Durga was the name of the demon whom the Gods could not defeat. So they called upon the Divine Feminine, Devi who has many forms and many names, who manifested and defeated that demon, and took his name. Free Durga wallpapers available here. She rides on a lion or tiger. This was the first picture I saw of her: I love the light of the Goddess in the dark valley, and the determination on her face; and I have seen sweet smiling Durga figures. I was not quite so keen on the sweet and smiling, until I thought that however feminine the look, the power is still there.
Here I read that
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of svātantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion.Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
Then I found the same text on Wikipedia.
In Paradise Lost, the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses are demons, who delude and betray their worshippers. To me, they are many things, and I feel quite comfortable calling myself Christian and using Hindu stories. Perhaps the Goddess is a spirit, and if she is powerful that does not make her evil or harmful. Perhaps she is a manifestation of Spirit, or an archetype of Femininity, which relates to aspects of the human in each person. Perhaps she is merely a story, which may resonate with a human being, allowing me to call forth aspects of myself at need. Whichever, she speaks directly to my heart and feelings and intuitional self, bypassing the intellect with its need to control and classify and define.
One more picture:
“Whichever, she speaks directly to my heart and feelings and intuitional self, bypassing the intellect with its need to control and classify and define.”
Lovely, thank you!
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I am so glad that it speaks to you. As a Christian, it gives me a way to value other religious words and experience.
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Hey CF.
I think the exploration of spirituality from lots of sources can be really valuable. Lots to learn from lots of good places. I do have to offer one slight…ummm…fear…that i have…
You have mentioned the Mother Goddess (Great Mother?) from both hindu and greco-roman cultures. It occurs to me that both of these traditions had castration rituals for their males priests.
I like what you have expressed in your posts but…I need to tell you…. as a 21st century male priest I have absolutely NO intention of….ummm….”going all the way” with following the great mother…just saying, you know? I’m sure you understand.
Love your stuff Clare. 🙂
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Neil, I am delighted that you comment here, but I think you are a poor Christian. Remember, greater love hath no man than he who lays down his life for his friends, so surely you could do a little thing like that! I refer you to Galatians 5:12. But, if you cannot bring yourself to this service, you can content yourself with wearing women’s clothes:
Recommendations for liturgical vestments
1 For services with holy communion, we recommend one of the following forms of vestment for presiding clergy.
20: Vestments and alb
An alb (a long loose-fitting white garment, reaching to the ankles, either loose or girded at the waist, and with sleeves, worn either over a cassock or without a cassock); and a stole (a narrow cloth, draped around the neck of the celebrant and reaching to slightly below his knees); in addition, a chasuble may be worn for the Lord.s supper, particularly at festivals (Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity)
OR
A cassock, surplice, and stole, provided that the surplice is ample in length and serves, as it was meant to serve, as an alb with overcoat.
Welcome, Neil. I admire your courage, perseverance and love in your blog.
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Damn Paul! you got me there! Just give me a year or two to work up the courage…you dont happen to have a cybelian castration clamp handy do you?
And you quote Lutheran Church of Australia statements at me? Wow…you are well researched…Note the date…1998…i graduated 1992 so i never vowed to wear those things…although… i DO look rather good in the ankle length flowing alb with the classic rope belt discretely ties on the side.
Keep searching CF…and enjoying the quest 🙂
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Hijra in India traditionally do it with a single cut of a sword.
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anaesthetic?
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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[Thanks for dropping by my wordpress sites!]
I don’t believe this is the same lady, but may illustrate a similar karmic mode of divine/human interaction: http://www.sneezingflower.blogspot.com/2009/07/with-poem.html
Interesting that after “defeating” the “demon”, she “took his name”. Interesting because, in some ancient thinking, the “name” expressed the essence of a person, thing, etc. To take the name might mean assuming the qualities. In that light, who “won”?
Like a reversal of modern practice: We “defeat” an enemy, keep our original name, but take on his attributes…
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Welcome. I am interested to see how you develop lightthruthepages, a blog running since 2004. I do not know how the Hindus interpret the story, but the Demon could be female as well, female power working with or against the Gods; the demon I have seen portrayed male- the balancing force with the Gods, in both cases.
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Somehow I need to sort out authorship of posts from several different people, all automatically attributed to me on wordpress when I imported them.
Meanwhile, I hope to organize the discussions according to subjects, books & the order of passages discussed — so that a person could readily find a particular question or passage and take up where the previous series of comments left off.
Ideas?
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I can edit the comment and change the link, even the gravatar I think, if requested.
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