Avatar The Movie – Similarities with Hindu Teachings and symbols and concepts in

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Avatar The Movie – Similarities with Hindu Teachings and symbols and concepts in Hinduism

 

 

In the Hollywood

movie Avatar, it is not just the term `Avatar' that is associated with

Hinduism. The core concept of Hinduism is that all animate and

inanimate are the result of a single energy source, which is Brahman or

God. All the plants, animals, human beings rise and fall in this single

energy source. This formless and indefinable is given form by humans

and worshipped as God. One of the important themes of Avatar is based

on this core concept of Hinduism which was taught first time more than

5000 years ago. In the movie, the Na'vis are able to physically connect

to animals and plants. And they believe that they are just a part of

the whole which includes all animate and inanimate present on their

planet Pandora. This concept is explained beautifully and there is a

magical scene in which the Tree is connected to the human body and this

body is connected to all the Na'vis through holding their hands each

other. Another

striking aspect is the use of the color blue. Hindu Gods are depicted

blue in color. Blue is the color of the infinite. All Hindu gods are an

attempt by the human mind to give form to the formless Brahman (God).

The color blues symbolizes immeasurable and all pervading reality –

formless Brahman. Another

concept found in Hindu Puranas is Parakaya Pravesham – leaving one's

body temporarily and entering the body of another person. Adi

Shankaracharya is believed to have done this to enter a king's body so

that he can learn about material world. Something quite similar happens

in the movies as Humans are able to temporarily enter the body of a

Na'vi. A

more visible symbol in the movie is that of the characters in Avatar

riding on a flying dragon like being. This is more like Lord Vishnu

riding on Garuda. It

is said that great minds think alike in all ages. The great saints of

Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) thought about this 5000 years ago and they

tried to explain it to us through symbols and stories. Today we have

technology explain the universal truths. But are we listening? We are

slowly wiping out the green cover and destroying the Mother Earth

thinking that we humans are superior and above all. But

what Avatar missed is foreseen by Hindu seers the total annihilation of

human race when there is rise of Adharma (today it is unimaginable

greed and lack of concern for mother earth). We are fast heading

towards such a situation and this divine action will be carried out by

Kalki. Then there is a fresh beginning. The cycle continues and this

present age is not the first cycle and it is not the last.