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Parvati, the consort of Shiva, is represented as a fair and beautiful woman, with no superfluity of limbs. Few miraculous deeds are claimed for her. It is only when she appears as Durga, Kali, etc., that she manifests divine powers and exhibits a very different spirit.
As Kali she became an ascetic whose severe penances were intended to attract the attention of Shiva. When Shiva teased her about her black skin, through penances she had her colour changed to that of gold and was then called Gauri.
Parvati is not important enough to be worshipped alone but only as a minor deity in a Shiva temple. Between the 5th and the 13th centuries, from being merely the consorts of the male deities, and their active partners, female deities (shakti) became independent and objects of worship in their own right having a temple in which they were the main icons. It was around this time that Parvati, from a minor deity as a consort of Shiva, became a major deity as Durga and Kali. When Parvati is shown alone, she may hold a javelin and a mirror in her two hands. If she is four handed, two of her hands exhibit the protection and boon-giving attitudes and two carry a javelin and a chisel.
In the illustration facing this page, Parvati is seen doing a penance to attract the attention of Shiva.HANDICRAFTS
Source: just-wicca.blogspot.com
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
This is not the usual "New Age" tantric sex manual, but a deeply esoteric and traditional book. The scene of the revelation of this Tantra is in the Himalayas, a holy land weighted with the traditions. Here in these lofty lands, rose the great mountain, the Sapta Kula Parvata. In these mountains Munis and Rishis lived. Here also is the Kshetra of Shiva Mahadeva, where His Spouse Parvvati, the daughter of the Mountain King, was born, and where Mother Ganges also has her source. The paradise of Shiva is a summerland of both lasting sunshine and cool shade, musical with the song of birds and bright with undying flowers. The air, scented with sweet fragrance, resounds with the music and song of celestial singers and players. It is not, however, necessary to go to the Himalayas to find Shiva. He dwells whereever his worshippers, abide, and His mystic mount is to be sought in the thousand-petalled lotus in the body of every human.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Arthur Avalon was a pseudonym for Sir John Woodroffe. "--This text refers to an alternate " BUY NOW
Durga Puja is the biggest festival in Bengal. This is also known as Dussehra and Navaratri in other parts of India. Durga is the Goddess of divine power against all evils. The story goes that Mahisasur, the Buffalo Demon, through years of praying, received blessing from Lord Brahma, that no power can kill him which means he is invincible. But once gaining this power he started ravaging the whole world and killing people. And finally he wanted to uproot the Gods too. The Gods, in dismay, combined their powers to create a beautiful maiden, and each placed his or her most potent weapon in one of her ten hands riding a lion. Her return in each year in the Bengali month of Aswin (September-October) commemorates Rama's invocation of the goddess Durga before he went into battle with Ravana. The traditional image of the Bengali Durga follows the iconographic injunctions of the Shastras. It is similar to the Durga of Aihole and of Mahabalipuram (seventh century). The tableau of Durga with her four children - Kartik, Ganesh, Saraswati and Lakshmi, representing respectively the Protector, the Initiator of the puja, Knowledge and the Provider - signifies the complete manifestation of the goddess. The festival starts with Mahalaya, the first phase of the waxing moon in Aswin. Thousands offer prayers to their ancestors at the city's river banks (ghats), a ritual called Tarpan. A special pre-dawn program of readings from the Chandi and Aagamani songs welcoming the goddess are relayed by All-India Radio. This traditional program, conceived by Birendrakrishna Bhadra, has become an institution: a chorus of protests led to its restoration after a change was attempted one year.The festive mood builds up as Dhakis (drummers) from the countryside starts gathering near the city. They beat feathered drums to attract the attention of local Puja organizers.
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Source: just-wicca.blogspot.com
