Honouring the Goddess!!

Let this be clear, said a tweet, 'No other religion allows you an image of a feminine divine'.  And yes the catholics can say Mother Mary, but she is not through who you go to heaven.  Others can say that we do not have a form. But, where do you see grown men bow to the image of a woman?

Not only that, the fiercest form of God is the feminine.  As is depicted in the following picture.  The description on the left gives an explanation.  She severs ignorance (depicted as a head) and bestows blessings of knowledge and light. 

And here, a depiction that God is half man half woman.  Here is a rendition of that in a dance form, a very popular form in fact. (whether or not you read the rest of the post, do watch this, just for its choreography). The main point of this dance is that it is the union of man and woman that brings about this creation.  And this union is celebration as Half-Man-Half-Woman.  During this entire dance, the dancers are acting as if they are one body.  Towards the end the two colors represent feminine and masculine. 


Yesterday (Friday, September 29, 2017) was the culmination of a nine day festival celebrating the feminine divine.  For nine straight days nine different Goddesses are honoured.  (aas you can tell, this post lay in drafts for over 3 years...such is life)

Credit: Pinterest

Here Watch this amazing performance by a woman who was suffering from cancer and used dance to heal.  The dance includes drawing an image of the Goddess with her dance movements. (Click here).

Here is another delightful video about staff at Kolkata airport celebrating the return of Goddess Durga to her abode!! Goddess Durga is invited into people's homes every year for 9 days. The house becomes a temple and celebrations ensue. After nine days there is celebration nas she returns to her abode. Even though many cry, for the Goddess is leaving. There is an entire ceremony of immersing the Goddess into a body of flowing water. (Click here for the video).

I will return to this post with more information (not enough time, but Hinduism is the only living religion and others that are its offshoots that considers the union man and woman as divine and not a sin). However, for now a quick note... one of my favourite memories from this day is to be showered with gifts from the entire neighbourhood--just for being a girl. Being the life energy, the one that brings forth creation. When I update the post, I will also point out the flaws in the modern understanding of feminism which is making her more masculine and more male like.

These are some of the many things I love about Hinduism. The honouring of wisdom of nature. The only religion with a massive focus on joy and celebration--with drums and dancing and treats and trumpets-- and it includes everything and everyone. People and animals and plants.

Think ecology. This is Hinduism.