Kali in the Western media
Some days back I was discussing classic films with friends who work at the same cinema as me, when the subject of the Indiana Jones movies came up. I said that that as a Hindu and a devotee of Goddess Kali, I found the portrayal of Kali in Temple of Doom disturbing. The others seemed surprised to hear this. “Why would you be offended?? Kali is a demoness isn’t she”?
It hadn’t occurred to me till then how films like these can have a lasting effect in moulding the views of people that watched them.
July 24th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
KALI BLESS THE NAMES OF THE GODDESS
Like anything that is not christian related will be, and has been dragged thru the mud, by the christian based Masonic led media. Its about time the ‘media’ showed more respect for Goddess’s and other historical figures that were about far longer than yashua or the judah’ian God yahvey.
And we now know the great flood approx 6-4000bc obliterated a lot of evidence of the old world, although enough has been remembered and repeated over and over, in various cultures. We must always give thanks to the old and elderly for without them our history and traditions will be lost FOREVER! under the weight of todays media onslaught.
The church are silent for a good reason what they don’t say cannot be argued with, and that is their stance.
If only we could start a dialogue that is far reaching and out in the open.
The current Arch bishop Rowan, is against Masons, when he took up his position the directive he sent to the Prime minister stating that he would block anymore executive posts in the high church for Masons via secure delivery, was intercepted and made public.
Proves that the Masons are rife in the Government, Police, churches, + Media. And within the last 50 yrs or so opened they have opened the membership to business executives, and other parts of society.
The Masons use the upside down Pentagram as their symbol, and hold high positions in the English church, govt, education, Police, Media. but however much they try to hold back the other faiths, their days are numbered.
As you stated , If one looks back over TV history one will find all sorts of slights against other faiths and beliefs.
This next aramaic phrase sums it up for them.
MENE MENE TEKEL PARSIN
Goddess has numbered the days of your kingdom and is bringing it to an end.
I reiterate
All WOMEN ARE SACRED, AND THEY ARE THE CHOSEN ONES AND IT MUST BE MADE KNOWN TO THE WORLD.
The Goddess will reign again in this world! and soon
July 25th, 2006 at 5:33 pm
Because they do not fear hindus like they do muslims, they denigrate our dharma the way they do. When some hindus trashed the MF hussain exhibit in London they cancelled the exhibition. When requested earlier to do so by hindu orgs they refused. Just one example of how the world works.
July 26th, 2006 at 9:19 am
Im a bit hurt that you did not include my earlier comment , and there is a comment from park X which is obviously so similiar to my own name. As to make me think, that it is in some way a message? could be completely innocent. Karma works both ways.
why leave space for peole to comment and then not display the comment.
In my mind it was a far reaching and hard hitting comment, detailing the very issues that were prominent in the whole of your page.
Disturbed by your attitude.
Maybe the management team are mainly men, and if thats the case then it is entirely possible that what i think is the truth.
July 29th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
FAO MarcX
Sorry if you feel offended. Your comment was quite long, and seemed a bit mad/conspiracy theorist at first glance, and hence needed longer time for moderation. But since your feelings have been hurt, I am making amends by allowing both you posts through.
Thanks for contributing to the discussion.
Regards, Seijal.
July 31st, 2006 at 1:44 pm
When you look at Hinduism, it has a concept based on equality. This concept places women on the same level as men, this is something that goes against western philosphy and religions. Hindu’s worship the “female” aswell as the male all being one of the same thing the soul or life force or energy.
The concept of equality is being wrenched from Hinduism to make us look backward and pagen and the blind believers are then told it is the hindu custom or religion to subjegate women and have a caste system, this in turn informs the other religions that hinduism is backwards. But this is based on the western view to discredit the oldest religion in the world and sell it back to us as backwards. Women will never be the same as men or their equal in western religion and thought, as they have had their relgions and society make the “female” the dependant of the male and used relious concepts to compound this e.g. women created from Adams rib, the women taking the first bite of the apple!
Therefore, having a strong female god is an alien concept for the west and the only way that they and other religions can come to terms with their sexism is to make Hindu’s and their female gods backward, evil and overtly sexual. Hey, the west think god is a man, a very limited view by Hindu standards and until they are able to reach that level of understanding do not be surprised of seeing more demonic Kali’s and paintings of female gods in comprimising sexual positions.
August 1st, 2006 at 2:23 pm
I recall some years ago in an exam that I was sitting coming across an essay question, in which one of the title options was, “God is a woman and she is black.”
August 2nd, 2006 at 3:03 pm
In my opinion the directors and the producers of such programs/films cannot be put entirely at fault. Their ignorance is a reflection of that of us Hindus. It is the lack of awareness within our own people (Hindus) and our decision to remain silent and allowing such things to happen.
As the author of the article pointed out - Educating the West - of what Hinduism truly is and the symbolism behind everything you see within it will prevent such degrading actions from occuring. But first we, ourselves need to pick up a book before expecting anyone else to do so.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:48 am
this is a prime example of the problem with society today. most people are very judgmental and form their opinions from what their “friend” says or what they saw in a movie. there are very few who can think for themselves.
December 19th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
So, seriously, isn’t it central to the who revelation of Hindu Religion, particularly in the person of Kali, not to care about any of this? I thought Hinduism, at least, would remain above the pettiness so prevalent among Christians, Jews and Muslims. Ah well, you’ve been victimized — let me shed a tear as the world smallest violin plays but did you really have to drag Kali down to that level — I’m mean what your doing is more of an insult to the Goddess than anything you’ve displayed here.
December 26th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
The essay ” Philosophy of Kali” is excellent. That I hope will erase out the wrong idea about Kali from the Western mind if it would be publicized by the Hindus in the Western world.
Similarly will you please give us the philosophy behind Hanuman, another weapons in the hands of the Western people to mock at Hinduism!
May 10th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
One must be patient like the earth. What iniquities are being perpetuated on her! Yet she quietly endures them all.
- Sri Sarada Devi
May 28th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
i understand that pepole feel upset and insulted about maa’s potrail in media, but this could never have happened unless she herself willed it. the divine mother does seem scary when we dont understand her- she demands our devotion. she asks us to seek her instead of the worldly plesures we have come to love. her requests do seem crual sometimes but when we get to know we see that everything she does she does out of her love for us.
June 6th, 2008 at 9:00 am
“Because they do not fear hindus like they do muslims, they denigrate our dharma the way they do. When some hindus trashed the MF hussain exhibit in London they cancelled the exhibition. When requested earlier to do so by hindu orgs they refused. Just one example of how the world works.”
Christians are dissed too, because they are not feared either.
This brings up a recent happenstance in texas: the texas government (with some federal help) assaulted a christian town that married teenaged girls and practiced polygamy.
That same government never assaults muslim towns in America that do the same: the muslim towns would fight back and are well armed.
I wonder why the people of america hate men having wives of childbearing age?
Now on to Kali.
Could you tell us about her. She does not have a “dark side” at all? (I thought she could be nice sometimes, and not so nice other times).
I think maybe it is not good to reject all the ‘dangerous’ aspects of ones religion if they do exist: in the USA christans have done so and are assaulted in peace-time, muslims have not and are left alone. Hindus shouldn’t go down the same path. Fear is sort of an armor so that people won’t assault, kidnap, and murder one’s town. When there is no fear of that the people in the govt or elsewhere happily assault, kidnap, and murder.
Viva Men’s Liberties.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
To promote fear is to promote harm.
To promote justice is what we are after. The unjust fear the just because it challenges them. But the just can not assume a pose to create fear. The just also must have faith enough to stand up to the unjust (but not enough to purposefully harm them). It is a hard balance, no question. They use this imbalance of action / action restraint against us, no question. But the more we are like them, the less we are justified in what we do.
When Kali is released, it is for justice. When she has an awful appearance it threatens the unjust. The faithful know her as loving and all giving. The dark side, is the fear of our own lust that she is aware of. The world was over run by demons, that is when she was about to destroy the world. Yet she gives us all of nature and creation in which we can love and play.
By the way, I too have problems with children being forced to marry - long live HUMAN freedom.
hariaum
June 24th, 2008 at 1:30 am
Kali is not to be feared. She is powerful and terrible, but in no way evil. I am wise to much of the symbolic truths of her character and if I were to choose between the petty, bloodthirsty, hypocritical misogynistic xenophobe that is the Hebrew and Christian “God”, I think I’ll take Kali and her posse. None of these beings physically exists in the vast vacuum of space. They are all concepts and truths. Deities are made for two reasons: One is behavior control and petty self-justification for atrocities and the other is to aid the spirit in its growth and ascension. No real point being made here. Those are just my initial thoughts on the matter.
December 30th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
A very good article.