#Contemporary Hinduism
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bhrm555 · 3 months ago
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Untitled 3 & 4 by Thota Vaikuntam
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hinducosmos · 2 years ago
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Mandala painting by Golnoush Moini In Hindu mythology there was a demon called "Raktabija", who made the world unbearable for the living. He had a boon that whenever a drop of his blood fell on the ground, a duplicate Raktabija would be born at that spot. The Gods decided to work together and combine all of their divine power to produce one super being that could destroy Raktabija, the result was goddess Kali, whom was married to Lord Shiva. Given all the divine weapons of the Gods, Kali swiftly proceeded to swallow Raktabija and his demons without spilling any blood in the process. After Kali destroyed all the demons in battle, she started an exhilarating dance, so intense that all the worlds began to tremble under the impact of her victory dance. To stop her destructive dance, at the request of all Gods, Lord Shiva laid like a corpse under Kali's feet. So when she eventually stepped upon Shiva, she realized she was hurting her husband and bit her tongue in shame; and Kali's dance came to an end. (via Instagram: Golnoush Moini)
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mknd · 1 year ago
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ॐ गम गणपतये नम
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mindless-tirades · 1 year ago
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If I'm saying something and you interrupt me with your opinion, I'm arguing with you against your opinion no matter even if I know I'm wrong!
P.S. I will win the argument
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marcy-artist · 1 year ago
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Artist book, 2023.
Kali Goddess Yantra practice.
[ Collage, mixed media ]
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cicadaland · 2 years ago
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TEE BEE ACHE... eye motifs are so overdone to me. Floating spooky eyes that look like this <I> are like a classic staple of flipaclip youtube vent art. WHICH IS OKAY but I can’t really see it anywhere without thinking back to it :/ Also the TMA fandom did it like 10000 times in all their fanart so it’s basically just lost its taste to me. and the “biblically accurate angel” stuff is the same to me. It was initially interesting but then it was just copied and eaten up by the internet. AND religious imagery I think packs a better punch when the person themselves has experience with religion because then theyre familiar with what it means, and to them it holds weight, whether its because of past trauma or familial heritage or thats just their religion that they believe in! But like. if you just put a crucifix over here and a halo over there and OOOH nuns... BUT SEXY?!?!?!? it just does NOTHING for me and I can totally tell that it wasn’t inspired by any actual experience just from uncritically absorbed Posts from tumblr or pinterest or whatever!!!!
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muvindu · 2 years ago
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" ARDHANARISHVARA " (40x48 inches) . . . #digitalcollage #collage #kolaj #contemporary #contemporaryart #srilanka #lka #india #ardhanarishvara #hinduism #saskiafernandogallery #muvindubinoy https://www.instagram.com/p/CrIhc4xIwVc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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justwowfactory-store · 9 months ago
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End is beginning stainless steel shiva bracelet - Justwowfactory
The "End is Beginning Stainless Steel Shiva Bracelet" from Justwowfactory combines spiritual symbolism with contemporary design, making it a distinctive accessory with deeper significance. This bracelet features a sleek stainless steel construction, providing durability and a modern aesthetic.
The inclusion of the Shiva symbol adds profound meaning to the bracelet. In Hinduism, Lord Shiva represents the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction. The phrase "End is Beginning" embodies the concept of renewal and transformation, echoing Shiva's role as the destroyer of the old to make way for the new.
Justwowfactory, known for its innovative and meaningful jewelry pieces, brings together tradition and modernity in this bracelet. It serves not only as a fashionable adornment but also as a reminder of the eternal cycles of life and the potential for new beginnings inherent in every endingSpiritual Jewelry: Reflecting the incorporation of the Shiva symbol, a significant spiritual motif in Hinduism.
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theshiftingwitch · 3 months ago
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Reality shifting
Demystifying the basics:
In order to have a better grasp of the concept of shifting, we must address the beliefs that brought us here in the first place.
Shifting got really popular on TikTok in 2020 (thank you DracoTok) and with it, misinformation came a plenty. So let's deconstruct the notion, pull it apart, and make it as simple as we can.
What is reality shifting?
To shift is to become aware of a different reality.
That's it. That's all there is to it.
Like changing the channel or flipping through the radio, all of creation is finished and all of the possible realities that you could potentially think of already exist. All you have to do is switch your awareness from one to the other.
But how did we get here? How do we do it? CAN we do it?
Well, let's see:
In order to believe in shifting in the first place, you have to at least be a little bit spiritual. And if that's the case, then ask yourself this:
Do you believe that you are the universe having a human experience? That you are the creator and the creation?
If the answer is yes, then you have a grasp of the basics.
You see, there is no fundamental separation between you and the universe. You are not a separate entity from the Cosmos.
You are the Cosmos.
This idea is not new. It is not some new age spiritual BS that sprouted into existence a few decades ago. It is an ancient philosophical and spiritual belief spanning back decades. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism emphasize the concept of Atman (the soul) being identical to Brahman (the ultimate reality), suggesting a unity of consciousness. Many mystical traditions, from Sufism to Christian mysticism, have explored the idea of divine consciousness within the human being. Contemporary spiritual movements often incorporate this concept, emphasizing personal transformation and connection to a higher power.
In simple terms, you are all that there is, all that there was, and all that there will ever be.
So if you answered no to my previous question, read this again and tell me your thoughts.
Now that we got the basic concept out of the way, let's talk about shifting, other realities, and your moral compass.
If you agreed that shifting is becoming aware of another reality that you already exist in, and if you're on board with the notion that you are the divine, the creator, the universe herself, what is actually stopping you from shifting?
Nothing.
Nothing is standing in your way, nothing is blocking you from shifting. There is no more work to be done, no more attempts to fail, no more research to explore. All you have to do is let go. Release this hold that perfection, stress, and eagerness have on you, breathe in and know that you have already shifted.
It is done.
You are successful.
In the same vein, if you are completely and utterly convinced that you are the universe, you are all there is and all there will be, you are everything and nothing, what makes you so sure that your current form is your true one?
If you believe in reincarnation then you know that you have had many faces, many bodies, many races, many ages, many lives, many experiences...
Same with shifting. This reality is not the metric in which you measure someone's righteousness. It is not the one and only form in which you are stuck within forever. You are the creator, and you, as you experience yourself, already are all of the ages, all of the faces, all of the genders and the races and the ethnicities and the creations around you. You are the rock and the house and the cat and the butterfly. You are the mean neighbor who constantly complains and the little girl skipping rope on your driveway. You are the bus driver who is always grumpy and the old lady at the market who always smiles when she sees you. You are the dictator causing havoc and the victim suffering from oppression. You are both the bad and the good, because that is the essence of your experience. You are me, I am you. We are the one consciousness.
Morality is by no means subjective, but it is also your creation. You made the rules and you enforced them and you rebelled against them. You are the one and only.
So why measure someone's morality by where or who they decide to shift to? Why judge their existence and believe yourself superior for adhering to a set of rules you created? Nothing is set in stone and no two people shift to the same exact reality, so why hinder yourself? Why limit your experience?
Do you have any idea how lucky you are to know about shifting in the first place?
There are currently 8 billion people at this point in time in this reality, and you happen to be among the very few who are aware of such wonderful experience, of such divine knowledge. Are you really going to spend that time judging other people's choice of reality? And on the other hand, are you really going to let other people dictate, police, and limit your experience?
At the end of it all, we all go back to the same origin.
The one great consciousness, where there is no judgement, no superiority or inferiority complex, no finger pointing and virtue signaling. We simply exist.
Have fun on your shifting journey, know that your experience is yours and that you decide how it goes.
Be a good person, live your best lives, and spread love as much as you can ❤️
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mynameisonionhaha · 1 year ago
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Matthew Patel Analysis
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I would like to say first off, I am not Indian. I am a Mexican kid who just really likes learning about different cultures. If anything in this is incorrect, offensive, or just overall dumb, I would really like to be corrected and would REALLY like to be able to fix it.
I’ve been trying to decipher what the markings on the demon girl’s and Matthew’s foreheads are. The main assumption would be that they are bindis, but that doesn’t sit entirely right with me when you think about what they represent in Indian culture.
For the demon girls, you COULD say that the markings are bindis, and that they are supposed to represent something “marital”, which would then imply that their binding to Matthew is more complicated, but I personally disagree with this for multiple reasons.
Then of course, for Matthew that would be a bit more complicated. Married women aren’t the only ones who use bindi markings of course as they also can have other uses and meanings, such as representing the third eye. Given Matthew’s powers, this would make sense, but it still doesn’t fully fit correctly in my beautiful mind.
The biggest thing that perplexes me is their colors and shape. They aren’t exactly round--they actually seem to be more elongated, like a very thin teardrop. This made me wonder if they were actually supposed to be tilaks instead, which makes slightly more sense to my big brain. This has to do with two main reasons: 1, both men and women can wear it. 2, Shiva and Shakti.
Let’s start with Shakta.
“Shaktas (worshippers of Devi — the feminine manifestation of the Divine) use kumkum to either draw a single red vertical line, or place a red dot, as a symbol of her divine energy and power.”  Source: https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/5-things-to-know-about-tilak
Shakta is the consort of Shiva, the goddess who is often personified as “Devi”, who acts as the divine feminine to Shiva’s divine masculinity.
“Yoni, (Sanskrit: “abode,” “source,” “womb,” or “vagina”) in Hinduism, the symbol of the goddess Shakti, the feminine generative power and, as a goddess, the consort of Shiva. In Shaivism, the branch of Hinduism devoted to worship of the god Shiva, the yoni is often associated with the lingam, which is Shiva’s symbol. In sculpture and paintings, the lingam is depicted as resting in the yoni as a cylinder in a spouted dish. The two symbols together represent the eternal process of creation and regeneration, the union of the male and female principles, and the totality of all existence. In a myth narrated in several Puranas, the body of Sati, an avatar of Shakti, is dismembered and scattered throughout India. Her yoni falls, and remains, in Assam, regarded as the home of Tantra (esoteric practices).” Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/yoni 
These statements already clear up the shape, color, and meaning behind the girl’s markings. They are the feminine consorts to Matthew Patel and his escapades. Personally I really like this for multiple reasons, the biggest being that it makes their dynamic significantly more wholesome. This article, https://hridaya-yoga.com/blog/yoni-puja/, talks about the yoni tantras and overall adoration and respect for women. While Matthew and his girls don’t interact together much in terms of actual conversation, the general case seems to be that they are protective, uplifting, and devoted to him, while in return we see that they are treated with respect and not once does he ever see them as lesser or treat them as such. (This could be countered with the fact that they do get put in harm's way a lot, but given that they seem to be able to respawn just fine it probably isn’t an issue and something they are willing to do for him anyways.)
With that, let’s talk about Shiva.
“Shiva meaning “The Auspicious One” is one of the three major deities of Hinduism. He is worshiped as the Supreme God within Shaivism, one of the three most influential denominations in contemporary Hinduism and is also called “the Transformer and the Destroyer”.” Source: https://www.templepurohit.com/shiva-worshipped-form-linga-lingam/#google_vignette 
Matthew and Shiva have lots of things going on, which personally I find really freaking cool. He literally summons what appears to be the trishul, which is Shiva’s trident. How dope is that?? 
“The Trishul, also known as the trident, is the primary weapon of Lord Shiva. It is characterized by three sharp blades connected by a long handle. The three blades always point in the upward direction. Shiva is always found to be holding the handle of the Trishul when he is depicted in the saguna linga form. The three blades have various representations in Hindu mythology.” Source: https://servdharm.com/blogs/post/significance-of-shivas-trishul#:~:text=The%20Trishul%2C%20also%20known%20as,in%20the%20saguna%20linga%20form.
When it comes to the actual symbol on his forehead however, that becomes more difficult. I wondered if he was Shaiva (Shaiva meaning “follower of Shiva”), and that was what the symbol meant, but I couldn’t find anything regarding his specifically.
“Shaivites (worshippers of Shiva), for example, smear their foreheads with three horizontal lines of vibhuti, a sacred white ash that acts as a reminder of the temporary nature of the material world. Made of the burnt dried wood from Hindu fire rituals, the three lines of vibhuti are called tripundra, and represent Shiva’s threefold powers of will, knowledge, and action. Tripudra is also frequently worn with a dot made of kumkum (a powdered red turmeric) in the center, symbolizing the creative and energetic force of the Divine known as the Goddess Shakti.” Source: https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/5-things-to-know-about-tilak 
Interestingly enough, the tripundra does share the teardrop shape that Matthew has. What confuddles me is the lack of the three lines, and the color. I am unsure as to whether or not this has meaning, was on purpose, or was just what they decided to go with.
I did however come to the conclusion that the color might be related to bhasma (calcine ash), more specifically, “Pushpa Kasisa, which is crystalline with bluish green color.” Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3530270/ 
“Bhasma is a Sanskrit word that means “bone ash,” “cinder” or “disintegration.” It comes from the root bha, meaning “delusion,” “appearance” or “likeness,” and sma, meaning “ever” or “always.” In Hinduism and yoga, bhasma is sacred ash. In some traditions, it is thought to contain the energy of Shiva.” 
“In the spiritual context, bhasma symbolizes burning the ego to ashes in order to unite with the higher Self or the divine. It represents liberation from the limitations of mortal life and freedom from the cycle of reincarnation. It is also a reminder of the temporary nature of the physical body, which will one day return to ashes.
Also called vibhooti, bhasma is the sacred ash from the fire of a yogi or saint or from the sacrificial fire known as yajna in which special wood, herbs, grains, ghee and other items are offered as part of a worship ritual. Bhasma is thought to destroy sin and consume evil.” Source: https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5934/bhasma#:~:text=In%20the%20spiritual%20context%2C%20bhasma,from%20the%20cycle%20of%20reincarnation. 
Overall it appears that bhasma is applied to protect its wearer from physical harm/illness as well as serving its spiritual purposes which works really well given that it appeared during a fight where Matthew was in fact, getting harmed.
(I do want to mention though that I do think that it is not actual bhasma as that really wouldn’t make sense, but the similarities and “coincidences” are really cool to me.)
Okay, how does this relate to Matthew’s powers?
“According to yogic texts, there exist seven major chakras (discs of subtle concentrated energy) that run along the center of the body, each of which relate to some aspect of a person’s physical, emotional, and psychological make-up. Tilak is placed on the forehead between the eyebrows where the ajna chakra is located. As ajna means to “perceive” or “command,” the ajna chakra is considered to be the “eye of intuition,” through which a person can discern information that cannot otherwise be seen with one’s physical eyes. This “third eye” is a spiritually potent part of one’s being that helps one to focus inward on the Divine. Tilak, therefore, is placed on the ajna chakra to invoke this divine energy, as well as act as a reminder of the ultimate life goal.” Source: https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/5-things-to-know-about-tilak 
If Matthew is invoking the power of Shiva to aid him through the third eye, or the ajna chakra, this would make the most sense (and would explain why we hadn’t seen it before, probably). I also think it explains his fireballs pretty well, as I’ve noticed a lot of fire and burning practices and metaphors throughout my search for answers.
Oh, also, this: “Shiva's tapas generated so much heat that his body transformed into a pillar of fire - a blazing lingam that threatened to destroy the whole world. The gods did not know how to control Shiva's fire.”
In fact, the whole summary article thingy is really cool to me, so i’ll put it all here.
“Shiva saw no sense in the transitory pleasures of life, so he rejected samsara, smeared his body with ash, closed his eyes and performed austerities.
Shiva's tapas generated so much heat that his body transformed into a pillar of fire - a blazing lingam that threatened to destroy the whole world. The gods did not know how to control Shiva's fire.
Suddenly there appeared a yoni - the divine vessel of the mother-goddess. It caught the fiery lingam and contained its heat, thus saving the cosmos from untimely destruction.
Shiva is often pictured in a pacific mood with his consort Parvati, as the cosmic dancer Nataraja, as a naked ascetic, as a mendicant beggar, as a yogi Dhakshinamurthy, and as the androgynous union of Shiva and Parvati in one body (Ardhanarisvara).
Shiva also takes the form of Ardhanari, his androgynous form. The right side of the sculpture is Shiva and the left side is Parvati. The attributes of each are split directly down the middle.
Another example of Shiva's apparent synthesis of male and female attributes is seen in his earrings. He often wears one earring in the style of a man and the other as a female.” Source: https://www.lotussculpture.com/shiva-hindu-god-lord-destruction-meaning-symbolism.html#:~:text=Shiva's%20tapas%20generated%20so%20much,how%20to%20control%20Shiva's%20fire. 
So yeah, there you have it. Here is every single source I used:
Shiva
https://servdharm.com/blogs/post/significance-of-shivas-trishul#:~:text=The%20Trishul%2C%20also%20known%20as,in%20the%20saguna%20linga%20form. 
https://www.lotussculpture.com/shiva-hindu-god-lord-destruction-meaning-symbolism.html#:~:text=Shiva's%20tapas%20generated%20so%20much,how%20to%20control%20Shiva's%20fire. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trishula 
https://www.templepurohit.com/shiva-worshipped-form-linga-lingam/#google_vignette 
Shakti/Yoni
https://www.britannica.com/topic/yoni 
https://hridaya-yoga.com/blog/yoni-puja/ 
https://kripalu.org/resources/shakti-power-within-you#:~:text=Shakti%20means%20power%2C%20energy%2C%20or,the%20divine%20masculine%20god%20Shiva. 
Tilak
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/tilak-ancient-practice-significance-neeta-singhal 
https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/5-things-to-know-about-tilak 
https://www.britannica.com/topic/tilak 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilaka 
Bindi
https://exametc.com/magazine/details.php?id=900 
https://www.sanskritimagazine.com/bindi-meaning-and-significance-of-the-dot-on-forehead/ 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindi_(decoration) 
Bhasma
https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5934/bhasma#:~:text=In%20the%20spiritual%20context%2C%20bhasma,from%20the%20cycle%20of%20reincarnation. 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24696811/#:~:text=There%20are%20various%20importance%20of,heavy%20metals%20in%20the%20body. 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3530270/ 
Third Eye
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_eye 
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bhrm555 · 2 months ago
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Untitled by Anand Panchal
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kaze-no-yurei · 6 months ago
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We are now faced with a massive propaganda alleging Hindu persecution of Buddhism. Let us study one example: the story of alleged Hindu persecution of Buddhism by Pushyamitra, a general in the service of the declining Maurya dynasty, who founded the Sunga dynasty after a coup détat. This story provides the standard secularist refutation of the myth that Hinduism has always been tolerant.
The Marxist historian Gargi Chakravartty writes:
"Another myth has been meticulously promoted with regard to the tolerance of the Hindu rulers. Let us go back to the end of second century B.C. Divyavadana, in a text of about the second-third century A.D., depicts Pushyamitra Shunga as a great persecutor of Buddhists. In a crusading march with a huge army he destroyed stupas, burnt monasteries and killed monks. This stretched up to Shakala, i.e. modern Sialkot, where he announced a reward of 100 gold coins to the person who would bring the head of a Buddhist monk. Even if this is an exaggeration, the acute hostility and tensions between Pushyamitra and the monks cannot be denied."
We need not comment on Chakravartty's misreading of Divyavadana as a person's name rather than a book title. Remark the bias in the assumption that the supposedly undeniable conflict between the king and the monks proves the kings intolerance; for what had been their own contribution to the conflict? There is no good reason why the Buddhist monks should, by contrast, be assumed to be blameless when they came in conflict with a king.
The story is in fact given in two near contemporaneous (2nd century A.D.) Buddhist histories, the Asokavadana and the Divyavadana, the two narratives are almost verbatim the same and very obviously have a common origin. This non-contemporary story (which surfaces more than three centuries after the alleged facts) about Pushyamitra's offering money for the heads of Buddhist monks is rendered improbable by external evidence: the well-attested historical fact that he allowed and patronized the construction of monasteries and Buddhist universities in his domains, as well as the still extant stupa of Sanchi. After Ashoka's lavish sponsorship of Buddhism, it is perfectly possible that Buddhist institutions fell on slightly harder times under the Sungas, but persecution is quite another matter. The famous historian of Buddhism Etienne Lamotte has observed: To judge from the documents, Pushyamitra must be acquitted through lack of proof.
In consulting the source texts a significant literary fact is noticed which has not been seen mentioned in the scholarly literature (e.g. Lamotte, just quoted), and which must put on record. First of all, a look at the critical edition of the Asokavadana (Illustrious Acts of Ashoka) tells a story of its own concerning the idealization of Buddhism in modern India.
This is how Sujit Kumar Mukhopadhyaya, the editor of the Asokavadana, relates this work's testimony about Ashoka doing to a rival sect that very thing of which Pushyamitra is accused later on:
"At that time, an incident occurred which greatly enraged the king. A follower of the Nirgrantha (Mahavira) painted a picture, showing Buddha prostrating himself at the feet of the Nirgrantha. Ashoka ordered all the Ajivikas of Pundravardhana (North Bengal) to be killed. In one day, eighteen thousand Ajivikas lost their lives. A similar kind of incident took place in the town of Pataliputra. A man who painted such a picture was burnt alive with his family. It was announced that whoever would bring to the king the head of a Nirgrantha would be rewarded with a dinara (a gold coin). As a result of this, thousands of Nirgranthas lost their lives. Only when Vitashoka, Ashoka's favourite Arhat (an enlightened monk, a Theravada-Buddhist saint), was mistaken for a Nirgrantha and killed by a man desirous of the reward, did Ashoka revoke the order."
Typically, Mukhopadhyaya refuses to believe his eyes at this demythologization of the secular emperor Ashoka:
"This is one of the best chapters of the text. The subject, the style, the composition, everything here is remarkable. In every shloka there is a poetic touch.( ... ) But the great defect is also to be noticed. Here too Ashoka is described as dreadfully cruel. If the central figure of this story were not a historic personage as great and well-known as Ashoka, we would have nothing to say. To say that Ashoka, whose devotion to all religious sects is unique in the history of humanity (as is well-known through his edicts) persecuted the Jains or the Ajivikas is simply absurd. And why speak of Ashoka alone? There was no Buddhist king anywhere in India who persecuted the Jains or the Ajivikas or any other sect."
Contrary to Mukhopadhyayas confident assertion, there are a few attested cases of Buddhist-Jain conflict. The Mahavamsa says that the Buddhist king Vattagamini in Sri Lanka destroyed a Jain vihara. In the Shravana-Belgola epitaph of Mallishena, the Jain teacher Akalanka says that after a successful debate with Buddhists, he broke a Buddha statue with his own foot. The same (rare, but not non-existent) phenomenon of Buddhist fanaticism can be found outside India: the introduction of Buddhism in Tibet and Mongolia is associated with a forceful suppression of the native Shamanism. In recent decades in Sri Lanka, Buddhist monks have been instrumental in desecrating and demolishing Hindu temples. None of this proves that Buddhist doctrine incites its followers to persecution of non-Buddhists, but neither should anything human be considered alien to Buddhist human beings.
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jasminewalkerauthor · 5 months ago
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Trope chats: death personified
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Death, the eternal mystery that awaits every living being, has been personified and conceptualized in various ways throughout literary history. This installment of trope chats embarks on an exploration of the personification of death in literature, tracing its evolution over time, examining its impact on society, and considering the cultural influences that shape its myriad representations.
I. Ancient Personifications: The Grim Reaper and Beyond
The personification of death dates back to ancient mythologies and folklore. In Greek mythology, Thanatos, the god of death, was often depicted as a winged figure escorting souls to the afterlife. The Romans similarly personified death as the god Mors. In medieval Europe, the Grim Reaper emerged as a skeletal figure wielding a scythe, becoming an iconic representation of death in Western culture.
II. The Dance of Death: Medieval Allegories
During the medieval period, the "Dance of Death" emerged as a popular motif in literature and art. This allegorical theme depicted death as an impartial force claiming individuals from all walks of life, emphasizing the universality of mortality. The macabre dance, often portrayed in murals, manuscripts, and woodcuts, became a poignant reminder of the transience of human existence.
III. Literary Personifications: From Shakespeare to Modern Works
In literature, death has been personified in countless forms. Shakespeare's "Hamlet" features the haunting figure of Yorick's skull, a memento mori that encapsulates the inevitability of death. The works of Edgar Allan Poe often feature death as a spectral presence, accentuating the eerie and supernatural aspects of mortality. In contemporary literature, authors like Neil Gaiman ("The Sandman") and Terry Pratchett ("Discworld") play with the personification of death, offering nuanced and sometimes humorous portrayals.
IV. Cultural Influences: Eastern Perspectives
Beyond Western literature, Eastern cultures have their own personifications of death. In Hinduism, the god Yama serves as the lord of death and justice, presiding over the cycle of reincarnation. Japanese folklore features the Shinigami, death spirits or gods who guide souls to the afterlife. These representations showcase the diverse ways cultures interpret and personify the inevitability of death.
V. Allegories and Symbolism: Death as a Literary Device
The personification of death in literature is often employed as a literary device to convey complex themes. In John Donne's "Death, Be Not Proud," death is addressed as a transient force, diminished in the face of eternal life. In Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude," death takes on a fantastical and whimsical persona, blurring the lines between life and afterlife.
VI. Impact on Society: Fear, Reflection, and Coping Mechanisms
The personification of death in literature has a profound impact on society. It instills fear, prompting individuals to confront their mortality and grapple with existential questions. Simultaneously, it serves as a tool for reflection, encouraging contemplation on the nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the legacies one leaves behind. Literature becomes a conduit for coping with the existential anxiety that death elicits.
The personification of death in literature, an ever-present and evolving theme, offers a lens through which humanity examines its mortality. From ancient mythologies to contemporary novels, death takes on myriad forms, reflecting cultural perspectives, existential concerns, and the evolving nature of storytelling. As literature continues to shape our understanding of the inevitable enigma, the personification of death remains a timeless and resonant exploration of the human condition.
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mindless-tirades · 1 year ago
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So what do you call the feeling when you're missing someone but aren't? Like you remember all those happy memories with them but you actually don't want them with you rn?
Is this real or am I just wierd?
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talonabraxas · 5 months ago
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Shiva meaning “The Auspicious One” is one of the three major deities of Hinduism. He is worshiped as the Supreme God within Shaivism, one of the three most influential denominations in contemporary Hinduism and is also called “the Creator, the Preserver, the Transformer and the Destroyer”.
At the highest level, Shiva is regarded as formless, limitless, transcendent, and unchanging.
Shiva has many benevolent and fearsome depictions.
In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an omniscient Yogi who lives an ascetic life on Mount Kailash, as well as a householder with wife Parvati and his two children, Ganesha and Kartikeya.
In his fierce aspects, he is often depicted slaying demons.
Shiva is also regarded as the patron god of yoga,meditation, and arts. Shiva is known by several names – Mahadeva, Pashupati, Bhairava, Vishwanath, Bhole Nath, Shambhu and Shankar. Shiva is the cosmic dancer and also known as Nataraja, the Lord of Dancers. Hindus recognize Lord Shiva by putting His shrine in the temple separate from those of other deities in the form of Shivling.
Shiva Mantra essentially helps in eliminating enemies from the path and hence it is also called the Raktha Kavach Mantra. Chanting of Shiva mantra on Chaturdashi is considered very effective and auspicious. Regular chanting of Shiva mantra attracts success and prosperity in all walks of life.
Rosary to be used : Rudraksha Mala Flowers to be used : Swet pushp , Kala Til Total Number of Recitaion : 1,25,000 Best Time : Subh nakchtra , Subh tithi , Chandramavali , Shiv vash
Chanting of Shiva Mantras is a centuries old technique for attaining inner peace and bliss.The Mantras address to Tryambaka, “the three-eyed one”, an epithet of Rudra who was later identified with Shiva. They are said to create divine vibrations which help connecting one to pure consciousness and also remove the fear of death and other negative thoughts from the heart.
There are many types of Shiva Mantras; each serving it’s own purpose.
Collection of Shiva Mantras
Shiva Panchakshari Mantra
Panchakshari means having five syllables. Five is a sacred number for Shiva. One of His most important mantras is – Om Namah Shivaya, otherwise called the Shiva Moola Mantra has five syllables.
ॐ नमः शिवाय । Om Namah Shivaya |
Meaning : ‘I bow to Shiva. Shiva is the supreme reality, the inner Self. It is the name given to consciousness that dwells in all.’
Benefit : Proper recitation of this Mantra rejuvenates and bestows one with health, wealth, long life, peace, prosperity and contentment.
Rudra Mantra This is known as Rudra mantra. Rudra Mantra is recited to get blessing of Lord Shiva. It is considered effective for the fulfilment of one’s wishes.
ॐ नमो भगवते रूद्राय । Om Namo Bhagwate Rudraay | Shiva Gayatri Mantra
ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात । Om Tatpurushaay Vidmahe Vidmahe Mahadevaay Deemahi Tanno Rudrah Prachodayat |
Meaning : ‘Om, Let me meditate on the great Purusha, Oh, greatest God, give me higher intellect, and let God Rudra illuminate my mind.’
Benefit : One can recite thi Shiva Mantra with utmost sincerity to discover the happiness and divinity that′s already within.
Shiv Dhyan Mantra
करचरणकृतं वाक् कायजं कर्मजं वा श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसंवापराधं । विहितं विहितं वा सर्व मेतत् क्षमस्व जय जय करुणाब्धे श्री महादेव शम्भो ॥ Karcharankritam Vaa Kaayjam Karmjam Vaa Shravannayanjam Vaa Maansam Vaa Paradham | Vihitam Vihitam Vaa Sarv Metat Kshamasva Jay Jay Karunaabdhe Shree Mahadev Shambho ||
Meaning : Ode to the Supreme One to cleanse the body, mind and soul of all the stress, rejection, failure, depression and other negative forces that one faces.
Benefit : Divine vibrations that are generated during the chanting of this mantra ward off all the negative and evil forces and create a powerful protective shield against diseases, sorrows, fears etc.
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् “Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti-Vardhanam Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityormukshiya Mamritat॥”
Meaning : ‘We worship the Three-eyed Lord who is fragrant and who nourishes and nurtures all beings. As is the ripened cucumber is freed from its bondage, may He liberate us from death for the sake of immortality.’
Benefit : This mantra is addressed to Lord Shiva for warding off untimely death. It is also chanted while smearing Vibhuti over various parts of the body and utilized in Japa or Homa to get desired results.
Shiva ॐ Talon Abraxas
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whatevergreen · 4 months ago
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"Dev Patel’s directorial debut, Monkey Man, is more than an action thriller. With its inclusion of Indian culture, in narrating a story of the rebellion of the marginalized for themselves and their society, the film has beautifully represented India’s hijra community. While the film discusses the significance and regard Hinduism has for hijras, this attempt to bring in culture and religious ideologies, to some extent, also overshadows the portrayal of their contemporary struggles. It is worse than that of the fictional inhabitants of the temple in the film.
Nevertheless, since the film’s narrative concerns not just the hijras, the Monkey Man deserves appreciation for empowering them as a historically and religiously admired group of people, who in the film also fight alongside the hero for the greater good. Moreover, with the help of Vipin Sharma’s brilliant portrayal of the hijra leader, Alpha, the film gives its international audience a commendable, strong introduction to the hijra community.
In the film, Kid, played by Dev, after being rescued by the hijras, wakes up to a broken sculpture of the ‘Ardhanarishwar’. As he stares at the enormity of it, we learn through Alpha, the leader of the hijras seated in a corner of the room, what the sculpture signifies. ..."
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