BVCuma on sun 13 oct 02
Excerpts from...
The Tantric culture drew on the power of the Devi.
It evolved potent chants or mantras, diagrams such as
mandalas and yantras, gestures called mudras and vows
known as vratas, to incite nature to bestow health, harvest
and happiness. Such a culture probably flourished in the
cities of the Indus valley and survived in the villages
and tribes of India.
Women played a powerful role in these rituals for they
were the mediums through which Devi's grace percolated
into society. Their presence was required to make every
occasion auspicious. In spring festivals, women were
asked to sing, dance and kick trees to accelerate their
flowering and fruition.
This was the religion of the common man, of the farmer,
the potter, the weaver, the tanner, the blacksmith, and
the forest-dweller
The goddess of this religion was powerful, untamable
wild and free.
_____________
In the forests, long before civilization's stifling influence,
ancient Indian tribes heard Devi's wild, unrestrained,
virginal laughter. She was found residing in trees,
with birds and beasts. She was Bagalamukhi, the
heron faced goddess. She was the turtle riding Yamuna
and the crocodile riding Ganga.... proud, turbulent
river-goddess. She belonged to all. She was Renuka,
mistress of the earth. She was Yellamma, everyone's
mother.
But as man became the master, the owner, the lord,
he fenced off the land, plucked away the weeds, seared
the earth with a plough and sowed the seed of his choice.
The earth became man's property, and field on which man
harvested his fortune. Women, always equated with the earth,
were seen as fields too. Man was its jealous farmer. Thus
was patriarchy born.
With the domestication of the earth, Devi's wildness was
rejected; she became the coy village-goddess, the
gramma-devi, whose chastity ensured the village fortune.
Likewise, it was believed that a coy and chaste wife
ensured the fortune of her husband.
_____________
Though her sacredness has always been acknowledged,
every attempt was made to curtail feminine freedom.
Her faithfulness to her husband became the hallmark of
her virtue. Her chastity, it came to be believed, ensured
happiness in the family. So much so that even when her
husband died, she was expected to remain true to her
husband's memory. Without her husband, she became
a non-entity, an inauspicious widow. If she killed
herself on his pyre she was worshipped as a
Sati-Maharani.
Though the goddess was the source of power, wealth and
knowledge, Hindu women were denied the right to make
decisions, the right to own property and the right to
educate themselves. They were hidden behind veils,
locked in the inner courtyard, trapped within thresholds,
smothered by the alleged divinity of chaste wives and
loving matriarchs.
Worse still, they were seen as the fountainhead of
temptation, hurdles on the path of spiritual progress,
to be rejected by those who sought spiritual emancipation.
They were the mythical apsaras who bewitches rishis and
entrapped them in samasara. Many holymen avoided even
casual contact with women lest they be tempted.
The paradoxical worship and suppression of women is
perhaps the greatest tragedy...
__________
Through the ages, man has sought to either control or
escape from the world around him. When both enterprises
seem futile, he turns to the mother-goddess. And she
offers him nourishment, strength, validation and
unconditional love, so that man can come to terms with
the world as it is, not as it should be. This, in essence, is
the Shakta heritage.
Durga..
Durga is the most splendid manifestation of Devi.
Virginal and sublime, containing within her the power of
all the gods combined, she is the invincible power of
Nature who triumphs over those who seek to
subjugate her......
"Who are you?" asked the gods.
"I am Durga- the inaccessible one," replied the goddess.
"I am Prakti, the substance that gives form and
identity to all things. I am Shakti, the power that enables
all creatures to exist, think, act and respond. I am
Maya, the delusion that makes life alluring yet elusive."
The gods saluted the great goddess....
Cheryl Hoffman on sat 19 oct 02
In a message dated 10/19/02 4:44:40 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
stevemills@MUDSLINGER.DEMON.CO.UK writes:
> My Celtic ancestors also worshipped an Earth Mother, she had many names,
> none of them accurately remembered now. She was/is in everything around
> us. She has three faces; the Mother, the Lover, and the Hag, which
> cover all aspects of life. Needless to say her existence was/is denied
> by various imported religions, all male dominated! But she still
> governs our lives, albeit quietly and without fuss. You can still see
> her when you learn to open your eyes, and feel her presence very
> strongly.
>
> Steve
> Bath
> UK
>
>
Steve, I also feel the strong presence of the triple goddess in every thing
I do and see. It is to her that I give thanks and seek comfort. Strange
that this thread should come up now...for the last week, I have felt
compelled to put her three faces on my pots.
Cher H
Florida, USA
Steve Mills on sat 19 oct 02
My Celtic ancestors also worshipped an Earth Mother, she had many names,
none of them accurately remembered now. She was/is in everything around
us. She has three faces; the Mother, the Lover, and the Hag, which
cover all aspects of life. Needless to say her existence was/is denied
by various imported religions, all male dominated! But she still
governs our lives, albeit quietly and without fuss. You can still see
her when you learn to open your eyes, and feel her presence very
strongly.
Steve
Bath
UK
In message , BVCuma writes
>Excerpts from...
>
>The Tantric culture drew on the power of the Devi.
>It evolved potent chants or mantras, diagrams such as
>mandalas and yantras, gestures called mudras and vows
>known as vratas, to incite nature to bestow health, harvest
>and happiness. Such a culture probably flourished in the
>cities of the Indus valley and survived in the villages
>and tribes of India.
>
>Women played a powerful role in these rituals for they
>were the mediums through which Devi's grace percolated
>into society. Their presence was required to make every
>occasion auspicious. In spring festivals, women were
>asked to sing, dance and kick trees to accelerate their
>flowering and fruition.
>
>This was the religion of the common man, of the farmer,
>the potter, the weaver, the tanner, the blacksmith, and
>the forest-dweller
>
>The goddess of this religion was powerful, untamable
>wild and free.
>_____________
>
>
>In the forests, long before civilization's stifling influence,
>ancient Indian tribes heard Devi's wild, unrestrained,
>virginal laughter. She was found residing in trees,
>with birds and beasts. She was Bagalamukhi, the
>heron faced goddess. She was the turtle riding Yamuna
>and the crocodile riding Ganga.... proud, turbulent
>river-goddess. She belonged to all. She was Renuka,
>mistress of the earth. She was Yellamma, everyone's
>mother.
>
>But as man became the master, the owner, the lord,
>he fenced off the land, plucked away the weeds, seared
>the earth with a plough and sowed the seed of his choice.
>The earth became man's property, and field on which man
>harvested his fortune. Women, always equated with the earth,
>were seen as fields too. Man was its jealous farmer. Thus
>was patriarchy born.
>
>With the domestication of the earth, Devi's wildness was
>rejected; she became the coy village-goddess, the
>gramma-devi, whose chastity ensured the village fortune.
>Likewise, it was believed that a coy and chaste wife
>ensured the fortune of her husband.
>_____________
>
>
>Though her sacredness has always been acknowledged,
>every attempt was made to curtail feminine freedom.
>Her faithfulness to her husband became the hallmark of
>her virtue. Her chastity, it came to be believed, ensured
>happiness in the family. So much so that even when her
>husband died, she was expected to remain true to her
>husband's memory. Without her husband, she became
>a non-entity, an inauspicious widow. If she killed
>herself on his pyre she was worshipped as a
>Sati-Maharani.
>
>Though the goddess was the source of power, wealth and
>knowledge, Hindu women were denied the right to make
>decisions, the right to own property and the right to
>educate themselves. They were hidden behind veils,
>locked in the inner courtyard, trapped within thresholds,
>smothered by the alleged divinity of chaste wives and
>loving matriarchs.
>
>Worse still, they were seen as the fountainhead of
>temptation, hurdles on the path of spiritual progress,
>to be rejected by those who sought spiritual emancipation.
>They were the mythical apsaras who bewitches rishis and
>entrapped them in samasara. Many holymen avoided even
>casual contact with women lest they be tempted.
>
>The paradoxical worship and suppression of women is
>perhaps the greatest tragedy...
>__________
>
>
>Through the ages, man has sought to either control or
>escape from the world around him. When both enterprises
>seem futile, he turns to the mother-goddess. And she
>offers him nourishment, strength, validation and
>unconditional love, so that man can come to terms with
>the world as it is, not as it should be. This, in essence, is
>the Shakta heritage.
>
>Durga..
>
>Durga is the most splendid manifestation of Devi.
>Virginal and sublime, containing within her the power of
>all the gods combined, she is the invincible power of
>Nature who triumphs over those who seek to
>subjugate her......
>
>"Who are you?" asked the gods.
>
>"I am Durga- the inaccessible one," replied the goddess.
>"I am Prakti, the substance that gives form and
>identity to all things. I am Shakti, the power that enables
>all creatures to exist, think, act and respond. I am
>Maya, the delusion that makes life alluring yet elusive."
>
>The gods saluted the great goddess....
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
Kira-Umich on sun 20 oct 02
Perhaps if we still paid attention to these ancient dieties/forces, many of
the choices we make about our planet would be different - that is, they
would give back, rather than endlessly take. . .
Kira
Playing with 'elephant skin' glaze in gloomy Ann Arbor
don hunt on sun 20 oct 02
dear moderator,
shall we allow equal time for all religions?
If you allow this, what do you consider religious/unacceptable.
How open minded of you
Don Hunt
Steve Mills wrote:
> My Celtic ancestors also worshipped an Earth Mother, she had many names,
> none of them accurately remembered now. She was/is in everything around
> us. She has three faces; the Mother, the Lover, and the Hag, which
> cover all aspects of life. Needless to say her existence was/is denied
> by various imported religions, all male dominated! But she still
> governs our lives, albeit quietly and without fuss. You can still see
> her when you learn to open your eyes, and feel her presence very
> strongly.
>
> Steve
> Bath
> UK
>
> In message , BVCuma writes
> >Excerpts from...
> >
> >The Tantric culture drew on the power of the Devi.
> >It evolved potent chants or mantras, diagrams such as
> >mandalas and yantras, gestures called mudras and vows
> >known as vratas, to incite nature to bestow health, harvest
> >and happiness. Such a culture probably flourished in the
> >cities of the Indus valley and survived in the villages
> >and tribes of India.
> >
> >Women played a powerful role in these rituals for they
> >were the mediums through which Devi's grace percolated
> >into society. Their presence was required to make every
> >occasion auspicious. In spring festivals, women were
> >asked to sing, dance and kick trees to accelerate their
> >flowering and fruition.
> >
> >This was the religion of the common man, of the farmer,
> >the potter, the weaver, the tanner, the blacksmith, and
> >the forest-dweller
> >
> >The goddess of this religion was powerful, untamable
> >wild and free.
> >_____________
> >
> >
> >In the forests, long before civilization's stifling influence,
> >ancient Indian tribes heard Devi's wild, unrestrained,
> >virginal laughter. She was found residing in trees,
> >with birds and beasts. She was Bagalamukhi, the
> >heron faced goddess. She was the turtle riding Yamuna
> >and the crocodile riding Ganga.... proud, turbulent
> >river-goddess. She belonged to all. She was Renuka,
> >mistress of the earth. She was Yellamma, everyone's
> >mother.
> >
> >But as man became the master, the owner, the lord,
> >he fenced off the land, plucked away the weeds, seared
> >the earth with a plough and sowed the seed of his choice.
> >The earth became man's property, and field on which man
> >harvested his fortune. Women, always equated with the earth,
> >were seen as fields too. Man was its jealous farmer. Thus
> >was patriarchy born.
> >
> >With the domestication of the earth, Devi's wildness was
> >rejected; she became the coy village-goddess, the
> >gramma-devi, whose chastity ensured the village fortune.
> >Likewise, it was believed that a coy and chaste wife
> >ensured the fortune of her husband.
> >_____________
> >
> >
> >Though her sacredness has always been acknowledged,
> >every attempt was made to curtail feminine freedom.
> >Her faithfulness to her husband became the hallmark of
> >her virtue. Her chastity, it came to be believed, ensured
> >happiness in the family. So much so that even when her
> >husband died, she was expected to remain true to her
> >husband's memory. Without her husband, she became
> >a non-entity, an inauspicious widow. If she killed
> >herself on his pyre she was worshipped as a
> >Sati-Maharani.
> >
> >Though the goddess was the source of power, wealth and
> >knowledge, Hindu women were denied the right to make
> >decisions, the right to own property and the right to
> >educate themselves. They were hidden behind veils,
> >locked in the inner courtyard, trapped within thresholds,
> >smothered by the alleged divinity of chaste wives and
> >loving matriarchs.
> >
> >Worse still, they were seen as the fountainhead of
> >temptation, hurdles on the path of spiritual progress,
> >to be rejected by those who sought spiritual emancipation.
> >They were the mythical apsaras who bewitches rishis and
> >entrapped them in samasara. Many holymen avoided even
> >casual contact with women lest they be tempted.
> >
> >The paradoxical worship and suppression of women is
> >perhaps the greatest tragedy...
> >__________
> >
> >
> >Through the ages, man has sought to either control or
> >escape from the world around him. When both enterprises
> >seem futile, he turns to the mother-goddess. And she
> >offers him nourishment, strength, validation and
> >unconditional love, so that man can come to terms with
> >the world as it is, not as it should be. This, in essence, is
> >the Shakta heritage.
> >
> >Durga..
> >
> >Durga is the most splendid manifestation of Devi.
> >Virginal and sublime, containing within her the power of
> >all the gods combined, she is the invincible power of
> >Nature who triumphs over those who seek to
> >subjugate her......
> >
> >"Who are you?" asked the gods.
> >
> >"I am Durga- the inaccessible one," replied the goddess.
> >"I am Prakti, the substance that gives form and
> >identity to all things. I am Shakti, the power that enables
> >all creatures to exist, think, act and respond. I am
> >Maya, the delusion that makes life alluring yet elusive."
> >
> >The gods saluted the great goddess....
>
> --
> Steve Mills
> Bath
> UK
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Marta Matray Gloviczki on mon 21 oct 02
what a wonderful website!
thank you rick,
i have never seen this kind of goddess-sculptures before,
it is fascinating to find such ancient treasures...
i am obsessed, since
few miles from my birthplace in hungary archeologists
unearthed some seven thousand year old goddesses,
beautiful clay figurines... sometimes i imagine, that
those goddesses were my ancestors...
even if it is silly, but surely they inspired me
a great deal!
thanks for the link!
marta
>>> This is a collection of rare artifacts from south east Asia from such a
culture. Some of the symbols seen on these stone sculptures appear in
representations from the older cultures of the Pacific islands, and are of
interest to those who study the origins of the people of the Pacific. These
are different than what most people associate with either ancient Asian or
Pacific art. South East Asia was never glaciated in 'recent' history, and
has been continuously populated for a very long time.
>
>http://www.shaka.com/~annie/
>
>- Rick Monteverde,
>Honolulu Hawaii
Rick Monteverde on mon 21 oct 02
Mention has been made of form/images related to the ancient matriarchic=
societies. Not to persue the religious angle but rather that of artistic=
form, here is a link some may be interested in. This is a collection of=
rare artifacts from south east Asia from such a culture. Some of the=
symbols seen on these stone sculptures appear in representations from the=
older cultures of the Pacific islands, and are of interest to those who=
study the origins of the people of the Pacific. These are different than=
what most people associate with either ancient Asian or Pacific art. South=
East Asia was never glaciated in 'recent' history, and has been=
continuously populated for a very long time.
http://www.shaka.com/~annie/
- Rick Monteverde,
Honolulu Hawaii
Rebecca P on mon 21 oct 02
Thank you for this beautiful, inspiring site. I took the time to go through
it slowly, page by page, and was bountifully rewarded.
Rebecca Pierre
Oak Island, NC
>From: Rick Monteverde
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re: Devi...The Mother- Goddess (delete at your own risk)
>Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 10:01:03 -1000
>
>Mention has been made of form/images related to the ancient matriarchic
>societies. Not to persue the religious angle but rather that of artistic
>form, here is a link some may be interested in. This is a collection of
>rare artifacts from south east Asia from such a culture. Some of the
>symbols seen on these stone sculptures appear in representations from the
>older cultures of the Pacific islands, and are of interest to those who
>study the origins of the people of the Pacific. These are different than
>what most people associate with either ancient Asian or Pacific art. South
>East Asia was never glaciated in 'recent' history, and has been
>continuously populated for a very long time.
>
>http://www.shaka.com/~annie/
>
>- Rick Monteverde,
>Honolulu Hawaii
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
_________________________________________________________________
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jvdb on tue 22 oct 02
Marta,
I hope your exhibition is going well.
Thanks for the postcard that reached me in the Philippines in time to go
and see your exhibition
if it was not so far away.
But I react to your goddesses.
Long time ago I bought a book in Brussels that could be of intrest for you.
For me it was a revelation, because as I was very passionate about Greek
Mythology I had the feeling that European culture more or less started with
Crete and the Greeks, who got their roots in the Near East.
To my surprise I discovered a culture and its European goddesses in Central
Europe, that were many thousands years older.
I can only suggest to try to get hold of it:
"The Goddesses and Gods of Old Europe" Myths and Cult images (6500 - 3500 BC)
by Marija Gimbutas, Professor of European Archaeology at the University of
California, Los Angeles
with 252 plates, 171 line drawings and 8 maps.
As paperback republished in 1982
by Thames and Hudson, 30 Bloomsbury Street London WC1B 3QP
ISBN 0 500 27238 7.
I'm sure you'll find your goddess in this book and if not, surely her
mother or daughter.
In the mean time best wishes for the exhibition,
Jeff
At 20:58 10/21/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>what a wonderful website!
>thank you rick,
>i have never seen this kind of goddess-sculptures before,
>it is fascinating to find such ancient treasures...
>i am obsessed, since
>few miles from my birthplace in hungary archeologists
>unearthed some seven thousand year old goddesses,
>beautiful clay figurines... sometimes i imagine, that
>those goddesses were my ancestors...
>even if it is silly, but surely they inspired me
>a great deal!
>thanks for the link!
>marta
>
>
>
>>>> This is a collection of rare artifacts from south east Asia from such a
>culture. Some of the symbols seen on these stone sculptures appear in
>representations from the older cultures of the Pacific islands, and are of
>interest to those who study the origins of the people of the Pacific. These
>are different than what most people associate with either ancient Asian or
>Pacific art. South East Asia was never glaciated in 'recent' history, and
>has been continuously populated for a very long time.
>>
>>http://www.shaka.com/~annie/
>>
>>- Rick Monteverde,
>>Honolulu Hawaii
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
Jeff van den Broeck
P.O.Box 1099, Baguio City 2600
Philippines
jvdb@skyinet.net
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