Hinduism and Paganism

 

Fractal design by Albert Klein

Recently, I was surprised when the person, confirming to be Hindu, has equated Hinduism to paganism. It has a certain negative shade because of the association of paganism with the worship of many gods, and their many idols. Except a sign that the belief does not belong to three Abrahamic religions (as Judaism,  Christianity, and Islam), many distinctive signs are here but the most important was whether or not someone worshipped the one true God. If to specify: belief in one personal and transcendent God.
Hinduism at first blush appears to conform to paganism. It seems to worship many gods and seems to do so by worshipping different images. At first blush. But in the Biblical Book of Samuel, the Lord said: "Do not consider his appearance or his height... The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
So, it is true that there are many gods, but while these various gods are considered different gods in paganism, in Hinduism they represent the various forms of the one and same God. Thus, this plurality  in the sense that the one God appears in various forms. If you questioned about this complicated theme even the illiterate villager will answer: Bhagwan Ek hai what means "the Lord is One". He may not be able to figure out in theological terms how the many gods and the one God hang together and he may not be sure about the hierarchy of manifestations, but he does know that ultimately there is only One and that the many somehow merge into the One. And its opinion does not differ from Hindu sacred books
Indraṃ mitraṃ varuṇamaghnimāhuratho divyaḥ
sa suparṇo gharutmān |
ekaṃ sad viprā bahudhā vadantyaghniṃ
yamaṃ mātariśvānamāhuḥ ||
They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, Agni, and he is heavenly nobly-winged Garutmān. To what is One, sages give many a title they call it Agni, Yama, Mātariśvan.(Rig Veda 1.164.46)
If the Hindus have discovered that the Absolute can only be thought of, or stated through the relative, the images, it's depends on sense which you put in it, right? For example, wine and bread were selected by Jesus Himself as symbols to represent His blood and body, despite their ritual use in pagan temples. And when you study Hinduism, it is obvious that it is the One Truth by many names here.
One personal and transcendent Truth.
AkAshAt patitaM toyaM yathA gacChati sAgaram |
sarvadevanamaskAraH keshavaM prati gacChati ||
Just as the rain water that falls from the sky eventually reaches the ocean, so also the worship offered to Him, by whatever name you wish, or in whatever form you like, ultimately goes to the One (the only One) Ultimate, Infinite Supreme Reality. (Mahābhārata)

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

Unicorn

  

 The legendary creature like a horse with a single horn  is mysteriously beautiful. As ancient and ubiquitous as the legends have been, many have disbelieved. But reports of their fairly existence have never really ceased to appear. Ancient Greek writers on natural history were convinced of the reality of the unicorn, which they located in India. According to an interpretation of seals carved with an animal which resembles a bull, it has been claimed that the unicorn was a common symbol during the Indus Valley civilization, appearing on many seals.

The descriptions of unicorns vary in particulars but remain strikingly similar in certain essential characteristics. In the broadest sense, legends seem to identify the unicorn with great strength, fleetness, loveliness and chastity. The Indo-Iranian tradition focussed upon its embodiment of purity and mystical power, and the Taoists of China believed the unicorn to possess the essence of the five elements. In the biblical vision of David, a one-horned goat appeared from the west and smote the two-horned ram of Persia, stamping him beneath his cloven hoof. Also it is said that when the Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath, a unicorned gazelle sat upon his knee listening to his words. In the old Sumerian and Semitic traditions two unicorns were depicted as guardians of the Tree of Life. This creature inspired the many different versions of the unicorn that cavort through such diverse sources as Pliny's natural history encyclopedia, the medieval pharmacopoeia and Christian fables of sacred virginity. The last refers to the old belief that the unicorn is so wild it cannot be tamed, except by a virgin. If she sits in the woods, the unicorn will come and lay its head in her lap.

The Lady and the Unicorn

Puzzle of a unicorn can be interpreted several ways but the question is not solved: whether unicorns coexisted with early man (as some cave paintings suggest) and have since died out, or it is only a symbol or myth? Though could be both.
In this sense, it is the interesting story from the Mahabharata about Sage Vibhandaka. By a curious combination of circumstances, he became the father of a child, with a horn in the forehead. It named Shringa Rishi (Deer-Horned) or Eka sringa (unicorn!) in Buddhist versions. At his birth he had never seeing another human being. The fame of the his purity and power spread, and King send his daughter into the forest to lure Rishi into a trap. The pious Rishi had imagined her to be a penitent disciple, but she aroused his love with her virginal beauty and caused him to follow her into a cell.

He was married the king's daughter and ruled the kingdom for many years. But finally he left to forest to spend the remainder of his life in divine contemplation. In the end of his life, a lightning issued forth from his body and disappeared into the Linga he was worshipping as a symbol of formless Absolute.

In this case, the unicorn is a man, a great sage. And there is a similarity to a legend about Lady and Unicorn, who seemed to have been duped through love also. One can presume the presence of a higher willingness to make this sacrifice. This lends big significance to the idea that the unicorn symbolizes the selflessness, the sanctity or the incarnate Truth. Or simply it is human yearning for magic secret in our world tormented by ignorance.

Angels

Angel by Giotto

For modern minds, the angel has become a utterly fantastic figure, a figure which invokes incredulity and disbelief. But in the early Christianity and medieval times, they were regarded as real creatures. In Islam, it is believed that angels have been created out of light (nur), before the creation of humans from dust. They are supernatural creatures, worshipping Allah and carrying out His commands. The Quran says, "They do not disobey Allah's commands that they receive; they do precisely what they are commanded".
The Bible reveals that there will be a flurry of angelic activity in the end times. The important function is defined for them."The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous" (Matthew 13:49)

Roger Wagner "The Harvest is the end of the world"

 Anyway, in different religions, they were and are a sign of God's intervention in human history and revelation. What therefore is an angel? On the one hand, the Angel is a creature who stands before God, oriented to God with his whole being. At same time, they are God's messengers (rusul in arabic). Precisely because they are with God, they can also be very close to man. The Angels speak to man of what constitutes his true being, of what in his life is so often concealed and buried. They bring him back to himself, touching him on God's behalf.
St Thomas Aquinas said: The angels work together for the benefit of us all. In this sense, we human beings must also always return to being messengers to one another - angels who turn us away from erroneous ways. Truly, such person, who helps us to find our true nature,  is the envoy of angels on the earth.

He is He

Photo by illiyun

Who is He and what is He and what is His source?
He is He!
Whoever is of His commonality is of His elite,
and whoever is of His elite is of His commonality.
There is no source except source,
so the light of His source is His darkness.
Whoever is ignorant of this
experiences grief in himself
And none recognises what we have said
except for the slave who has aspiration.

---Muhi-e-Din Ibn Arabi "Fusus al-Hikam"

Sri Samba Sadashiva Ayuta Namavali - 22

10000 Names of Lord Shiva - Part 22. all links

oM jaTharaaya namaha (2101)
oM jaTharaagnipravartakaaya namaha
oM jaaDyaharaaya namaha
oM jaatakaNyiiya namaha
oM jaataye namaha
oM jaatinaathaaya namaha
oM jaativarNalahitaayaapi bhraahnagatvena vishR^itaaya namaha
oM jitashatravenamaha
oM jitakaamaaya namaha
oM jitapriyaaya namaha (2110)
oM jitendriyaaya namaha
oM jitavishvaaya namaha
oM jitashramaaya namaha
oM jitaloobhaaya namaha
oM jitakrodhaaya namaha
oM jitanityashatrugaNaaya namaha
oM jitaaraataye namaha
oM jetre namaha
oM chaitraaya namaha
oM jyotiHswaruupaaya namaha (2120)
oM jotiShmate namaha
oM jyotirmayaaya namaha
oM jyotiShaamayanaaya namaha
oM jyotili~Ngaayanamaha
oM jyotiShe namaha
oM jyotiShaamuttamajyotiruupadaaya namaha
oM jyotiShaampatayenamaha
oM jyotiHshaastravichaaradhR^ite namaha
oM jyotsnaamayaaya namaha
oM jyotsnaajaalapravartakaaya namaha (2130)
oM jyotirmayaanandadhanaaya namaha
oM jaMdakshiNakarNakuNDalaaya namaha
oM janakaaya namaha
oM janyaaya namaha
oM jananaaya namaha
oM janmaadaye namaha
oM janmaadhipaaya namaha
oM janmamR^ityujaraatigaaya namaha
oM janaadhipaaya namaha
oM janaaya namaha (2140)
oM janataporuupaaya namaha
oM janmanogatiMdishate namaha
oM jananavinaashavihiinavigrahaaya namaha
oM janmaharaaya namaha
oM janmaadikaaraNahetave namaha
oM janmanaashaadivarjitaaya namaha
oM janmaadyaaya namaha
oM janitaanantalokaaya namaha
oM janmabhuumaye namaha
oM janmine namaha (2150)
oMjanitaanandaruupiNe namaha
oM janmakR^itodaraaya namaha
oM janmavate namaha
oM janmaadyanaashakaaya namaha
oM janmavivarjitaaya namaha
oM jananiinaathaaya namaha
oM janmajaduHkhavinaashanali~Ngaaya namaha
oM janayitre namaha
oM jananiitivishaaradaaya namaha
oM jiinaaya namaha (2160)
oM jinanetre namaha
oM jinashaastrapravartakaaya namaha
oM jainamaargarataaya namaha
oM jainaaya namaha
oM japaaya namaha
oM japahomaswaruupiNe namaha
oM japyaaya namaha
oM japaapuShpapriyaaya namaha
oM japaadaaNDimaraagadhR^ite namaha
oM japatatparaaya namaha (2170)
oM japamaaline namaha
oM jaambuunadalataabhuutanaagayaGYopaviitine namaha
oM jaabaalipuujyaaya namaha
oM jaaMbavatpriyaaya namaha
oM jR^imbhate namaha
oM jamadagnaye namaha
oM jamadagnipuujitaaya namaha
oM jaamadagnaye namaha
oM jamadagnisamarcchitaaya namaha
oM jaamiiphalapriyaaya namaha (2180)
oM jiimuutavaahanaaya namaha
oM jiimuutavaradaaya namaha
oM jiimuutaaya namaha
oM jayakaalavide namaha
oM jayaaya namaha
oM jayastaMbhaaya namaha
oM jayashaaline namaha
oM jayapradaaya namaha
oM jiirNaaya namaha
oM jaraadishamanaaya namaha (2190)
oM jaraatigaaya namaha
oM jaraahiinaaya namaha
oM jaraThaaya namaha
oM jaratkshaaraaya namaha
oM jaraasandhasamarccitaaya namaha
oM jaraaharaaya namaha
oM jiiNiijiiirNapataye namaha
oM jalabhuutaaya namaha
oM jalashaayine namaha
oM jalaruupaaya namaha (2200)  

Washing another's feet

The Washing of the Feet by Ghislaine Howard

It is a very strange biblical story. Before the Last Supper, Jesus began to wash the disciples' feet. Apostles get greatly disturbed by it. Peter didn’t understand it at all, he refused. But Jesus explained it for him. The event is narrated in John 13:
13 You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so,
for indeed I am.  
14 If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet.  
15 I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.
16 Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
What does this mean? In many cultures, the feet are considered the lowest, most impure part of the body. Lifting up the foot to expose the sole is an especially offensive gesture in the Middle East. But in Hinduism, for a person to touch the feet of a guru or elder, for students to touch the feet of their teacher, or for children to touch the feet of their parent is a gesture of obeisance. But here, in biblical story, we see an opposite case. The highest must be at the service of others. This is a great symbol, right?
Usually it is treated as a humility example. And it is true, certainly. True humility is always grounded in the truth. The humility will tear down our pride and that is necessary for any real spiritual life.
In a broad sense, it's about service, self-giving love. When "You received without payment; give without payment."( Matt 10:8)
But I have steady feeling of there is something more. For example, can be it connected somehow with wedding ritual? 

Throughout the Middle East the washing of the feet is part of betrothal and marriage ceremonies. It symbolises not only the self-giving love but one more important thought:
your hands are my hands and your feet are my feet because

we are one body. 

I am not I

Photo by Channi Anand/Associated Press

I am not I.
I am this one
walking beside me whom I do not see,
whom at times I manage to visit,
and whom at other times I forget;
the one who remains silent while I talk,
the one who forgives, sweet, when I hate,
the one who takes a walk when I am indoors,
the one who will remain standing when I die.

---by Juan Ramon Jimenez

Sri Chamunda Ashtottara Sata Namavali

atha shrI chAmuNDAmbAShTottarashata nAmAvaliH ||

OM shrI chAmuNDAyai namaH |
OM shrI mahAmAyAyai namaH |
OM shrImatsiMhAsaneshvaryai namaH |
OM shrIvidyAvedyamahimAyai namaH
OM shrIchakrapuravAsinyai namaH |
OM shrIkaNThadayitAyai namaH |
OM gauryai namaH |
OM girijAyai namaH |
OM bhuvaneshvaryai namaH |
OM mahAkAlyai namaH | 10
OM mahAlkShmyai namaH |
OM mAhAvANyai namaH |
OM manonmaNyai namaH |
OM sahasrashIrSha saMyuktAyai namaH |
OM sahasrakaramaNDitAyai namaH |
OM kausuMbhavasanopetAyai namaH |
OM ratnaka~nchukadhAriNyai namaH |
OM gaNeshaskandajananyai namaH |
OM japAkusuma bhAsurAyai namaH |
OM umAyai namaH | 20
OM kAtyAyinyai namaH |
OM durgAyai namaH |
OM mantriNyai namaH |
OM daNDinyai namaH |
OM jayAyai namaH |
OM karA~Ngulinakhotpanna nArAyaNa dashAkR^itaye namaH |
OM sachAmararamAvANIsavyadakShiNasevitAyai namaH |
OM indrAkShyai namaH |
OM bagalAyai namaH |
OM bAlAyai namaH | 30
OM chakreshyai namaH |
OM vijayA.ambikAyai namaH |
OM pa~nchapretAsanArUDhAyai namaH |
OM haridrAku~NkumapriyAyai namaH |
OM mahAbalA.adrinilayAyai namaH |
OM mahiShAsuramardinyai namaH |
OM madhukaiTabhasaMhartryai namaH
OM madhurApuranAyikAyai namaH |
OM kAmeshvaryai namaH |
OM yoganidrAyai namaH | 40
OM bhavAnyai namaH |
OM chaNDikAyai namaH |
OM satyai namaH |
OM chakrarAjarathArUDhAyai namaH |
OM sR^iShTisthityantakAriNyai namaH |
OM annapUrNAyai namaH |
OM jvalaHjihvAyai namaH |
OM kAlarAtrisvarUpiNyai namaH |
OM nishuMbha shuMbhadamanyai namaH |
OM raktabIjaniShUdinyai namaH | 50
OM brAhmyAdimAtR^ikArUpAyai namaH |
OM shubhAyai namaH |
OM ShaTchakradevatAyai namaH |
OM mUlaprakR^itirUpAyai namaH |
OM AryAyai namaH |
OM pArvatyai namaH |
OM parameshvaryai namaH |
OM bindupIThakR^itAvAsAyai namaH |
OM chandramaNDalamadhyakAyai namaH |
OM chidagnikuNDasaMbhUtAyai namaH | 60
OM vindhyAchalanivAsinyai namaH |
OM hayagrIvAgastya pUjyAyai namaH |
OM sUryachandrAgnilochanAyai namaH |
OM jAlandharasupIThasthAyai namaH |
OM shivAyai namaH |
OM dAkShAyaNyai namaH |
OM Ishvaryai namaH |
OM navAvaraNasaMpUjyAyai namaH |  
OM navAkSharamanustutAyai namaH |
OM navalAvaNyarUpADyAyai namaH | 70
OM dvAtriMshatjvalatAyudhAyai namaH |
OM kAmeshabaddhamA~NgalyAyai namaH |
OM chandrarekhA vibhUShitAyai namaH |
OM charAcharajagadrUpAyai namaH |
OM nityaklinnAyai namaH |
OM aparAjitAyai namaH |
OM oDyAnnapIThanilayAyai namaH |
OM lalitAyai namaH |
OM viShNusodaryai namaH |
OM daMShTrAkarAlavadanAyai namaH | 80
OM vajreshyai namaH |
OM vahnivAsinyai namaH |
OM sarvama~NgalarUpADyAyai namaH |
OM sachchidAnanda vigrahAyai namaH |
OM aShTAdashasupIThasthAyai namaH |
OM bheruNDAyai namaH |
OM bhairavyai namaH |
OM parAyai namaH |
OM ruNDamAlAlasatkaNThAyai namaH |
OM bhaNDAsuravimardhinyai namaH | 90
OM puNDrekShukANDa kodaNDAyai namaH |
OM puShpabANa lasatkarAyai namaH |
OM shivadUtyai namaH |
OM vedamAtre namaH |
OM shA~Nkaryai namaH |
OM siMhavAhinyai namaH |
OM chatuH ShaShTyUpachArADyAyai namaH |
OM yoginIgaNasevitAyai namaH |
OM vanadurgAyai namaH |
OM bhadrakAlyai namaH | 100
OM kadambavanavAsinyai namaH |
OM chaNDamuNDa shiraHChetryai namaH |
OM mahArAj~nyai namaH |
OM sudhAmayyai namaH |
OM shrIchakravaratATa~NkAyai namaH |
OM shrIshailabhramarAmbikAyai namaH |
OM shrIrAjarAjavaradAyai namaH |
OM shrImattripurasundaryai namaH || 108

iti shrI chAmuNDAmbAShTottarashata nAmAvaliH saMpUrNaM ||

Sri Parvati Sahasranama Stotram

1000 names of Parvati from Kurma Purana

himavanuvaca
ka tvam devi visalaksi sasankavayavankite I
na jane tvamaham vatse yathavad bruhi prcchate II 1II
girindravacanam srutva tatah sa paramesvari I
vyajahara mahasanam yoginamabhayaprada II 2II
devyuvaca
mam viddhi paramam saktim paramesvarasamasrayam I
ananyamavyayamekam yam pasyanti mumuksavah II 3II
aham vai sarvabhavanamatma sarvantara siva I
sasvataisvaryavijnanamirtih sarvapravartika II 4II
ananta'nantamahima samsararnavatarini I
divyam dadami te caksuh pasya me ripamaisvaram II 5II
etavaduktva vijnanam dattva himavate svayam I
svam ripam darsayamasa divyam tat paramesvaram II 6II
kotisuryapratikasam tejobimbam nirakulam I
jvalamalasahasrac:hyam kalanalasatopamam II 7II
damstrakaralam durddharsam jatamandalamanditam I
trisulavarahastam ca ghorarupam bhayanakam II 8II
prasantam saumyavadanamanantascaryasamyutam I
candravayavalaksmanam candrakotisamaprabham II 9II
kiritinam gadahastam nipurairupasobhitam I
divyamalyambaradharam divyagandhanulepanam II 10II
sailkhacakradharam kamyam trinetram k:rttivasasam I
andastham candabahyastham bahyamabhyantaram param II 11II
sarvasaktimayam subhram sarvakaram sanatanam I
brahmendropendrayogindrairvandyamanapadambujam II 12II
sarvatah panipadantam sarvato'ksisiromukham I
sarvamavrtya tisthantam dadarsa paramesvaram II 13II
bhayena ca samavistah sa raja hrstamanasah II 14II
atmanyadhaya catmanamoilkaram samanusmaran I
namnamastasahasrena tustava paramesvarim II 15II
himavanuvaca I
sivoma parama saktirananta niskala'mala I
santa mahesvari nitya sasvati paramaksara II 1II
acintya kevala'nantya sivatma paramatmika I
anadiravyaya suddha devatma sarvaga'cala II 2II
ekanekavibhagastha mayatita sunirmala I
mahamahesvari satya mahadevi niranjana II 3II
kastha sarvantarastha ca cicchaktiratilalasa I
nanda sarvatmika vidya jyotiripa'mrtaksara II 4II
santih pratistha sarvesam nivrttiram:rtaprada I
vyomamirttirvyomalaya vyomadhara'cyuta'mara II 5II
anadinidhana'mogha karanatma kala'kala I
kratuh prathamaja nabhiram:rtasyatmasamsraya II 6II
pranesvarapriya mata mahamahisaghatini I
pranesvari pranaripa pradhanapurusesvari II 7II
sarvasaktikalakara jyotsna dyaurmahimaspada I
sarvakaryaniyantri ca sarvabhitesvaresvari II 8II
anadiravyaktaguha mahananda sanatani I
akasayoniryogastha mahayogesvaresvari II 9II
mahamaya suduspira milaprakrtirisvari I
samsarayonih sakala sarvasaktisamudbhava II 10II
samsarapara durvara durniriksya durasada I
pranasaktih pranavidya yogini parama kala II 11II
mahavibhitirdurddharsa milaprakrtisambhava I
anadyanantavibhava parartha purusaranih II 12II
sargasthityantakarani sudurvacya duratyaya I
sabdayonih sabdamayi nadakhya nadavigraha II 13II
pradhanapurusatita pradhanapurusatmika I
purani cinmayi pumsamadih purusarupini II 14II
bhitantaratma kitastha mahapurusasanjnita I
janmam:rtyujaratita sarvasaktisamanvita II 15II
vyapini canavacchinna pradhananupravesini I
ksetrajnasaktiravyaktalaksana malavarjita II 16II
anadimayasambhinna tritattva prak:rtirguha I
mahamayasamutpanna tamasi paurusi dhruva II 17II
vyaktavyaktatmika k:rsna rakta sukla prasitika I
akarya karyajanani nityam prasavadharmini II 18II
sargapralayanirmukta srstisthityantadharmini I
brahmagarbha caturvimsa padmanabha'cyutatmika II 19II
vaidyuti sasvati yonirjaganmatesvarapriya I
sarvadhara maharipa sarvaisvaryasamanvita II 20II
visvaripa mahagarbha visvesecchanuvartini I
mahiyasi brahmayonirmahalaksmisamudbhava II 21II
mahavimanamadhyastha mahanidratmahetuka I
sarvasadharani siksma hyavidya paramarthika II 22II
anantaripa'nantastha devi purusamohini I
anekakarasamsthana kalatrayavivarjita II 23II
brahmajanma harermirtirbrahmavisnusivatmika I
brahmesavisnujanani brahmakhya brahmasamsraya II 24II
vyakta prathamaja brahmi mahati jnanarupini I
vairagyaisvaryadharmatma brahmamirtirh:rdisthita I
apamyonih svayambhitirmanasi tattvasambhava II 25II
isvarani ca sarvani sailkararddhasaririni I
bhavani caiva rudrani mahalaksmirathambika II 26II
mahesvarasamutpanna bhuktimuktiphalaprada I
sarvesvari sarvavandya nityam muditamanasa II 27II
brahmendropendranamita sailkarecchanuvartini I
isvararddhasanagata mahesvarapativrata II 28II
sakrdvibhavita sarva samudraparisosini I
parvati himavatputri paramanandadayini II 29II
gunaghya yogaja yogya jnanamirtirvikasini I
savitri kamala laksmih sriranantorasi sthita II 30II
sarojanilaya mudra yoganidra surardini I
sarasvati sarvavidya jagajjyestha sumailgala II 31II
vagdevi varada vacya kirtih sarvarthasadhika I
yogisvari brahmavidya mahavidya susobhana II 32II
guhyavidyatmavidya ca dharmavidyatmabhavita I
svaha visvambhara siddhih svadha medha dhrtih srutih II 33II
nitih sunitih sukrtirmadhavi naravahini I
aja vibhavari saumya bhogini bhogadayini II 34II
sobha vamsakari lola malini paramesthini I
trailokyasundari ramya sundari kamacarini II 35II
mahanubhava sattvastha mahamahisamardani I
padmamala papahara vicitra mukutanana II 36II
kanta citrambaradhara divyabharanabhisita I
hamsakhya vyomanilaya jagats:rstivivarddhini II 37II
niryantra yantravahastha nandini bhadrakalika I
adityavarna kaumari mayiravaravahini II 38II
vrsasanagata gauri mahakali surarcita I
aditirniyata raudri padmagarbha vivahana II 39II
viripaksi lelihana mahapuranivasini I
mahaphala'navadyailgi kamapira vibhavari II 40II
vicitraratnamukuta pranatartiprabhanjani I
kausiki karsani ratristridasarttivinasini II 41II
bahuripa suripa ca viripa ripavarjita I
bhaktartisamani bhavya bhavabhavavinasini II 42II
nirguna nityavibhava nihsara nirapatrapa I
yasasvini samagitirbhavailganilayalaya II 43II
diksa vidyadhari dipta mahendravinipatini I
sarvatisayini vidya sarvasiddhipradayini II 44II
sarvesvarapriya tarksya samudrantaravasini I
akalailka niradhara nityasiddha niramaya II 45II
kamadhenurbrhadgarbha dhimati mohanasini I
nihsailkalpa niratailka vinaya vinayaprada II 46II
jvalamala sahasraghya devadevi manonmani I
ahabhagavati durga vasudevasamudbhava II 47II
mahendropendrabhagini bhaktigamya paravara I
jnanajneya jaratita vedantavisaya gatih II 48II
daksina dahana dahya sarvabhitanamaskrta I
yogamaya vibhavajna mahamaya mahiyasi II 49II
sandhya sarvasamudbhitirbrahmav:rksasrayanatih I
bijailkurasamudbhitirmahasaktirmahamatih II 50II
khyatih prajna citih samvit mahabhogindrasayini I
vik:rtih sailkari sastri ganagandharvasevita II 51II
vaisvanari mahasala devasena guhapriya I
maharatrih sivananda saci duhsvapnanasini II 52II
ijya pijya jagaddhatri durvijneya suripini I
guhambika gunotpattirmahapitha marutsuta II 53II
havyavahantaragadih havyavahasamudbhava I
jagadyonirjaganmata janmam:rtyujaratiga II 54II
buddhimata buddhimati purusantaravasini I
tarasvini samadhistha trinetra divi samsthita II 55II
sarvendriyamanomata sarvabhitah:rdi sthita I
samsaratarini vidya brahmavadimanolaya II 56II
brahmani b:rhati brahmi brahmabhita bhavaranih I
hiranmayi maharatrih samsaraparivarttika II 57II
sumalini suripa ca bhavini tarini prabha I
unmilani sarvasaha sarvapratyayasaksini II 58II
susaumya candravadana tandavasaktamanasa I
sattvasuddhikari suddhirmalatrayavinasini II 59II
jagatpriya jaganmirtistrimirtiram:rtasraya I
nirasraya nirahara nirailkuravanodbhava II 60II
candrahasta vicitrailgi sragvini padmadharini I
paravaravidhanajna mahapurusapirvaja II 61II
vidyesvarapriya vidya vidyujjihva jitasrama I
vidyamayi sahasraksi sahasravadanatmaja II 62II
sahasrarasmih sattvastha mahesvarapadasraya I
ksalini sanmayi vyapta taijasi padmabodhika II 63II
mahamayasraya manya mahadevamanorama I
vyomalaksmih simharatha cekitana'mitaprabha II 64II
viresvari vimanastha visoka sokanasini I
anahata kundalini nalini padmavasini II 65II
sadananda sadakirtih sarvabhitasrayasthita I
vagdevata brahmakala kalatita kalaranih II 66II
brahmasrirbrahmah:rdaya brahmavisnusivapriya I
vyomasaktih kriyasaktirjnanasaktih paragatih II 67II
ksobhika bandhika bhedya bhedabhedavivarjita I
abhinnabhinnasamsthana vamsini vamsaharini II 68II
guhyasaktirgunatita sarvada sarvatomukhi I
bhagini bhagavatpatni sakala kalakarini II 69II
sarvavit sarvatobhadra guhyatita guharanih I
prakriya yogamata ca gailga visvesvaresvari II 70II
kapila kapila kanta kanakabha kalantara I
punya puskarini bhoktri purandarapurassara II 71II
posani paramaisvaryabhitida bhitibhisana I
pancabrahmasamutpattih paramartharthavigraha II 72II
dharmodaya bhanumati yogijneya manojava I
manohara manoraksa tapasi vedaripini II 73II
vedasaktirvedamata vedavidyaprakasini I
yogesvaresvari mata mahasaktirmanomayi II 74II
visvavastha viyanmirttirvidyunmala vihayasi I
kinnari surabhi vandya nandini nandivallabha II 75II
bharati paramananda paraparavibhedika I
sarvapraharanopeta kamya kamesvaresvari II 76II
acintya'cintyavibhava hrllekha kanakaprabha I
kismandi dhanaratnaghya sugandha gandhadayini II 77II
trivikramapadodbhita dhanuspanih sivodaya I
sudurlabha dhanadhyaksa dhanya pulgalalocana II 78II
santih prabhavati diptih pailkajayatalocana I
adya hrtkamalodbhita gavam mata ranapriya II 79II
satkriya girija suddha nityapusta nirantara I
durgakatyayani cangi carcika santavigraha II 80II
hiranyavarna rajani jagadyantrapravartika I
mandaradrinivasa ca sarada svarnamalini II 81II
ratnamala ratnagarbha prthvi visvapramathini I
padmanana padmanibha nityatusta'mrtodbhava II 82II
dhunvati duhprakampya ca siryamata d:rsadvati I
mahendrabhagini manya varenya varadarpita II 83II
kalyani kamala rama pancabhita varaprada I
vacya varesvari vandya durjaya duratikrama II 84II
kalaratrirmahavega virabhadrapriya hita I
bhadrakali jaganmata bhaktanam bhadradayini II 85II
karala pulgalakara namabheda'mahamada I
yasasvini yasoda ca sagadhvaparivarttika II 86II
sailkhini padmini sailkhya sailkhyayogapravartika I
caitra samvatsararigha jagatsampiranindraja II 87II
sumbharih khecari svastha kambugriva kalipriya I
khagadhvaja khagarigha parardhya paramalini II 88II
aisvaryavartmanilaya virakta garugasana I
jayanti hrdguha ramya gahvarestha ganagranih II 89II
sailkalpasiddha samyastha sarvavijnanadayini I
kalikalmasahantri ca guhyopanisaduttama II 90II
nistha drstih smrtirvyaptih pustistustih kriyavati I
visvamaresvaresana bhuktirmuktih siva'm:rta II 91II
lohita sarpamala ca bhisani vanamalini I
anantasayana'nanya naranarayanodbhava II 92II
nrsimhi daityamathani sailkhacakragadadhara I
sailkarsanasamutpattirambikapadasamsraya II 93II
mahajvala mahamirttih sumirttih sarvakamadhuk I
suprabha sustana gauri dharmakamarthamoksada II 94II
bhrimadhyanilaya pirva puranapurusaranih I
mahavibhitida madhya sarojanayana sama II 95II
astadasabhuja'nadya nilotpaladalaprabha I
sarvasaktyasanarigha dharmadharmarthavarjita II 96II
vairagyajnananirata niraloka nirindriya I
vicitragahanadhara sasvatasthanavasini II 97II
sthanesvari nirananda trisilavaradharini I
asesadevatamirttirdevata varadevata I
ganambika gireh putri nisumbhavinipatini II 98II
avarna varnarahita nivarna bijasambhava I
anantavarna'nanyastha sailkari santamanasa II 99II
agotra gomati goptri guhyaripa gunottara I
gaurgirgavyapriya gauni ganesvaranamask:rta II 100II
satyamatra satyasandha trisandhya sandhivarjita I
sarvavadasraya sailkhya sailkhyayogasamudbhava II 101II
asailkhyeya'prameyakhya sinya suddhakulodbhava I
bindunadasamutpattih sambhuvama sasiprabha II 102II
visailga bhedarahita manojna madhusidani I
mahasrih srisamutpattistamahpare pratisthita II 103II
tritattvamata trividha susiksmapadasamsraya I
santyatita malatita nirvikara nirasraya II 104II
sivakhya cittanilaya sivajnanasvaripini I
daityadanavanirmatri kasyapi kalakalpika II 105II
sastrayonih kriyamirtiscaturvargapradarsika I
narayani narodbhitih kaumudi lulgadharini II 106II
kamuki lalita bhava paraparavibhitida I
parantajatamahima bagava vamalocana II 107II
subhadra devaki sita vedavedailgaparaga I
manasvini manyumata mahamanyusamudbhava II 108II
am:rtyuramrta svaha puruhita purustuta I
asocya bhinnavisaya hiranyarajatapriya II 109II
hiranya rajati haimi hemabharanabhisita I
vibhrajamana durjneya jyotistomaphalaprada II 110II
mahanidrasamudbhitiranidra satyadevata I
dirgha kakudmini hrdya santida santivarddhini II 111II
laksmyadisaktijanani sakticakrapravartika I
trisaktijanani janya sagirmiparivarjita II 112II
sudhama karmakarani yugantadahanatmika I
sailkarsani jagaddhatri kamayonih kiritini II 113II
aindri trailokyanamita vaisnavi paramesvari I
pradyumnadayita danta yugmadrstistrilocana II 114II
madotkata hamsagatih pracanga candavikrama I
vrsavesa viyanmata vindhyaparvatavasini II 115II
himavanmerunilaya kailasagirivasini I
canirahannrtanaya nitijna kamaripini II 116II
vedavidyavratasnata dharmasila'nilasana I
virabhadrapriya vira mahakalasamudbhava II 117II
vidyadharapriya siddha vidyadharanirakrtih I
apyayani haranti ca pavani posani khila II 118II
matrka manmathodbhita varija vahanapriya I
karisini sudhavani vinavadanatatpara II 119II
sevita sevika sevya sinivali gurutmati I
arundhati hiranyaksi m:rgailka manadayini II 120II
vasuprada vasumati vasorddhara vasundhara I
dharadhara vararoha varavarasahasrada II 121II
sriphala srimati srisa srinivasa sivapriya I
sridhara srikari kalya sridhararddhasaririni II 122II
anantadrstiraksudra dhatrisa dhanadapriya I
nihantri daityasailghanam simhika simhavahana II 123II
susena candranilaya sukirtischinnasamsaya I
rasajna rasada rama lelihana'mrtasrava II 124II
nityodita svayanjyotirutsuka mrtajivani I
vajradanga vajrajihva vaidehi vajravigraha II 125II
mailgalya mailgala mala malina malaharini I
gandharvi garugi candri kambalasvatarapriya II 126II
karnikarakara kakыya kamsapranapaharini II 127II
yugandhara yugavartta trisandhya harыavarddhani I
pratyaksadevata divya divyagandha divapara II 128II
sakrasanagata sakri sadhvi nari savasana I
ista visista sistesta sistasistaprapijita II 129II
sataripa satavartta vinata surabhihsura I
surendramata sudyumna susumna siryasamsthita II 130II
samiksya satpratistha ca nivrttirjnanaparaga I
dharmasastrarthakusala dharmajna dharmavahana II 131II
dharmadharmavinirmatri dharmikanam sivaprada I
dharmasaktirdharmamayi vidharma visvadharmini II 132II
dharmantara dharmamegha dharmapirva dhanavaha I
dharmopadestri dharmatma dharmagamya dharadhara II 133II
kapali sakala mirttih kala kalitavigraha I
sarvasaktivinirmukta sarvasaktyasrayasraya II 134II
sarva sarvesvari siksma susiksma jnanaripini I
pradhanapurusesesa mahadevaikasaksini I
sadasiva viyanmirttirvisvamirttiramirttika II 135II
evam namnam sahasrena stutva'sau himavan girih I
bhiyah pranamya bhitatma provacedam krtanjalih II 1II
yadetadaisvaram ripam ghoram te paramesvari I
bhito'smi sampratam drstva ripamanyat pradarsaya II 2II
evamukta'tha sa devi tena sailena parvati I
samh:rtya darsayamasa svaripamaparam punah II 3II
nilotpaladalaprakhyam nilotpalasugandhikam I
dvinetram dvibhujam saumyam nilalakavibhisitam II 4II
raktapadambujatalam suraktakarapallavam I
srimad visalasamvrttalalatatilakojjvalam II 5II
bhisitam carusarvailgam bhisanairatikomalam I
dadhanamurasa malam visalam hemanirmitam II 6II
isatsmitam subimbostham nipuraravasamyutam I
prasannavadanam divyamanantamahimaspadam II 7II
tadid:rsam samalokya svaripam sailasattamah I
bhitim santyajya hrstatma babhase paramesvarim II 8II
II iti srikirmapurane parvati sahasranama stotram sampurnam II

Saraswati mantras

Om Shri Saraswatyai namah

Om Hrim Aim Hrim Saraswatyai namah 

Om Aim Saraswatyai Aim Namaha 

Om Saraswati Mahabhagey, Vidye Kamala Lochaney |
Viswarupey Vishalakshmi, Vidyam Dehi Namohastutey ||
Jaya Jaya Devi, Charachara Sharey, Kuchayuga Shobhita, Mukta Haarey |
Vina Ranjita, Pustaka Hastey, Bhagavati Bharati Devi Namohastutey ||
May Goddess Saraswati,
Who is fair like the jasmine-colored moon,
and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops;
Who is adorned in radiant white attire,
on whose beautiful arm rests the veena,
and whose throne is a white lotus;
Who is surrounded and respected by the Gods, protect me.
May you fully remove my lethargy, sluggishness, and ignorance.

Saraswati Namastubhyam
Varade Kaamaroopini
Vidyaarambham Karishyaami
Siddhir Bhavatu Mey Sada 
O Goddess Saraswati, salutations to Thee. You are the Giver of boons and You grant all our desires. As I begin my studies, please help me make it fruitful and make me successful in all my efforts.

Saraswati Vandana
Ya Kundendu Tushaara Haara Dhavalaa
Ya Shubhra Vastraavrita
Ya Veena Vara Danda Manditakara
Ya Shveta Padmaasana
Ya Brahma Achyutaha Shankara Prabrithibhih
Devai Sadaa Poojitha
Saa Maam Paatu Saraswati Bhagavati
Nishyesha Jyaadyaapaha 
O Goddess Saraswati, Who is fair as the jasmine flower, the moon and the snow flake; Who is dressed in white clothing and whose hands are adorned by the celestial Veena; Who is seated in a white lotus; to whom Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara pray; may Maa Saraswati protect us!

 108 names of Saraswati 

Om Shrim Hrim Saraswatyai Namaha

Arjuna chant Devi Stotram

From the Mahabharata: Bhishma Parva Chapter 23, verses 4-16. This section is the chapter that immediately precedes the Bhagavad Gita.

Lord Krishna said to Arjuna: "Purify yourself, O mighty-armed one, on the evening of this great battle and compose a hymn to Durga for achieving victory over your enemies".

Shree Arjuna Uvaccha 

Namaste siddhasenaani aarye mandaravaasini/
Kumaari kaali kaapaali kapile krsna pingale //1//
"I bow to you, O foremost of Siddhas,
O Noble One that dwells in the forest of Mandara, O Virgin, O Kali! O wife of Kapala! O You of a black and tawny hue.
Bhadra-kaali namastubhyam mahaakaali namo'stu te/
Candi cande namastubhyam taarini vara-varnini//2//
I bow to you. O Beneficent Kali, I bow to You,
O Mahakali, O wrathful One, I bow to You. O Tara the saviour, the great boon bestowing one.
Kaatyaayani mahaabhaage karaali vijaye jaye/
Shikhi-piccha-dhvaja dhare naanaabharana bhooshite//3//
O Durga! Great Being, the fierce bestower of victory!
O personification of Victory! O You that bears a banner of peacock plumes, O One decked with every ornament.
Attashoola praharane khadga khetaka dhaarini/
Gopendrasyaanuje jyeshthe nanda-gopa-kulodbhave//4//
O you that wields an awful spear, the holder of sword and shield, O you that were born as the younger sister of the chief of cow-herds (Lord Krishna), O eldest sibling, born in the family of the cowherd Nanda!
Mahishasrk priye nityam Kaushiki peeta vaasini/
Attahaase koka-mukhe namaste'stu rana-priye//5//
O you who are always fond of buffalo's blood, born of Kusika's clan, dressed in yellow robes, having assuming the face of a wolf you devoured the Asuras! I bow to You who are fond of battle!
Ume shaakambhari shvete krsne kaitabhanaashini/
Hiranyaakshi viroopaakshi sudhoomraakshi namostu te//6//
O Uma! O Sakambhari! O you that are white in hue, and also black! O slayer of the asura Kaitabha! O yellow-eyed one! O you that see everything! O You of eyes that have the colour of smoke, I bow to You!
Vedashruti mahaapunye brahmanye jaatavedasi/
Jambookataka caityeshu nityam sannihitaalaye//7//
You are the Vedas, the Srutis, and the greatest virtue! You are propitious to Brahmanas engaged in sacrifice. You are all knowing, You are ever present in the sacred abodes erected to you in cities of Jambudwipa, I bow to You!
Tvam brahma-vidyaa vidyaanaam mahaanidraa ca dehinaam/
Skanda maatar bhagavati dure kaantaravaasini//8//
You are the Knowledge-of-the-highest-truth among sciences, and you are hat sleep of creatures from which there is no waking. O mother of Skanda, possessor of the six (highest) attributes of Divinity, O Durga, that dwells in the most inaccessible regions.
Svaahaakaarah svadhaa caiva kalaa kaashthaa sarasvatee/
Saavitri veda-maataa ca tathaa vedaanta ucyate//9//
You are called Swaha, and Swadha, and the subtle divisions of time such as Kala, and Kashta. You are the Goddess of knowledge: Saraswati, and the Mother of the Vedas, and the personification of Vedanta.
Stutaasi tvam mahaadevi vishuddhenaantaaraatmanaa/
Jayo bhavatu me nityam tvat prasaadaad ranaajire//10//
With inner mind purified, I praise you, O great Goddess; let victory always attend me through your grace, on the field of battle.
Kaantaara bhaya durgeshu bhaktaanaam caalayeshu ca/
Nityam vasasi paataale yuddhe jayasi daanavaan//11//
In inaccessible regions, where there is fear, in places of difficulty, in the abodes of your worshippers and in the nether regions (Patala), you always dwell. And in battle you always defeat the Danavas (a demon race).
Tvam jambhanee mohinee ca maayaa hreeh shreestathaiva ca/
Samdhyaa prabhaavatee caiva saavitree jananee tathaa//12//
You are the unconsciousness, the sleep, the illusion, the modesty, the beauty of all creatures. You are the twilight, and the radiant light of day! You are Savitri, and you are the Mother of all creation.
Tushtih pushtir dhrtir deeptish candraaditya vivardhinee/
Bhootir bhootimataam sanhkye veeksyase siddhacaaranaih//13//
You are contentment, development, fortitude and light. You increase the radiance of the Sun and the Moon. You are the prosperity of those that prosper. The Siddhas and the Charanas behold you in deep contemplation!

Translated by Shree Kisari Mohan Ganguli.

Kill Bull 3

Women-matador Christina Sanchez

In the beginning of Navratri I remember a theme of  Kill Bull and Kill Bull 2 in which I argued on dual bull's nature and how that is reflected in sacrifice ritual.
Dharma is generally symbolized in Hindu thought by the bull, vrishabha. The related term vrisha, not only means bull but also male and strong. The bull, a symbol of male sexuality, is the driving force of attainment in many symbolic systems. Consider Zeus, sky god of the Greeks who, in the form of a white bull, unrelentingly pursues Europa.

"The Rape of Europa" by Valentin Serov

 The bull which wanders about, anxious to find a mate, is taken as the embodiment of the sex impulse. Most living creatures are governed by their instincts; they are ridden over by the bull.
But Shiva  rides on this bull, He is the Master of the bull. Who are masters of their own impulses can ride on the bull. Thus the image of Shiva atop his bull represents the sexual drive brought under control.

  Bulls were always both sacred and sacrificed. There is very known example of the Apis bull cult in Egypt. And in paleolithic times that the people who painted bulls in ancient caves may have fought and killed them not just for eat or fun but some kind of ceremony may have been held in connection with this.
It is possible to consider that dual symbolism of a bull very long but what it means for each of us today? One of many explanations is the bull represents the raw material strength or force of the Earth, the force of nature. The astrological sign of Taurus (bull) also  represents the element of Earth. And Shakti is Power, or Fire. The color of Shakti is red. A bull is also at war when shown a red rag. Therefore I see the hidden forgotten symbolism in bullfight. So, if we look at the face off between matador and bull, we are seeing a conjunction of fire and earth. This is all about the man versus the bull. Both creatures still retain their raw untamed instincts, but they have also been tamed to a great extent. Man has the power to control his own nature.

Durga's spear symbolizes the sun, light, and fire, all of which are synonymous with each other. We have our inner sun as the center of his own being. The seeds of both self-destruction and of divine revelation are to choose from. It stands between earth and fire, heaven and hell,  up and down, and is able to choose between the two. The matador slays the beast, using his sword, symbolizing spirit. And I wish you always the same victory with the Shakti's spear during magnificent days of Navratri.

Jai Maa Durga!