WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

MenoAZering; Y=Yamini (An FFF Offering)


For April, I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z, and you will find original images created by me and some ramblings to go with them. I will capitalise words that begin with the featured letter (on first use only). Let me know what you think of the pics, words, or both in the comments! For more of this madness, you can visit Blogchatter.

After the Great Sound, the Gods arose. Each had its task in the settling of the cosmos. After the Great Sound came the organising of the matter which manifested and Brahma, who set it all in motion; He was known as the Originator. Vishnu stabilised it all and ensured each part had its allotted time; He was known as the Preserver. Shiva saw that it was necessary to deconstruct to keep things fresh; He was known as the Terminator.

The triumvirate needed aid as things grew more complex. Thus were born the lesser gods, such as Ishwara, the cosmologist; Ganesha, remover of obstacles; Agni, the fire-wielder; Indra, the bringer of lightning and rain... Many layers to manage the creation. 

Among them is Surya, the sun. He reflected all the values of the triumvirate. He is the bringer of light into the darkness, and to Him, we offer the Gayatri Mantra - the great prayer for relief of ignorance. He had three wives. Of these, Saranyu was the mother of Manu (the progenitor of the human race) and the twin gods YAMA and his sister YAMI.

The twins walked a planet they called Prithvi - Earth. Throughout their YOUTH they played there and stayed there. There came a time, though, when Yami looked to her brother Yama and found that she had a YEARNING for him - had the thought that they might populate this world. Yama, however, understood this was not a proper thing between them. He rejected her many times. She kept pestering him, but he kept resisting. 

Meanwhile, their mother had abandoned their father, for she found his light too strong. She did not wish to insult Surya, though, so she left her shadow-self (Chaaya) to fill the gap. This upset Yama, who knew this was not his true mother, and he threatened to reveal her to Surya. Chaaya, in her turn, became so angry with Yama that she cursed him .... that he would no longer be immortal and would die. His was the First Death. In this death, however, he became ruler of the underworld. He became the god of death. As for Yami, she was bereft at the loss of her brother and the focus of her love. She cried and cried and cried and her tears became the river YAMUNA. She wailed and mourned and wailed some more until the senior gods wished her to stop.

"How can I stop when my brother has left me and there is no end to that loss?"

The gods saw that, as there was no differentiation of time, they needed to set things in motion that would allow for change, permit the relief of grief and provide respite to the spirit. Prithvi began to spin and the land upon which Yami walked knew its first period of darkness. This brought about a need to rest, and Yami slept the First Sleep. The First Night was created for Yami and her name became, thus, YAMINI - goddess of the night.

Prthivi continued turning and Surya looked again upon his daughter and she rose to his brightness surprised that her tears were a little less. With each rotation of Prthvi now, Yami gained relief from her sorrow and the planet now had night and day. In the night hours, Yami found that she could communicate with Yama and, when their brother Manu had populated the land, these two saw to it that end of life was taken care of. Yama brings the moment of death, and Yamini calms the jiivas as they transition the YAWNING divide of this world to the next. 

It is said that to bathe in the river Yamuna, one's pains and angst will be washed away, for Yamini has done all the grieving for the world...

[ed.note...then again, to bathe in the Yamuna these days is likely to call for the attentions of the dark twins, so polluted is that body of water! This was an adaptation of the fables evolved from the Rig Veda, bk 10. The 'artwork' is my very poor attempt at recreating Indian Kangra-style images...]





21 comments:

  1. Wonderful art! Wonder how much water will have to flow in the rivers to cleanse all the filth man creates!

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  2. Thank you for this succinct yet comprehensive story-telling. I had no clue about Yami and Yama or about the story of the creation of day and night. I always, always learn so much when I visit you. Have a wonderful Friday. xx

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  3. Had the feeling of sitting in one of those old religion classes. Good to refresh certain knowledge.

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  4. This was such an interesting story telling session! You are a very fluent and efficient story teller. All the mythical stories have an element of truth, the science, the logic... all woven tigether with the fabric of figures we human beings can relate, associate!
    I am always fascinated and intrigued by creation of universe theories. Wish I could know how it all started.
    Loved today's artwork. The lady to me is 'vanamala' as she has accessorized herself with flowers, has lotus in her hand and a garland to offer. She is a pure blissful soul.
    And I wish to know who is the third wife of Lord Surya? Sharanyu and Chaya being the first two, what aspect of Surya does the third wife might be personification of, I wonder.

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    1. Hari OM
      Well, strictly speaking Chaaya and Suranya are one, but due to Chaaya also bearing children, she is seen as a second wife. The third is Aruni... who was actually Surya's charioteer, Aruna. This is an example of acceptance of gender dysphoria. Aruna was curious as to what went on in the bhadraka (harem) of Indra and 'transformed' in order to be able to enter there. Indra was enamoured of the new face and favoured Aruni. Surya, on hearing of this, demanded to see the female form of Aruna - and was immediately smitten... Yxx

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  5. Wouldn't it be great to be able to pick one thing - like that river for instance - and leave this world having motivated people to restore it to a natural cleanliness. I admire the bloke who started (and saw through) the cleaning of Versova Beach in Mumbai.

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  6. This fable of Night's name, Yamini, I didn't know. Thank you,Yamini, for this story. The picture I liked, though I don't know much about this.

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  7. we wish we had such a river too what can wash away the bad things and the sorrows...

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  8. I never knew any of this. It's thought provoking. You have such a broad knowledge and life understanding of these things, that most westerners do not. I think you must have and do lead an interesting life.
    I've never joined in FFF, so I hope I did ok with this post. https://lexitheschnauzer.wordpress.com/2022/04/29/the-show-opening-lexi-the-schnauzer/ If this link is supposed to be someplace else, please move it and let me know for next time! Have a great weekend. Amy

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    1. Hari OM
      That's just fine, Amy - and welcome to the FFF club! Yxx

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  9. I thought your Yamini was a made up name, seems there were a few before you using Yami.. in there name I mean. this is much like the creation of the world by God, very much like it.

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    1. Hari OM
      Well, of course, physics created the world and the cosmos, but the critter called man developed a need to understand it so these are the sorts of legends that developed. I have written about my name in the Mac History section quite some time back... Yxx

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  10. Love your story and the vibrant purple in your beautiful artwork!

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  11. YAM I 100% disagree your art work is spectacular...WOW. I can hardly draw a straight line with a ruler.
    Well chosen colors too
    Hugs Cecilia

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  12. I like the artwork and the stories. May someone lead my soul to peace at the end.

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  13. The colors you used for the Goddess are beautiful...as is your story!!

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  14. Loved this - both your retelling and your art! Lovely!

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  15. I'm afraid that prayers are still needed for the relief of ignorance...

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  16. What a great telling of the story! And I gotta say I LOVE your art work. It is too bad the Yamuna is so polluted. But then the river behind my house "suffers" during the long hot summers we have here. I hope you are having a marvellously happy weekend!

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  17. Great retelling of the mythology! I always learn much from your posts. All our rivers are polluted, beats me how a culture can believe rivers to be holy and then dump every waste possible into them! Plastics and chemical dyes on the idols and then the subsequent immersion compounds the issue.

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  18. Well done, friend. namaste, janice xx

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