On reading the posts of this blog the reader may get a little confused as to the origin of Naini Devi- the Goddess of Nainital. She is interpreted by some as the ancient Goddess Nana, others as Naina Devi the consort of lord Shiva, by many as Nanda Devi the mountain Goddess of Kumaon; some regard her as Kali or the Goddess Durga.
It does not really matter in what particular interpretation you hold the Goddess because they are all the reincarnations or interpretations of the same original mother Goddess. The Hindus believe that God is infinite and with a form beyond comprehension. However in order to direct ones attention, the formless infinite God of the universe may be represented by a finite interpretation. The finite image may be male as the Lord Shiva or female as a mother Goddess. In reality the infinite God is beyond this human sexual distinction. In Hindu mythology the two aspects male and female are regarded as two parts of the same infinite power.
The infinite God can also be classified in two distinct parts as matter and spirit. All life is created from a union of matter and spirit and in this sense the father may also be regarded as the universal spirit and the mother as the created material universe. In Nainital one may view a part of this created universe in one of Her most beautiful aspects. The adjoining picture is a view of Naini Lake. The temple of Naini Goddess is situated on the banks of this lake.
It does not really matter in what particular interpretation you hold the Goddess because they are all the reincarnations or interpretations of the same original mother Goddess. The Hindus believe that God is infinite and with a form beyond comprehension. However in order to direct ones attention, the formless infinite God of the universe may be represented by a finite interpretation. The finite image may be male as the Lord Shiva or female as a mother Goddess. In reality the infinite God is beyond this human sexual distinction. In Hindu mythology the two aspects male and female are regarded as two parts of the same infinite power.
The infinite God can also be classified in two distinct parts as matter and spirit. All life is created from a union of matter and spirit and in this sense the father may also be regarded as the universal spirit and the mother as the created material universe. In Nainital one may view a part of this created universe in one of Her most beautiful aspects. The adjoining picture is a view of Naini Lake. The temple of Naini Goddess is situated on the banks of this lake.
Comments
This is exceptionally fine writing; may I post a copy of it on facebook with a link to your blog here?
ciao,
Raymond
Sorry it took me so long to respond. I too not check this blofg frequently but another one more regularly (http://someitemshave.blogspot.com)
In my class, I received a spirit teaching that described lightening as "the force that enspirits life and the earth forms the life." I went back and forth with my teacher a bit, trying to clarify this. I stubbornly clung to physical images. (Is lightening like sperm?" "NO. It is Life, not Form." Questions like that, searching for my understanding of what was being given.)
This is an Interesting way of breaking apart the matter/spirit question. I "understood" what was being said, but thinking of it now, in these terms of matter/spirit, makes it more clear. Thank you.
Perhaps these words are expressing the samething as what you learnt in your class.
"Different seers choose different words based on their own experience and tradition, to describe the same universal truth."
The "Divine Mother" seems to be on of these universal archetypes. In Laozi we find "Know the male (articulated thought) but hold to the female (intuitive realization). In Zhuangzi we have "qi mu" spirit energy of the Mother.
Thanks for your interest in my writing. I have a blog-like page on facebook called apophatic mysticism. But you might not be on facebook? And have some relatively recent writing at the end of my webpage: http://www.apophaticmysticism.com/edit.html
My email is raymondsigrist@ gmail.com
Raymond
Thank you
I am not on facebook yet but will check out the url as soon as acquire a login for it.
Great to have your views on this page
Ashok