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HAN MARIE STIEKEMA
ORIGINS
For more than tens of thousands of years the Cosmic Mother was worshipped by all
She was perceived as Great Dark (Night), the Womb, the Waters (Ocean), The Cosmic Egg...
Later She got an anthropomorphic image: Kybele, Isis, Inanna, Ishtar, Asherah...
Later She "delegated" some "functions" to Her Daughters (Goddesses) and Sons (Gods)...
Eventually She ("Tiamat") lost Her Power, and was destroyed by the patriarchal God Marduk
Ever since She became demonized, pictured like a evil dragon or monster.
The Gods(Goddesses) of the past are the Demons of today
Every religion degrades the previous Deities into Demons e.g. Guardians..
Unfortunately, this also happened to the Cosmic Mother
Examples are "Demons", Kirtimukha's and Kala's (Mahakala's!).
So, that's how we meet Her in temples, churches, sacred places, sanctuaries...
Pay Her respect with the eyes of compassion through looking beyond Her ugliness
Deep down Her Beauty is immeasurable!
COMMENT
In later ages patriarchy re-introduced the Goddess, knowing that the people would otherwise revolt
In Hinduism the Primordial Mother was turned into a "integrated" Deity. She became the consort (shakti) of Shiva (instead of Shiva being Her Son/Lover!), in Buddhism Kuan Yin replaced WuShenglaoMu and in Christianity the Virgin Mary became the substitute of the ancient Magna Mater
Through its multi-facetted character only Hinduism preserved memories of pre-Vedic times, though, like Lajja Gauri, Aditi, Durga, Kali and....Meenakshi
TAMIL NADU TEMPLE TOUR 2014
Trichy
Madurai
Kanya Kumari
Sri Maha Mariamman
(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
INDIA
Meenakshi Temple
Madurai/Tamil
Nadu
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The aim of these series "India, China, Java and Dayak" is to show that the Original Cosmic Mother and Her Son/Lover are universal "archetypes" both in the West as in the East. It origiunated in the Near Easst (Sumeria) and spread equally in both directions. During its journey (in distance and time) the Mother had to endure rejection, oppression, manipulation and demonization from the patriarchal priest class. |
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Gopuram (towers) of the Meenakshi Temple |
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 Big surprise: The Original Cosmic Mother (turned into a Guardian Demon) on top of the Gopuram, embracing the whole universe |
I started my spiritual Path in India (1977) and return to it (2012). After having researched the Mother in China (Xiwangmu, Lady and Her Beasts), Java (Kala) and Dayak culture (Lady and Her Beasts) one link was missing. Mother's Northern route went from Anatolia (Kybele) to Tibet and China, while the Southern route went from the Near East via India to Java. Until recently India was still the missing link... |
 Its similarity with Javanese Kala is striking |
 Cosmic Mother (Kala, Kirtimukha) Face (demonized image) giving birth to Her Son/Lover (e.g. Shiva) and the whole universe |
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 Ditto |
Madurai is part of Dravidian Culture, which preceded Aryan Hinduism. It is the reason why the (pre-Hindu!) Mother is preserved here. It is irrelevant that Meenakshi Temple was built in the 12th century and the Javanese Candi's already in the 8th or 9th. The memory of the Tamils certainly went back to more ancient times. Through contacts with Greeks and Romans (400 BC) Madurai had direct access to the ancient Middle East. Conclusion: it were a.o. the Tamils who spread the Cosmic Mother into South-East Asia |
 Ditto |
 These ornaments are VERY equal to those of Prambanan Temple on Java. The fact that they are EVERYWHERE proves their importance |
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 They show their Kala (Kirtimukha) Face with under Her a Womb symbol |
Above mentioned is confirmed by the fact, that in Madurai MotherGoddess Meenakshi (manifestation of Parvati) is the central Deity, while Shiva is Her consort. Something which is very rare in India. It is corresponding exactly with the ancient archetype. Add to it the fact that the Meenakshi statue in the inner sanctuary is carved out of green stone, green being the original color of Inanna (Sumeria), then it becomes clear that the Meenakshi Shrine is not just a "local" one, but universal, embodying the Essence of the Original Mother |
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| We do everything to respect copyrights. In this page we are not completely sure about which image was free and which not. In case we would violate your rights, please tell us and we will remove your picture from our website immediately. |  Kumari-Amman Temple: Kala with Her Son/Lover Deity, the latter in foliage, just like Green Men of Europe. Amazing! Thanks to: http://www.virtourist.com/asia/ |
Meenakshi is said to have had three breasts. It reflects "old times" in which the Cosmic Mother was the Origin of Creation, Permanence and Destruction........ |
| Although Tamil Nadu is most prominent in showing Kala (Kirtimukha) Faces, other states (e.g. Karnataka, Orissa) don't stay behind |
COSMIC MOTHER
East/West
Twelve Religions
Green Men & Wise Women
India
China
Java
Dayak
INDIA
KALA-KIRTIMUKHA
(PROTO)SHIVA
SHAKTISM
INDIAN TEMPLES
MOTHER'S HERO'S
HER DAUGHTERS
MOTHER INDIA
TAMIL CULTURE
SACRED GROVES
BACK TO THE ORIGIN
1997-2012
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Last revising: 10/18/13