7 Secrets From Hindu Calendar Art
by Devdutt Pattanaik
Chapter 3 -- Ardhanari's Secret
Via Video Book on YouTube
I'm continuing working my way through Devdutt Pattanaik's book, 7 Secrets From Hindu Calendar Art, and it is so informative! I am digesting it through a new "book medium" for me: YouTube Video! It's called "Video Book" format, and it's free and accessible on YouTube. The chapters have been broken down into chunks, and while quite dense, they're only about 20 minutes in total length (each). I am thoroughly enjoying this method of learning!
Ardhanari's Secret
- God is stillness within, Goddess is movement around.
- God:
- Nirgun: Without Form
- Sagun: With Form
- God is best embodied in 3 Human Couples:
- Brahma + Saraswati
- Vishnu + Lakshmi
- Shiva + Shakti
- Male Trinity: Doing/Spiritual representation of god
- Brahma: Creator
- Vishnu: Sustainer
- Shiva: Destroyer
- Female Trinity: Passive, Material representation of god
- Saraswati: Knowledge (Brahma's consort)
- Lakshmi: Wealth (Vishnu's consort)
- Shakti: Power (Shiva's consort)
- "Women are meterial reality, men are spiritual reality." (But modern times have misconstrued this myth!)
- Male: Judged, observed, measures with scales
- Female: Maha-Maya (Embodiment of Delusion) Measured by Men
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| Ardharnarishvara 1/2 male 1/2 female, with both vahanas |
- Left Side: Male as the ascetic (Form of Shiva, the Ascetic God)
- Right Side: Female dancer
Why?
- Parvati saw Ganga on Shiva's head, she was enraged! So, to satisfy her, Shiva merged his body with hers. (Ha!)
"For Without Either, There is Neither."
(Referencing that without either male or female, then there is in fact neither. Nothing can be created without the female.)
