Divine Mother/different aspects/different cultures

June 14, 2006

Dear Respected Jyotishis, I have friends who worship the Chinese bodhisattva,Kuan Yin.

I also have had a calling from this aspect of the Divine Mother, Goddess of Compassion

and Mercy. She, as you probably know is the female aspect of Avalokiteshvara. My

question is this: If someone is Chinese or from a culture where vedic recitation is not the

custom, and if they invoke this aspect of Divine Mother in their own language, is there a

corresponding Vedic Diety that would be 'enlivened' ? Someone once suggested Kuan Yin

and Avalokiteshvara are the same as Shiva and Shakti. If one's Ishta Devata is not invoked

in Sanskrit--can there be expected the same profound result? Or, is the the 'attention and

focus' one has by gazing at the image(statue or photo) of the diety that inspires

protection--or by SOUND quality/mantra or puja only?? I ask this with all openess to your

great wisdom. When I heard about the sick 5 year old child, my heart wanted to reach out

to the Goddess of Compassion and Mercy in the form of Kuan Yin to beg for help...and I

wondered who she would be in Vedic Tradition?

Thank you for your patience with my questions. I realize you are all very learned and

this is a question from a newcomer. If my questions are not appropriate for this forum,

please kindly direct me to another list where you think I should be as a beginner.

Sincerely, Lien

June 15, 2006

, "lotus7moon" <lotus7moon wrote:

>

> Dear Respected Jyotishis, I have friends who worship the Chinese

bodhisattva,Kuan Yin.

> I also have had a calling from this aspect of the Divine Mother,

Goddess of Compassion

> and Mercy. She, as you probably know is the female aspect of

Avalokiteshvara. My

> question is this: If someone is Chinese or from a culture where

vedic recitation is not the

> custom, and if they invoke this aspect of Divine Mother in their own

language, is there a

> corresponding Vedic Diety that would be 'enlivened' ?

Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!

Namaskarams!

i trust and pray that the Divine Mother is blessing you and protecting

you always!

in my understanding as a devotee of the Divine Mother, as a Sakta, and

according to what my Guru, Ammachi has taught consistently....the

Nirguna Brahman is the one without attributes...and the Saguna Brahman

is the form that Brahman takes when the devotee calls for his/her

Ishta Devata to appear, to reveal Him/Herself...

so if you called Kuan Yin, that is the form that Brahman will take to

appear for you...and in fact it is understood that these forms of

Divinity have their own existence within the Brahman, just as

Narasimha has been so kindly explaining in his writings about the

Divine Mother in Her different Forms...

i can see no reason why Kuan Yin should not be as helpful, or

efficacious to Her devotees as any of the Hindu Deities...

if you want to think of Her in the Tibetan Buddhist manner, you could

think of Her as Tara, She who has many faces, and many colours, and

thus many roles...as you said, She is the Female counterpart of

Avalokiteshvara...it is said that Mother Tara was born from the tears

of compassion that Avalokiteshvara shed upon seeing the misery of all

the humans and other sentient beings in this world...out of these

tears arose the Bodhisattva Tara, Who is the Sakti, the power of

action of Avalokiteshvara...She is called upon by millions of people

for help and is known to give it..Kuan Yin is often likened to Green

Tara..

Bodhisattva Tara is the Buddhist version of Hindu Mother Tara...She

who carries you across the ocean of Maya to the shores of illumination

and enlightenment....

the Tibetan Buddhists have a Sanskrit Mantra for Tara, which Hindus

also can use for Her...so i suspect that you could use it also for

the Goddess Kuan Yin...since She is the same....there IS a chinese or

Japanese mantra for Kuan Yin, but i don't recall it...i found it just

now on the net though through the wonders of Google:

"Na Mo Kuan Shih Yin Pu Sa"

the Tibetan Mantra (given by Swami Radha of Yasodhara Ashram at

Kootenay Bay, B.C. (an ordained Swamiji by Sri Swami Sivananda

Saraswatiji of Rishikesh...THE Swami Sivananda) goes like this:

Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha!! (Pronounced sometimes as "Om Tare Tu Tare

Ture Soha").

Another Mantra said to invoke Her is the universal Mantra of

compassion which Tibetans recite often:

Om Mani Padme Hum

(Om Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus, Hum)

or the Prajna Paramita Great Mantra

Om Gate Gate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha

(Om Gone, Gone, Irrevocably Gone, to the other Shore of Awakening, Svaha!)

So there you go...One Truth, with Many Paths leading to it! just as

Bhagavan Sri Ramakrsna used to say..

i hope that this might have been of some help to you...not that i am

claiming to be an expert by any means...i too am merely a beginner on

this endless path of Divine Love.

in Divine Mother's Love,

and in Her Service

as ever,

visvanathan

Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!

June 16, 2006

Thanks for such a beautiful and balanced sharing, K_V!

Your chosen internet handle has such a significant meaning for me,

personally!

Once there, in that Vault full of gold, just at the very right

moment, whether you have taken some of that to bring back or not does

not matter in the long run, for there is that vault full of gold and

you have seen it with your very own eyes and now know that forever.

That image matters!

RR

, "kasi_visvanath"

<kasi_visvanath wrote:

>

> , "lotus7moon" <lotus7moon@>

wrote:

> >

> > Dear Respected Jyotishis, I have friends who worship the Chinese

> bodhisattva,Kuan Yin.

> > I also have had a calling from this aspect of the Divine Mother,

> Goddess of Compassion

> > and Mercy. She, as you probably know is the female aspect of

> Avalokiteshvara. My

> > question is this: If someone is Chinese or from a culture where

> vedic recitation is not the

> > custom, and if they invoke this aspect of Divine Mother in their

own

> language, is there a

> > corresponding Vedic Diety that would be 'enlivened' ?

>

> Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!

>

> Namaskarams!

>

> i trust and pray that the Divine Mother is blessing you and

protecting

> you always!

>

> in my understanding as a devotee of the Divine Mother, as a Sakta,

and

> according to what my Guru, Ammachi has taught consistently....the

> Nirguna Brahman is the one without attributes...and the Saguna

Brahman

> is the form that Brahman takes when the devotee calls for his/her

> Ishta Devata to appear, to reveal Him/Herself...

>

> so if you called Kuan Yin, that is the form that Brahman will take

to

> appear for you...and in fact it is understood that these forms of

> Divinity have their own existence within the Brahman, just as

> Narasimha has been so kindly explaining in his writings about the

> Divine Mother in Her different Forms...

>

> i can see no reason why Kuan Yin should not be as helpful, or

> efficacious to Her devotees as any of the Hindu Deities...

>

> if you want to think of Her in the Tibetan Buddhist manner, you

could

> think of Her as Tara, She who has many faces, and many colours, and

> thus many roles...as you said, She is the Female counterpart of

> Avalokiteshvara...it is said that Mother Tara was born from the

tears

> of compassion that Avalokiteshvara shed upon seeing the misery of

all

> the humans and other sentient beings in this world...out of these

> tears arose the Bodhisattva Tara, Who is the Sakti, the power of

> action of Avalokiteshvara...She is called upon by millions of people

> for help and is known to give it..Kuan Yin is often likened to Green

> Tara..

>

> Bodhisattva Tara is the Buddhist version of Hindu Mother Tara...She

> who carries you across the ocean of Maya to the shores of

illumination

> and enlightenment....

>

> the Tibetan Buddhists have a Sanskrit Mantra for Tara, which Hindus

> also can use for Her...so i suspect that you could use it also for

> the Goddess Kuan Yin...since She is the same....there IS a chinese

or

> Japanese mantra for Kuan Yin, but i don't recall it...i found it

just

> now on the net though through the wonders of Google:

>

> "Na Mo Kuan Shih Yin Pu Sa"

>

> the Tibetan Mantra (given by Swami Radha of Yasodhara Ashram at

> Kootenay Bay, B.C. (an ordained Swamiji by Sri Swami Sivananda

> Saraswatiji of Rishikesh...THE Swami Sivananda) goes like this:

>

> Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha!! (Pronounced sometimes as "Om Tare Tu

Tare

> Ture Soha").

>

> Another Mantra said to invoke Her is the universal Mantra of

> compassion which Tibetans recite often:

>

> Om Mani Padme Hum

>

> (Om Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus, Hum)

>

> or the Prajna Paramita Great Mantra

>

> Om Gate Gate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha

>

> (Om Gone, Gone, Irrevocably Gone, to the other Shore of Awakening,

Svaha!)

>

> So there you go...One Truth, with Many Paths leading to it! just as

> Bhagavan Sri Ramakrsna used to say..

>

> i hope that this might have been of some help to you...not that i am

> claiming to be an expert by any means...i too am merely a beginner

on

> this endless path of Divine Love.

>

> in Divine Mother's Love,

> and in Her Service

> as ever,

>

> visvanathan

>

> Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!

>

June 16, 2006

Dear Lein,

If I remember right is it not a fact that initially the Kuan Yin was

considered as a Male form, perhaps as late as the 10th century? Or am I

thinking about some other branch of Chinese buddhism?

Chandrashekhar.

kasi_visvanath wrote:

>

> <%40>, "lotus7moon" <lotus7moon

> wrote:

> >

> > Dear Respected Jyotishis, I have friends who worship the Chinese

> bodhisattva,Kuan Yin.

> > I also have had a calling from this aspect of the Divine Mother,

> Goddess of Compassion

> > and Mercy. She, as you probably know is the female aspect of

> Avalokiteshvara. My

> > question is this: If someone is Chinese or from a culture where

> vedic recitation is not the

> > custom, and if they invoke this aspect of Divine Mother in their own

> language, is there a

> > corresponding Vedic Diety that would be 'enlivened' ?

>

> Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!

>

> Namaskarams!

>

> i trust and pray that the Divine Mother is blessing you and protecting

> you always!

>

> in my understanding as a devotee of the Divine Mother, as a Sakta, and

> according to what my Guru, Ammachi has taught consistently....the

> Nirguna Brahman is the one without attributes...and the Saguna Brahman

> is the form that Brahman takes when the devotee calls for his/her

> Ishta Devata to appear, to reveal Him/Herself...

>

> so if you called Kuan Yin, that is the form that Brahman will take to

> appear for you...and in fact it is understood that these forms of

> Divinity have their own existence within the Brahman, just as

> Narasimha has been so kindly explaining in his writings about the

> Divine Mother in Her different Forms...

>

> i can see no reason why Kuan Yin should not be as helpful, or

> efficacious to Her devotees as any of the Hindu Deities...

>

> if you want to think of Her in the Tibetan Buddhist manner, you could

> think of Her as Tara, She who has many faces, and many colours, and

> thus many roles...as you said, She is the Female counterpart of

> Avalokiteshvara...it is said that Mother Tara was born from the tears

> of compassion that Avalokiteshvara shed upon seeing the misery of all

> the humans and other sentient beings in this world...out of these

> tears arose the Bodhisattva Tara, Who is the Sakti, the power of

> action of Avalokiteshvara...She is called upon by millions of people

> for help and is known to give it..Kuan Yin is often likened to Green

> Tara..

>

> Bodhisattva Tara is the Buddhist version of Hindu Mother Tara...She

> who carries you across the ocean of Maya to the shores of illumination

> and enlightenment....

>

> the Tibetan Buddhists have a Sanskrit Mantra for Tara, which Hindus

> also can use for Her...so i suspect that you could use it also for

> the Goddess Kuan Yin...since She is the same....there IS a chinese or

> Japanese mantra for Kuan Yin, but i don't recall it...i found it just

> now on the net though through the wonders of Google:

>

> "Na Mo Kuan Shih Yin Pu Sa"

>

> the Tibetan Mantra (given by Swami Radha of Yasodhara Ashram at

> Kootenay Bay, B.C. (an ordained Swamiji by Sri Swami Sivananda

> Saraswatiji of Rishikesh...THE Swami Sivananda) goes like this:

>

> Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha!! (Pronounced sometimes as "Om Tare Tu Tare

> Ture Soha").

>

> Another Mantra said to invoke Her is the universal Mantra of

> compassion which Tibetans recite often:

>

> Om Mani Padme Hum

>

> (Om Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus, Hum)

>

> or the Prajna Paramita Great Mantra

>

> Om Gate Gate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha

>

> (Om Gone, Gone, Irrevocably Gone, to the other Shore of Awakening, Svaha!)

>

> So there you go...One Truth, with Many Paths leading to it! just as

> Bhagavan Sri Ramakrsna used to say..

>

> i hope that this might have been of some help to you...not that i am

> claiming to be an expert by any means...i too am merely a beginner on

> this endless path of Divine Love.

>

> in Divine Mother's Love,

> and in Her Service

> as ever,

>

> visvanathan

>

> Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!

>

> ------

>

> Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.0/366 - Release 6/15/2006

>

June 16, 2006

, Chandrashekhar

<chandrashekhar46 wrote:

>

> Dear Lein,

> If I remember right is it not a fact that initially the Kuan Yin was

> considered as a Male form, perhaps as late as the 10th century? Or am I

> thinking about some other branch of Chinese buddhism?

> Chandrashekhar.

>

Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!!

Namaskarams!

>From what i was studying the other day, it appears that you are

correct, Chandrashekhar. Kuan Yin was first approached as a form of

Avalokiteshvara, a "male" Bodhisattva...but eventually She became

identified with Green Tara, rather than Chenrezigs

(Avalokiteshvara)...perhaps Kuan Yin became female at around the same

time that Tara became an important Bodhisattva in Tibetan

Buddhism...because as i said the other day, Tara is an emanation of

Avalokitesvara in female form....said to be born out of his tears of

compassion which fell upon seeing the miseries which all of the

sentient beings were having to endure.

as we know, Avalokitesvara is said to continue manifesting on Earth

even today, in the ever re-incarnating Dalai Lama, including the

present one, despite his own statements that He is just an ordinary Monk.

i do wonder though, in which form Mother Tara might be incarnating

today....because if Avalokitesvara incarnates even today, why should

Bodhisattva Tara not do the same?

i have a particular love and regard for both the Dalai Lama and for

the Bodhisattva Tara.

in my own mind Bodhisattva Tara is not really different from our Hindu

Mother Tara, although She might look a little different...in the

Buddhist view Tara can have many forms, just like the Hindu

Mahavidhyas...some of Her forms are lovely and peaceful, and others

are the Wrathful Protector Deities, Who really DO resemble the Hindu

Mother Tara, with Her Khadga, and Her skulls or heads in the form of a

mala...

there is a further version of Tara, i believe, Who goes by the Name of

Vajrayogini....and Her iconic image is a perfect resemblance to our

Hindu Mother Tara, or Mother Kali (Who after all are very very similar

in appearance and in Their roles...infact often confused, as was

discussed in relation to Bhagavan Sri Ramakrsna, Who Himself called

the Bhava Tarini Murti at Dakshineswar, His Beloved Mother Kali....so

in this case one would have to say that Bhava Tarini and Kali are not

different...in fact She is known as Bhava Tarini Kali Ma...) Often

Murtis of Vajrayogini are sold as Murtis of "Buddhist Kali".

in the Divine Mother's Love,

and in Her Service

as ever,

visvanathan

June 16, 2006

-Thank you all for responding to my question about Kuan Yin and who she might be

among the Vedic Dieties!

It is my understanding that there are a couple of schools of thought on Kuan Yin. One is a

legend that she was a HUMAN named Miao-shan

see link below:

http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/miao-sha.html

Others feel she was Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig(Tibetan) who entered into female form

at will. The story is that she had reached Nirvana but could not enter the higher lokas

because she 'heard the cries' of those who needed her infinite mercy and compassion. So,

she CHOSE the task of attending to the tears of the world. Her name, Kuan Shi Yin, means

she who hears the cries. She is depicted in many ways from reclining to pouring from a

vessle to sitting in the lotus to standing on twin dragons and crossng the raging sea. Each

pose, of course, means something different to the devotee and helps one get some aspect

of her nourishment.

About 2 or 3 years ago I began to feel drawn to her and to study her and collected images.

Before that, I had a very strong feeling that Lakshmi was my personal Goddess(and still

appreciate Her in my heart). When I felt

the feeling in my heart of Kuan Yin---I also felt happy and at first wondered if She was

just Lakshmi---but she 'felt' different. Yet there is the seated in Lotus aspect of Kuan Yin

too....

So, my question has never been really answered in Vedic terms--is there a Goddess with

a Vedic name that is the SAME THING as She who appears as Kuan Yin. I believe

the Gods are present in Human physiology and wondered if there is one who is actually

the same 'energetically" as Kuan yin.... Is Tara a Vedic Goddess? I suppose I didn't

understand that before.

But here is something else; several pictures of Kuan yin show her with a TIGER---which

then says to me "Durga"...She is even shown on rare occasion with a LION...also on a

serpent.

Something to ponder. I just don't understand how she could be a universal truth if there is

no VEDIC counterpart. I DON'T like to think of her as "just Chinese" as if....oh, if I am

outside the borders of China then she will appear as something else...Do you see what I

am asking? I hope I can express clearly this quest.

Example 2: There are dragons depicted in the art of many many cultures. Yet, no one is

sure if ANY real dragon bones have ever been unearthed. So, one might conclude that

dragons are Rakshasas. This I can accept and understand why there are no remains.This is

something Veda can vouch for as well.

Divine Mother is often the same in many cultures too. Even the SOUND apsect "MA" is the

same... So do you think Kuan Yin fits into any particular form Vedically and then, if so,

how would a Jyotishi see in a chart "Oh, this is your personal Goddess based on my

calculations".

Thanks to all those who have considered this question. You are all so brilliant!

I am grateful to have all of the input thus far!

Sincerely,

Lien

-- In , "kasi_visvanath" <kasi_visvanath wrote:

>

> , Chandrashekhar

> <chandrashekhar46@> wrote:

> >

> > Dear Lein,

> > If I remember right is it not a fact that initially the Kuan Yin was

> > considered as a Male form, perhaps as late as the 10th century? Or am I

> > thinking about some other branch of Chinese buddhism?

> > Chandrashekhar.

> >

> Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!!

>

> Namaskarams!

>

> From what i was studying the other day, it appears that you are

> correct, Chandrashekhar. Kuan Yin was first approached as a form of

> Avalokiteshvara, a "male" Bodhisattva...but eventually She became

> identified with Green Tara, rather than Chenrezigs

> (Avalokiteshvara)...perhaps Kuan Yin became female at around the same

> time that Tara became an important Bodhisattva in Tibetan

> Buddhism...because as i said the other day, Tara is an emanation of

> Avalokitesvara in female form....said to be born out of his tears of

> compassion which fell upon seeing the miseries which all of the

> sentient beings were having to endure.

>

> as we know, Avalokitesvara is said to continue manifesting on Earth

> even today, in the ever re-incarnating Dalai Lama, including the

> present one, despite his own statements that He is just an ordinary Monk.

>

> i do wonder though, in which form Mother Tara might be incarnating

> today....because if Avalokitesvara incarnates even today, why should

> Bodhisattva Tara not do the same?

>

> i have a particular love and regard for both the Dalai Lama and for

> the Bodhisattva Tara.

>

> in my own mind Bodhisattva Tara is not really different from our Hindu

> Mother Tara, although She might look a little different...in the

> Buddhist view Tara can have many forms, just like the Hindu

> Mahavidhyas...some of Her forms are lovely and peaceful, and others

> are the Wrathful Protector Deities, Who really DO resemble the Hindu

> Mother Tara, with Her Khadga, and Her skulls or heads in the form of a

> mala...

>

> there is a further version of Tara, i believe, Who goes by the Name of

> Vajrayogini....and Her iconic image is a perfect resemblance to our

> Hindu Mother Tara, or Mother Kali (Who after all are very very similar

> in appearance and in Their roles...infact often confused, as was

> discussed in relation to Bhagavan Sri Ramakrsna, Who Himself called

> the Bhava Tarini Murti at Dakshineswar, His Beloved Mother Kali....so

> in this case one would have to say that Bhava Tarini and Kali are not

> different...in fact She is known as Bhava Tarini Kali Ma...) Often

> Murtis of Vajrayogini are sold as Murtis of "Buddhist Kali".

>

> in the Divine Mother's Love,

> and in Her Service

> as ever,

> visvanathan

>

June 17, 2006

, "lotus7moon" <lotus7moon wrote:

>

> So, my question has never been really answered in Vedic terms--is

there a Goddess with

> a Vedic name that is the SAME THING as She who appears as Kuan Yin.

I .....wondered if there is one who is actually

> the same 'energetically" as Kuan yin.... Is Tara a Vedic Goddess? I

suppose I didn't

> understand that before.

>

> But here is something else; several pictures of Kuan yin show her

with a TIGER---which

> then says to me "Durga"...She is even shown on rare occasion with a

LION...also on a

> serpent.

>

> Something to ponder. I just don't understand how she could be a

universal truth if there is

> no VEDIC counterpart. I DON'T like to think of her as "just

Chinese" as if...oh, if I am

> outside the borders of China then she will appear as something

else...Do you see what I

> am asking?

Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!

Namaskarams!

it depends upon what you mean by VEDIC doesn't it...are you referring

to the original Vedic Deities? which are found in the Vedas?

0r are you referring to the Goddesses commonly worshipped by Hindus

all over the world?

i wouldn't call Mother Tara a VEDIC Goddess strictly...but She is an

Emanation of the Adi Para Sakti, a Hindu Tantrika Goddess...and if you

are Her Devotee, She IS the Adi Parasakti...the same goes for Mother

Kali and Mother Saraswati, or Mother Laksmi or Mother Durga...for

their Devotees, each of those emanations of Brahman would represent

the Adi Parasakti...

thus for you Kuan Yin is She Who is the Adi Parasakti...whether She

might be strictly a Vedic Goddess or NOT is really irrelevant for Her

devotee....but as to the Jyotish Chart i do not think that one could

tell that your Ishta Devata would be Kuan Yin from your Jyotish chart,

unless you were having a conversation with him/her and between you

translated the Hindu Deity implied by the chart into Kuan Yin...

i believe She could be seen as Durga Ma, just as you say, or Kali Ma,

or Tara Ma....because those Three Goddesses are PROTECTOR Goddesses

and will come upon hearing the cries of their devotees, to protect

them...i think also, however, that you could see Kuan Yin as

Laksmi...it depends upon the DEVOTEE...the Same Mother appears in many

forms depending upon the need of the child...sometimes she is the

protector, sometimes the comforter, sometimes the giver all good

things...sometimes the discipliner, depending upon what is

needed....so what is NEEDED by You is just the form of the Goddess

which Kuan Yin would assume for your needs...

more could be seen by looking at your chart and having a dialogue with

you...it is NOT possible to precisely discern the ISHTA Devata WITHOUT

a dialogue between the Jyotishi and the client...because Mars for

example could represent Lord Murugan, or Mars himself, or Bhumi Devi,

or Durga Ma, or even Tara Ma or Kali Ma in their raging Protective

Goddess ROLES (since they were emanated from the Brow of Durga in Her

battle rage)...it depends upon how you want to see Mars...if you see

Mars by Himself it is easier, but if Mars is WITH another graha, then

it can colour the personality of who the Ishta Devata might be.

in your chart, Lien, which planet is indicating the Ishta Devata??

that would tell you which of the Hindu Goddesses that would correspond

with your love of Kuan Yin...(at least so i as a beginner would

believe)...

i don't know if this has been any help to you...

In Divine Mother's Love

and in Her Service

as ever,

visvanathan

June 17, 2006

Dear Lein,

From jyotish point of view it is the nature of the goddess or god who

is nearest to that represented by the planet which gives the clue to

ishta devata (deity) will have to be studied and then the appropriate

deity in each religion could be selected. So in essence one has to study

the nature of planets in depth to arrive at the answer. To find a

parallel with Vedic deities one should have knowledge of both vedic and

other religion mythology in depth. Vedic scriptures give in depth

description of nature, origin, tatwas and gunas of deities. I am not

sure whether other religions have similar scriptures and am not able to

comment on this aspect. If they do have such scriptures then it would be

easy to find the deities concerned.

Chandrashekhar.

lotus7moon wrote:

>

> -Thank you all for responding to my question about Kuan Yin and who

> she might be

> among the Vedic Dieties!

> It is my understanding that there are a couple of schools of thought

> on Kuan Yin. One is a

> legend that she was a HUMAN named Miao-shan

> see link below:

> http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/miao-sha.html

> <http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/%7Ephalsall/texts/miao-sha.html>

>

> Others feel she was Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig(Tibetan) who entered

> into female form

> at will. The story is that she had reached Nirvana but could not enter

> the higher lokas

> because she 'heard the cries' of those who needed her infinite mercy

> and compassion. So,

> she CHOSE the task of attending to the tears of the world. Her name,

> Kuan Shi Yin, means

> she who hears the cries. She is depicted in many ways from reclining

> to pouring from a

> vessle to sitting in the lotus to standing on twin dragons and crossng

> the raging sea. Each

> pose, of course, means something different to the devotee and helps

> one get some aspect

> of her nourishment.

>

> About 2 or 3 years ago I began to feel drawn to her and to study her

> and collected images.

> Before that, I had a very strong feeling that Lakshmi was my personal

> Goddess(and still

> appreciate Her in my heart). When I felt

> the feeling in my heart of Kuan Yin---I also felt happy and at first

> wondered if She was

> just Lakshmi---but she 'felt' different. Yet there is the seated in

> Lotus aspect of Kuan Yin

> too....

>

> So, my question has never been really answered in Vedic terms--is

> there a Goddess with

> a Vedic name that is the SAME THING as She who appears as Kuan Yin. I

> believe

> the Gods are present in Human physiology and wondered if there is one

> who is actually

> the same 'energetically" as Kuan yin.... Is Tara a Vedic Goddess? I

> suppose I didn't

> understand that before.

>

> But here is something else; several pictures of Kuan yin show her with

> a TIGER---which

> then says to me "Durga"...She is even shown on rare occasion with a

> LION...also on a

> serpent.

>

> Something to ponder. I just don't understand how she could be a

> universal truth if there is

> no VEDIC counterpart. I DON'T like to think of her as "just Chinese"

> as if...oh, if I am

> outside the borders of China then she will appear as something

> else...Do you see what I

> am asking? I hope I can express clearly this quest.

> Example 2: There are dragons depicted in the art of many many

> cultures. Yet, no one is

> sure if ANY real dragon bones have ever been unearthed. So, one might

> conclude that

> dragons are Rakshasas. This I can accept and understand why there are

> no remains.This is

> something Veda can vouch for as well.

>

> Divine Mother is often the same in many cultures too. Even the SOUND

> apsect "MA" is the

> same... So do you think Kuan Yin fits into any particular form

> Vedically and then, if so,

> how would a Jyotishi see in a chart "Oh, this is your personal Goddess

> based on my

> calculations".

>

> Thanks to all those who have considered this question. You are all so

> brilliant!

> I am grateful to have all of the input thus far!

>

> Sincerely,

> Lien

>

> -- In

> <%40>, "kasi_visvanath"

> <kasi_visvanath wrote:

> >

> <%40>, Chandrashekhar

> > <chandrashekhar46@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Dear Lein,

> > > If I remember right is it not a fact that initially the Kuan Yin was

> > > considered as a Male form, perhaps as late as the 10th century? Or

> am I

> > > thinking about some other branch of Chinese buddhism?

> > > Chandrashekhar.

> > >

> > Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!!

> >

> > Namaskarams!

> >

> > From what i was studying the other day, it appears that you are

> > correct, Chandrashekhar. Kuan Yin was first approached as a form of

> > Avalokiteshvara, a "male" Bodhisattva...but eventually She became

> > identified with Green Tara, rather than Chenrezigs

> > (Avalokiteshvara)...perhaps Kuan Yin became female at around the same

> > time that Tara became an important Bodhisattva in Tibetan

> > Buddhism...because as i said the other day, Tara is an emanation of

> > Avalokitesvara in female form....said to be born out of his tears of

> > compassion which fell upon seeing the miseries which all of the

> > sentient beings were having to endure.

> >

> > as we know, Avalokitesvara is said to continue manifesting on Earth

> > even today, in the ever re-incarnating Dalai Lama, including the

> > present one, despite his own statements that He is just an ordinary

> Monk.

> >

> > i do wonder though, in which form Mother Tara might be incarnating

> > today....because if Avalokitesvara incarnates even today, why should

> > Bodhisattva Tara not do the same?

> >

> > i have a particular love and regard for both the Dalai Lama and for

> > the Bodhisattva Tara.

> >

> > in my own mind Bodhisattva Tara is not really different from our Hindu

> > Mother Tara, although She might look a little different...in the

> > Buddhist view Tara can have many forms, just like the Hindu

> > Mahavidhyas...some of Her forms are lovely and peaceful, and others

> > are the Wrathful Protector Deities, Who really DO resemble the Hindu

> > Mother Tara, with Her Khadga, and Her skulls or heads in the form of a

> > mala...

> >

> > there is a further version of Tara, i believe, Who goes by the Name of

> > Vajrayogini....and Her iconic image is a perfect resemblance to our

> > Hindu Mother Tara, or Mother Kali (Who after all are very very similar

> > in appearance and in Their roles...infact often confused, as was

> > discussed in relation to Bhagavan Sri Ramakrsna, Who Himself called

> > the Bhava Tarini Murti at Dakshineswar, His Beloved Mother Kali....so

> > in this case one would have to say that Bhava Tarini and Kali are not

> > different...in fact She is known as Bhava Tarini Kali Ma...) Often

> > Murtis of Vajrayogini are sold as Murtis of "Buddhist Kali".

> >

> > in the Divine Mother's Love,

> > and in Her Service

> > as ever,

> > visvanathan

> >

>

> ------

>

> Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.0/366 - Release 6/15/2006

>

June 18, 2006

Many thanks Chandrashekhar, Visvanathan and Others here, for providing so much

wonderful discussion on Ishta Devata. I will begin my Jyotish lessons with a few friends in

early July. I look forward to saving this Ishta Devata topic and all the posts as something to

really inspire my studies. Right now, I do not know who my Ishta Devata is. Visvanathan, I

posted by birth info on post # 10867 earlier. I am not advanced enough to calculate.

However with all the 2 schools of thought mentioned here--it will be ineresting to watch

the answer unfold.

I appreciate, Chandrashekhar, your comments about the 'Nature" of the God or Goddess.

That helps my understanding a lot. Also all of your input on the Kuan Yin connection,

Visvanathan. Several months ago, on the same day and in the same hour I received 2

phone calls from 2 people who did not know eachother, Each had a gift they wanted to

give me. The messages were left on my answering machine. Both gifts were statues of

Kuan Yin. Both statues were of her seated in meditation on the lotus. Both were offered on

a day when I had served in a compassionate way just before receiving the calls!

This is GOOD FORTUNE and so I open my heart to the Love any Goddess or God has for

me !!!

May you all be loved by your protectors as children are loved by their parents,

Lien

, Chandrashekhar <chandrashekhar46 wrote:

>

> Dear Lein,

>

> From jyotish point of view it is the nature of the goddess or god who

> is nearest to that represented by the planet which gives the clue to

> ishta devata (deity) will have to be studied and then the appropriate

> deity in each religion could be selected. So in essence one has to study

> the nature of planets in depth to arrive at the answer. To find a

> parallel with Vedic deities one should have knowledge of both vedic and

> other religion mythology in depth. Vedic scriptures give in depth

> description of nature, origin, tatwas and gunas of deities. I am not

> sure whether other religions have similar scriptures and am not able to

> comment on this aspect. If they do have such scriptures then it would be

> easy to find the deities concerned.

>

> Chandrashekhar.

>

> lotus7moon wrote:

> >

> > -Thank you all for responding to my question about Kuan Yin and who

> > she might be

> > among the Vedic Dieties!

> > It is my understanding that there are a couple of schools of thought

> > on Kuan Yin. One is a

> > legend that she was a HUMAN named Miao-shan

> > see link below:

> > http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/miao-sha.html

> > <http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/%7Ephalsall/texts/miao-sha.html>

> >

> > Others feel she was Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig(Tibetan) who entered

> > into female form

> > at will. The story is that she had reached Nirvana but could not enter

> > the higher lokas

> > because she 'heard the cries' of those who needed her infinite mercy

> > and compassion. So,

> > she CHOSE the task of attending to the tears of the world. Her name,

> > Kuan Shi Yin, means

> > she who hears the cries. She is depicted in many ways from reclining

> > to pouring from a

> > vessle to sitting in the lotus to standing on twin dragons and crossng

> > the raging sea. Each

> > pose, of course, means something different to the devotee and helps

> > one get some aspect

> > of her nourishment.

> >

> > About 2 or 3 years ago I began to feel drawn to her and to study her

> > and collected images.

> > Before that, I had a very strong feeling that Lakshmi was my personal

> > Goddess(and still

> > appreciate Her in my heart). When I felt

> > the feeling in my heart of Kuan Yin---I also felt happy and at first

> > wondered if She was

> > just Lakshmi---but she 'felt' different. Yet there is the seated in

> > Lotus aspect of Kuan Yin

> > too....

> >

> > So, my question has never been really answered in Vedic terms--is

> > there a Goddess with

> > a Vedic name that is the SAME THING as She who appears as Kuan Yin. I

> > believe

> > the Gods are present in Human physiology and wondered if there is one

> > who is actually

> > the same 'energetically" as Kuan yin.... Is Tara a Vedic Goddess? I

> > suppose I didn't

> > understand that before.

> >

> > But here is something else; several pictures of Kuan yin show her with

> > a TIGER---which

> > then says to me "Durga"...She is even shown on rare occasion with a

> > LION...also on a

> > serpent.

> >

> > Something to ponder. I just don't understand how she could be a

> > universal truth if there is

> > no VEDIC counterpart. I DON'T like to think of her as "just Chinese"

> > as if...oh, if I am

> > outside the borders of China then she will appear as something

> > else...Do you see what I

> > am asking? I hope I can express clearly this quest.

> > Example 2: There are dragons depicted in the art of many many

> > cultures. Yet, no one is

> > sure if ANY real dragon bones have ever been unearthed. So, one might

> > conclude that

> > dragons are Rakshasas. This I can accept and understand why there are

> > no remains.This is

> > something Veda can vouch for as well.

> >

> > Divine Mother is often the same in many cultures too. Even the SOUND

> > apsect "MA" is the

> > same... So do you think Kuan Yin fits into any particular form

> > Vedically and then, if so,

> > how would a Jyotishi see in a chart "Oh, this is your personal Goddess

> > based on my

> > calculations".

> >

> > Thanks to all those who have considered this question. You are all so

> > brilliant!

> > I am grateful to have all of the input thus far!

> >

> > Sincerely,

> > Lien

> >

> > -- In

> > <%40>, "kasi_visvanath"

> > <kasi_visvanath@> wrote:

> > >

> > <%40>, Chandrashekhar

> > > <chandrashekhar46@> wrote:

> > > >

> > > > Dear Lein,

> > > > If I remember right is it not a fact that initially the Kuan Yin was

> > > > considered as a Male form, perhaps as late as the 10th century? Or

> > am I

> > > > thinking about some other branch of Chinese buddhism?

> > > > Chandrashekhar.

> > > >

> > > Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!!

> > >

> > > Namaskarams!

> > >

> > > From what i was studying the other day, it appears that you are

> > > correct, Chandrashekhar. Kuan Yin was first approached as a form of

> > > Avalokiteshvara, a "male" Bodhisattva...but eventually She became

> > > identified with Green Tara, rather than Chenrezigs

> > > (Avalokiteshvara)...perhaps Kuan Yin became female at around the same

> > > time that Tara became an important Bodhisattva in Tibetan

> > > Buddhism...because as i said the other day, Tara is an emanation of

> > > Avalokitesvara in female form....said to be born out of his tears of

> > > compassion which fell upon seeing the miseries which all of the

> > > sentient beings were having to endure.

> > >

> > > as we know, Avalokitesvara is said to continue manifesting on Earth

> > > even today, in the ever re-incarnating Dalai Lama, including the

> > > present one, despite his own statements that He is just an ordinary

> > Monk.

> > >

> > > i do wonder though, in which form Mother Tara might be incarnating

> > > today....because if Avalokitesvara incarnates even today, why should

> > > Bodhisattva Tara not do the same?

> > >

> > > i have a particular love and regard for both the Dalai Lama and for

> > > the Bodhisattva Tara.

> > >

> > > in my own mind Bodhisattva Tara is not really different from our Hindu

> > > Mother Tara, although She might look a little different...in the

> > > Buddhist view Tara can have many forms, just like the Hindu

> > > Mahavidhyas...some of Her forms are lovely and peaceful, and others

> > > are the Wrathful Protector Deities, Who really DO resemble the Hindu

> > > Mother Tara, with Her Khadga, and Her skulls or heads in the form of a

> > > mala...

> > >

> > > there is a further version of Tara, i believe, Who goes by the Name of

> > > Vajrayogini....and Her iconic image is a perfect resemblance to our

> > > Hindu Mother Tara, or Mother Kali (Who after all are very very similar

> > > in appearance and in Their roles...infact often confused, as was

> > > discussed in relation to Bhagavan Sri Ramakrsna, Who Himself called

> > > the Bhava Tarini Murti at Dakshineswar, His Beloved Mother Kali....so

> > > in this case one would have to say that Bhava Tarini and Kali are not

> > > different...in fact She is known as Bhava Tarini Kali Ma...) Often

> > > Murtis of Vajrayogini are sold as Murtis of "Buddhist Kali".

> > >

> > > in the Divine Mother's Love,

> > > and in Her Service

> > > as ever,

> > > visvanathan

> > >

> >

> > ------

> >

> > Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.0/366 - Release 6/15/2006

> >

>

June 19, 2006

, "lotus7moon" <lotus7moon wrote:

>

> Many thanks Chandrashekhar, Visvanathan and Others here, for

providing so much

> wonderful discussion on Ishta Devata............. Right now, I do

not know who my Ishta Devata is. Visvanathan, I

> posted by birth info on post # 10867 earlier. I am not advanced

enough to calculate.

OM Amrtesvaryai Namah!!

Namaskarams Lien!!

i'm not sure what you meant by "advance enough to

calculate"...calculate what? the chart? or the ishta Devata?...the

chart can be calculated by an excellent Jyotish program like Sri

Narasimha Rao's, the Sri Jagannatha Hora program...(for which a

thousand thanks to you Narasimha!)

>From your given information, it appears that Atmakaraka is Moon, ...in

Rasi chart, Moon is placed in Libra in Visakham Nakshatra, which

usually will indicate that the native is a devotee of Lord Krsna, or

of Jesus Christ...or someone LIKE them...the same kind of energy..

in Navamsha, Moon is in Gemini with Saturn...making Gemini

Karakamsha...when we look at the house 12th to Gemini, the sign will

be Taurus, where there is NO planet to be found, either in Navamsha,

OR in Rasi chart, but whose ruler Venus, by previous discussion should

be considered to be indicating Ishta Devata.

in Navamsha chart, Venus is in Sagittarius with Jupiter...in Rasi

chart Venus is in Leo with Sun...which will undoubtedly colour Her.

so one could say, combining the indications of Visakham Nakshatra with

Karakamsha placement indication of Venus as Ishta Devata,

that your Ishta Devata should be likely a Mother Goddess (like Sri

Laksmi) Who has the qualities of Lord Krsna and Jesus Christ...both of

Whom came to "save" the world, and its inhabitants...Christ was

reknown for His compassion for the Lowly ones....Krsna not so reknown

for compassion, but still had enough compassion to bestow liberation

upon all the Asuras that He destroyed over the years...Krsna was known

more for His playfulness, and for that smile that He wore even in the

utmost adversity...teaching us the right attitude to have towards the

world...to not take anything too seriously, but to do our dharma no

matter what...

so in my mind, the Goddess which would fulfill those roles is known by

the lovely Name of Sri Lalitambika, Who is eternally 16 years of age,

and is extremely beautiful, and is known for Her playfulness, as well

as Her compassion for Her devotees...it is said by my Guru Ammachi,

that if one will chant the Sri Lalitambika Sahasranama everyday, that

the Divine Mother, Sri Lalitambika will guarantee to take care of one,

supplying all the wants and needs of the devotee, basic food, clothes

and shelter...

so in my way of seeing it, your Love for Kuan Yin would fit into that

mould, because She is very Compassionate...and young, and very

beautiful...very much like Sri Lalitambika...also She has many

qualities very much like Jesus Christ...very kind...cries for the

pains and miseries that She sees us, Her children going through...Too

like Sri Krsna, i will bet that Kuan Yin can be known as being quite

playful with Her devotees....and wears that magical smile...

Sri Lalitambika for Her Devotees is understood to be the Adi Para

Sakti, the Original Suprem Power....the Primal Mother, and when you

sing Her lovely, and intoxicating Thousand Names, you will see that

ALL the Goddesses are within Her...(and all the Gods too!)...She is

the essence of sweetness itself for Her devotees, but terrifying and

conquering to the Asuras...taking the forms of Sri Maha Durga, Sri

Maha Kali, and Sri Maha Tara in Her eternal battles with the

Rakshasas...not only that but like Sri Krsna, She can be very

tricky...full of Leelas...which can make you cry at one moment and

laugh the next, when you see what She's up to...She is indeed the

Playful One...and She is the calm and peaceful version of my Ishta

Devata, Who in the belief of Her devotees, has taken birth in this age

as Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi of Kerala (My beloved Guru and

Mother, Ammachi)...

Mother Lalitambika when protecting Her devotees will appear as the

Fiercest of all Goddesses as our Darling Mother Kali...Who is fearful

to look at if you are a demon, or if you may not understand the

ultimate mercy and kindness that She expresses in Her Fierce

Protectress form....

She is wearing a Mala (garland) of Demon Heads, our egos, lust, anger,

greed, and so on....She is holding a smiling Demon Head (our main ego

of ME FIRST) in Her hand, while brandishing on high a large headsmans

sword (khadga)...the other two hands are showing "have no fear"

abhaya, and "i will grant you boons". She is standing, paused in Her

raging dance of destruction, with one foot placed upon Her supine

Husband, Lord Siva, suddenly aware of Her intimate oneness with Her

Lord, and ceasing Her dance of destruction before the worlds are

destroyed...around Her Lovely waist, She is wearing a belt of hands

and arms, which represent our Karmas...our deeds, that Mother has

kindly taken away from us, freeing us of our ages long negative

karmas...She is apparently drunken, Her eyes rolling, and Her tongue

protruding, because She is Drunk on the Intoxicating Bliss of

Satchitananda...and on the Bliss of being One with Her most Beloved

Husband and Lord Siva, Who had kindly gone out into battle field and

lay down on the ground in Her pathway, so that She would have to touch

Him with Her Lovely Blue Lotus Feet, in Her Dance of Destruction, and

touching Him, realise Her Oneness with Him, and thus cease Her

destructive Dance...Mother's Hair is very long and curly, and unbound,

flying out all around Her and behind Her, and She is otherwise

unclothed, "digambara" to signify the naked reality which She

represents...Her wild hair is telling us that She is bound by NO

rules...that indeed She is the Maker of all rules...that the universe

is born out Her and when it Pleases Her, it is withdrawn back into Her

until such time as She feels the Desire to create it and all of us

again, simply for Her own pleasure...and Her Play...so essentially,

our Mother Kali, too, is none other than Sri Lalitambika, the Playful

One...

really if you look closely you will see that ALL the Hindu Goddesses

are really only ONE Goddess...Who manifests to us in whichever Form

(Rupa) by Whose Nama that we call Her...She Herself has NO form...But

She kindly shows us the Form of the Goddess that We love the most, for

our benefit and to increase our Faith in Her...Actually, Amma says,

that ALL of those Goddesses and Gods reside within US...and when we

call to Them, They appear from WITHIN us to show us the way...Amma

always says that She doesn't believe in a God in a heaven

somewhere...for Her, God and Goddess are residing deep within US, Her

children...and ever since the Divine Mother appeared to Her and told

Her that She must worship Mother within all the Living beings in the

World, and that She should try to give them Love and compassion for

Her sake, Mother has been going around the world, pouring out Her

Divine Love to all that She meets, transforming the world, one person

at a time.

i hope that this was of some help to you

in the Service of Love Divine,

as ever,

your own

visvanathan

Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!

June 20, 2006

Dear Visvanathan, I feel very happy with your interpretation! Of all the many pictures of

Dieties I have received over the years, I TRULY love and keep in constant view, the ones of

young Lord Krishna. My favorite of all time is Krishna and Radha in the swing,however.

Though He is older there, He is still playful. Otherwise, I have great affection for the child

Krishna playing with Gopi girls and on His Mother's lap. So these I see on a daily basis.I

have no other male diety pictures out all the time.

Also, as far as female Godesses go, only Lakshmi do I have in view on daily basis.

When I googled a picture of Lalitha, I was delighted to see her holding the arrows! Arrows

have been a lifelong symbol for me. I loved all the description of Her and felt instantly

delighted

with the playful,dancing, curly haired aspects you described. Oddly, instead of feeling

reverent, however, I feel a sense of 'friendship' toward Her, as if more comfortable and

familiar. I am curious and will investigate, in time, if this is appropriate way to to approach

Her. Right now, this is totally the Nature of my experience. Its as if She is both the 'girl' I

want to be friends with and She is the 'girl' I am. Its very blissful!

Bless you for taking the time to research this! Lien

-- In , "kasi_visvanath" <kasi_visvanath wrote:

>

> , "lotus7moon" <lotus7moon@> wrote:

> >

> > Many thanks Chandrashekhar, Visvanathan and Others here, for

> providing so much

> > wonderful discussion on Ishta Devata............. Right now, I do

> not know who my Ishta Devata is. Visvanathan, I

> > posted by birth info on post # 10867 earlier. I am not advanced

> enough to calculate.

>

> OM Amrtesvaryai Namah!!

>

> Namaskarams Lien!!

>

> i'm not sure what you meant by "advance enough to

> calculate"...calculate what? the chart? or the ishta Devata?...the

> chart can be calculated by an excellent Jyotish program like Sri

> Narasimha Rao's, the Sri Jagannatha Hora program...(for which a

> thousand thanks to you Narasimha!)

>

> From your given information, it appears that Atmakaraka is Moon, ...in

> Rasi chart, Moon is placed in Libra in Visakham Nakshatra, which

> usually will indicate that the native is a devotee of Lord Krsna, or

> of Jesus Christ...or someone LIKE them...the same kind of energy..

>

> in Navamsha, Moon is in Gemini with Saturn...making Gemini

> Karakamsha...when we look at the house 12th to Gemini, the sign will

> be Taurus, where there is NO planet to be found, either in Navamsha,

> OR in Rasi chart, but whose ruler Venus, by previous discussion should

> be considered to be indicating Ishta Devata.

>

> in Navamsha chart, Venus is in Sagittarius with Jupiter...in Rasi

> chart Venus is in Leo with Sun...which will undoubtedly colour Her.

>

> so one could say, combining the indications of Visakham Nakshatra with

> Karakamsha placement indication of Venus as Ishta Devata,

> that your Ishta Devata should be likely a Mother Goddess (like Sri

> Laksmi) Who has the qualities of Lord Krsna and Jesus Christ...both of

> Whom came to "save" the world, and its inhabitants...Christ was

> reknown for His compassion for the Lowly ones....Krsna not so reknown

> for compassion, but still had enough compassion to bestow liberation

> upon all the Asuras that He destroyed over the years...Krsna was known

> more for His playfulness, and for that smile that He wore even in the

> utmost adversity...teaching us the right attitude to have towards the

> world...to not take anything too seriously, but to do our dharma no

> matter what...

>

> so in my mind, the Goddess which would fulfill those roles is known by

> the lovely Name of Sri Lalitambika, Who is eternally 16 years of age,

> and is extremely beautiful, and is known for Her playfulness, as well

> as Her compassion for Her devotees...it is said by my Guru Ammachi,

> that if one will chant the Sri Lalitambika Sahasranama everyday, that

> the Divine Mother, Sri Lalitambika will guarantee to take care of one,

> supplying all the wants and needs of the devotee, basic food, clothes

> and shelter...

>

> so in my way of seeing it, your Love for Kuan Yin would fit into that

> mould, because She is very Compassionate...and young, and very

> beautiful...very much like Sri Lalitambika...also She has many

> qualities very much like Jesus Christ...very kind...cries for the

> pains and miseries that She sees us, Her children going through...Too

> like Sri Krsna, i will bet that Kuan Yin can be known as being quite

> playful with Her devotees....and wears that magical smile...

>

> Sri Lalitambika for Her Devotees is understood to be the Adi Para

> Sakti, the Original Suprem Power....the Primal Mother, and when you

> sing Her lovely, and intoxicating Thousand Names, you will see that

> ALL the Goddesses are within Her...(and all the Gods too!)...She is

> the essence of sweetness itself for Her devotees, but terrifying and

> conquering to the Asuras...taking the forms of Sri Maha Durga, Sri

> Maha Kali, and Sri Maha Tara in Her eternal battles with the

> Rakshasas...not only that but like Sri Krsna, She can be very

> tricky...full of Leelas...which can make you cry at one moment and

> laugh the next, when you see what She's up to...She is indeed the

> Playful One...and She is the calm and peaceful version of my Ishta

> Devata, Who in the belief of Her devotees, has taken birth in this age

> as Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi of Kerala (My beloved Guru and

> Mother, Ammachi)...

>

> Mother Lalitambika when protecting Her devotees will appear as the

> Fiercest of all Goddesses as our Darling Mother Kali...Who is fearful

> to look at if you are a demon, or if you may not understand the

> ultimate mercy and kindness that She expresses in Her Fierce

> Protectress form....

>

> She is wearing a Mala (garland) of Demon Heads, our egos, lust, anger,

> greed, and so on....She is holding a smiling Demon Head (our main ego

> of ME FIRST) in Her hand, while brandishing on high a large headsmans

> sword (khadga)...the other two hands are showing "have no fear"

> abhaya, and "i will grant you boons". She is standing, paused in Her

> raging dance of destruction, with one foot placed upon Her supine

> Husband, Lord Siva, suddenly aware of Her intimate oneness with Her

> Lord, and ceasing Her dance of destruction before the worlds are

> destroyed...around Her Lovely waist, She is wearing a belt of hands

> and arms, which represent our Karmas...our deeds, that Mother has

> kindly taken away from us, freeing us of our ages long negative

> karmas...She is apparently drunken, Her eyes rolling, and Her tongue

> protruding, because She is Drunk on the Intoxicating Bliss of

> Satchitananda...and on the Bliss of being One with Her most Beloved

> Husband and Lord Siva, Who had kindly gone out into battle field and

> lay down on the ground in Her pathway, so that She would have to touch

> Him with Her Lovely Blue Lotus Feet, in Her Dance of Destruction, and

> touching Him, realise Her Oneness with Him, and thus cease Her

> destructive Dance...Mother's Hair is very long and curly, and unbound,

> flying out all around Her and behind Her, and She is otherwise

> unclothed, "digambara" to signify the naked reality which She

> represents...Her wild hair is telling us that She is bound by NO

> rules...that indeed She is the Maker of all rules...that the universe

> is born out Her and when it Pleases Her, it is withdrawn back into Her

> until such time as She feels the Desire to create it and all of us

> again, simply for Her own pleasure...and Her Play...so essentially,

> our Mother Kali, too, is none other than Sri Lalitambika, the Playful

> One...

>

> really if you look closely you will see that ALL the Hindu Goddesses

> are really only ONE Goddess...Who manifests to us in whichever Form

> (Rupa) by Whose Nama that we call Her...She Herself has NO form...But

> She kindly shows us the Form of the Goddess that We love the most, for

> our benefit and to increase our Faith in Her...Actually, Amma says,

> that ALL of those Goddesses and Gods reside within US...and when we

> call to Them, They appear from WITHIN us to show us the way...Amma

> always says that She doesn't believe in a God in a heaven

> somewhere...for Her, God and Goddess are residing deep within US, Her

> children...and ever since the Divine Mother appeared to Her and told

> Her that She must worship Mother within all the Living beings in the

> World, and that She should try to give them Love and compassion for

> Her sake, Mother has been going around the world, pouring out Her

> Divine Love to all that She meets, transforming the world, one person

> at a time.

>

> i hope that this was of some help to you

>

> in the Service of Love Divine,

> as ever,

> your own

>

> visvanathan

>

> Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!

>

June 20, 2006

, "lotus7moon" <lotus7moon wrote:

>

> Dear Visvanathan, I feel very happy with your interpretation! Of all

the many pictures of

> Dieties I have received over the years, I TRULY love and keep in

constant view, the ones of

> young Lord Krishna....................

> Also, as far as female Godesses go, only Lakshmi do I have in view

on daily basis.

> When I googled a picture of Lalitha, I was delighted to see her

holding the arrows! ........... Oddly, instead of feeling

> reverent, however, I feel a sense of 'friendship' toward Her, as if

more comfortable and

> familiar. I am curious and will investigate, in time, if this is

appropriate way to to approach

> Her. Right now, this is totally the Nature of my experience. Its as

if She is both the 'girl' I

> want to be friends with and She is the 'girl' I am.....Lien

Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!!

Namaskarams Lien!!

i am pleased that you found some interest and value in my analysis of

your chart...re Ishta Devata.....

it is interesting that most people with that visakham placement, of

any planet, will find themselves to be devotees of Lord Krsna or

Christ...i haven't been wrong yet, when i have suggested this to folks

with the placement...

it makes a lot of sense also that you would have picture of Laksmi

that you regularly see...as according to the Ishta Devata analysis

methods discussed in earlier posts, the Ishta Devata is represented by

Venus...and Laksmi is usually the Goddess associated with Venus, as

Narasimha told us a while back.

as for your reaction to Sri Lalitambika...perhaps you have the right

of it...perhaps you are Her own daughter, with many of Her

attributes...perhaps you are recognising yourself in Her, or Her in

yourself...what you have described of your feelings towards Sri Lalita

is very similar to how i feel about Lord Siva...less inclined to

worship than to feel friendship Of a sort...and kinship with Him...and

i've felt that way for a very long time....so it was amazing to me

when i asked Ammachi for my spiritual name, and She named me

visvanathan, which is a Name for Lord Siva, when He is living in Kasi

(Varanasi)....and then later, even more amazing when i heard Divine

Mother (Ammachi) say in my right ear as i was looking at a picture of

Gurudeva Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (founder of Hinduism Today), "Son, i

want you to meet your Father!"...when i looked at the picture again,

it changed, and i was now looking at Lord Siva, with Sun and Moon for

eyes, and a Flaming thired eye...and His usual Jata hair....so in my

mind, and heart, i am Lord Siva's "son"...

i think that it is natural, that you might be more attracted to

worship Lord Krsna, over Sri Lalitambika...whereas i am more inclined

to worship Sri Lalitambika (or Her other emanations, Kali, Durga,

etc.) over Lord Siva, (although i really do Love Lord Siva a LOT.)

in short i think that you are just intuitively feeling something about

your relationship with Sri Lalitambika, which may be very deep, and

significant for you...maybe if you identify MORE with Her, you will

find yourself moving in a very dharmic way, that just feels "right"

for you.

in the service of Love Divine,

as ever,

visvanathan

June 20, 2006

dear lien and visvanathan

since you are discussing mother lalithambika i would like to share my personal experience too with you.

from the time i began reciting the lalitha sahasranamam daily i have been shown what HER benevolence is.

i used to listen to the tape and keep the stothram book in hand to follow. since i know a little of music i could learn the various ragas (i would not know which raga is known by what name!) faster than the stotrams.

initially SHE would test me by cutting the power supply off and on while the tape was played. once or twice i felt very frustrated that i could not listen to the tape. i prefer the musical way to the plain recitation of any stothram hence the frustration.

i knew i had to learn it by heart so that i can do my prayers, power supply or no supply. within a week i learnt every single name without any hitch due to HER Grace.

from then on SHE makes me sing HER 1000 names each day and gives me absolute happiness and peace which i dont want to trade for anything else in this world now. i wind up with the mahalakshmi ashtakam. all i asked HER and Her Divine Consort Lord Shiva was to show me deeper knowledge in astrology two years back and to keep my husband and sons healthy and happy.

i have reached a stage where i dont ask for anything except a chance to keep in touch with HER every single day.

humility and how to keep a healthy balance of mind in the face of opposition and setbacks are the blessings i have been bestowed by HER grace.

the mind becomes the lotus leaf which bounces off water droplets (both clean and otherwise) and remains ever under the shadow of HER Grace day in and day out. there is this sense of a feeling of how puny i am in front of people who have much more knowledge about astrology, sprituality or just about anything in this world. the ego just disappears and you delight in the success and well being of all people whom you came and come in contact in your life.

chanting of HER 1000 names each day is like getting a fresh lease of life every single day.

SHE is the ultimate and SHE is all-encompassing.

since i feel happy chanting HER names i guess SHE's my Ishtha Devathai.

seeking HER blessings

mahalakshmi

lotus7moon <lotus7moon > wrote: