is a resource, anyone can draw

> water. it doesnt " give " water to anybody.

> >

> > maybe the gods are looking for love,but are these people worshipping

> out of love? we are not sure.

> >

> > yes sure, " the concept of " worthy " and " unworthy " has been created by

> > us. " the sacred deities are also created by humans. The persons who

> create them also gives the eligibility criteria.

> >

> > Seeing a dance is similar to worshiping a vedic deity?? Really?

> >

> >

> > On Nov 22, 2007 1:06 AM, durgangam <durgangam wrote:

> >

> > >

> > > How would you define the prana flowing through a sex-worker; is it any

> > > different than the prana that animates the rest of the creation? What

> > > embodies the sex-worker? Is it not shakti Herself that embodies

> > > everything, and is it not the life sap flowing through everything

> > > created? Does a well give its water only to the " worthy? " The

> > > concept of " worthy " and " unworthy " has been created by

> > > us. God looks only for love.

> > >

> > > This reminds me of an incident from Swami Vivekananda's life.

> > > Swamiji had gone to Khetri at the invitation of his disciple Raja Ajit

> > > Singh to bless the Maharaja's newborn son. While he was there, the

> > > Maharaja invited him to attend a musical performance by a dancing

> girl.

> > > Swami Vivekananda declined the invitation saying that he could not

> > > indulge in such pleasures. Hurt by his refusal, the dance girl

> sang this

> > > song (I am quoting it below):

> > >

> > > " Look not, O Lord, upon my sins!

> > > Is not same-sightedness Thy name?

> > > One piece of iron is in the image in the temple,

> > > And another, the knife in the hand of the butcher;

> > > Yet both of these are turned to gold

> > > When touched by the philosopher's stone.

> > > So, Lord, look not upon my evil qualities.

> > >

> > > Swamiji was deeply moved. This dancing girl, whom society condemned as

> > > impure, had taught him a great lesson: Brahman, the ever-pure,

> > > ever-free, ever-illumined, is the essence of all beings. He

> immediately

> > > realised his mistake and joined the party. He later said: " That

> > > incident removed the scales from my eyes. Seeing that all are

> indeed the

> > > manifestation of the One, I could no longer condemn anybody. " " [God

> > > lived with Them by Swami Chetananda]

> > >

> > >

> <%40>,

> > > " Haridev S V " <haridevsv@>

> > >

> > > wrote:

> > > >

> > > > ||Namah Tripurasundari||

> > > >

> > > > is it ok for them to worship the sacred deities?

> > > >

> > > > On Nov 20, 2007 9:34 AM, durgangam durgangam@ wrote:

> > > >

> > > > > Photo of the Week Captions

> > > > >

> > > > > Here are the captions for this week's featured photographs,

> located

> > > > > on

> > > > > the group's splash page, just below the Sri Chakra:

> > > > >

> > > > > /

> > > > >

> > > > > *****

> > > > >

> > > > > 1. Indian sex workers performs rituals as they worship

> Kartikeya, a

> > > > > Hindu god at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the

> > > > > eastern Indian city of Kolkata November 17, 2007. REUTERS/Jayanta

> > > > > Shaw (INDIA)

> > > > >

> > > > > 2. An Indian sex worker, Urmila (2nd L) smiles as she speaks with

> > > > > other sex worker after her marriage ceremony with her client

> Krishna

> > > > > (L) at Sonagachi, the largest red light district in the eastern

> > > > > Indian city of Kolkata early November 18, 2007. Two Indian sex

> > > > > workers get married to their regular clients on the night hundreds

> > > > > worship Kartikeya, a Hindu god. REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw (INDIA)

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > --

> > > > Haridev S V

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > इनà¥Âदà¥Âरं

मितà¥Âरं

> > >

वरà¥Âणमगà¥Âनिमाहà¥Âà\

¤°à¤¥à¥‹

> > > दिवà¥Âयः स

सà¥Âपरà¥Âणो

> > > गरà¥Âतà¥Âमान |

> > > > à¤Âकं सद विपà¥Âरा

बहà¥Âधा

> > > वदनà¥Âतà¥Âयगà¥Âनिं

यमं

> > >

मातरिशà¥Âवानमाहà\

Â¥Âः ||

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >