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Re: REQUEST : questions on the images of Hindu deities
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To: srh@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu
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To: Gloria Lau <gorilla@hkstar.com>
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Subject: Re: REQUEST : questions on the images of Hindu deities
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From: sns <sns@ix.netcom.com>
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Date: Thu, 03 Oct 1996 15:24:16 +0100
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Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
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Organization: sns
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References: <ghenDyotJs.3z6@netcom.com>
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ReSent-Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 19:00:22 -0400 (EDT)
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ReSent-From: SRH Editor <srh@rbhatnagar.ececs.uc.edu>
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ReSent-Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.961007190022.1361A@rbhatnagar.ececs.uc.edu>
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ReSent-To: ghen@netcom.com
Gloria Lau wrote:
>
> Hello,everybody,
>
> I'm a design student and doing a reserh on the
> images of Hindu deities.
> Here are some
> questions which I desperately hope to be answered from
> all of you.
>
> 1, Is there any symbolic meaning on the Gods' gestures, acessories, position,
> the composition of the pictures...etc.?
Yes there definitely is symbolic meaning, infact the
name of the deities itself has meaning. For eg:
Rama means "ramanate iti ramaha" i.e one who causes
everyone to be happy inside"
Vishnu is shown sleeping on the snake Ananta -
Ananta - means no end i.e infinite and represents time
(The ability of a snake to shed its old skin and grow
a new skin - makes it a representation of timelessness
and rejuvanation )
and Vishnu spans across time
In the Nataraja vigraha - Shiva is shown dancing with
a fire in one hand - which symbolises the burning of
ignorance and the other three also have meaning.
Infact there is 'sootra' in Sanskrit called
"Maaheshwari sootra" which is said to have come out
of Shivas Damaru (drum) as He danced and all sanskrit
grammar is based on this sootra.
>
> 2, What are the importances and influences of making
>the Gods' images into pictures to a Hindu ?I do not know if I understand this question properly..
> 3, Is visualization important to Hinduism ?Visualisation is important in that it helps the mind
to comprehend abstract concepts a little better
> Thank you for your attentions and your answers will
> be a great help to me.
>I hope this is helpful. What I have said cannot be
said to be authoritative but is just intended to give
a broad idea and my personal opinion.
Sudheer
> DESPRATELY SEEKING FOR HELP
> Gloria Lau
> --
> --------------------------------------------------------
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> Mail posts to: ghen@netcom.com : http://www.hindunet.org/srh_home/
