Guest guest Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 Namaste, It seems that every bollywood movie features, focuses on, or references a deity. I just got done watching Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani which had a humorous take on Christianity. In fact, it seemed so endearing to me I might lend it to my sil who is Christian. But the unseen Hindu deity was Shiva. I haven't seen many where the deity mentioned is a Goddess. The film that comes to mind for that is Devdas, of course. But other than that I cannot think of any. I really enjoyed Devdas, not just because I liked the film, but also it was nice to see the worship of Devi in film. Can anyone think of another? Peace, pr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 Namaste, In the movie, the Namesake, I saw a reference of Saraswati worship at the beginning of the film. A large murti of her was being lowered to the ground. I am not sure if this film is considered " Bollywood " but it had an Indian film maker who wanted to portray the cultural shock that goes on when an Indian family moves from West Bengal to the United States. Said family has to face the dilemma of either melding with mainstream or finding peace with it while keeping their Bengali roots. Bengali characters in the film end up having diverse outcomes. At the end of the film, one of the characters does end up returning to Kolkata (which was Calcutta when the " film started " ). More subtle references in this film was how even though the wife moved with the husband, she still very much ruled the house and had say in what happens. Her mother ruled the household in Calcutta/Kolkata. I think this is vague reference to matriarch leanings in the family, which contrasts to some of the other films out there who portray more patriarch families. My experience with cultures like this is their goddesses tend to have a stronger role, and as we know, Kolkata is very much the city of Durga and Kali, who are given up to 50,000 pujas each year. I do agree with you, though. I have not really seen much else, even on the more subtle levels. This might have to do with the idea that mainstream Dharmic religions are still dominantly filled with traditions like Vaishnavism or other traditions where the inclination is patriarch leanings or male god favoring. This said, a lot of families I know of from India are considered liberal or have liberal leanings (not to be confused with the United States version of " liberal " ). Even with this, though, a number of the interviewees did not think the goddess were major characters in Hinduism. Vishnu and Shiva were very much the most important gods, from what they feel. I think this is a reflection of how Shakta-leaning traditions, or pure Shakta traditions, still remain a minority in India. This is just my thoughts on the matter, based on what I have studied. Jai Ma! Sincerely, Arya/Christina On Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 10:09 AM, prainbow61 <paulie-rainbow wrote: > > I haven't seen many where the deity mentioned is a Goddess. The film that > comes to mind for that is Devdas, of course. But other than that I cannot > think of any. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Namaste, Wow, it did seem to get good reviews, but I don't see reviews listed from any India sites. Also, it's apparently based on a novel. I've noticed that some of the best movies are based on good books. Fortunately, it is listed on Nehaflix so I'll have to put it on my wishlist! Thanks for the tip! blessings, pr , Amaya Kalarathri <theilluminatedcelestial wrote: > > Namaste, > > In the movie, the Namesake, I saw a reference of Saraswati worship at the > beginning of the film. A large murti of her was being lowered to the > ground. I am not sure if this film is considered " Bollywood " but it had an > Indian film maker who wanted to portray the cultural shock that goes on when > an Indian family moves from West Bengal to the United States. Said family > has to face the dilemma of either melding with mainstream or finding peace > with it while keeping their Bengali roots. Bengali characters in the film > end up having diverse outcomes. At the end of the film, one of the > characters does end up returning to Kolkata (which was Calcutta when the > " film started " ). > > More subtle references in this film was how even though the wife moved with > the husband, she still very much ruled the house and had say in what > happens. Her mother ruled the household in Calcutta/Kolkata. I think this > is vague reference to matriarch leanings in the family, which contrasts to > some of the other films out there who portray more patriarch families. My > experience with cultures like this is their goddesses tend to have a > stronger role, and as we know, Kolkata is very much the city of Durga and > Kali, who are given up to 50,000 pujas each year. > > > I do agree with you, though. I have not really seen much else, even on the > more subtle levels. This might have to do with the idea that mainstream > Dharmic religions are still dominantly filled with traditions like > Vaishnavism or other traditions where the inclination is patriarch leanings > or male god favoring. This said, a lot of families I know of from India are > considered liberal or have liberal leanings (not to be confused with the > United States version of " liberal " ). Even with this, though, a number of > the interviewees did not think the goddess were major characters in > Hinduism. Vishnu and Shiva were very much the most important gods, from > what they feel. I think this is a reflection of how Shakta-leaning > traditions, or pure Shakta traditions, still remain a minority in India. > > This is just my thoughts on the matter, based on what I have studied. > > Jai Ma! > > > Sincerely, > Arya/Christina > > > On Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 10:09 AM, prainbow61 <paulie-rainbow wrote: > > > > > I haven't seen many where the deity mentioned is a Goddess. The film that > > comes to mind for that is Devdas, of course. But other than that I cannot > > think of any. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Namaste, Decided to review my collection and brought out Lajja which is one of my husband's favorites. It doesn't depict the Goddess per se but it has the hero Bulwa who worships the Mother. Also it has Madhuri Dixit who is one of my favorite actors. We just got done watching it and I remember how much we both like it. Jai Maa! pr , " prainbow61 " <paulie-rainbow wrote: > > Namaste, > > Wow, it did seem to get good reviews, but I don't see reviews listed from any India sites. > > Also, it's apparently based on a novel. I've noticed that some of the best movies are based on good books. > > Fortunately, it is listed on Nehaflix so I'll have to put it on my wishlist! > > Thanks for the tip! > > blessings, > > pr > > , Amaya Kalarathri <theilluminatedcelestial@> wrote: > > > > Namaste, > > > > In the movie, the Namesake, I saw a reference of Saraswati worship at the > > beginning of the film. A large murti of her was being lowered to the > > ground. I am not sure if this film is considered " Bollywood " but it had an > > Indian film maker who wanted to portray the cultural shock that goes on when > > an Indian family moves from West Bengal to the United States. Said family > > has to face the dilemma of either melding with mainstream or finding peace > > with it while keeping their Bengali roots. Bengali characters in the film > > end up having diverse outcomes. At the end of the film, one of the > > characters does end up returning to Kolkata (which was Calcutta when the > > " film started " ). > > > > More subtle references in this film was how even though the wife moved with > > the husband, she still very much ruled the house and had say in what > > happens. Her mother ruled the household in Calcutta/Kolkata. I think this > > is vague reference to matriarch leanings in the family, which contrasts to > > some of the other films out there who portray more patriarch families. My > > experience with cultures like this is their goddesses tend to have a > > stronger role, and as we know, Kolkata is very much the city of Durga and > > Kali, who are given up to 50,000 pujas each year. > > > > > > I do agree with you, though. I have not really seen much else, even on the > > more subtle levels. This might have to do with the idea that mainstream > > Dharmic religions are still dominantly filled with traditions like > > Vaishnavism or other traditions where the inclination is patriarch leanings > > or male god favoring. This said, a lot of families I know of from India are > > considered liberal or have liberal leanings (not to be confused with the > > United States version of " liberal " ). Even with this, though, a number of > > the interviewees did not think the goddess were major characters in > > Hinduism. Vishnu and Shiva were very much the most important gods, from > > what they feel. I think this is a reflection of how Shakta-leaning > > traditions, or pure Shakta traditions, still remain a minority in India. > > > > This is just my thoughts on the matter, based on what I have studied. > > > > Jai Ma! > > > > > > Sincerely, > > Arya/Christina > > > > > > On Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 10:09 AM, prainbow61 <paulie-rainbow@> wrote: > > > > > > > > I haven't seen many where the deity mentioned is a Goddess. The film that > > > comes to mind for that is Devdas, of course. But other than that I cannot > > > think of any. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Namaste, Regarding the themes in Lajja; I remember when DB used to post items about the treatment of women in India and around the world and we would have threads on the relationship of women to Devi. But I don't remember a particular reference to scripture - probably my faulty memory. Then last night I was going over Chapter 11 in the Devimahatmaya - using the " In Praise of the Goddess " book/translation - and I found this: vidyAh samastAs tava devi bhedAh striyah samastah sakalA jagatsu tvayaikayA pUritam ambayaitat kA te stutih stavyaparAparoktih 11.6 All forms of knowledge are your aspects, O Devi, as are all women in the world. By You alone, Mother, is this world filled. What praise can be sung to You who are beyond praise? I found it interesting that I stumbled across this bit of scripture right when the question of the connection between the theme of Lajja and the practice of Shaktiism was in my mind. Namaste, pr , " prainbow61 " <paulie-rainbow wrote: > > Namaste, > > Decided to review my collection and brought out Lajja which is one of my husband's favorites. It doesn't depict the Goddess per se but it has the hero Bulwa who worships the Mother. > > Also it has Madhuri Dixit who is one of my favorite actors. > > We just got done watching it and I remember how much we both like it. > > Jai Maa! > > pr > > , " prainbow61 " <paulie-rainbow@> wrote: > > > > Namaste, > > > > Wow, it did seem to get good reviews, but I don't see reviews listed from any India sites. > > > > Also, it's apparently based on a novel. I've noticed that some of the best movies are based on good books. > > > > Fortunately, it is listed on Nehaflix so I'll have to put it on my wishlist! > > > > Thanks for the tip! > > > > blessings, > > > > pr > > > > , Amaya Kalarathri <theilluminatedcelestial@> wrote: > > > > > > Namaste, > > > > > > In the movie, the Namesake, I saw a reference of Saraswati worship at the > > > beginning of the film. A large murti of her was being lowered to the > > > ground. I am not sure if this film is considered " Bollywood " but it had an > > > Indian film maker who wanted to portray the cultural shock that goes on when > > > an Indian family moves from West Bengal to the United States. Said family > > > has to face the dilemma of either melding with mainstream or finding peace > > > with it while keeping their Bengali roots. Bengali characters in the film > > > end up having diverse outcomes. At the end of the film, one of the > > > characters does end up returning to Kolkata (which was Calcutta when the > > > " film started " ). > > > > > > More subtle references in this film was how even though the wife moved with > > > the husband, she still very much ruled the house and had say in what > > > happens. Her mother ruled the household in Calcutta/Kolkata. I think this > > > is vague reference to matriarch leanings in the family, which contrasts to > > > some of the other films out there who portray more patriarch families. My > > > experience with cultures like this is their goddesses tend to have a > > > stronger role, and as we know, Kolkata is very much the city of Durga and > > > Kali, who are given up to 50,000 pujas each year. > > > > > > > > > I do agree with you, though. I have not really seen much else, even on the > > > more subtle levels. This might have to do with the idea that mainstream > > > Dharmic religions are still dominantly filled with traditions like > > > Vaishnavism or other traditions where the inclination is patriarch leanings > > > or male god favoring. This said, a lot of families I know of from India are > > > considered liberal or have liberal leanings (not to be confused with the > > > United States version of " liberal " ). Even with this, though, a number of > > > the interviewees did not think the goddess were major characters in > > > Hinduism. Vishnu and Shiva were very much the most important gods, from > > > what they feel. I think this is a reflection of how Shakta-leaning > > > traditions, or pure Shakta traditions, still remain a minority in India. > > > > > > This is just my thoughts on the matter, based on what I have studied. > > > > > > Jai Ma! > > > > > > > > > Sincerely, > > > Arya/Christina > > > > > > > > > On Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 10:09 AM, prainbow61 <paulie-rainbow@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > I haven't seen many where the deity mentioned is a Goddess. The film that > > > > comes to mind for that is Devdas, of course. But other than that I cannot > > > > think of any. > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Namaste: All men are akin to devas, as all all women akin to devi. It is a beautiful verse, thank you for quoting it. -S. Santo Sengupta " Aum Shanti Shanti Shantih. " On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 5:15 PM, prainbow61 <paulie-rainbow wrote: > > > Namaste, > > Regarding the themes in Lajja; I remember when DB used to post items about > the treatment of women in India and around the world and we would have > threads on the relationship of women to Devi. > > But I don't remember a particular reference to scripture - probably my > faulty memory. > > Then last night I was going over Chapter 11 in the Devimahatmaya - using > the " In Praise of the Goddess " book/translation - and I found this: > > vidyAh samastAs tava devi bhedAh striyah samastah sakalA jagatsu > tvayaikayA pUritam ambayaitat kA te stutih stavyaparAparoktih > > 11.6 > All forms of knowledge are your aspects, O Devi, as are all women in the > world. By You alone, Mother, is this world filled. What praise can be sung > to You who are beyond praise? > > I found it interesting that I stumbled across this bit of scripture right > when the question of the connection between the theme of Lajja and the > practice of Shaktiism was in my mind. > > Namaste, > > pr > > <%40>, > " prainbow61 " <paulie-rainbow wrote: > > > > Namaste, > > > > Decided to review my collection and brought out Lajja which is one of my > husband's favorites. It doesn't depict the Goddess per se but it has the > hero Bulwa who worships the Mother. > > > > Also it has Madhuri Dixit who is one of my favorite actors. > > > > We just got done watching it and I remember how much we both like it. > > > > Jai Maa! > > > > pr > > > > <%40>, > " prainbow61 " <paulie-rainbow@> wrote: > > > > > > Namaste, > > > > > > Wow, it did seem to get good reviews, but I don't see reviews listed > from any India sites. > > > > > > Also, it's apparently based on a novel. I've noticed that some of the > best movies are based on good books. > > > > > > Fortunately, it is listed on Nehaflix so I'll have to put it on my > wishlist! > > > > > > Thanks for the tip! > > > > > > blessings, > > > > > > pr > > > > > > <%40>, > Amaya Kalarathri <theilluminatedcelestial@> wrote: > > > > > > > > Namaste, > > > > > > > > In the movie, the Namesake, I saw a reference of Saraswati worship at > the > > > > beginning of the film. A large murti of her was being lowered to the > > > > ground. I am not sure if this film is considered " Bollywood " but it > had an > > > > Indian film maker who wanted to portray the cultural shock that goes > on when > > > > an Indian family moves from West Bengal to the United States. Said > family > > > > has to face the dilemma of either melding with mainstream or finding > peace > > > > with it while keeping their Bengali roots. Bengali characters in the > film > > > > end up having diverse outcomes. At the end of the film, one of the > > > > characters does end up returning to Kolkata (which was Calcutta when > the > > > > " film started " ). > > > > > > > > More subtle references in this film was how even though the wife > moved with > > > > the husband, she still very much ruled the house and had say in what > > > > happens. Her mother ruled the household in Calcutta/Kolkata. I think > this > > > > is vague reference to matriarch leanings in the family, which > contrasts to > > > > some of the other films out there who portray more patriarch > families. My > > > > experience with cultures like this is their goddesses tend to have a > > > > stronger role, and as we know, Kolkata is very much the city of Durga > and > > > > Kali, who are given up to 50,000 pujas each year. > > > > > > > > > > > > I do agree with you, though. I have not really seen much else, even > on the > > > > more subtle levels. This might have to do with the idea that > mainstream > > > > Dharmic religions are still dominantly filled with traditions like > > > > Vaishnavism or other traditions where the inclination is patriarch > leanings > > > > or male god favoring. This said, a lot of families I know of from > India are > > > > considered liberal or have liberal leanings (not to be confused with > the > > > > United States version of " liberal " ). Even with this, though, a number > of > > > > the interviewees did not think the goddess were major characters in > > > > Hinduism. Vishnu and Shiva were very much the most important gods, > from > > > > what they feel. I think this is a reflection of how Shakta-leaning > > > > traditions, or pure Shakta traditions, still remain a minority in > India. > > > > > > > > This is just my thoughts on the matter, based on what I have studied. > > > > > > > > Jai Ma! > > > > > > > > > > > > Sincerely, > > > > Arya/Christina > > > > > > > > > > > > On Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 10:09 AM, prainbow61 <paulie-rainbow@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I haven't seen many where the deity mentioned is a Goddess. The > film that > > > > > comes to mind for that is Devdas, of course. But other than that I > cannot > > > > > think of any. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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