Happy Thaipusam

[Shivani Devi]

Vanakkam, Namaste and Namaskar.

I know that I am a day early, but I won't be online for the next few days..

https://www.google.com/search?q=thai...obile&ie=UTF-8

Even though I can't be there and do this myself (sadly), my heart and spirit is with all who have taken the Kavadi vow this year...such devotion and penance is exemplary and it is so amazing to see such tribal customs are still existing in this modern society...May it continue to be like that for a very long time to come.

I'd love to be able to do something like this to cure my psychosomatic nerve pain and neuropathy...As being unable to express myself like this is the cause of it.

May the blessings of Lord Murugan be with all at this holy time.

https://youtu.be/vs-woPq0cuw
https://youtu.be/_hzMsYQP24w

[Shivani Devi]

Here is the live coverage of Thaipusam 2019 that I am watching right now (not that I can understand Tamil whatsoever):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2qERNcWU898

Back in 1978, seeing the Thaipusam ceremony at Batu Caves in Malaysia, was my very explosive "introduction to Hinduism" as it were.

Lord Murugan introduced me to his "Daddy" and from then on, my fate was sealed...So I still pay my deepest respects to the Son of the Krittikas..and I also feel a deep connection with the ancient ways through all of this.

The Thaipusam ceremony is held on the first full moon lunar eclipse of the year, when the moon has both nodes in the sidereal astrological sign of Cancer (Pushka Nakshatra).

It commemorates his "adoptive mother", Durga Devi bestowing him with the "Vel" or the "Battle Lance" which is akin to the Lance of Discernment/Discrimination used to defeat our enemies of Adharma..Tamoguna...Evil forces..

Murugan is akin to Ares...The God of War, who battles with the lower, banal entities and often, at our behest and on our behalf, if we only make that pledge..enter the Divine Arul...

However, seeing as this coincides with a full moon eclipse, watching that too..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5RzNWf_p620

Of course, I am not expecting anybody to ever reply to this thread, it would surprise me infinitely if they did. LOL

[ajay00]

Originally Posted by Shivani Devi

Here is the live coverage of Thaipusam 2019 that I am watching right now (not that I can understand Tamil whatsoever):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2qERNcWU898

Back in 1978, seeing the Thaipusam ceremony at Batu Caves in Malaysia, was my very explosive "introduction to Hinduism" as it were.

Lord Murugan introduced me to his "Daddy" and from then on, my fate was sealed...So I still pay my deepest respects to the Son of the Krittikas..and I also feel a deep connection with the ancient ways through all of this.

What about me !

I did introduce you to Shiva as an incorporeal point of light, as per the teachings of the Prajapita Brahmakumaris. This is also in correspondence with Shaivite scriptures which project Shiva as a cosmic pillar of light.

I was also born in 1978, if it is supposed to be meaningful in any manner.

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by ajay00

What about me !

I did introduce you to Shiva as an incorporeal point of light, as per the teachings of the Prajapita Brahmakumaris. This is also in correspondence with Shaivite scriptures which project Shiva as a cosmic pillar of light.

I was also born in 1978, if it is supposed to be meaningful in any manner.

Namaste.

The Lord appears to each of us personally in the way that is the most positive and conducive to our unique and individual spiritual growth and understanding.

In my personal case, it is very difficult for my heart to feel any love towards an incorporeal, incongruous pillar of light (I even have problems associating a Shiva Lingam with Shiva)..I am not spiritually advanced enough to do that yet.

Fact is, I never even was aware that Lord Shiva existed before that Thaipusam. It was the first time I saw a picture/image of the Deity...First time my heart felt the association...Maybe it was a "previous life memory" thing.

I am aware of the stories about the Jyotir Lingam, but my consciousness is still in the naive child stage...I prefer to have something I can recognise over something I cannot and that is basically all there is to that.

.....Maybe next lifetime I will join the Brahma Kumaris, who knows? I am just not ready yet to do so in this one.

Aum Namah Shivaya

[ajay00]

Originally Posted by Shivani Devi

Namaste.

The Lord appears to each of us personally in the way that is the most positive and conducive to our unique and individual spiritual growth and understanding.

In my personal case, it is very difficult for my heart to feel any love towards an incorporeal, incongruous pillar of light (I even have problems associating a Shiva Lingam with Shiva)..I am not spiritually advanced enough to do that yet.

Fact is, I never even was aware that Lord Shiva existed before that Thaipusam. It was the first time I saw a picture/image of the Deity...First time my heart felt the association...Maybe it was a "previous life memory" thing.

The deity with the trident and cobra, is considered by the Prajapita Brahmakumaris as Shankar, the deity of destruction. Just as Brahma is associated with creation and Vishnu is associated with maintenance.

God Shiva as a cosmic point of light is considered to be above all these three deities, and all three deities worship Shiva. This is all there is to it.

This is why the Shivalingam is associated with Shankar and Vishnu in pictures.
The Padmanabhaswami temple in Kerala has a reclining Vishnu with his hand above the Shivalingam.

Shankar's pictures are always depicted with the Shivalingam next to him.

Originally Posted by Shivani Devi

I am aware of the stories about the Jyotir Lingam, but my consciousness is still in the naive child stage...I prefer to have something I can recognise over something I cannot and that is basically all there is to that.

.....Maybe next lifetime I will join the Brahma Kumaris, who knows? I am just not ready yet to do so in this one.

Aum Namah Shivaya

The jyothirlinga shrines are Temples where Shiva appeared as a column of light. Jyoti means light in sanskrit.

Perhaps this may explain the light phenomenon you witnessed in the interesting picture taken of you.

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by ajay00

The deity with the trident and cobra, is considered by the Prajapita Brahmakumaris as Shankar, the deity of destruction. Just as Brahma is associated with creation and Vishnu is associated with maintenance.

God Shiva as a cosmic point of light is considered to be above all these three deities, and all three deities worship Shiva. This is all there is to it.

This is why the Shivalingam is associated with Shankar and Vishnu in pictures.
The Padmanabhaswami temple in Kerala has a reclining Vishnu with his hand above the Shivalingam.

Shankar's pictures are always depicted with the Shivalingam next to him.





The jyothirlinga shrines are Temples where Shiva appeared as a column of light. Jyoti means light in sanskrit.

Perhaps this may explain the light phenomenon you witnessed in the interesting picture taken of you.

For me, God Shiva, Shankar, Mahadeva, Shambhu, Mahakaal etc are all the same thing!

How could it be any different to an Aghori?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ANzlGtK-MK0

Yeah, I know that Jyotir and also Deepam means light in Sanskrit, or did you forget in the intervening time since we last spoke about this, that I happen to be quite fluent in both the written and spoken forms of the language?

However...Now I feel like listening to some "breathless" tracks by Shankar Mahadevan..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1lPozjD-WJA

Although this song is purported to be in Telegu, the lyrics are actually in pure Sanskrit...It is the greatest invocation to Lord Shiva I have ever heard!

It seems that I am not the ONLY one who gets "Shiva" confused with the "Trident/Cobra Deity"... millions and millions of Hindus do..now compare millions of Hindus to a few thousand Brahmakumaris...You get the picture.

Aum Namah Shivaya

[ajay00]

Originally Posted by Shivani Devi

It seems that I am not the ONLY one who gets "Shiva" confused with the "Trident/Cobra Deity"... millions and millions of Hindus do..now compare millions of Hindus to a few thousand Brahmakumaris...You get the picture.

Aum Namah Shivaya

This can be attributed to interpolation by Tantrik scholars who connected Shivalinga with Shankar, and this may have passed on to the general populace with passage of time. Swami Vivekananda also criticised the misappropriation of Shivalingam by the tantriks, and this criticism can be found in his works. He had himself stated that the Shivalinga represents a pillar of light and not any human deity, referring the Vedas ( Atharva Veda) in this regard.

I have been to ancient Shiva temples, and I have only seen the Shivalinga there, with no images or statues of Shankar.

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by ajay00

This can be attributed to interpolation by Tantrik scholars who connected Shivalinga with Shankar, and this may have passed on to the general populace with passage of time. Swami Vivekananda also criticised the misappropriation of Shivalingam by the tantriks, and this criticism can be found in his works. He had himself stated that the Shivalinga represents a pillar of light and not any human deity, referring the Vedas ( Atharva Veda) in this regard.

I have been to ancient Shiva temples, and I have only seen the Shivalinga there, with no images or statues of Shankar.

Well, I am safe because I associate Shivalinga with being a cylindrical stone..nothing more, nothing less.

[Vinayaka]

Originally Posted by Shivani Devi

Vanakkam, Namaste and Namaskar.

I know that I am a day early, but I won't be online for the next few days..

https://www.google.com/search?q=thai...obile&ie=UTF-8

Even though I can't be there and do this myself (sadly), my heart and spirit is with all who have taken the Kavadi vow this year...such devotion and penance is exemplary and it is so amazing to see such tribal customs are still existing in this modern society...May it continue to be like that for a very long time to come.

I'd love to be able to do something like this to cure my psychosomatic nerve pain and neuropathy...As being unable to express myself like this is the cause of it.

May the blessings of Lord Murugan be with all at this holy time.

https://youtu.be/vs-woPq0cuw
https://youtu.be/_hzMsYQP24w

Vel Muruga! The little Thai Pusam parade (only milk pot) here has increased to over 40 people now, after 6 years. Steadily growing. I was unable to take kavadi this year due to an injured foot. Next year, for sure, if He's willing. Last year was the first time for this place. It will grow. Tough to find resources like someone with the piercing knowledge in far off lands. But He made it happen.

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by Vinayaka

Vel Muruga! The little Thai Pusam parade (only milk pot) here has increased to over 40 people now, after 6 years. Steadily growing. I was unable to take kavadi this year due to an injured foot. Next year, for sure, if He's willing. Last year was the first time for this place. It will grow. Tough to find resources like someone with the piercing knowledge in far off lands. But He made it happen.

Vel Muruga Vel! Nice to see you again my friend and I hope you are keeping well. Last time we spoke, I recall that your mandali was facing problems in finding a priest to perform the sacred rites...I see that issue has been resolved. I am sorry to read about your foot and I hope it heals soon. I shall be looking into places in Australia that celebrate this..Well, the next thing to come around on the calendar is Maha Shivratri...hope to see you then.