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#hinduism mythology and religion as a whole???
archived-and-moving · 2 years
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Hi danu! As of today in india the month of festivals have started (basically from today till 26th of October it's just festival and festivals)
and from today till 4th October we have navratri going on
I saw you in my notes and physically face palmed. I haven't answered your ask!!! I'm so sorry my dude, my object permanence is shit 😔😔😔
And that's actually so sick!!!!! I love love love countries and traditions that are so closely tied to culture and tradition. India is such a good example of that, and I'm so glad you get to have celebrations and festivals!!!!
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h0bg0blin-meat · 3 months
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I think I need to make it clear for many Vaishnav (looking especially at you, ISKON) Hindu extremists (and even many Shaivites) that ya'll can have your sects and your beliefs as Vishnu or Shiva as your supreme lords. I don't have an issue with that.
But when you try to say that this is the ONLY truth about the Vedic religion (I'm not using Hinduism here because it doesn't sum up the pantheon as much as the ''Vedic" word does, despite the term being associated with the Vedas, and yes we need to come up with a better word that comprises this entire pantheon as a whole), that's when I have a problem, because that is definitely NOT the entire pantheon.
Do not spread the beliefs of your sect as the ONLY canon belief and don't speak for the people who don't fall under this category. I have seen this in all of social media and it pains me how much of a linear pantheon this once oh-so flexible culture has become.
Yes the concept of Prajapati and the Supreme being has existed since the Vedas. But when you say that Vishnu and Shiva are somehow superior to other gods as the ONLY CANONICAL BELIEF, that just flips me off, and I'm gonna call it out.
How dare you forget the four Vedas, that had no mention of such an idea? This might tick some people off but Indra, Agni, Rudra (which later became synonymous with Shiva, but is a whole different deity), Mitra, Varuna, Vayu and a few other Gods were just as much powerful as Vishnu or Shiva, if not more. This is ANOTHER canonical truth that these extremists (again, somehow mostly Vaishnav) are denying.
Ancient pantheons weren't some linear path with just one canon event. These were their own multiverses of a plethora of VARIOUS canon events, myths and legends. So stop making the Vedic religion a linear, rigid pantheon. Remember? It's not an organized religion. There can be SEVERAL canonical truths. Like I definitely understand that a religion/culture changes overtime. It evolves. Fine. Vishnu is the supreme God now, fine. But you can't deny the history. The Vedas that didn't canonize this. Are you gonna say that these Vedas, that came BEFORE this Vishnu/Shiva being the considered the supreme lord(s), were wrong? I hope not lol.
Besides, I'm not even gonna get into ISKON. They have regarded anyone that's not Vishnu as a demigod, which is ABSOLUTELY VILE AND DISRESPECTFUL. Do they even KNOW what a demigod is??? FUCK NO. They don't. They just like to use that word to inferiorize other deities, due to their unhealthy and toxic obsession with Vishnu, who doesn't deserve it. On top of that they have claimed that worshipping such gods will not lead you to eternal peace, or that it's somehow wrong. Ah yes. Gotta love gatekeeping and toxic cult fan behavior. Call me rude but if you disrespect a GOD (yes, Indra, Mitra, Varuna and others are ALSO GODS, FYI) is WILD, and they should be called out for it. (Some Shaivites have done the same in case of Shiva, and they need to be similarly called out.)
In conclusion, worship whoever tf you want, but remember that theologically, and even historically, there can be more than one canonical story. It really depends on which sect/region you belong to. You CAN be a polytheist. Idk why Hindus these days are inadvertently trying to appeal to the monotheistic pantheons so much, to the point that they have an internal dislike for polytheism, which they're not aware of, but it shows when they speak up.
This pantheon (like every other pagan pantheon back in the day) is very broad. Remember that. And it's very flexible. So let it be like that, and stop gatekeeping it and having a war between who supreme Lord is. I'll stop my yapping here. But I hope people understand this. Cuz damn.
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Every time I come across a 'Hindu mythology aesthetic moodboard' I go through the stages of grief.
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pomefioredove · 28 days
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Saw you took specific requests. Here's mine:
Jamil with a religious reader who gives him a protection talisman.
Fun fact, prayer beads are used in multiple religions as they help count prayers (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc).
So let's say reader comes from a world where magic exists but it's exclusively on religious grounds. Meaning if you wanna do magic you gotta pray to the right god or make a deal with some form of mythological creature.
Reader knows that Jamil's is always in danger due to the constant assassination attempts on Kalim, so they make a set of prayer beads and ask a diety to bless it in order to protect their boyfriend (could be Allah, Indra, Shiva, Buddha, Susanoo, whichever). Jamil accepts it and heads back home appreciating the sentiment but not really believing.
Except any form of danger keeps getting thwarted. Drink/food he's trying is poisoned? Conveniently spills over/has a whole in the bottom. Accident happens? Conveniently pushed out of the way. Someone tries to hurt him/kill him? Struck by lightning and straight up dies.
Not even his own parents are safe. They try to slap him to "discipline him" then they get zapped (lightly tho).
you know!!! I love this prompt so much... I'm a religious studies major so this kinda stuff is so ^w^ to me I get so excited.
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summary: giving jamil a protection spell type of post: short fic characters: jamil additional info: reader is gender neutral, the existence of religious beliefs in twst is. confusing. so we're keeping it vague, not proofread, reader is yuu
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Perhaps it was because your world was still considered "magicless" by Twisted Wonderland standards, or perhaps Jamil was never superstitious to begin with.
Either way, he wasn't exactly as excited as you'd been hoping for.
"It's nice. Did you make it yourself?" he asks, inspecting the beads. "A bracelet?"
"Prayer beads, actually. And yes, I did,"
"It's well made. What's the purpose?"
You hesitate. The nature of religion in this world is still confusing to you, although you can surmise there's got to be some kind of belief system. It's best not touching on for now.
Besides, Jamil has never been much of a believer in higher powers. For good reason.
"For protection," you explain. "Not that I think you can't handle yourself. But I worry about you over break, you know..."
He's quiet for a moment, inspecting the gift in the palm of his hand. And then he tucks the beads away in his pocket and smiles.
"I'll keep them with me, then. Thank you,"
Even if he's not exactly keen on the idea that these things will make his life any less terrible, they're from you.
And so he keeps his promise, and tucks them away after you part.
By the time he's "home" (back in Kalim's family home) he's all but forgotten about the little blessing at the bottom of his pocket. Not that you can really blame him- "vacation" is more of a title than a reality when he's back.
The first incident happens not even a day after.
The al-Asim summer mansion is certainly nothing to scoff at. Though it's only one of many, this one in particular houses a large sum of physical treasures, line with gold and ivory, stuffed full of spices and all the makings of a feast that could feed thousands, a shining jewel of the desert.
Jamil is not all that impressed.
Especially when it comes to navigating such an ornate building on orders. The polished-to-perfection floors present a challenge when you're carrying three crates worth of grain to the kitchen on the lowest floor.
Damn these stairs.
Though Jamil may not be a religious man, he still asks whatever deity may be up there to smite the slippery spiral staircase he's descending.
His arms strain to uphold the weight of the boxes, and his legs strain to keep a good footing on one of the many long and elaborate and narrow servant passages designed specifically so that the unwanted workers of the family can slip by undetected.
Quiet, diligent, and he has to be quick, too. Kalim is expecting him for a game in one of the many lounges soon.
Another unfortunate "vacation". How he'd much rather be spending it with you...
For a brief moment, Jamil swears he can feel the beads in his pocket warm against him, reminding him of their presence.
And then he slips.
The crates free themselves from his careful grasp and tumble down the stairs, creaking and thudding but mercifully staying intact.
Jamil, however, isn't made of wood. He winces as he feels himself tilting forward- and then... somehow, a strong draft pushes him on his back.
He lands just shy of his tailbone, luckily not hurting anything, except for his pride.
What a turn of luck.
The next happens at dinner.
Jamil keeps his earlier blunder to himself. His pride is damaged enough as it is, after all, and so he tries his best to conceal how shaken up the experience left him by moving swiftly across the kitchen.
"We have a dish ready for you to test," someone shouts.
He sighs. How many more evenings of this will he have to endure?
Though, he reminds himself- this may always be his last.
The thought makes Jamil chuckle as he's handed a hot dish and a clean fork. He can only stop to smell the roses for so long, so there's no chance of savoring such an exquisitely prepared meal before he's off to another part of the kitchen.
Just as the fork digs into the food, the dish slips out of his hand and shatters on the kitchen floor. Everyone falls silent.
His eyes widen. "How- ugh. My apologies,"
Now this is just getting ridiculous. How clumsy can he get in one evening? He's usually much more careful...
"Look," the head chef says, the whole kitchen crowding around the food as it dissolves.
Jamil's stomach lurches. Cyanide. It has to be. If he'd eaten that dish right there and then...
The kitchen is swiftly cleared out, and he's sent back to the lounge.
it only gets stranger from there.
What Jamil initially wrote off as clumsiness and luck seems to become a pattern-
a flying arrow at the archery range just narrowly misses him when he bends down to fix his sandal.
The al-Asim family tiger (because of course they have one) chooses to toy with a visiting prince rather than him in the courtyard.
A strong draft pushes him on his rear end seconds before a sandbag falls from an under-construction part of the mansion.
He would call it fortune if he believed in such a thing.
By the end of the vacation, everyone is absolutely perplexed by his string of good luck. Jamil isn't unfamiliar with how dangerous his family's position in life is, and he's had his fair share of injuries as a result, but this time all he has to show for it is a slightly lesser sense of annoyance than usual.
It's only the end of the trip where he ponders (unfortunately aloud) about the string of coincidences, and the beads in his pocket.
Kalim goes on to babble about Jamil's "good luck charm" to anyone who will listen, much to his annoyance.
"Oh, I want one too! Can you ask them to make me one, too?" he says, folding his hands in a pleading motion. "It's so pretty!"
"It was a gift. But... I suppose I can ask..." he sighs, and then smiles to himself.
Of course you'll come up with some excuse to say no. Because, for once, this charm is all his.
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what-even-is-thiss · 7 months
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Depending on what pantheon/mythology you’re looking at if you claim your goal is to kill a god there will be varying degrees of probability and possibility for you.
The things we’re worshipping is kind of the earth and animals and people themselves of course they die (various forms of animism and ancestor worship)
Dying is kind of a promotion in this religion if you’re important enough (some types of Buddhism, Catholicism from certain points of view)
Technically possible to kill a god and it has happened before but you probably won’t be the one to do it (Egyptian, Norse, Aztec, some other polytheistic religions)
Lol and also lmao gods don’t die. You can stab them though. (Greco-Roman mythology)
God(s) became mortal on purpose you’re not special L + Ratio this was part of the plan the whole time (Christianity, some avatar stories in Hinduism)
What are you gonna do? Stab the entire universe? You’re picking a fight with reality itself. Idiot. (Most monotheistic religions)
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dailydemonspotlight · 10 days
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As the biggest fan of Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse on this big blue and green planet, may I ask you to cover my boy Krishna?
Krishna - Day 42 (Request)
Race: Deity
Alignment: Neutral
May 20th, 2024 (Shooting for, at least)
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Throughout the course of this series, Hinduism has quickly risen the ranks of my favorite mythologies to look through. I've always had a passing interest in the third largest religion to date, but as time has gone on and I've continued on with this series, being forced to engage with it more has given me so much more insight into what it consists of, and given me a new respect for the followers of Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. Among the countless figures of Hinduism, one of the most popular and prominent, however, has to be today's Demon of the Day, the ever-popular avatar of Vishnu, Krishna.
Lovingly described as "Indian Michael Jackson" by the SMT community, Krishna is an important figure both in SMT IV:A, as well as Hindu mythology as a whole. In the metaphorical melting pot of world religions, folklore, and myth this series consists of, the interactions of Krishna with the cast of the series feel oddly in character for the role this Hindu prettyboy plays. And no, that isn't a joke. Krishna is popular both in and out of Hindu circles, canonically getting bitches left and right through his sheer charisma. As the eighth avatar of Vishnu, Krishna represents all that is worth preserving in the world- love, protection, kindness, compassion, all that jazz.
Throughout the central Hindu text, the Mahabharata, Krishna serves as a central character whose accomplishments are a bit too long and varied to recant here, but he could almost be seen as the main character of the text, and for good reason. He appears as a hero, a folkloric god-child, a prankster, a lover, and so much more, as his epithets are only beaten out by his achievements in how long and varied they are. It all begins with his birth, actually, one as strange as he is himself. In the Krishna Charitra, Krishna was born as the child of Devaki and Vasudeva, but the brother of his mother, Kamsa, forbids this, hearing of a prophecy that his nephew will take his life.
When Krishna is born, in classic mythological fashion, Vasudeva ends up trading away the just-born Krishna into the hands of his future foster mother, in exchange for her daughter. Turns out, oops, the Hindu goddess Yogamaya was residing within that child, and she delivers a message of imminent death to Kamsa regarding Krishna's successful birth. Throughout Krishna's childhood, he was famous for being a prankster who loved, and I mean LOVED butter. For some reason. I don't get it, personally. However, in spite of his troublemaking ways, he also grew to love and protect the people of his home village, working to save them from disaster time and time again. Throughout his time as a child, he played for fun and laughs beyond all else, messing with people often just for his own amusement.
When he grew older, he soon fulfilled his oracle-given right, defeating his uncle Kamsa and then proceeding to reinstate Kamsa's father, Ugrasena. After this, many myths differ- some say he went on to rule his own kingdom, others say he picked up a lot of chicks, but all eventually reconnect in the great winding tale of the Mahabharata. Unfortunately, rather famously, the Mahabharata is an insanely long and complex story, and I'd rather not get into it here in the scope of a bite-sized blog post. TL;DR, shit happens.
Krishna is portrayed... strangely in SMT. For a character famous for having blue skin, as his name can roughly translate to 'All-Blue,' his portrayal is odd, but I quite like the twist on design. The focus on teal and orange make a neat color contrast, and he maintains a youthful prettyboy appearance that I think fits very well. I wish I could get into this more, but I may need to start wrapping this up. Past that, he also has two other designs in the same game, being the spoilerific Vishnu-Flynn.
Vinny don't look.
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...My only real comment here is, why did they give him lightsabers?
Overall, though, there is a lot more to Krishna that I could have gotten into. The winding tales of Hinduism are fascinating rabbit holes, but I won't recant them all here. I love how unique and interesting his design is, and apparently his role in IV:A is very important... though, admittedly, I haven't played it yet. Krishna is very deserving of being today's Demon of the Day.
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hello, this is may be incoherent or long so apologies.
how do you reconcile with subscribing to hinduism in any way despite the horrific violence and atrocities it propagates? i was raised hindu (but I’m now a staunch atheist) and i was never religious but like you all i did enjoy the myths and the characters in it. but that was before i became politically conscious and came to know about the suffering wreaked by the caste system and the insanity of hindutva. hindutva ideology is so widespread now, casteism shows no signs of reducing and both are irretrievably linked to hindu gods and practices. i know none of the major world religions can claim to be unproblematic but as an indian, hinduism is the biggest problem, so to speak. reading works of Dr Ambedkar and Periyar only reaffirmed my beliefs that hinduism is extremely oppressive and dangerous. ik you all are aware of the oppression and are anti hindutva and anti caste but still have you faced dissonance by continuing to positively interact with hinduism despite this?
i don’t mean any offense, i am genuinely curious.
Hi, yes, I have 100% faced this dissonance. There was an extended point in time when I sort of backed away from engaging with mythology only because of the dissonance i was experiencing with regards to interacting with the myths. That really gave me some time to think through why I felt so uncomfortable with this.
But now I intend to engage whole heartedly because- in the end they're all stories. Stories which have gone through few hundreds of years of oral traditions, stories which contain the morals and values of yesterday. Whether or not they were 'itihasa' is no longer relevant because these stories have passed through the hands of many people.
I almost feel like its my duty now to imbibe a different kind of meaning to these stories. One which breaks down the 'holy' ness of them and gives a new lens through which to look at the characters. If you have noticed, Hindu gods are used as tools to justify some of the most heinous behaviours while practicing Hinduism. I'm just.....participating in a more creative process where we make our OWN meaning of the myths. Its one way I'm able to make peace with this.
-Mod G
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talonabraxas · 29 days
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Origin of Lord Brahma | Brahma Mantra
Lord Brahma is one of the supreme God of Trinity other two are Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. He is referred to as the creator of the universe. He created the Earth and everything that flourishes on it. His divine consort Goddess Saraswati presents Him with expertise to run the universe that's necessary for the manner of introduction.
Lord Brahma is called the father of Manu from whom all beings got here into existence. Lord Brahma is regularly perceived as Prajapati, a Vedic divine being. He is also considered as the Lord of Speech and Sound. Although He is not worshipped as usually and broadly as other Gods, He is a distinguished divine discern in Hinduism and mythology. Lord Brahma is depicted as the ruler of Brahmaloka, the greatest heaven where best the perfect resides. In the temples built for worship of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, the walls within the north have an area wherein He is worshipped. Goddess Saraswati is His consort consequently worshipping them may also bless one with expertise, understanding and mind.
Lord Brahma's vahana is the Swan, that's an image of grace. The Swan is blessed with Neera-Ksheera Viveka, a distinctive feature that enlightens us to detach the coolest from the evil and then apprehend that that is precious and abandon the whole thing that is evil or futile.
Origin of Lord Brahma Lord Bramha is said to be the son of God. It is stated that first Brahmand, the universe created the water wherein the seed of lifestyles become positioned. The seed in the end grew and converted right into a golden egg out of which "Hiranyagarbha" i.E., Lord Bramha took birth. There is any other tale which depicts the foundation of Lord Brahma as a self-born God from a lotus flower which grew out of Lord Vishnu's navel and changed into born to create the whole universe and devise the grand plan of its life.
Lord Bramha later created Manas Putras within the shape of Prajapatis to end up the father of the human race. Even Dharma and Adharma, Krodha, Lobha are stated to exist through Lord Brahma.
Symbolism & Appearance of Lord Brahma Lord Brahma is always clad in crimson garments and is depicted having 4 heads, 4 faces and 4 palms. As He is the Creator of all beings, He does now not carry weapons in any of his palms. He is regularly mentioned as having white beard that symbolizes the nature of His life. The top right hand has a rosary and the higher left contains an ebook, the lower left has a kamandalu or water-pot and the lower right hand bestows advantages towards absolutely everyone who seeks safe haven. Each hand has its very own representation wherein the beads are the substance via which creation came about, the e book indicates know-how and the water pot symbolizes nature and living essence of life. The 4 faces which continuously chant every veda “ Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva, represent all sacred understanding that exists. The fingers constitute the 4 instructions of the introduction and hold Brahma to be the one Omnipresent Lord of the universe.
Lord Brahma Worship Lord Brahma is stated to be less outstanding when it comes to worship amongst other deities but has symbolic temples that are hugely worshipped by means of His fans. In Hindu religion, Lord Brahma is taken into consideration to be the most vital deity as thru Him the complete human race comes into being. Here are some of the mantras which are used to praise and worship Lord Brahma.
Brahma Stuti Mantra: "Gurubrahma Guruvishnu Gurudevo Maheswarah, Guru saakshaat Param Brahma Tasmai shri guravey Namah."
Meaning : Lord Brahma, the writer is the instructor and is very best among all different Gods. He is verily Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva himself. I provide my salutations to such a guru.
Brahma Bija Mantra "Aum Satchit Ekam Brahma" "Om Eim Hrim Shrim Klim Sauh Satchid Ekam Brahma"
Meaning : I offer my prayers to Lord Bramha who is one with the universe
Brahma Gayatri Mantra "Om Chathur mukhaya Vidmahe Hamasaroodaya Dheemahe Thanno Brahma Prachodayath" "Om Vedathmanaya vidmahe, Hiranya Garbhaya Dheemahi, Thanno Brahma prachodayath"
Meaning: Lord Brahma, the writer is the instructor and is very pleasant amongst all distinctive Gods. He is verily Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva himself. I provide my salutations to this type of guru.
BRAHMA MANTRA
Mantra 1 ॥ ॐ ऐं ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं सौह सतचिद एकं ब्रह्माे ॥ “Om Aim Hrim Shrim Klim Sauh Satchid Ekam Brahma”
Meaning: " Brahma is the one supreme and absolute consciousness "
Mantra 2 ॥ ऊँ चतुर-मुखाया विद्महे हंसा-रूड़ाये धीमही तन्नो ब्रह्मा प्रचोदयात् ॥ “Om Chathur Mukhaya Vidhmahe Hamasaroodaya Dheemahe Thanno Brahma Prachodayat”
Meaning: " Om, Let me meditate on the God with four faces, The One who rides on the Swan, give me higher intellect, And let Lord Brahma illuminate my mind "
Mantra 3 ॥ ओम ब्रह्मा जज्ञानाम् प्रथम् पुरश्च देवि माता माता पुरुषो अवहा ॥ “Om Brahma Jajnyanam Prarthamam Purastat Dvihi Mata Purushoven Avaha”
Meaning: " ...... "
Mantra 4 ॥ गुरुर ब्रह्मा गुरुर विष्णु गुरु देवो महेश्वरःगुरु साक्षात परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ॥ “Gurubrahma Guruvishnu Gurudevo Maheswarah,Guru saakshaat Param Brahma Tasmai shri guravey Namaha”
Meaning: " Guru is verily the representative of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. (He creates, sustains knowledge and destroys the weeds of ignorance). He is the living Supreme reality. I salute such a Guru. "
Lord brahma by Talon Abraxas
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vizthedatum · 3 months
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CW: self-immolation is a sacred testament that cannot be silenced (Free Palestine)
During my current spiritual awakening as a scientist, healthcare data scientist, writer, and varied-trauma survivor, not only am I growing into myself, I am growing into what it means to truly be a citizen of the world.
I grew up Hindu, and I only really connected with it spiritually to my core after a series of traumatic events I faced in this lifetime, including events I brought on myself.
Being spiritual has brought me so much peace. However, I am still living in a world, where there is so much turbulence, where there is so much suffering.
In so many religions and spiritual practices, the concept of worldly suffering is heavily discussed. Everyone has their own justifications and their own way of mitigating (or propagating) suffering.
In this post, I will be addressing the genocide of human life in the Gaza Strip, along with the various other genocides that have plagued my lifetime, including the Rohingya genocide. The following topics will be mentioned as well: the constructs of hierarchy that somehow lesson some people's lives and elevate others, self-immolation as a spiritually grounded form of protest when your soul cannot find another way, suicide and attempted suicide, complicit-ness, and generational and worldly abuse/trauma.
--
When Aaron Bushnell self-immolated on February 25, 2024, I avoided the news even more than before.
I fully understood why he did it, but it also brought back memories of the time when my brother, in his teenage years, went behind his high school to self-immolate. He failed and went to the hospital with burns. This suicide attempt was one of several that he would face for most of his life.
Aaron did it out of protest to Free Palestine. My brother did it out of an intention to commit suicide because not only did he not want to live, he did not feel wanted in this world.
What makes a person not wanted? What compels whole swaths of people to either protest or support mass murder?
These are some of life's big questions, huh?
Spiritually, I consider self-immolation an act from the soul. My belief stems from my worship of the matriarchal depiction of godly being from Hinduism. She is known by so many names: Mahadevi, Devi, Shakti, Ma, Mahamaya, etc.
One of her forms is Sati. Later, "sati" became the name of the self-immolation practice that widows perform on the pyre of their husband's body, during his funeral.
The term, "sati," stands for nobility and truth in Sanskrit. It's not literally about self-immolation - it's about standing up for what you think is right and being very clear about what is suffocating you to the point of your soul being burned alive.
In short, Sati's story is about her protest of her husband, Shiva, not being respected by her family. She marries Shiva - her godly companion through every reincarnation of the Mahadevi - and her father doesn't like it.
Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu are the male counterparts of the "holy trinity of Hinduism" - they're considered *the supreme Gods.*
Her father prepared a ritual sacrifice event (a yajna) and did not invite his son-in-law. There are so many details to this - including that her father was human (well this is contested since he was a part of Brahma) and had devoted himself to Brahma, that all these figures were among the early humans (and gods) in Hindu mythological lore, and that despite factuality the stories are metaphors and descriptions of the layered nature of humanity.
Sati wanted Shiva to come, but he refused since he wasn't invited. Sati instead went to the yajna and she was humiliated by her entire family. Her husband's name was also tarnished.
She couldn't take it - not only was Shiva in the same class of deitic prolificness as Brahma, Shiva was her husband.
She threw herself in the fire of the yajna and self-immolated. She sacrificed her life's energy to go back into the universe or higher power, because she could not stand for this injustice.
Shiva became so stricken with grief and anger, he destroyed the yajna (later the yajna was restored) and threatened his father-in-law's life.
He took his wife's body and wandered around. 51 pieces of Sati's body fell to the earth and became what is known as the Shakti Pithas.
These 51 sites are in South Asia, and people still pay pilgrimage and worship at these sites.
I've personally only been to one - the one in Kalighat where my maternal family line lives. I'm a strong worshipper of Kali Ma, and I believe she spoke to me there, amongst the crowds, when I was 25.
The number, 51, is contested of course - but that's not the point.
The reason why Hindus make pilgrimage to these sites is because of her great sacrifice. It was a test of divinity.
She recognized what was important to her and that Shiva was indeed a supreme deity - and then she sacrificed her own supremeness to both defend him and herself.
--
In South Asia, self-immolation is spiritually considered a noble act of protest due to this story (and so many other stories).
Unfortunately, it becomes a problem when people are FORCED to self-immolate (as in the case of the sati practice where it's rooted in misogyny and patriarchy) or when people are COMPELLED to self-immolate due to lack of community and mental health resources (such as in the case of my brother).
I don't think it becomes noble or truthful in those instances, even if there are hints of the truth underlying these issues.
I think back to Sylvia Plath in these cases sometimes - she committed suicide by suffocating herself in her oven. Her poetry and words will probably inspire generations upon generations. But I understand why she did it - I am of the opinion that she was surely abused by her husband and traumatized by the lack of support from her community. In short, I believe her husband (whose second wife died from the same method of suicide) was abusing her in the form of narcissistic, sociopathic, or psychopathic abuse to the point where she felt suffocated. Since she could not bring herself to break free, she suffocated herself.
And in the case of mass genocide where a person who has dedicated his life for the protection of humanity (Aaron was a serviceman of the United States Air Force) - I can see why he had to stand up for what he believed to be noble and true.
--
It's hard to look away when someone so young gives up his life for a cause. I think that was precisely the point. He knew he had power as a young, white man serving a militaristic force in America.
There are so many people who are doing nothing in the face of all of these mass genocides in the world. I don't think it is fair to leave the concept of human suffering up to the higher power.
It is not the higher power's job to fix this for us. I believe that to my core.
Being silent about human suffering is being complicit in it.
I know that many people are not able - or they don't even know - to have an impact on the lessening of suffering. But we must do what we can. A quote I often quote on many, many occasions is by Angela Davis: she says: “Sometimes we have to do the work even though we don't yet see a glimmer on the horizon that it's actually going to be possible.” Do something, take inspired action - don't be silent. You don't have to self-immolate, but please consider the sacrifice and the severity of the situation.
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Ma Kali & Kali Mantra: Meaning, Significance, and Benefits 🪷🪬🧿
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Goddess Kali is the divine protector of the earth who is also known as Kalika in Hinduism. But due to the goddess' destructive power, Kali is also known as the Dark Mother. As per mythology, the word Kali comes from the Sanskrit word Kala, which means time. Goddess Kali, therefore, represents time, change, power, creation, preservation and destruction. The word Kali also means “the black one”, the feminine noun of the Sanskrit adjective Kala. As per spiritual texts, Goddess Kali is considered a fierce form of Durga/Parvati and the consort of Lord Shiva. Besides being a destructor of bad powers of the universe, Kali ma is also a great giver to those who do good deeds and worship her with utmost devotion. Hence pleasing Kali ma allows the native a lot of compassion and blessings.
As per mythology, Kali maa is the first of the 10 Mahavidyas or manifestations of the Great Goddess. She is usually portrayed in a form where she dances or stands on her consort God Shiva, who lies calm and prostrated beneath her. Kali Maa is worshipped throughout the country but majorly in the seas of Bengal, Assam, Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, along with Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Over the centuries, the Goddess Kali has taken many forms to protect the Dharma and religion and destroy the one who commits sins. Astrologers say that Maa Kalika is the most awakened goddess in Hinduism and has walked the earth in four forms – Dakshina Kali, Shamshan Kali, Mother Kali and Mahakali. All these forms have served different purposes, right from Raksha Slaughter to the healing of the earth and its natives.
Kali Mantra
Story behind the destructive form of Maa Kali
There was a notorious asura named Daruk who had pleased Brahma and thus was rewarded a boon. The boon allowed the asura to cause grief to the Gods and Brahmins. If this wasn't enough, Daruk also started setting his kingdom in heaven. Seeing this, all the Gods reached out to Brahma and Vishnu, where they were told only a lady can kill the evil Daruk.
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Hearing this, all the Devtas donned a female form and went to fight Daaruk, only to get defeated by him. Post the failure, the Gods reached the Kailash mountain to share the ordeal with Lord Shiva. After listening to the Gods, Lord Shiva looked at Maa Parvati and said, "hey Kalyani I pray to destroy the evil Daruk and save the world." Listening to this, a part of Mother Parvati entered Lord Shiva.
That part of Bhagwati Mata entered the body of Lord Shiva and due to the poison in the throat of Shiva, Bhagwati Mata turned into a black Goddess. Lord Shiva felt that part inside of him and opened his third eye and appeared as Goddess Kali in a fierce form.
Just like Shiva, Maa Kali had a third eye and a lunar line. The throat had a sign of Karla poison, and she carries a trident. Seeing the fierce form of Mother Kali, Gods and Siddhas started fleeing. With the mere hum of Maa Kali, all the Asura army including Daruk was burnt to ashes. Yet, the fierceness of Kali wasn't over. The mother’s anger began to burn the whole world. To save the world from the wrath, Shiva took the form of a child and appeared in front of Kali.
When mother Kali saw that child Shirupi, she became fascinated by that form. She embraced Shiva and started feeding him with her breasts. Soon, Maa Kali became unconscious due to Shivji drinking the wrath of mother Kali. In order to bring the Goddess into consciousness, Shivji performed Shiva Tandava. When mother Kali came back to her senses, she saw Shiva dancing and joined him, due to which she was also called Yogini.
The two forms of Goddess Kali
In Hinduism, Goddess Kali is mainly portrayed and worshipped in two forms. The first is the four-armed form, and the second is the 10-armed form, which is also known as Mahakali. Both these forms have different meanings attached to them.
Four-armed form
The Indian art portrays the four-armed Kali in black or blue colour. The eyes of Kali are red in colour which depicts rage. Her hair is shown dishevelled, small fangs sometimes protrude out of her mouth and her tongue is lolling. The Goddess wears a skirt made of human arms and a garland which is made of human heads. The four-arm form of kali stands on the calm and prostate Shiva. All her four hands hold a different thing, mainly a sword, a Trishul (trident), a severed head, and a bowl or skull-cup (kapala) catching the blood of the severed head.
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In her left hands, Kali holds a sword and a human head. Here, the sword signifies divine knowledge, meanwhile the human head signifies the human ego, which must be slain by divine knowledge in order to attain moksha.
The right hands of Maa Kali holds the Abhaya (fearlessness) and Varada (blessing) mudras, which means her devotees will always be saved as she will guide them during and after life.
The Goddess also dons a garland consisting of human heads, variously enumerated at 108 or 51, which is why she is known as the mother of all the mantras in astrology.
The ten-armed form
The ten-armed form of Kali is her Maha Kali form. In her Maha Kali form, she is depicted as shining like a blue stone. Maha Kali has as many as ten faces, ten feet and three eyes for each head. All her ten hands carry various components, each of which represents the power of one of the Devas or Hindu Gods. This power is depicted in the form of the weapons that Maha Kali carries. The implication is that Mahakali is responsible for the powers that these deities possess and the implication is in line with the interpretation that Mahakali is identical to Brahman.
At times, people also tend to worship the “ek mukhi” or one-headed idol of Maha Kali displayed with ten arms, signifying the same concept.
The power tools of Kali are the Kundalini Shakti (the power of spiritual electricity); the Kriya Shakti, the power to creatively affect the universe; and Iccha Shakti, the power of will that personally compels our physical movements and actions, while in the universe it causes the galaxies to rush away from one another into the cosmic night. The chanting of various mantras helps the native have these energies for themselves.
How to chant the Kali mantras
Goddess Kali represents the colour black, and hence darkness appeals to her. This is how you should chant the Kaali Mantras.
Although Kaali Mantra can be chanted in the morning, hours after sunset are more feasible to recite these mantras.
It is best that you chant the Kaali Mantra on a new moon day (Amavasya). Wear the colour Red during the Maa Kali mantra recitation or Puja as Red is the colour that appeases the Goddess.
Also, if you plan to keep an idol or picture of Goddess Kali while reciting the mantra, you must make sure to keep it on a red cloth.
When reciting the Mantras, offer red flowers, fruits and sweets to Maa Kali. Always sit facing the East or North direction when reciting the Kali mantras.
As soon as you begin the recital, you will feel a certain vibration filling your being with strength and confidence.
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Any Kali mantra you pick up, it is advised that you chant the Kaali mantra for 40 days to gain all its benefits.
For better benefits, don't eat non-vegetarian food or avoid eating onion and garlic as well.
Important Kaali Mantra
1. Kali Beej Mantra
Kreem is the Ekakshari beej mantra associated with Goddess Kali. As such, the beej mantra doesn't have a specific meaning, but it represents the vibrations that aid the spiritual and mental state of the mind. Chanting the Kali beej mantra connects the native with the energies of Goddess Kali. These transformational energies help the native in fighting evil forces around and within him. It is said that chanting the Kali beej mantra with utmost devotion grants different things - right from devotional to material - to the native depending upon the quality of his or her mind.
The Kali Beej mantra is:
|| ॐ क्रीं काली ||
Om Krim Kali
Meaning- K stands for full knowledge,
R means she is auspicious,
I mean she bestows booms, and
M means that she gives freedom.
‘Salutation to the Supreme.’
Benefits of chanting the Kali Beej mantra
As per astrologers, the Kali beej mantra chanting protects one from all the evil forces.
Also, chanting the Kali beej mantra with full devotion fulfils all your desires and brings positivity to the environment you reside.
The mantra is also recited to uplift the confidence of the native.
Best time to recite the Kali beej mantra After sunset
Number of times to chant this mantra 108 daily for 40 days
Who can recite the Kali beej mantra? Anyone
Chant this mantra facing East or North direction
2. Kali Mantra
Although Goddess Kali looks frightening, she always tends to listen to her devotees' prayers as she is very fond of them. The prayers are better communicated to the Goddess if the devotee chants the Kali Mantra when praying to Goddess Kali. The Kali mantra mentioned below is said to heal the native of his worries and brings him closer to God. The Kali mantra is simple and transforms the devotee to Pure consciousness to help him make better decisions in life.
The Kali Mantra is:
|| ॐ क्रीं कालिकायै नमः ||
Om Kring Kalikaye Namah
Meaning- This mantra is a sound representation of the Mother.
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Benefits of chanting the Kali mantra
As mentioned above, the Kali mantra helps in transforming the devotee into pure consciousness, meaning the chanting helps in making his mind clutter-free.
The chanting of this Kali mantra rewards the native with utmost wisdom and knowledge.
The mantra relives one of all sorts of emotional pain. If you are having a hard time controlling your emotions, this mantra is very useful for you.
The mantra is said to bring the native unmatched courage.
Best time to recite the Kali mantra After sunset
Number of times to chant this mantra 108 daily for 40 days
Who can recite the Kali mantra? Anyone
Chant this mantra facing East or North direction
3. Maha Kali mantra
The Maha Kali mantra is not used much due to its purgative nature. However, the one who properly knows how to use the mantra can benefit from the unmatched courage and strength the mantra recitation promises to deliver. Maha Kali is the great divine form of Maa Kali and bestows the natives with the power to accept things around him and change accordingly. If you chant this mantra on a regular basis, you will end up feeling a thrust of positive vibrations around you, which will prompt you to make things happen for you.
The Maha Kali mantra is:
|| ॐ श्री महा कलिकायै नमः ||
Om Sri Maha Kalikayai Namah
Meaning - I bow my head to the Divine dark goddess Mother, Kali or I salute the Divine Mother, Kali.
Benefits of chanting the Maha Kali mantra
One must appease the Divine Mother by chanting this mantra in her honour in order to obtain her grace.
The Maha Kali mantra acts like a shield that saves anyone against the tough times ahead of him.
Reciting the Maha Kali mantra brings stability to the life, and helps the native better decide what is right and what is wrong for him.
Best time to recite the Maha Kali mantra After sunset
Number of times to chant this mantra 108 daily for 40 days
Who can recite the Maha Kali mantra? Anyone
Chant this mantra facing East or North direction
4. Kalika-Yei Mantra
Some problems in our life are just way too complex. The complexity is such that they keep us on our toes, barring us from enjoying and living life as it is meant to be. The Kalika-Yei mantra is for such problems. The mantra is especially useful for students and working professionals who constantly are under the stress of life, finding it hard to manage their personal and professional goals. The mantra also aids problems, doesn't matter how big.
The Kalika-Yei Mantra is:
|| ॐ कलिं कालिका-य़ेइ नमः ||
Om Klim Kalika-Yei Namaha
Meaning - Hail to the Goddess Kali, bless us with a conscious and insightful mind. Make us intelligent and wise.
Benefits of chanting the Kalika-Yei mantra
As mentioned above, the Kalika-Yei mantra is believed to bring relief from all kinds of problems, no matter how complex it is.
The mantra chanting is really useful for students and working professionals and helps them do better in life.
The mantra is protective of your life. It saves you from the danger of bad eye/buri nazar and hence keeps your progress intact.
Best time to recite the Kalika-Yei mantra After sunset
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Number of times to chant this mantra 108 daily for 40 days
Who can recite the Kalika-Yei mantra? Anyone
Chant this mantra facing East or North direction
5. Kali Gayatri Mantra
The Kali Gayatri mantra is one of the most useful mantras if you seek quick success in life. For the natives struggling at growing in their careers, the Kali Gayatri mantra comes to the rescue as its vibrations fill the native with positive energies. The mantra provides success, well-being and happiness to the native.
The Kali Gayatri mantra is:
|| ॐ महा काल्यै
छ विद्महे स्मसन वासिन्यै
छ धीमहि तन्नो काली प्रचोदयात ||
Om Maha Kalyai
Cha Vidmahe Smasana Vasinyai
Cha Dhimahi Tanno Kali Prachodayat
Meaning - Om Great Goddess Kali, the One and only one, who resides in the Ocean of Life and in the Cremation Grounds that dissolve the world. We focus our energies on you, may you grant us boons and blessings.
Benefits of chanting the Kali Gayatri mantra
As the native chants the kali Gayatri mantra, his mind becomes divinely transformed and passes from the gross state of worldly affairs into Kali’s subtle light of pure consciousness.
The Kali Gayatri mantra helps the native in accomplishing tasks successfully.
The mantra recitation is said to free the native from all fears of life to help him take the needed step.
Best time to recite the Kali Gayatri mantra After sunset
Number of times to chant this mantra 9 times daily for 40 days
Who can recite the Kali Gayatri mantra? Anyone
Chant this mantra facing East or North direction
6. Dakshina Kali Dhyan Mantra
Dhyan is a state of mind which helps you connect with the divine in numerous ways. Also called the Karpuradi Stotra, the regular chanting of the Dhyan mantra aids the native to connect with the energies of Maa Kali, which are fearfulness, courage, boldness, valour and more. However, to have the best of this mantra, the native needs to chant the Dakshina Kali Dhyan mantra regularly and with the correct pronunciation.
The Dakshina Kali Dhyan mantra is:
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|| ॐ ह्रीं ह्रीं ह्रुं ह्रुं क्रीं क्रीं क्रीं दक्षिणकालिके क्रीं क्रीं क्रीं ह्रुं ह्रुं ह्रीं ह्रीं ||
Om Hreem Hreem Hrum Hrum Kreem Kreem Kreem Dakshina Kalike Kreem Kreem Kreem Hrum Hrum Hreem Hreem
Meaning - Salutations to the Goddess who is the preserver of earth and saves the universe from all kinds of troubles.
Benefits of chanting Dakshina Kali Dhyan mantra
Recitation of this mantra releases you from the binding web of adult pretence.
Dakshina Kali Dhyan mantra energises you with positive energy so that you can achieve your goal no matter how tough.
The chanting of the Dakshina Kali Dhyan mantra brings peace, happiness, and satisfaction to the native.
Best time to recite the Dakshina Kali Dhyan mantra After sunset
Number of times to chant this mantra 9 times daily for 40 days
Who can recite the Dakshina Kali Dhyan mantra? Anyone
Chant this mantra facing East or North direction
7. Kali Chants
Apart from Kali mantras, there are also some Kali Chants a native can chant to seek the blessing of Goddess Kali.
The Dakshina Kali Dhyan mantra is:
ॐ काली, काली! ॐ काली, काली!
नमोस्तुते, नमोस्तुते, नमो!
नमोस्तुते, नमोस्तुते, नमो ||
Om Kali, Kali! Om Kali, Kali
Namostute, namostute, namo
Namostute, namostute, namo
आनंद मां आनंद मां कलि
आनंद मां आनंद मां कलि
आनंद मां आनंद मां कलि
ॐ काली माँ ||
Ananda Maa Ananda Maa Kali
Ananda Maa Ananda Maa Kali
Ananda Maa Ananda Maa Kali
Om Kali Maa
Overall benefits of Chanting the Kali mantras
The Kali mantras are one of the most powerful mantras in astrology and thus hold the capability to protect you from the hexes.
The Kali mantra chanting resonates with vibrations that calm you down and help you in attaining peace.
Reciting the Kali mantra awakens the inner consciousness of the person, and thus brings stability to his or her life.
Chanting the Kali mantra helps you maintain cordial and harmonious relations with your family and loved ones.
If you chant the Kali mantra regularly and with full devotion, the Goddess shall bring an end to all your sufferings.
Chanting the mantra on a regular basis safeguards the native from the disasters that may bestow upon his health, wealth and happiness.
The regular chanting of the Kali mantra gives you strength thereby making you more powerful than the problems you face.
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The chanting of the Maa Kali mantra helps in making your life more radiant. You shall feel the positive vibes if you chant these mantras on a regular basis.
The mantras aid the native's financial position and help in removing all debts.
In terms of love life too, reciting the Kali mantra can help in resolving issues surrounding your love life and can help you in achieving success all the way.
It provides success, happiness, progress, and well-being.
The chanting of the mantra, and the vibrations that release from it, help in uplifting your health.
The Kali mantras ward away the bad eye and any evil that attempts to stop your growth in life.
The Mantras help you to find a good match for matrimonial purposes. Chanting of Kali Mantra ensures any delay in marriage is resolved.
The chanting of Goddess Kali Mantra brings stability to life. You can decide what is good for your life. You always end up with good decisions.
I hope you enjoyed this blog more to follow shortly,
Culture Calypso’s Blog 🪷🪬🧿
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random-xpressions · 5 months
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Context: the picture below was taken in pure frivolity to tell my ex that I'm busy in my own headspace. In other words, a DO NOT DISTURB pic.
DEEPER DIVE INTO INDIAN MYTHOLOGY
The first picture is actually the statue of Adiyogi Shiva situated in Bangalore - one week left for its first anniversary.
Now our land has been steeped in polytheism but unfortunately foreign interpretations of the ancient scripts have been utterly biased and had actually missed the very central theme and divine message.
Now I'm in no way for or against any of the belief systems around the world and purely honours whatever an individual chooses to believe. This post is now purely intended to dive into the esoteric aspects of the Indian mythology.
The core teaching of this land has been that they don't limit God to a certain time or place but they believe in the appearance and the reappearance of the divine in all forms, in all places, in all times.
This is the reason that they see the spiritual masters at a step greater than the station of their own biological parents because while one is the cause of your entry into earthly existence the other is the bridge for you to transcend into higher heavenly realms.
So the core of Indian system of belief begins from the sacred institution of Guru/Shishya otherwise translated feebly as Master/Disciple relationship.
Now somehow there is a wide misinterpretation from the ignoramuses as well in worshipping everything they get hold of, being deluded to think that a physical manifestation is actually the Divine whereas at its best could only be a segmental representation, an earthly descent popularly known in Sanskrit language as "Avatãra" - a transcendental form open for human experience.
The purpose of every ancient scripture has been very clear - to unlock the human potential and to have the pinnacle of divine experiences while still within the garb of human flesh, blood and bone. Such an unlocking is either attained or gifted or a combination of both. Meditation, prayer, efforts in service to humanity - there are a thousand ways to kneel.
Don't be surprised, ancient scripts have an entire branch of SCIENCE in finding salvation through the practise of sex which is seen as the pinnacle of dance between two humans. So the whole idea of religion is not just limited to the rites or rituals but to the actual liberation of humanity through the most mundane of daily activities.
To conclude, this is in no way even an exposition or promotion in its slightest the religion of Hinduism as is existent in its present day because to understand even the basic precept of this land and its tradition will require much deeper dive than what's available to the common masses.
Random Xpressions
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ruumirmir · 8 months
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Gojo Satoru, the man that you are, had me researching Buddhism and shit
///Jjk chap 236 leaks and spoilers pls begone thankuverymuch
I have never been more deranged in my life of living. And when I say deranged,, I hope everyone involved will enjoy my copium induced girl dinner rant that I cooked up 💥🔥
going through five stages of grief,, about to invent the 6th and 7th one. over Lines on Paper this is my life
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Anyways,, so I came across a tweet which started my spiral after I read through these:
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jujutsu kaisen
has the potential to create THE arc of all Time ever if,, BY GOING OFF OF SYMBOLISM,,, the plot NAILS this
bc the buddha imagery and symbolism of gojo is already the coldest shit ever when gege cooked with the "throughout heaven and earth, i alone am the honored one"
if this actually happens to some degree
we could have the biggest "WE'RE SO FUCKING BACK" moment in all of manga history
《Gautama Buddha died at the age of 80 in 483 BCE at a place called Kushinagara a town in UP》
thank god we still have 8 more decades left until gojo is FEASIBLY ALLOWED TO DIE AT A SUITABLE AGE AND AFTER A LONG HAPPY LIFE.
ok wait technically 5 more decades since hes close to pushing 30
Raggedy old man. Bros aging 💀
death of an anime man got me actually researching about Gautama Buddha with sincere interest now
《"Mara" is one of the earliest non-human beings to appear in Buddhist scriptures. He is a demon, sometimes called the Lord of Death, who plays a role in many stories of the Buddha and his monks.》
apparently this is the demon equivalent to reflect sukuna's character. hes mostly present in esoteric buddhism
the hand sign,, is same as sukuna's domain expansion here
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《In East Asian and Buddhist mythology, Yama,, also known as King Yan/Yan Wang is the King of Hell and a dharmapala (wrathful god) said to judge the dead and preside over the Narakas and the cycle of afterlife saṃsāra.》
In Hinduism,, that's Lord Yama, god of the dead, similarly shown with a Bull as his familiar.
from chinese mythology:
《Yan is portrayed as a large man with a scowling red face, bulging eyes, and a long beard. He wears traditional robes and a judge's cap or a crown which bears the character for "king".》
This cant translate to sukuna's "true form"
Yknow,, the big fucking body with 4 arms and a wooden mask thing on the left side of his face. He definetely IS shown to wear traditional robes.
Now bear with me here, I'm derailing my sanity rn.
yes now THIS is interestinger:
《The spirits of the dead, on being judged by Yan, are supposed to either pass through a term of enjoyment in a region midway between the earth and the heaven of the gods.》
We LITERALLY. have a whole segment of gojo enjoying his time seeing suguru and his other friends who died in an afterlife-kinda setting. We also specifically get a panel of sukuna praising satoru,, passing his judgement,, that we've seen him do to other characters as well [jogo, although that's kinda debatable 💀 since Sukuna kind of. Trashed him]
《-or to undergo their measure of punishment in the nether world. Neither location is permanent and after a time, they return to Earth in new bodies.》
JUMPING UP AND FUCKING DOWN RN. Isnt Kusakabe on standby,, who cultivated an ability to act as a medium and swap/ conduct other people's souls with his own. As i said before,,, SURELYYYYYYY gege wouldnt do this shit without REASON
(it is the funniest shit in the world to type up "Indra god hand gesture" and for gojo fucking satoru's face to pop up in the image and ACTUALLY be linked to a legit discussion on his domain expansion hand sign being referenced from Indra)
ok so, in hinduism,, its "Indra", but in buddhism the same god is translated unto "Sakra"
yknow how it be. Different religions and practices share the same god and the beliefs overlap here and there.
so theres this
《When one Śakra dies, his place is taken by another deity who becomes the new Śakra.》
which is basically the jujutsu kaisen equivalent of people in the gojo clan being born. With the liberty taken of SixEyes + Limitless users taking hundreds of years to be born after deaths of the previous one.
Okay so
"then with his face to the north took seven strides while a white canopy was held over him" is the text referencing buddha's enlightening birth.
the white canopy held over his head is a symbol that he'll achieve nirvana.
《In Buddhism, "Nirvana" is the highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment, meaning a person's individual desires and suffering go away. The origin of the word nirvana relates to religious enlightenment; it comes from the Sanskrit meaning "extinction, disappearance" of the individual to the universal.》
Since we've Already seen that gojo's achieved his state of enlightenment at his first death (by toji)
This can be the second stage where he achieves Nirvana at his second death,,
in the storyline,, gojo is Heavily only recognized and labeled by his powers and strength with the Limitless and the Six eyes that he possesses.
(Literally, it means “blowing out” or “becoming extinguished,” as when a flame is blown out or a fire burns out. nirvana.)
So if somehow,, we've all been theorizing,, if gojo erases that aspect of him. Destroys the aspect that defines him as Gojo Satoru, he'll technically be achieving Nirvana and being born (revived) anew.
which is also sweetening the conclusion of the age old question
"Are you the strongest because youre gojo satoru? Or are you gojo satoru because you're the strongest", that geto had ask him years ago.
Which ig, Also raises the question:
IF, gojo were to sacrifice his SixEyes and Limitless in his pact of revival (details to be pondered upon later), would this count as a Legitmate "death" with relevance to the world's balance being re-altered, and Also resetting the cycle for another user to be born?
Or idk maybe I'm just tripping balls <3
Goodnight everynyan. Let's awaken to a day where Satoru Gojo comes to live amongst us once again. 🕊
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hey i just read the cassandra clare masterpost and i'm just gonna add here.
the shadowhunter religion, as a whole is purely based on christian & jewish religion/mythology with cc saying that muslim or hindu or any other religious shadowhunters can't exist. yet she takes up various mythological beings from these myths (especially hinduism) like the naga demons, the asuras etc. and wrongly depicts them as 'evil' when in real hindu mythology it is so much more complex than that.
there is the existence of institutes in various parts of the world like mumbai which begs the question how were those institutes established? and whether the shadowhunters of those places came to be because of colonisation & were forced to convert to the shadowhunter religion. how they have to remove themselves from their own culture which is exactly what happened under the 200 years of british rule in india.
i'm sure other people of colour will have this problem too with their own religions & ethnicities but i can only speak of india as i'm only knowledgeable of my own heritage & cultures. but it irks me so much.
Hey thanks for dropping by! I really appreciate your viewpoint. If you don't mind can you maybe link me to the masterpost? was it ours? I'm sorry the search function is a mess. In general I kinda get depressed by how thoroughly christianity has become the global religion. Like saying the shadowhunter religion is based on christianity and Judaism is kinda wrong because even though much of christiandom pays lip service to the torah sometimes christiandom is very antisemitic.
but yeah of course CClare is culturally appropriating from hinduism and other religions. its frustrating because so many people continue to read her books and giving her money. at the very least her show is off the air.
mod ali
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yaksha-garden · 7 months
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//holds a microphone up to u. tell me about the slay the princess/eden brainworms.
i am RIPPING the microphone out of your hand and marching up to the front of the stage to tell everyone about the brainworms. none of you will be spared. this is what you have wrought. you've let the world ending princess out of the basement now.
but also. massive Slay The Princess spoilers below. seriously, this is gonna spoil the whole deal of what the Princess actually is, and it's really the sort of game you should go into reasonably blind, you won't regret it. It's hot among indie horror let's players atm I think, so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a playthrough.
But then again I'm not your dad so just know you've been warned.
first of all: the princess' final form/The Shifting Mound takes cues from the iconography of hindu deities, or at least seems to. if the reference was unintentional I'll be genuinely surprised (this isn't an accusation of appropriation or anything - Hinduism isn't a closed religion, and I actually think the reference fits with the Shifting Mound and the princess' many forms' whole situation, so it's just a cool detail). it will be informing my inner picture of eden's true form during their "glory days" (before plague and giving up the Keystone and most of their power) from now on.
but the whole deal of like... the princess (and the many forms she can take) being the fragmented essence of a deity of change who was feared because she also represents death is like holy cow! edencore! they're essentially a deity with a fragmented memory, a multifaceted domain, and diminished existence! they don't represent chaos but nature can be kinda similar, in themes if not aesthetics. and especially like... in the fear of something ultimately natural, like death. and how that fear isn't unfounded or unreasonably, but when taken too far, it inflicts disaster on the world.
eden too is a shapeshifter. mostly in that they have animal forms, but i think emotionally, they're a mimic - and that's the source of a lot of their apparent volatility. if someone's kind to them, they'll be downright magnanimous right back. if someone antagonizes them, they'll be bitchy in turn and they won't be the one to de-escalate or stop holding the feud first. that tbh. that sort of thing is the driving force behind The Princess' shifting forms imo. she is a creature of perception, you are what you make her, but I find she responds in kind to whatever you, the protagonist, do. if you imprison her, she seeks to imprison you. if you betray her, she'll betray you when you're the one with the exposed back. but if you love her, she'll love you back. cuts both ways.
also like... the world the game takes place in. the construct. i kind of want to make something like that as like, a dream of eden or another powerful figure? maybe one of the Devatas' past schemes to get Eden away from The Verdant Haven permanently was to trap them in that sort of dream realm, a forever-repeating, mutating, airtight story-realm. obviously that didn't work. this is where the brainworms are taking me in terms of setting and backstory design.
and also... this isn't about main verse eden. in fact, it's about their original verse, a soulslike-inspired hindu mythology-based setting where Eden was the dying, comatose god who all plant life depended on, and Vayu/Yuya was the protagonist trying to revive them. And I made this years, before I ever knew about Slay The Princess, but by sheer coincidence, Yuya <--> Eden what the protagonist <--> The Princess in slay the princess in terms of metaphysics: separated fragments of the same whole. someone who reccomended the game to me actually said after I played it and rambled at him that he partly reccomended it to me because it reminded him of vayuden a little. and man. that made me ecstatic.
anyway this is not nearly the full extent of the brainworms, just the brainworms I could put to words. you understand. thank you thank you for indulging me.
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atlasshrugd · 8 months
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Sorry if you get the message twice, but my computer gave me an error message, so I'll try again.
Hello,
I'm thrilled with your noir fic.
You're giving the characters a whole new look. Vegas as an ex-preacher, Kinn as a ghost-like person with a penchant for removing eyes.
You often refer to films, genre-typical constellations and European-influenced intellectual history, which I understand or think I understand.
But I have no idea about Thailand. Here you make many references to the Thai spirit world or perhaps mythological stories.
Can you briefly explain some of them to me, because Google is only of limited help. I'm sure you only refer to aspects that interest you personally or seem relevant to your story.
I would be grateful for a few explanations, because knowledge often increases pleasure.
Hi there!
I am so thrilled that you like my fic. I saw your comment and was just about to respond. It truly made my day that you have such an intellectual and passionate appreciation for my story. And thank you for reaching out and asking this question!
To answer you -
Yes, you are right. I have drawn a bunch of inspiration from multiple religions: Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and philosophies such as Taoism.
However, I also take some creative liberties to make the story work. For Kinn's monicker of 'Phrai Ngu' — that is a reference to Thai mythology of a ghost that appears in snake form. I merged this with Chinese mythology's 'Yaogui' which means 'demon.' I added the whole 'taking the eyes' part — it is not in any Thai folklore that I know of. I wanted to draw the comparison with the ''Guanyin' in Buddhism, which is the Buddha of Compassion and mercy with a thousand arms and eyes. I thought it would be a nice irony.
So, I'm sorry if that is disappointing, but I personally added that part to the story's lore. The fic takes place in a kind of alternate universe where most Thai gangs are Christian (as a front) but their culture is still Buddhist. I'm sorry if that's confusing, I'm just really into drawing philosophical/theological/biblical symbolism and allegory in my writing. So nothing makes me happier when others are interested in it, too!
Also - THANK YOU for noticing. You also mentioned in your comment how I reference Film Noire and various apocalyptic and dystopian films. YES. I took major inspiration from books/movies like the Big Sleep, Casino Royale, the Godfather, the Long Goodbye, the Maltese Falcon. And films such as Heat, Infernal Affairs, Blade Runner, Miami Vice, Dirty Harry. Plus, you already noticed that I referenced Dante's Inferno. Other films I drew inspiration from were Wong Kar-Wai's: Happy Together, In the Mood for Love, Fallen Angels, 2046, and Lust, Caution.
If you're interested, here is the link to the playlist for the fic. It's quite long for now but once the fic is done it will be shorter and in sequential order. It is the soundtrack of the fic + music that I listen to while writing it.
Thank you again for your great question and comments. :)
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iturbide · 10 months
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I think it's because religion revering dragons tends to be inspired by how Japanese irl revered dragon as protective spirits, it's not exactly an organized cult. Moreover, the dragon in Engage are pretty much made of flesh so they can speak directly to their believer about what they want
Okay so 'organized cult' has some pretty strong implications for how you view religion as a whole, and I'm not exactly comfortable with that.
Religion is, at its core, just a bunch of stories. It's a mythology. It's inherently neutral. It's the human component that's charged with motives, good and bad; it's the human component that will cherry-pick ideas that fit their desired message and use religion as a cudgel against others. It's the human component that wages wars over a bunch of stories, whether it's because another group has different stories or they read the same stories differently.
Also, it's my general understanding that dragons are just part of the wider Shinto religion in Japan -- dragons are kami, the same way that Inari is kami. Their worship is based on stories, too, because those stories lend context to the kami. Dragons are associated with water, rain, and fishing: the rituals around their worship have a heavy focus on agriculture and fishing. It's a gross misreading of the actual faith they're part of to say they're just revered as protective spirits when Shintoism has such a complex and nuanced set of cultural practices. I'm not qualified to speak on the specifics, but I don't think it's fair to say the Engage dragon worship thing is just "how it's done in Japan."
Also, it's worth mentioning that a lot of religions have stories about gods assuming mortal forms. Hinduism has full-on epics about the mortal avatars of their deities (and also they're amazing). But what your wording implies is that dragons don't need to do anything besides be present to be worshiped, which...isn't how religion works. Again: it's stories. If the dragon is there and wants to be worshiped, they have to do something to make that happen -- whether that's helping those around them and developing a reputation that draws followers (like Naga, who shared the dragons' knowledge with early humans) or gaming the system to give power to those who will subjugate others and force them to take part in that worship (Loptous and the Loptyrian Empire -- though, take note, there were regular people who worshiped Loptous by the time of his first defeat, and they were subsequently subjugated by the victors and prayed for their divine's aid).
Engage, from what I played and saw in the course of the narrative and Supports, didn't put in much legwork to show why the Divine Dragons are worshiped, why they're considered royal, why they're the center of the predominant faith of Elyos. Maybe it's just the ongoing reverence after the events of the war against Sombron, but I'd really like to know more about what the religion says, what other stories there are about Lumera and the Divine Dragons that led to their reverence in the first place.
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