MJ's Altar (was: My intro + questions)

[Guest guest]

Wowie kazowie! MJ, what a beautiful altar! I recognise Paul Borda's

Horned God and Moon Goddess, The Millennial Gaia... Very impressive.

 

You'll note that in most images of Lakshmi and Ganesha, Lakshmi is seated

to Ganesha's right. This means that their relationship is not Tantric or

sexual. (Technically, Lakshmi's husband is Vishnu.) Laksnmi and Ganesha

are partnered, but it is a partnership of affection and business success.

 

My altar also has a mixture of Hindu and Western Pagan deities on

display. Ganesha is partnered with Sarasvati (my chosen deity), but

Lakshmi stands behind them, blessing them. Pan and Diana flank the

altar, and a place of honor is given to the Celtic deity of the season --

Beltane is approaching, so I'll be putting Cernunnos' image up, soon.

 

My partner (Alexei Kondratiev) wrote the book, "The Apple Branch: A Path

to Celtic Ritual." He argues that the Pagan Celts probably had rituals

very similar to those of the Hindus. The late founder of Hinduism Today,

Sivaya Subramunya Swami, also noticed many ritual elements in common

between Western Paganism and Hinduism.

 

Ganesha is the greatest devotee of the Goddess, and blesses all Goddess

worshippers, no matter what form of the Goddess we worship.

 

<Ganesha, Ganesha, Parvati-nandana, Ganesha!>

(Ganesh, Ganesh, Parvati's darling, Ganesh!)

 

-- Len/ Black Lotus

 

 

On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 14:17:35 -0700 (PDT) MJ Krasny

<mjkraaz63 writes:

> Welcome and Blessings Joanna,

>

> Don't worry about what may become of your pagan practices. Hinduism

> is afterall a "pagan" belief system.

>

> My partner and I are also pagans and Wiccan High Priestesses. Our

> personal patron deities have come to be Lord Ganesha and Sri

> Lakshmi. We have managed to "incorporate" our devotion to them into

> our already established belief system quite easily. If you are of

> an eclectic background in regard to your wiccan/pagan beliefs there

> really should be no issue with honoring Ganesha above others and

> before all endeavors. If, however you practiced the Craft utilizing

> one specific pantheon or one specific pair of deities I could

> understand it might take some adjusting. Give yourself time with

> Ganesha, He will help show the way which is right for you.

>

> While Ganesha is All and All is Him, from a wiccan/pagan perspective

> He is one of many, many faces of the God. Just as Lakshmi is one of

> many, many faces of the Goddess.

>

> I've attached for you a picture of my personal altar. You'll see

> that Ganesha and Lakshmi have the most prominent position but that

> it is a very wiccan/pagan sacred space. Also notice the smaller

> wooden image of Lord Ganesha front and center. I have smaller

> altars beside my bed for Ganesha and Lakshmi. Throughout our home

> there is also an altar to the Dark Goddess and Kali Ma; an altar to

> Bast and an altar to Kwan Yin.

>

> I hope this helps some. Welcome again and may Lord Ganesha protect

> you always and bless you for your devotion to Him.

>

> Blessings,

> Libuesz

>

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Thanks for the praise for my altar! I'm fond of it. My partner and I are

always picking up things to add to all of them and I periodically do an "altar

makeover", so I should take an update photo from time to time I guess. Her

main altar is to the right side of mine against another wall.

 

We became fond of that image of Ganesha and Lakshmi quite some time ago. for a

long time we simply had color copies of it from the computer displayed in

various placed throughout the house.

 

Yes, I'm aware of the relationship between Ganesha and Lakshmi. Afterall,

according to Ganesha, the most perfect woman and the one He most honors is his

mother, Parvati. To Him, no other woman can compare to her. As it should be,

for He is such the devoted son.

 

Something KJ, my partner said of Ganesha and Goddess worship: To remember that

He was created by His mother and by her was exalted to His high status.

(Something that may help some wiccans accept the expectation that He be

worshipped before all others.)

 

We are very happy in our devotion to Ganesha and Lakshmi, Lord/Lady,

God/Goddess. It all works for us!

 

Thanks again for your insight. It seems our paths have some parallels.

 

Jai! Jai! Ganesha!

Libuesz