Insights can come from the most unexpected places.
Like during a kick-back Saturday night movie viewing. There I was sipping on a nightcap, a 12-year Jameson’s Whiskey …mmm warming me from the inside out, and there on the screen in the midst of a light romantic comedy flashed a jarring image and a brief, offbeat discussion of the Hindu goddess Kali.
Raised Catholic, I confess I didn’t have any knowledge of this particular Hindu goddess — saints, yes … goddesses, no — but given what I learned about her she’s definitely got the stuff infertiles can relate to. Among her many powers she is the goddess of destruction.
Who among us hasn’t felt like infertility destroyed our lives a few times over? Yeah, the destruction part I got. I was intrigued though with the other side of her powers. Destruction, while it gets a bad rap, can actually be good if managed properly — kind of like a controlled burn fire. That’s because it’s only through destruction that there can be rebirth.
Kali destroys only to recreate.
Apparently she is often called upon to destroy all that is negative. I know there’s lots going on here in this image — interpret amongst yourselves — but I’m going to take some creative license and imagine she has just slayed the bad stuff associated with infertility so that something new and better can arise in its place. Hmm. The idea is not unlike the Phoenix rising from the ashes (check out, ahem, the far left of the blog banner above).
So as we make our way through the holiday gauntlet — remember red wine has health benefits — and start making resolutions about how we shape and take stock of the New Year, let’s think in terms of positive destruction. What would you like to destroy?
You can check out more Show and Tell here.
November 30, 2008 3:20 pm
Wow….you spoke of someone, I really did not expect to be seen! She is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and like you said the destroyer of all evil. One of her most popular images is that of being Mahishasurmardini, a demon who had the boon that whenever even one droplet of his blood fell on the ground, he would spring back to new life. He became so arrogant about his boon that he harassed everybody. That is when Durga killed him. That single droplet of blood is called ‘raktabeej’. And that is how life is – full of challenges, and when we are out of one battle, life will always throw open new arenas to fight. Phew!
The image that you uploaded is also interesting. After a particular victory Durga became so happy that she started dancing crazy, so much so, that she trampled the earth, which started shaking under her impact. To quieten her, Shiva laid on the ground and let Durga thump on his chest, absorbing all the shock and protecting the earth. Durga obviously realized at some point of time that she was standing on her husband and that is when she stopped. I think this is the largest ever bloggy comment I have written!
November 30, 2008 4:53 pm
This one is easy – I’d like to destroy cancer – breast cancer specifically!
November 30, 2008 5:01 pm
Very cool show and tell… ! I like that idea, destruction only done in order to create. Sounds powerful.
November 30, 2008 5:35 pm
How about all unexplained infertility…with no explanation, the treatment is a crapshoot.
November 30, 2008 9:32 pm
Although I was not raised Hindu, I was raised on Indiana Jones movies, so I learned all about Kali in Temple of Doom.
I choose to destroy the ludicrous insurance bureaucracy and let thoughtful and reasonable people spring up in its place.
November 30, 2008 10:05 pm
hmm, destruction in order to create – sounds very interesting, and I do think that sometimes something even better than what was destroyed can then be created. Interesting post as well as the comment from Wiseguy!!
December 1, 2008 4:30 am
My two drinks of choice: red wine or pomegranate martinis. And I can justify both with health benefits! 🙂
Oh yeah, this is barely quasi-related, but my first car was a Toyota MR2. The emblem on the front hood was a Phoenix. Coincidence? I think not!
December 1, 2008 4:49 am
I love Indian legends, myths, and scripture. I am looking for a good audiobook version of the major Hindu scriptures because, well, I like non-fiction as audiobooks. There is a great deal of collected wisdom among Hindu literature that anyone can learn from.
Somehow, we have forgotten that in order for us to move into our future at least a part of our past must be destroyed. None of us like or enjoy this – well, at least for the most part. But, when we accept this, we have started the journey into whatever new chapter of our life has started.
Ok, I’m being overly philosophical due to your post!
December 1, 2008 2:59 pm
I’d like to destroy unproductive attitudes, my own as well as others’.
I’d like to destroy the guilt-trip families lay on us when maybe we like to politely excuse ourselves from big holiday events that we may not feel up to attending every year. I’d like to vanquish my own guilt when I do the thing that’s right for me — like bow out of a day of “festivities” that includes petty digs and unspoken tensions. I’d like to vanquish the concept of enforced togetherness and respect each individuals right to experience the holiday season in their own way.
December 2, 2008 5:11 am
I firmly believe in the health benefits of red wine. 🙂
Firmly. Yes, I’m smiling.
xx
J
December 2, 2008 7:04 am
Bitterness.
December 2, 2008 4:12 pm
In myself? — not so sure. ; ) In others? Ignorance. Lack of compassion or empathy. Smugness. Pass the wine! : )