I have been reading "Histroy of Early India - From Origin to AD 1300" by Romila Thapar...
In the chapter "The Peninsula: Emerging Regional Kingdom" I came across a particular portion that really tickled my brain. This was about the Tamil devotionalism and alternate religious movemnets.
I quote from the chapter "Nammalvar, in one of his poems, imagines himself as a woman in relationship with the deity who is a male. But passionate love of a male poet for a godess was not encouraged. Although godddesses were widely worshiped, they were rarely the focus in these poems."
-
Now this really made me feel sorry for the umpteen goddesses in Indian Mythology. I am actually sorry for the devotees too... Goddesses are bound by rules of monoandry/ Chastity and devotees only get a chance to worship her as mother (and no other relationship)... it is quiet unfair... whereas look at the Gods ... they still get to play the feild. And this is not just a case of religions from India... but world over.
Given that the primary proponents of religion have been men and the max adherents and gullible idiots have been women... its quiet sad that Goddesses don't get a chance to be passionately loved or love passionately - even through poems or the poets! :)
In the chapter "The Peninsula: Emerging Regional Kingdom" I came across a particular portion that really tickled my brain. This was about the Tamil devotionalism and alternate religious movemnets.
I quote from the chapter "Nammalvar, in one of his poems, imagines himself as a woman in relationship with the deity who is a male. But passionate love of a male poet for a godess was not encouraged. Although godddesses were widely worshiped, they were rarely the focus in these poems."
-
Now this really made me feel sorry for the umpteen goddesses in Indian Mythology. I am actually sorry for the devotees too... Goddesses are bound by rules of monoandry/ Chastity and devotees only get a chance to worship her as mother (and no other relationship)... it is quiet unfair... whereas look at the Gods ... they still get to play the feild. And this is not just a case of religions from India... but world over.
Given that the primary proponents of religion have been men and the max adherents and gullible idiots have been women... its quiet sad that Goddesses don't get a chance to be passionately loved or love passionately - even through poems or the poets! :)
No comments:
Post a Comment