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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)
MOTHER INDIA 1
Sri
Ranganathaswamy Temple
Trichy/Tamil
Nadu
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The big surprise entering the Temples of Southern India was the discovery of the remainders of pre-Vedic (pre-patriarchal) symbols |
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There is a logic behind it. They are to be found in the oldest structure of the temple e.g. the basic parts. (In Angkor Wat, Cambodia I found the same pattern) |
 Basic structure and superstructure, the latter from later times. |
 Cosmic Womb with Kala (Kirtimukha) Face
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 These Womb Images are archaic and totally unique |
While in the West Mother and Son are separated, in the East
they are Aspects of the same Numenous Being. In India this is called Kirtumukha or
"Glorious Face". The Mother rules death and rebirth, a "function later (in
patriarchal times) taken from Her by Vedic Gods (Shiva). Death and Rebirth rule time,
that's why was turned into the "God of Time" ( Kala or Mahakala). These Kala
images are particular frequent on and in the Hindu Temples (Candis) of Java, Indonesia. In
fact they are reminders of the Original Cosmic Mother.
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 Cosmic Womb, Kala Face and the Divine Son born out of Her |
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I am still totally impressed by these primordial symbolism. I assume they can be found all over India (and beyond). As far as I know this is the first time these images are photographed and documented. |
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 From later times: Indian God (Indra?) born out of the Kala Womb |
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What impressed me was the continuity of the Mother from ancient times until recent times. Again and again the Cosmic Womb, Her Kala Face and Her offspring. The latter can be a God, a King, a City or a Temple. |  |
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 Aren't they sweeties? |
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
1997-2015
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Last revising: 07/13/15