The Divine
- Created by: leila08
- Created on: 07-11-18 18:32
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- The Divine
- Explaining the Divine
- Picture language and parables have been used by religious teachers in all faiths to help people understand difficult concepts about God.
- Different aspects of the Divine
- The Divine exists everywhere, as a non-personal God, called Brahman
- The Divine is within the heart of everyone, called antaryami, meaning the God within
- The Divine is a personal God or Lord, called bhagavan and approached through many different deities, living in vaikuntha
- The tri-murti
- Brahma - the Creator
- Brahma holds four objects
- the book represents the Vedas showing he is guided by them
- The spoon represents a sacrificial ladle used in worship, showing he is responsible for offerings
- The string of beads represents a mala, which is used in meditation
- the water pot represents the water of life, which was responsible for the beginning of creation
- The lotus flower
- the lotus is a symbol of purity as it emerges pure white from the mud of a river.
- It is said that he was born sitting on a lotus flower emerging from the navel of Vishnu
- "Brahma was [...] the Creator of all" Mundaka Upanishad
- The consort of Brahma
- Saraswati is the consort of Brahma - she is the goddess of music and knowledge, art and learning
- Saraswati sits in a lotus flower and is often pictured riding upon a swan, which is a symbol of spiritual perfection
- Brahma holds four objects
- Vishnu - the Preserver
- Vishnu is special in four ways
- He represents the soul of the entire universe
- He gave birth to Brahma who created the universe
- He enters the heart of every living being to become the lord within
- He is worshipped through avatars
- Vishnu means 'one who enters everywhere' in Sanskrit
- Vaishnavism is a warm and personal religion
- Images of Vishnu are meant to remind Hindus to follow religious and moral laws, and that Vishnu steps in when necessary to restore moral order
- Vishnu is special in four ways
- Shiva - the Destroyer
- Shaivites select the quality that appeals to them the most or is most relevant to their situation in life at the time
- Shaivites are often ascetics aiming for liberation through complete detachment
- Shiva's symbolism
- animal hides: sitting on a tiger skin is a sign of an ascetic, and his mastery over the powerful tiger which represents lust
- trident: represents the tri-murti
- serpents: could represent Shiva's creative powers after destruction, as it throws off its skin to rejuvenate
- third eye: symbolises spiritual knowledge and power
- ash: holy men smear themselves with ash
- blue body: because he drank poison saving the world from destruction
- River Ganges: representing everlasting time
- earrings: right represents male and the left female, showing he is both sexes
- Nandi: shows Shiva's calm and gentle aspects, symbolises courage
- Brahma - the Creator
- Explaining the Divine
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