Essay 6c
Oh, Mamma!
Instruction:
Find and post the images of the artwork(s) mentioned in the Topic Essay Question.
Question:
Describe the similarities of and connections between the cults of the Earth
goddess Gaia, the Virgin Mary and Devi, the Hindi Mother goddess. Select
representative artwork depicting each one and describe the similarities in the
imagery.
Part 1:
Summary:
While answerng this question I was able to research more deeply about these three iconic figures and understand more about the religion surrounding them. I had an interesting experience finding information. I was honestly surprised by all the information, and different versions and theories about each. I started by researching who they were and then going more into the cults and how they are worshipped.
Reason:
The reason this question was asked was so that we can see what the connections
between these three iconic figures are and how they are similar.
Purpose:
The purpose this question was asked was so that we can gain a better
understanding of how ideas or concepts keep repeating in different religions, and how these ideas are connected.
Direction:
I had a little bit of knowledge about Gaia and the Virgin Mary, but had never
heard of Devi. The first thing that I did was find information about all three
of them, more specifically what they represent. Then, I decided to look into
the religion – what roles they play and how their cults worhip them.
Impressions:
I was surprised by many things during my research. One of the things that surprised me was that all Hindu goddesses are different facets of the goddess Devi. Another thing that I was surprised about was the new Gaian cult that was founded in the 70s. I always thought that no one worshipped Gaia anymore; I mean, I know that some people still worship the Greek gods, but I never though about Gaia before. I was very interested by how many different versions and opinions there are about all three iconic figures. To be honest, I was slightly overwhelmed.
Part 2:
During the course of mankind,
motherhood has been venerated. Discoveries of small human figurines depicting a
female form, dating back to the Upper Paleolithic period, have been found.
These figurines, often portrayed in a way that conveyed the ability to bear
children, are depictions of Earth Mothers or Mother Goddesses. These Mother Goddesses have become multifaceted as humans grew more cultured, and have been given different names. Although the Mother Goddesses vary from culture to culture, many of the core aspects remain the same.
Devi, the Hindu Mother Goddess, "controls material riches and fertility" (Art History, M. Stokstad/M.W. Cothren, p. 298). She has many facets - beauty, wealth, auspiciousness, wrath, pestilence, and power (Art History, M. Stokstad/M.W. Cothren, p.298). "She is 'Ma' the gentle and approachable mother" (http://www.asia.si.edu/devi/whoisdevi.htm). Devi (meaning "goddess") as a cosmic force has many functions - she destroys demons that threaten the balance of the world, and also creates, obbliterates and reforms the universe. Other of her facets include a dayini, or gracious donor of boon, and a heroine, who comes to earth and becomes an inspiring model to the women (http://asia.si.edu/devi/aspectsofdevi.htm). Devi has many other aspects and is worshipped by different names as "[a]ll Hindu goddesses may be viewed as different manifestations of Devi" (http://www.asia.si.edu/devi/whoisdevi.htm).
In the cult of Devi, there are "Five Essential" through which men can enjoy their existance, preserve their lives, and obtain issue - Madya (alcohol), Mamsa (meat), Matsya (fish), Mudra (delicacies of patched food), and Maithuna (sexual union). Through this practice, men can achive Moksha, or salvation (http://www.indianetzone.com/51/cult_devi_india.htm).
Source Link Detail of "Bhadrakali Appears to Rishi Chyavana"
Goddesses are often worshipped in shrines of wood, mud and thatch. Hindu worship, or puja, is the act of venerating a deity through invocations, prayers, songs, and rituals. A spiritual connection is achieved through darshan, which is seeing an image of the god or goddess. Devi presents herself for darshan to bestow blessings upon the worshippers(http://www.asia.si.edu/devi/worshippingdevi.htm). Festivals are also held throughout India. An example of this is the Durga Puja. Images of Durga, made of wood, straw, and clay, are paraded through the streets during this ten day festival, which is celebrated in late September or early October (http://www.asia.si.edu/devi/festivals.htm). "At the end of the festical the images are submerged into the Ganges, thus returning Devi to her source" (http://www.asia.si.edu/devi/festivals.htm). The period during which the festivals are held vary depending on what facet of Devi is being celebrated.
A Mother Goddess like Devi, Gaia, the Grecian Earth
Goddess, is the personification of Earth. She is often portrayed emerging from
the Earth or as being a part of the Earth. “She is Mother Earth, fertile origin
of everything” (http://www.wic.org/artwork/gaea.htm).
There are many versions about how Gaia came to be and the creation of the
Universe; one of these is Hesoid’s version. In Hesoid’s version, Gaia sprang into existence from Chaos. Gaia, through an
asexual reproduction, gave birth to Uranos – the Sky – and Pontus – the Sea.
Mating with Uranus, she birthed the Titans, the Cyclopes, and the Hundred-Armed
Giants (http://www.crystalinks.com/greekgods2.html).
Like the Hindu goddess
Devi, Gaia has many aspects or qualities. She can be the caring mother who
worries about her children, as can be seen in the frieze Athena Attacking the Giants. Athena has Ge’s son Alkyoneos by
the hair and is forcing him to his knees. Ge (another name for Gaia) rises
from the earth to plead for her son’s life (Art History, M. Stokstad/M.W.
Cothren, p. 152). She can also be a source of retribution. This is evident in
the myths, when Uranus tries to keep Gaia’s children in her womb and Gaia turns
to her son Cronos, asking him to castrate his father.
Source Link Athena Attacking the Giants, frieze from east front of Pergamon Altar
Although Gaia played
the main role in the creation of the gods and all things, her role greatly
diminished, making way to a society dominated by men. However, she has not been
forgotten. A modern cult of Gaia
rose in the 1970s called the Gaia Theory. This
movement is completely pro-earth, claiming “that the earth is a sentient super-being,
an ancient goddess spirit, deserving of worship and reverence”
(http://green-agenda.com/gaia.html). This cult came to be
through a scientist working in NASA, Dr. Lovelock. It originated when
Lovelock was tasked with finding life on Mars. While investing some methods, he
realized that the earth was acting like a self-sustaining sentient
super-organism, which he called Gaia. According to him, Gaia had evolved to
such a point where she was awake and could see through us and through our
technology (http://green-agenda.com/gaia.html).
The Gaians’, as the members of this cult call themselves, also believe that “Gaia
is the life force that flows through all of us, that connects us to and makes
us one with trees, rivers, mountains, bees, ants, moose – everything” (http://www.ofspirit.com/susanmeekerlowry1.htm).
“Some [of Gaia's] common forms of worship may include prostration, attempting to reach a greater connection to the earth, shamanistic practices, tithing, praising and praying, creating inspired works of art dedicated to the goddess, burning oils and incense, rearing plants and gardens, the creation and maintaining of Sacred Groves, and burning bread or spilling drink as offerings” (http://www.crystalinks.com/greekgods2.html).
The Virgin Mary, unlike Devi and Gaia, is not a goddess. Although she is a mortal, Mary still is a very important figure and powerful in her own right - she is God-bearer. Mary gives parthenogenetic birth to Jesus. "As Theotokos (Greek for 'bearer of God'), Jesus' earth mother was viewed as the powerful, ever-forgiving intercesor, appealing to her divine son for mercy on behalf of repentant worshippers" (Art History, M. Stokstad/M.W. Cothren, p.245). "The Blessed Virgin Mary is known as the dispenser of mercy, the ever patient mother, and protectress of humanity" (http://journeyingtothegoddess.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/goddess-mary/). "She was also called the Seat of Wisdom, and many images of the Virgin and Child...show her holding Jesus on her lap in a way that suggests that she represents the throne of Solomon" (Art History, M. Stokstad/ M.W. Cothren, p.245). Although the Virgin Mary is officially a mortal in the Catholic Church, many Catholics revere her as a Goddess (http://journeyingtothegoddess.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/goddess-mary/).
Source Link "The Crowning of the Virgin by the Trinity" by Diego Velazquez
The portrayal of the Virgin Mary is similar to that of Gaia, because Gaia more often then not is depicted as being in or a part of the earth while the Virgin Mary is more often than not portrayed as sitting on a throne with baby Jesus on her lap. In addition to this, Mary is also surrounded by angels and with a halo, signifying divinity.
The veneration for the Virgin Mary began in the 12th Century, well over a millenium since the Catholic Church was established. During the middle of the Century, Notre Dame, a grand cathedral in honor of Mary was built. By being the vessel through which Jesus, the Savior, was born, Mary represented the triumph over Eve's sin (http://voices.yahoo.com/the-cult-virgin-mary-during-12th-century-1475961.html).
Like Devi, the Virgin Mary is also celebrated through festivals that are held in her honor. She is also venerated in prayers and by going to the church. Like Hindu worshippers of Devi, who see the image of the god or goddess to invoke them, those who worhip the Virgin Mary also pray to an image of the Virgin ,or by using a rosary, so that their prayers are answered.
Devi and Gaia are Earth Goddesses while Mary is a mortal woman, although in some versions Mary is though to be of divine nature. Although Devi and Gaia have many aspects, or, in Devi's case, forms, the core aspect of nuturing mother is present. Mary, on the other hand, is always the gentle and caring mother. Gaia and Mary share the ability of giving birth through parthenogenesis, that is to say without the participation of a father. Gaia and Devi are similar in that through them the Universe was created. Devi and Mary are worshipped very similarly, they both have shrines and temples for worship. Cults for these three icons still exist today and they are all venerated. Although they don't all share the same type of worship, they all receive worship through praise and prayers. The prayers all begin by exaltation, then go on to some sort of praise, and finally to a supplication:
- "I bow to you, O Mother of All Worlds, O Lotus Born, O Four-Armed Giver of Boons...Praised be you, Loving Devi...Please favor us with continued work, good health, wealth, home, farm, animals, enjoyables, clean water, and food" (Shri Lakshmi Prayers, Celestial Timings, Found Here).
- "Oh Goddesss, Source of Gods and Mortals, All-Fertile, All-Destroying Gaia...Immortal, Blessed, crowned with every grace...come, Blessed Goddess, and hear the prayers of Your children...Draw near, and bless your supplicants" (Orphic Hym to Gaia, Found Here).
- "Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee, Blessed are Thou, Amongst Women...Pray for us sinners, Now, and at the hour of our death, Amen" (The Hail Mary Prayer, Found Here).
