Lecture 7 Flashcards
what is devi
the goddess– idea of supreme goddess but often talk about MANY
what is the difference between Shakti, Shakta and Shaktism
shakti- goddess
shakta– related to the goddess
shaktism - tradition
who is sarasvat
goddess talked about but not central
who is Lakshmi/shri
goddess of prosperity, wealth, abundance, beauty,, good fortune
who is durga
goddess famous for slaying buffalo demon, seen as taking on all powers of the gods, played demons the male gods couldn’t
who is Kali
goddess know for fierce, particularly danergoys, licks up blood from blood dropper demon (when a drop hit the ground, a new newton would grow), wildness only tempered by the submission of husband in some stories, seen as fierce ‘mother’, Kali means ‘dark goddess’
who is ganga
river goddess
who are some of the mentioned goddesses
ganga, kali, durga, lakshmi/shri, sarasvati
what are the three strands/broad ways of thinking about divinity related to Vishnu, Shiva and Sakti/Goddess
the god, those related to the god and the tradition
give an overview of vishnu
Vishnu (e.g. arataras); unity in linear plurality, royal power, continuity, dharma
give an overview of shiva
-Shiva (e.g. ardhanarisvara, shiva linga); opposites help together; paradox; transgression and transcendence
give an overview of Shakti/Devi
-Shakti/Devi (e.g. river goddess, blood sacrifice, possession); power itself, energy, power of transformation, immanent connection of one and many
what is the tilaka
forehead mark
what are tilaka for
- marriage ritual
- in some cases, some marks are for adornment; but usually they convey layers of social and religious meaning
- can show marital status for some women, secular identity, etc
what does the tilaka look like for vaishava
v mark on forehead
what does the tilaka look like for Shaiva
3 stripes of ash horizontal
what does the tilaka look like for shakta
less distinct, red line/dot
what is darshana
‘seeing’ and being seen by the deity; mutual seeing as an intimate moment of devotion and grace
-often occurs in temples
what is Puja
worship; specifically worship with marital religious objects and prayer; ritualized form of devotion worship
-transformation FROM vedic fire worship to an embodied form of deity
what is Upcara
an offering that treats the image as the living, presence of the deiry including awakening, bathing, adorning the enlivened, embodied image (murti)
-standardized ritual actions that provide conventional framework for devotees to connect and divinity through puja (ritual bathing etc)
what are the words associated with puja and embodied religion
puja, darshana, upcara. prasada
what is included in themany lists of upcara
- provides structure for worship (puja) which makes the deity happy.pleased
- they treat the image as a living presence of the deity ‘god as your guest’
includes;
- invocation and installation of deity
- water for washing feet, head. body, etc
- waking up, bathing, dressing, upanayana
- gestered of respect
- putting deity to bed
what is prasada
divine grace/favour, in both abstract and material forms
- deity shows grace/favour by offering something back to devotee
- this mean ‘favour’ in 2 senses;
1. ‘abstract’ favor (blessing, grace, knowledge, inside)
2. ‘material’ favor (scarves, etc)
how are puja and prasada related
puja as a ritual of transvaluation that produces prasada
what is Bharjan
devotional songs
-reading of religious texts
what is vrata
observance, votive, ritual vow; often involves fasts and other modifications of behaviour; most frequently done by women
-often described in normative; people hear about and observe then they want to do it
what is saubhagya
good fortune, well being; and auspiciousness associated with marital women
what is auspiciousness
associated with thriving, conducive to life (inauspiciousness is the opposite)
- particular auspiciousness associated with married women (symbolizes social order, stability, having children, positivity). Problems with this because widows then have the stigma as inauspiciousness
- women married to goddesses are always auspiciousness
- other practices associated with auspiciousness are designs outside of doors (certain ones)
what is tirtha
‘ford’ or ‘crossing place’; a holy site frequently visited by pilgrims because of its power for carrying one across some difficulty to desired goal (healing, a child, liberation, etc)
where are rituals done
domestic ad public
what is arati
pooja is (uncountable) a form of worship in south asia; a religious ceremony while aarti is a particular hindu prayer ritual, involving candles made from clarified butter.
Arati (pronounced ar’ a tee) is an offering of respect, welcome, or worship to an exalted person. Since the most exalted person is the Supreme Lord, it is most appropriate to offer arati to Him.
Arati is one aspect of Deity worship. During arati, auspicious items are offered to the Deity.
Guidelines
Aratis can be short or long. And time, place, and circumstance dictate how many aratis are offered each day. Whatever standard is established should be maintained.
In a full arati, incense, a flame (ghee lamp), a conch shell with water, a cloth, flowers, a chamara (yak-tail fan), and a peacock-feather fan are offered to the deity. While doing so, the devotee chants mantras appropriate for each article and rings a bell with the left hand. In a short arati, incense and one or more of the articles used in the full arati may be offered.
Aratis should be accompanied by the singing of the Hare Krishna mantra, the most important part of deity worship. Worshipers attending the arati may sing, or the devotee offering the arati may sing or play a recording.
