Religious Roles in Hinduism

Since Vedic times, the religious climate of India has undergone many changes, and the living experiences of men and women throughout India’s long religious history have also been conciderably diverse.

Hinduism and the senses

There is a light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond us all, beyond the heavens, beyond the highest, the very highest heavens. This is the light that shines in our heart. Chandogya Upanishad 3.13.7 (1)

Atman and Creation

According to Hindu mythology, in the beginning nothing existed apart from the Supreme Self (Atman) who was manifest in the form of a man and filled the entire universe.

Perceiving only himself he cried aloud, “I!” and the notion of the ‘self’ came into being. aware that he was alone, he immediately became fearful, but then reasoned, as there existed nothing apart from himself, he had nothing to be afraid of, and his fear departed.

However, the Supreme Self lacked joy and desired another. He became in appearance like two lovers holding one another in a tight embrace. They split apart like two halves of a single pea, and both male and female came into existence.

The Supreme self united with the woman, and the race of Mankind was created. The woman was horrified that he should desire to unite with her, afterall, she was his his own flesh and blood, and was therefore his daughter. She then attempted to disguise herself in the form of a cow. In response, the Supreme Self transformed into a bull and again joined with her and created cattle. One after the other, the woman disguised herself in the form of every animal, and each time, he would likewise transform himself and unite with her, and in this way all pairs of animals were created.

Afterwards, the Supreme Self reflected upon all he had done, and said “I am creation because all things came from my own body.”

Shiva

Shiva sits in meditation, between the dissolution and creation of the universe. He is often seen with a new moon anchored in his hair, while the Ganges River flows perpetually, like a life-giving fountain, from his top knot.

His entanglement of matted locks is the ideal means by which the catastrophic might of the Ganges is constrained. Serpents and skulls adorn his body, which is also smeared with the cremated ashes of the dead.

A large cobra coiled round his body is the kundalini power harnished through meditation. Salvation is said to reside in Shiva’s feet, which are also said to be deformed.

As Nataraja he is the Lord of the cosmic dance, revealed and concealed, that creates, sustains, and destroys the universe. He dances upon the back of a dwarf called ignorance, subduing him, and producing illumination.

When open, Shiva’s third eye unleashes the destructive power that annihilates the universe, reducing Kama (desire) to ashes. Shiva’s mount, or vehicle, is the bull Nandi.

The commonest sacred image to be found in India today is the Lingam, an abstract stone phallus, the supreme form (manifest and unmanifest) of Shiva, often worshipped in conjunction with the Yoni; a circular stone base on which the Lingam stands, representing the female sex organs, and associated with Devi, Shiva’s consort. Both symbolize creative energy. In myth, Shiva’s time is generally divided between sessions of intense lovemaking with his wife and periods of equally intense meditation.