Indian art

[Mary]

My adult son and I have recently become interested in Krsna Consciousness. We have been reading the Bhgavad-gita, meditating and doing Japa. I am very enthused about this new-found religion. We are both former Chrsitians and from the West. Recently, my son is having problems with the Indian art. He thinks the photos of Lord Krsna and others are very feminine. I'm not saying this should be an issue, but it seems to be with him. I'm sure part of the problem is the difference in our cultures and it is also undoubtedly very ancient. Correct? What answer can I give to him about this?

[Ramakrishna]

Namaste Mary,

That's good that you and your son are interested in Hinduism. I have never thought of any pictures of Lord Krishna as being feminine. What exactly does your son mean by that? Does he think some of Lord Krishna's features appear to be feminine, and if so what are they? Or does he think that Lord Krishna appears like a woman?

I know almost nothing about analyzing art or anything like that, so I can't help much. The one thing I've noticed about Lord Krishna art is that in many many representations He appears with a smile on His face, which is very representative of His nature. The main image I use in my worship of Lord Krishna looks exactly like this, and I've never noticed anything feminine about it.

BTW, welcome to HDF.

Jai Sri Ram

[Arjuni]

Namast�, Mary,

When I first began exploring Sanātana Dharma, I too thought that the images of male Devas seemed somehow feminine. It took me a while to identify why, and then to understand more deeply. I offer my ideas to you and your son, in hopes that they'll help.

When we worship before an image, we look deeply into the eyes of our chosen Deva's depiction. We admire the beauty and radiance of his face. There is even a meditation technique called tratak - steady gazing, which may be done by minutely studying any form in exquisite detail, and God's image is such a wonderful form to choose for this!

So you may notice that in images of Lord Kṛṣṇa, his eyes are large and luminous. They are darkly lined, with long thick lashes. His lips are full and red, his cheeks bright, and his face seems to sparkle with an inner light. These are all qualities we in the West associate with women wearing eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, rouge, and foundation makeup!

However, just as a stage performer - of either gender - will wear all of the above makeup in order to make his/her facial features stand out and be clearly recognisable to the audience, Indian art creates Devas with very delineated features. We devotees want to see our Gods in vivid colour and sharp detail!

On a more esoteric level, though, consider that such depictions of Lord Kṛṣṇa can teach important truths. God is compassionate, wondrous, loving, bright, and beautiful, qualities which are not restricted to a particular form or sex. If nothing else, being reminded of feminity when gazing at Lord Kṛṣṇa's image could serve as a pointed reminder not to forget Radha, whom Kṛṣṇa is never without!

(And I say this as a wee joke: have your son search out images of Lord Narasiṃha. Not all images of God in Hindu art are smiling and wide-eyed!)

Indraneela
===
Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

[charitra]

Namaste and welcome Mary.
Yes agree.One notices there is an element of gender confusion in SOME of the images, statues etc. Does it depend on the artist, sculptor? maybe. Or the male deities are not shown as imposing hard nosed men for perception purposes? Likely. If you see Michaelangelo's mythological images, it becomes immediately obvious that men are depicted as wrestlers uniformly in all those paintings. An interesting question, but dont see any mythological significance though. Om Shanti.

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam Mary: Welcome to the forums. I believe your son's observations about Hindu Gods being feminine is culture bias or programming, yes. The entire concept of what is manly is quite different in the east than in the west. Here (in the west) we get this manly man programming from childhood. Men drink, eat meat, they talk rough, they are fit to be soldiers. If you don't fit that bill, you're not a 'real' man. I'm sure you're familiar with this stereotype.

Of course most of us, especially those inclined to reflection, are able to see through this hogwash. Through sadhana, we men are softened up. We become more loving, more caring, more giving, and all that. in Hinduism, its more of an ideal than in the west. Its not effeminate at all. Its religious. it's human. Especially in relation to God, we can go to temple and prostrate fully to a divinity more superiour than ourselves. There is no gender in that, just a sincere acknowledgment of divinity. But I certainly don't see the aforementioned stereotype doing that.

So its a confusion of religiousness with femininity. Lots of men with softer tendencies get that. "If you like flowers or you're a vegetarian, you must be gay." Its quite hilarious.

So when God is depicted with these softer qualities, the same confusion ensues.

Aum namasivaya

[Jainarayan]

The main image I use in my worship of Lord Krishna looks exactly like this, and I've never noticed anything feminine about it.

Yep, very similar to mine.

(And I say this as a wee joke: have your son search out images of Lord Narasiṃha. Not all images of God in Hindu art are smiling and wide-eyed!)

Nor would I want to be the object of Lord Murugan's wrath...

[Eastern Mind]

Yep, very similar to mine.



Nor would I want to be the object of Lord Murugan's wrath...

Vannakkam TBTL: I'm not sure who the picture is of. Where did you get it?
Wrath? In my view no Hindu Gods have wrath. But I could be wrong.

Aum Namasivaya

[Jainarayan]

Vannakkam TBTL: I'm not sure who the picture is of. Where did you get it?

Listed under "Kartikeswar images" in a Google search.

Wrath? In my view no Hindu Gods have wrath. But I could be wrong.

Aum Namasivaya

In His war against the demons:

Murugan became the supreme general of the demi-gods then escorted the devas and led the army of the devas to victory against the asuras. The six sites at which Karthikeya sojourned while leading his armies against Surapadman are Tiruttanikai, Swamimalai, Tiruvavinankudi (Palani), Pazhamudirsolai, Tirupparamkunram and Tiruchendur. All these sites have ancient temples glorified by the Tamil poems of Tirumurugaatruppadai of the Sangam period (circa the 3rd century AD).And these six sites collectively came to be known as "Arupadai Veedu" (Lang:Tamil), it means the six battle camps of the Lord.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murugan...rit_literature

I should have said their wrath against evil; none of them would show anger to Their devotees. I just wouldn't want to be one of the demons or agents of evil.

There's Sri Krishna's and Sri Rama's killing of Kamsa and Ravana, respectively; Maa Kali and Her war against the demons; Maa Durga riding into battle on the tiger/lion to slay the demon. So, I think the Gods and Goddesses are capable of great anger when warranted. I wouldn't want to have earned their anger.

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam TBTL: Just not the version or a name I'm familiar with then. No vel and no peacock. Learn something new every day, I guess.

http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=Muruga...1t:429,r:0,s:0

Now that's a far more familiar picture for me.

Aum Namasivaya

[Jainarayan]

I was quite surprised to see Him without His usual iconography. It's the idol in Orissa. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murugan...parts_of_India The image you posted is similar to what I usually see.