Reading Notes: Pattanaik's Calendar Art, Part B

I like the metaphor of Narayan/ Vishnu very much. I remember this image from Sita Sings the Blues video. The perception of reality is quite interesting. Although the narrator speaks of Lakshmi with the utmost respect, Nina Paley (the creator of Sita Sings the Blues) satirizes the patriarchy present in this image. At the end the two swap places so that Vishnu is rubbing the feet of Lakshmi.

I did think it was very interesting to learn the source of the cow deity in Hinduism. The metaphor of the cow and the cowherd is also quite intriguing. However, I do still think there is an unequal representation of women and the roles that they play in Hinduism. Yet, what older religion isn't  riddled with underlying sexism?

Bibliography: Pattanaik's Calendar Art, Part B
Image: Vishnu, Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Pattanaik's Calendar Art, Part A

This video covered so many topics dealing with the foundations of Hindu faith. I really do like the metaphysical representations of earth and heaven throughout the religious texts. Ganesha is a very interesting example of this. Although he has a human body and spirit, he has an immortal, divine head. This also represents his parents' conflicting wishes for material and spiritual attainment. I feel most people have experienced this strain in their life, and I know that I certainly have, so it's nice to see a story acknowledge this struggle.

My favorite goddess discussed in this video was Bahuchara, goddess of the hijras. I have learned about the hijras and other transsexuals in a sexual deviance course that I took last year. This topic is especially close to me because one of my best friends in high school went through their transition senior year of high school. I like the idea of having a goddess for these people to pray to because it must have been hard growing up in the hetero-normative culture during which these stories take place. However, Bahuchara's origin story leaves more to be desired. I was hoping that it would be someone wanting to swap genders out of their own will instead of their father's.

Bibliography: Pattanaik's Calendar Art, Part A
Image: Bahuchara Devi, Wikimedia Commons