Hindus Worshiping Demons?
This looks like a scary image that will cause you a nightmare tonight, doesn't it? Perhaps it is because of visual representations such as this that have earned Hinduism a reputation that its followers worship demons. Little do they know that it is sheer ignorance to only take things at face value.
The malevolent being depicted in the above image is none other than Mother Parvati herself, the consort of Lord Shiva.
As you can see, Mother Parvati was not always depicted the way she was portrayed in the first image. As with many other spiritual scriptures, the stories and paintings related to Hindu deities are largely symbolic. People who read scriptures literally will therefore fail to grasp its inner significance. One would ask, why would the artist, inspired from within, be moved to produce such a grotesque piece?
Shiva is consciousness that pervades the entire Universe. He is also commonly known to represent the Purusha (Self) principle. Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, on the other hand is a representation of Shakthi (Energy) and Prakrti (Matter).
It is clear from the second image that the two, Shiva and Shakthi, are inseparable for they are a part of each other. Duality must be present before one can identify the existence of the other. The Self will not know of its existence without the help of matter, and vice versa. Similarly, how will one know of happiness without pain, light without darkness, peace without worry, and love without hate?
The first image is the drawing of Dakshinakali. The popular legend narrates that Goddess Kali, dancing frantically and uncontrollably on the battlefield, had failed to notice that she had stepped on her consort, Lord Shiva, who had lied in her way to stop her. Her anger was immediately pacified after stepping on Lord Shiva's chest. Before anyone pounces at the opportunity to criticise that the story sounds ridiculous, let me remind you again that the entire narration and visual representation are symbolic in nature.
The heads that Goddess Kali is seen to be wearing around her neck and holding on her hand is none other than the 'ego'. The ignorant Man is decorated with the 'ego', which has caused him much suffering and is also the very reason for his desperation to somehow 'survive' in this cosmic play. Matter exists only when the ego exists for matter is the result of the differentiation of undifferentiated energy. Thoughts and matter exist due to the differentiation of potential undifferentiated energy by the ego. Where there is thought, there is 'differentiation'. The ultimate energy field is potential undifferentiated energy of Brahman. This is Energy at its ultimatep eak, waiting to be differentiated.
Surrounded by the veil of Maya (illusion), Man is unable to comprehend his real Nature. Indulging in this illusory world, Man gets more and more 'seemingly-detached' from the Source of which all creation emanated from (in this case Shiva). Behaving like a mad person in this cosmic dance, Man continues to indulge in the excesses of activity all in the name of 'survival', not realising that the creator verily lies within. Of all the places the painter could have depicted Goddess Kali to step on Lord Shiva, the painter had chosen the 'heart'. This is very significant as the Anahata Chakra is the seat of the Jivatman (individual soul) and Para Shakthi (supreme energy / Supreme Being).
As the Man, who is drunk with Maya, penetrates into the depth of his soul, he will be in touch with the cosmic reality (represented by Shiva in the image) and will therefore be liberated from the illusion of life.
Existing in this illusory ego-self, what would you like the undifferentiated field of energy to be differentiated into today?
Love and light,
Genevieve
It makes a whole lot of sense when we think about it Masterji. I'll never see Kali the same way I used to after I got acquainted with your teachings. How can the very same goddess be cold-blooded (Kali) and radiant (Gowri) at the same time?
ReplyDeleteWhat about the dual aspect? Human beings can appear radiant and be cold-blooded at the same time, can't they?
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