Challenge of Gender norms by Sita

While I was praying, I thought of Sita, the mortal incarnation of Lakshmi and her sense of independence and fearlessness.

The story is about Sita performing the Shraddha puja by herself. During their forest exile, after the death of Dashratha, Rama and Lakshman went to collect the necessary items for Shraddha (ancestral rites). As the auspicious time for the Pind Daan (offering of ritual balls) was passing and they had not returned, the spirit of King Dasharatha appeared before Sita and requested her to perform the rites immediately. Sita gave in and started making arrangements by herself. Continue reading

The four fearlessnesses – Vaisharadayas

The Sanskrit word Vaishardaya means an unwavering confidence in the dignity and infinite potential of one’s own life. One is held back because one lacks faith in oneself. In Buddhist philosophy, courage is synonymous with Vaisharadayas. Nichiren Buddhism teaches that courage is the starting point of all change in an individual. Continue reading

838 – Tara, the savior goddess

Who is Tara? She is the Buddhist savior goddess with numerous forms, known throughout Nepal, Tibet and Mongolia. She is the feminine counterpart of the bodhisattva (the buddha to be) Avalokiteshvara. Avalokiteshvara Boddhisattva is the most popular Mahayana Buddhist deity. He is the earthly manifestation of Amitabha, guarding the world between the departure of the historical Buddha, Gautama and the appearance of the future Buddha, Maitreya. Continue reading

588 – Where the mind is without fear

Where the mind is without fear
And the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is lead forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my
Father let my country awake. – Rabindranath Tagore

This poem was written by Rabindranath Tagore during India’s pre-independence days. The poet is writing that a country should have people living without fear and with dignity. Continue reading