Guest guest Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 --- Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108 wrote: > > Anyone here familiar with Hindu Iconography as it > concerns multiple heads? > > Some Hindu deities are polycephalic (having multiple > heads, like Brahma). Others are theriocephalic > (humans with animal heads, like the popular > portrayals > of Varahi). But some are BOTH animal headed, and > multiple headed. > > I've become fascinated with Heramba Ganapati, a form > of Lord Ganesha with five elephant heads. Now, > there > are several forms of five-headed Ganeshas. Hinduism > Today's late founder, Sivaya Sumbramunyaswami, > attempted to popularize a Christmas holiday > alternative, worshipping a five-headed Ganesha > ("Panchaganapati") over five days in late December, > and each head had a color association (yellow, blue, > red, green, and orange). > > Heramba not only has five heads, he rides on a lion > (instead of the usual mouse). A book I have gives > colors and numbers to the heads, but I am puzzled. > > The first elephant head is described as "the color > of > pearls." I'm assuming the first head is central, > let's say facing East. Heramba's body is usually > shown as white, so this makes sense (first, central > head should match the body, right?). > > The second head is "the color of lightning," and the > commentary specifies "yellow." Would the second > head > be to the right, i.e., facing South? > > The third head is "the color of a storm cloud," and > the commentary specifies "dark blue." Would the > third > head continue clockwise around the compass, and be > situated facing West? Or would it be on the left of > the main head, and facing North? > > The fourth head is described as "the color of milk." > > Milk is as white as pearls are. Are two heads the > same color? If the fourth head is North-facing, are > two adjacent heads (first and fourth) likely to be > the > same color? (Which is why I suspect blue faces > North > and milky faces West...) Milk is perhaps OFF-white. > > If there's lots of butter in the milk, it would be > pale yellow. If it's starting to go sour, it might > be > pale green! Off-white is most likely a pale grey, > or > maybe a bone, beige type of color. > > The fifth head (usually shown above the four, in a > higher tier) is called "the color of turmeric." > Turmeric is a yellow spice, more yellow than > lightning! I suspect you could define turmeric as > slightly orangy, so is the fifth head orange? > > Some sources state that Heramba is dark green in > complexion, in which case none of the heads match! > > I know of two other deities who have fivefold heads. > > Sada-Shiva usually has five heads, as the Devi > Gayatri > also has five heads of different colors. What > colors > do they present, and what does five faces MEAN, > anyway? Master of the five elements? Links to the > five-fingered hand? The five syllables of Shiva's > mantra? Or something else entirely? > > Years ago, I saw for sale a huge Heramba murthi, > over > three feet tall, with all five faces equally spaced > on > the same level. Seen from above, the elephant > trunks > formed a five-pointed star, which pleased me as a > Wiccan. The pentagram is also a yantra for > Sada-Shiva. I am tempted to try to draw a pentagram > with five elephant faces. > > -- Len/ Kalipadma > __ Sports Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football http://football.fantasysports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Aum shanti,JimLen Rosenberg <kalipadma108 > wrote: --- Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108 > wrote:> > Anyone here familiar with Hindu Iconography as it> concerns multiple heads?> > Some Hindu deities are polycephalic (having multiple> heads, like Brahma). Others are theriocephalic> (humans with animal heads, like the popular> portrayals> of Varahi). But some are BOTH animal headed, and> multiple headed.> > I've become fascinated with Heramba Ganapati, a form> of Lord Ganesha with five elephant heads. Now,> there> are several forms of five-headed Ganeshas. Hinduism> Today's late founder, Sivaya Sumbramunyaswami,> attempted to popularize a Christmas holiday> alternative, worshipping a five-headed Ganesha> ("Panchaganapati") over five days in late December,> and each head had a color association (yellow, blue,> red, green, and orange).> > Heramba not only has five heads, he rides on a lion> (instead of the usual mouse). A book I have gives> colors and numbers to the heads, but I am puzzled.> > The first elephant head is described as "the color> of> pearls." I'm assuming the first head is central,> let's say facing East. Heramba's body is usually> shown as white, so this makes sense (first, central> head should match the body, right?).> > The second head is "the color of lightning," and the> commentary specifies "yellow." Would the second> head> be to the right, i.e., facing South?> > The third head is "the color of a storm cloud," and> the commentary specifies "dark blue." Would the> third> head continue clockwise around the compass, and be> situated facing West? Or would it be on the left of> the main head, and facing North?> > The fourth head is described as "the color of milk."> > Milk is as white as pearls are. Are two heads the> same color? If the fourth head is North-facing, are> two adjacent heads (first and fourth) likely to be> the> same color? (Which is why I suspect blue faces> North> and milky faces West...) Milk is perhaps OFF-white.> > If there's lots of butter in the milk, it would be> pale yellow. If it's starting to go sour, it might> be> pale green! Off-white is most likely a pale grey,> or> maybe a bone, beige type of color.> > The fifth head (usually shown above the four, in a> higher tier) is called "the color of turmeric." > Turmeric is a yellow spice, more yellow than> lightning! I suspect you could define turmeric as> slightly orangy, so is the fifth head orange?> > Some sources state that Heramba is dark green in> complexion, in which case none of the heads match!> > I know of two other deities who have fivefold heads.> > Sada-Shiva usually has five heads, as the Devi> Gayatri> also has five heads of different colors. What> colors> do they present, and what does five faces MEAN,> anyway? Master of the five elements? Links to the> five-fingered hand? The five syllables of Shiva's> mantra? Or something else entirely?> > Years ago, I saw for sale a huge Heramba murthi,> over> three feet tall, with all five faces equally spaced> on> the same level. Seen from above, the elephant> trunks> formed a five-pointed star, which pleased me as a> Wiccan. The pentagram is also a yantra for> Sada-Shiva. I am tempted to try to draw a pentagram> with five elephant faces. > > -- Len/ Kalipadma> __ Sports Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football http://football.fantasysports.http://www.geocities.com/aumganesh/ Tired of spam? Mail has the best spam protection around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Lol..... Lenji, my head spun around several times and did some double takes after reading your message No I'm not confused by the post but rather at myself for not being able to remember regarding the colors you mentioned. Very amazed at your description of the Heramba Whose heads resembled a pentagram when you looked from below. Gob-smacked and wish I can get to see it too one day. Ya didn't take a photo by any chance? I know, silly of me to ask the obvious , Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108> wrote: > > > --- Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108> wrote: > > > > > Anyone here familiar with Hindu Iconography as it > > concerns multiple heads? > > > > Some Hindu deities are polycephalic (having multiple > > heads, like Brahma). Others are theriocephalic > > (humans with animal heads, like the popular > > portrayals > > of Varahi). But some are BOTH animal headed, and > > multiple headed. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 --- Aum Ganesh <aumganesh wrote: > Lol..... Lenji, my head spun around several times > and did some > double takes after reading your message No I'm > not confused by > the post but rather at myself for not being able to > remember > regarding the colors you mentioned. It just seems strange to me that multiple heads would have the same colors repeated. (And I seem to remember seeing a Thangka painting of Heramba, with five different colored heads.) But then, there's some disagreement as the color of his BODY, too! Usually white, sometimes dark green, one source says he's blue-black! This iconography stuff is an inexact science... > Very amazed at your description > of the Heramba Whose heads resembled a pentagram > when you looked from below. Well, actually, when looked at from ABOVE... I'm trying to imagine what the store owner would think, to find me lying on the floor with my head in Heramba's lap, gazing UP at his multiple heads! (That's the statue's multiple heads, not the proprietor's... You KNOW what I mean!) > Gob-smacked and wish I can get to see it > too one day. > Ya didn't take a photo by any chance? I know, silly > of me to ask > the obvious > This was SO long ago, easily-portable cameras were NOT widely available yet. -- Len/ Kalipadma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 Janus, the Roman god of beginnings was shown as both two-headed and four headed. Sorry, not Hindu though, but multi-headed. Barbara - Len Rosenberg List Saturday, June 18, 2005 9:26 AM Fwd: Head Trips --- Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108 > wrote:> > Anyone here familiar with Hindu Iconography as it> concerns multiple heads?> > Some Hindu deities are polycephalic (having multiple> heads, like Brahma). Others are theriocephalic> (humans with animal heads, like the popular> portrayals> of Varahi). But some are BOTH animal headed, and> multiple headed.> > I've become fascinated with Heramba Ganapati, a form> of Lord Ganesha with five elephant heads. Now,> there> are several forms of five-headed Ganeshas. Hinduism> Today's late founder, Sivaya Sumbramunyaswami,> attempted to popularize a Christmas holiday> alternative, worshipping a five-headed Ganesha> ("Panchaganapati") over five days in late December,> and each head had a color association (yellow, blue,> red, green, and orange).> > Heramba not only has five heads, he rides on a lion> (instead of the usual mouse). A book I have gives> colors and numbers to the heads, but I am puzzled.> > The first elephant head is described as "the color> of> pearls." I'm assuming the first head is central,> let's say facing East. Heramba's body is usually> shown as white, so this makes sense (first, central> head should match the body, right?).> > The second head is "the color of lightning," and the> commentary specifies "yellow." Would the second> head> be to the right, i.e., facing South?> > The third head is "the color of a storm cloud," and> the commentary specifies "dark blue." Would the> third> head continue clockwise around the compass, and be> situated facing West? Or would it be on the left of> the main head, and facing North?> > The fourth head is described as "the color of milk."> > Milk is as white as pearls are. Are two heads the> same color? If the fourth head is North-facing, are> two adjacent heads (first and fourth) likely to be> the> same color? (Which is why I suspect blue faces> North> and milky faces West...) Milk is perhaps OFF-white.> > If there's lots of butter in the milk, it would be> pale yellow. If it's starting to go sour, it might> be> pale green! Off-white is most likely a pale grey,> or> maybe a bone, beige type of color.> > The fifth head (usually shown above the four, in a> higher tier) is called "the color of turmeric." > Turmeric is a yellow spice, more yellow than> lightning! I suspect you could define turmeric as> slightly orangy, so is the fifth head orange?> > Some sources state that Heramba is dark green in> complexion, in which case none of the heads match!> > I know of two other deities who have fivefold heads.> > Sada-Shiva usually has five heads, as the Devi> Gayatri> also has five heads of different colors. What> colors> do they present, and what does five faces MEAN,> anyway? Master of the five elements? Links to the> five-fingered hand? The five syllables of Shiva's> mantra? Or something else entirely?> > Years ago, I saw for sale a huge Heramba murthi,> over> three feet tall, with all five faces equally spaced> on> the same level. Seen from above, the elephant> trunks> formed a five-pointed star, which pleased me as a> Wiccan. The pentagram is also a yantra for> Sada-Shiva. I am tempted to try to draw a pentagram> with five elephant faces. > > -- Len/ Kalipadma> __ Sports Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football http://football.fantasysports.http://www.geocities.com/aumganesh/ Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.8/22 - Release 6/17/05 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 Thank you, Barbara. There are scholars who argue that Janus is somehow related to Ganesha -- they are both liminal deities, associated with doorways, new beginnings, between the worlds places, etc. There is a two-headed form of Ganesha, called Dvimukha Ganapati. Usually two elephant heads, but on rare occasions shown with an elephant head looking in one direction, and a human head looking in the other! Dvimukha Ganapati is green complexioned, and often invoked to remove obstacles from "doubling" one's income. -- Len/ Kalipadma --- "Barbara J. Spencer" <barbjs wrote: > Janus, the Roman god of beginnings was shown as both > two-headed and four headed. Sorry, not Hindu though, > but multi-headed. > > Barbara > - > > > Anyone here familiar with Hindu Iconography as > it > > concerns multiple heads? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 Hi Len. Perhaps the Romans were using the form of Ganesh before He received His elephant's head. Thank you for the information on Ganesh. Barbara - Len Rosenberg Monday, June 20, 2005 10:04 AM Re: Fwd: Head Trips Thank you, Barbara. There are scholars who argue thatJanus is somehow related to Ganesha -- they are bothliminal deities, associated with doorways, newbeginnings, between the worlds places, etc.There is a two-headed form of Ganesha, called DvimukhaGanapati. Usually two elephant heads, but on rareoccasions shown with an elephant head looking in onedirection, and a human head looking in the other!Dvimukha Ganapati is green complexioned, and ofteninvoked to remove obstacles from "doubling" one'sincome.-- Len/ Kalipadma--- "Barbara J. Spencer" <barbjs (AT) shaw (DOT) ca> wrote:> Janus, the Roman god of beginnings was shown as both> two-headed and four headed. Sorry, not Hindu though,> but multi-headed.> > Barbara> - > > > Anyone here familiar with Hindu Iconography as> it> > concerns multiple heads?> Tired of spam? Mail has the best spam protection around http://www.geocities.com/aumganesh/ Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.10/24 - Release 6/21/05 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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