#hindu art history

[sexypinkon]

Sexypink - From the Facebook page of Niala DB

On this Indian Arrival Day (May 30th 2023),  I present you with original artwork- temple murals - from the Indentured ancestors which have been preserved on the walls of the Moose Bhagat Hindu Temple, George Village Tableland. This religious and once tribally-important building was constructed by Pundit Mahandat Moose Bhagat Dass in 1904 and is preserved by his descendants, although it seems the pundit line is no more. This temple is written as being the second oldest in the Caribbean ( I do not have the facts to confirm this).  

I don't share DNA with this possible ancestor-in law, but I thought the journey worthwhile. I feel I see a Bhagat clan resemblance in the faded photo of Moose but, that might just be wishful thinking. It was a joy to behold the art of the ancient Indentured from India. I wonder how old were the artists?  

May they all continue to sleep in peace, giants they once were.

[rrcraft-and-lore]

In addition to my Monkey Man post from earlier, the always kind & sweet Aparna Verma (author of The Phoenix King, check it out) asked that I do a thread on Hijras, & more of the history around them, South Asia, mythology (because that's my thing), & the positive inclusion of them in Monkey Man which I brought up in my gushing review.

Hijra: They are the transgender, eunuch, or intersex people in India who are officially recognized as the third sex throughout most countries in the Indian subcontinent. The trans community and history in India goes back a long way as being documented and officially recognized - far back as 12th century under the Delhi Sultanate in government records, and further back in our stories in Hinduism. The word itself is a Hindi word that's been roughly translated into English as "eunuch" commonly but it's not exactly accurate.

Hijras have been considered the third sex back in our ancient stories, and by 2014 got official recognition to identify as the third gender (neither male or female) legally. Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and India have accepted: eunuch, trans, intersex people & granted them the proper identification options on passports and other government official documents.

But let's get into some of the history surrounding the Hijra community (which for the longest time has been nomadic, and a part of India's long, rich, and sometimes, sadly, troubled history of nomadic tribes/people who have suffered a lot over the ages. Hijras and intersex people are mentioned as far back as in the Kama Sutra, as well as in the early writings of Manu Smriti in the 1st century CE (Common Era), specifically said that a third sex can exist if possessing equal male and female seed.

This concept of balancing male/female energies, seed, and halves is seen in two places in South Asian mythos/culture and connected to the Hijra history.

First, we have Aravan/Iravan (romanized) - who is also the patron deity of the transgender community. He is most commonly seen as a minor/village deity and is depicted in the Indian epic Mahabharata. Aravan is portrayed as having a heroic in the story and his self-sacrifice to the goddess Kali earns him a boon.

He requests to be married before his death. But because he is doomed to die so shortly after marriage, no one wants to marry him.

No one except Krishna, who adopts his female form Mohini (one of the legendary temptresses in mythology I've written about before) and marries him. It is through this union of male, and male presenting as female in the female form of Mohini that the seed of the Hijras is said to begun, and why the transgender community often worships Aravan and, another name for the community is Aravani - of/from Aravan.

But that's not the only place where a gender non conforming divine representation can be seen. Ardhanarishvara is the half female form of lord Shiva, the destroyer god.

Shiva combines with his consort Parvarti and creates a form that represents the balancing/union between male/female energies and physically as a perfectly split down the middle half-male half-female being. This duality in nature has long been part of South Asian culture, spiritual and philosophical beliefs, and it must be noted the sexuality/gender has often been displayed as fluid in South Asian epics and the stories. It's nothing new.

Many celestial or cosmic level beings have expressed this, and defied modern western limiting beliefs on the ideas of these themes/possibilities/forms of existence.

Ardhanarishvara signifies "totality that lies beyond duality", "bi-unity of male and female in God" and "the bisexuality and therefore the non-duality" of the Supreme Being.

Back to the Hijra community.

They have a complex and long history. Throughout time, and as commented on in the movie, Monkey Man, the Hijra community has faced ostracization, but also been incorporated into mainstream society there. During the time of the Dehli Sultanate and then later the Mughal Empire, Hijras actually served in the military and as military commanders in some records, they were also servants for wealthy households, manual laborers, political guardians, and it was seen as wise to put women under the protection of Hijras -- they often specifically served as the bodyguards and overseers of harems. A princess might be appointed a Hijra warrior to guard her.

But by the time of British colonialism, anti-Hijra laws began to come in place folded into laws against the many nomadic tribes of India (also shown in part in Monkey Man with Kid (portrayed by Dev Patel) and his family, who are possibly

one of those nomadic tribes that participated in early theater - sadly by caste often treated horribly and relegated to only the performing arts to make money (this is a guess based on the village play they were performing as no other details were given about his family).

Hijras were criminalized in 1861 by the Indian Penal Code enforced by the British and were labeled specifically as "The Hijra Problem" -- leading to an anti-Hijra campaign across the subcontinent with following laws being enacted: punishing the practices of the Hijra community, and outlawing castration (something many Hijra did to themselves). Though, it should be noted many of the laws were rarely enforced by local Indian officials/officers. But, the British made a point to further the laws against them by later adding the Criminal Tribes Act in 1871, which targeted the Hijra community along with the other nomadic Indian tribes - it subjected them to registration, tracking/monitoring, stripping them of children, and their ability to sequester themselves in their nomadic lifestyle away from the British Colonial Rule.

Today, things have changed and Hijras are being seen once again in a more positive light (though not always and this is something Monkey Man balances by what's happened to the community in a few scenes, and the heroic return/scene with Dev and his warriors). All-hijra communities exist and sort of mirror the western concept of "found families" where they are safe haven/welcoming place trans folks and those identifying as intersex.

These communities also have their own secret language known as Hijra Farsi, which is loosely based on Hindi, but consists of a unique vocabulary of at least 1,000 words.

As noted above, in 2014, the trans community received more legal rights.

Specifically: In April 2014, Justice K. S. Radhakrishnan declared transgender to be the third gender in Indian law in National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India.

Hijras, Eunuchs, apart from binary gender, be treated as "third gender" for the purpose of safeguarding their rights under Part III of our Constitution and the laws made by the Parliament and the State Legislature. Transgender persons' right to decide their self-identified gender is also upheld and the Centre and State Governments are directed to grant legal recognition of their gender identity such as male, female or as third gender.

I've included some screenshots of (some, not all, and certainly not the only/definitive reads) books people can check out about SOME of the history. Not all again. This goes back ages and even our celestial beings/creatures have/do display gender non conforming ways.

There are also films that touch on Hijra history and life. But in regards to Monkey Man, which is what started this thread particularly and being asked to comment - it is a film that positively portrayed India's third sex and normalized it in its depiction. Kid the protagonist encounters a found family of Hijras at one point in the story (no spoilers for plot) and his interactions/acceptance, living with them is just normal. There's no explaining, justifying, anything to/for the audience. It simply is. And, it's a beautiful arc of the story of Kid finding himself in their care/company.

[h0bg0blin-meat]

Hindu men if they were secure enough in their masculinity:

[hindulivesmatter]

Karna

[the-cricket-chirps]

Flying Apsaras

Japan

Late 11th to early 12th century

[fotos-art]

Sattais Katcheri

Courtyard of the 27 Pillars, Fort Amber, Rajasthan, India

Explore the majestic Fort Amber in Jaipur, India! This impressive monument, visible in today's image, is located just 11 kilometres from the city of Jaipur and transports you to an era of kings and palaces. Built in 1592, this fort sublimely fuses Hindu, Rajput and Mughal architectural styles, using yellow and pink sandstone, along with white marble. With its four levels, each with its own courtyard, this fortress dazzles both with its beauty and its rich history.

[wayti-blog]

Temple of the Sun - Gujarat - India

Woven into the rich tapestry of Indian heritage, the ancient Sun Temple in Gujarat (Modhera), is a Hindu temple that is older than the Konark Sun Temple in Orissa and stands as a testament to astronomical science and artistic mastery. Dedicated to the solar deity Surya, the temple functions as an ancient observatory, strategically capturing the Sun's rays twice a year during the solar equinoxes and, on the summer solstice day, embodying cosmic knowledge and wisdom. As per the Vedas, India's ancient sacred texts, the sun is seen as the soul of the universe and the source of energy sustaining all life on Earth.

Constructed during the rule of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty, it was built between 1026-27 CE on the banks of the river Pushpavati. The 1000-year-old temple encapsulates ancient India's harmonious coexistence of intricate sculptures, exquisite artisanship, astronomical science, celestial alignment, and deep-rooted spirituality.

source

[usedtobekrampus]

I want to make an ilustration of Ratri, the Hindu goddess of the night, but I don't know anything about this subject myself, and I want it to be as authentic as possible, their are aparently no primary source depictions of her. can anyone give me some advice for how i can make it more acurate?

most basicaly, id like to know what all these outfits and symbolism mean and what would be most fitting...

...but litteraly anything would be a great help

please reblog, i don't have enough followers to reach the intended audience

[curiouscatalog]

From: Transactions - The Royal Society of Edinburgh. Edinburgh: Royal Society of Edinburgh, vol. 9. 1823.

Q41 .E2 v. 9

[borgiabeacon]

The Endless Epic: Mahābhārata

Heard of Mahābhārata? This ancient Indian epic is about ten times the length of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey combined.

Meaning: it never ends.

Its longest version consists of over 100,000 śloka or over 200,000 individual verse lines (each śloka is a couplet), and long prose passages. At about 1.8 million words in total, the Mahābhārata is about four times the length of the Rāmāyaṇa, compiled as oral and written stories between 3rd century BCE and the 4th century CE.

It is an ultra-marathon of moral conundrums, philosophical dilemmas, and the classic tussle between team good and team evil, all rolled into an astonishing narrative feast.

[indianmovielinks]

OPENING QUOTE - Jigarthanda Double X

[goodthings777]

Let this International Gita Mahotsav (IGM) 2024 be the opportunity to make yourself aware about those hidden secrets outlined in holy Gita ji which can clear your path to success and salvation. The satisfaction in one's life is solely through the right spiritual methodologies. Explore the article on International Gita Mahotsav to know details:

https://bit.ly/InternationalGitaMahotsavEnglis

[h0bg0blin-meat]

SHIVJI STOP SLAYING SO HARD WTF

[hindulivesmatter]

Arjun on the battlefield.

[misspjsuperior]

There is a new moon this Halloween which also makes Kali Puja fall on Halloween this year 🌚 Kali Puja is typically honored on the new moon in the Hindu month of Kartik, in October or November of the Gregorian calendar. It’s a fabulous synchronicity. Last year Skunky played a solo set on Kali Puja in November and wore my Kali design as well as hung the big tapestry of Her behind him ❤️‍🔥 Jai Kali Ma!

Kali is associated with the new moon which is the moon phase also highly associated with menstruation which is in part why the Kali vulva goddess vision came to me bleeding.

It is unpopularly theorized that the word “calendar” itself has its etymological root in Kali reverence by the Romani people who were found throughout the ancient Roman empire. The word for calendar shares the root sound “kal” throughout over a dozen European languages until this day. According to formal acedemically recognized etymology “calendar” comes from Old French calendier, from Latin calendarium (account book), from kalendae (the first day of the month), perhaps from calo (to announce solemnly, to call out (the sighting of the new moon). 🌚 Those who know of the ancient tradition of monthly Romani rituals which called aloud to Kali every new moon (associated with Her blood flow) theorize along with these definitions that Kali is where we get “calendar” in a kind of ancient cultural appropriation.

All European language etymology studies tend to lead back to Latin even in instances professed to be only a vague theory, further obscuring from history countless native languages of the “barbarians” conquered by ancient Roman colonization. The history of how subsequent European cultures since Romanization have oppressed Romani peoples as “Gypsies” up to today is inherited from Roman culture. Why wouldn’t these systems actively repress the truth of any such influences? So with that in mind I think why not Kalinder?

PS! ”rom” is a Romani word for “man” and so the similarities of Roman and Romani are not etymologically linked as some have assumed, mistakenly believing that Romani means “from Rome” in the way that the derogatory term Gypsy meant “from Egypt”. The Romani have their roots in India.

If you enjoy these kinds of nerdy magical musings make sure you don’t miss out on them- with your support these art inspiring insights are delivered to your inbox rather than buried in your feed. This post has several linked sources for my patrons.

[wildxmaiden]

destruction