Identify the God

[Aupmanyav]

Does anybody know who is this God and from where?

 

[Nietzsche]

I know this is the DIR, but now I'm interested. Do you happen to own that? If so, is there a reverse side to it? Any maker's mark or what have you?

 

[Aupmanyav]

I got the question from another forum. I will ask the person about it. However, it seems to me that the reverse may be blank except for the name of the maker. I think the depiction is of the Ocean God (that is why I named it 'Sagara'). No other pointers except the conch and what I see as a few sea-dragons.

 

[Aupmanyav]

If so, is there a reverse side to it?

Here is the reverse. Does anyone know what is the language of the coin?

 

[Chakra]

Well, it looks South Indian.

 

[Kalibhakta]

I am tempted to say the language looks Thai or Burmese or something such like that.

Maybe it is Buddhist.

 

[Chakra]

I am tempted to say the language looks Thai or Burmese or something such like that.

Maybe it is Buddhist.

Actually, that seems correct to me.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Kalibhakta, Axlyz, I concur. The writing seems to be in Burmese. I like it, simple, beautiful.

 

[Kalibhakta]

I think, then, you may refer to a Burmese or Theravada forum.

The Southeast Asians take a different view of Vedic culture. They remember Rama and Krishna, and such, but not as people from India might. It could very well be the water god as remembered by the Buddhists.

Sadly what it could be escapes me.

 

[Aupmanyav]

That is a good idea. I will follow. I have put a question in a Burmese Board. Let us see.

 

[Kalibhakta]

Do kindly share if you find anything, thank you!

 

[ShivaFan]

This is a form of Brahmi script turned into Khmer (Cambodian) script. It is older than modern style which is more elongated.
Above are shown two examples of modern tatoo art in Cambodia. They appear in the coin.
We also can match some of the letters against modern Khmer script.
The Deva is Vishnu.

 

[Kalibhakta]

ShivaFan, have I ever told you how awesome you are?

Oddly "Wrathful" form of Lord Vishnu, though

EDIT: I was thinking of the Tattoo/Back. Oops!

 

[ShivaFan]

More evidence - found these Khmer letters on the internet matching the word in the coin:

So this is for sure Khmer...

 

[Aupmanyav]

Excellent research, SF. Thanks. I will inform the person in the other forum.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Oddly "Wrathful" form of Lord Vishnu, though

Vishvarūpa.

evam uktwā tato rājan mahā yogeshwaro harih;
darshayāmāsa pārthāya paramam rūpamaishwaram // 11.9 //
Having spoken thus, O King, the great Lord of yoga, Hari revealed to Partha His supreme and divine form.

yathā nadīnām bahavo'mbuvegāh, samudramevābhimukhāh dravanti
tathā tawāmī naraloka vīrā, vishanti vaktrānyabhivijwalanti // 11.28 //
Verily, as many torrents of rivers flow towards the ocean, so these heroes in the world of men enter your fiercely flaming mouths.

yathā pradīptam jwalanam patangā, vishanti nāshāya samriddhavegāh;
tathai va nāshāya vishanti lokās, tavāpi vaktrāni samriddhavegāh // 11.29 //
As moths hurriedly rush into a blazing fire for their own destruction, so also these creatures hurriedly rush into your mouths for destruction.

lelihyase grasamānah samantāl, lokān samagrān vadanair jwaladbhih;
tejobhirāpūrya jagatsamagram, bhāsastavogrāh pratapanti vishno // 11.30 //
Swallowing all the worlds on every side with Your flaming mouths, You are licking (in enjoyment) Your lips. Your fierce rays, filling the whole world with radiance, are burning, O Vishnu!

 

[Kalibhakta]

You got me there Aupmanyav. However, it is a very rare to have that be shown in iconography. I was also mistaken by the backside and the tattoo he showed. Really looks more like a "wrathful" Tibetan deity then anything Indian or Asian. Front side looks "fairly orthodox", as much as one can say that about Hinduism.

 

[Poeticus]

You got me there Aupmanyav. However, it is a very rare to have that be shown in iconography. I was also mistaken by the backside and the tattoo he showed. Really looks more like a "wrathful" Tibetan deity then anything Indian or Asian. Front side looks "fairly orthodox", as much as one can say that about Hinduism.

Conceding that I am going away from the point about there being an overall scarcity of "wrathful" or aggressive or non-shanti depictions of Lord Shri Vishnu:

The interesting thing about modern Deva-Devi iconography is how it is strongly influenced by European painting style(s), and subsequently by [Victorian] Western moral standards. This was not always the case, and perhaps many "wrathful", indigenous depictions once existed (as can be attested by the numerous "wrathful" murti-s of various deities). Most of today's Hindu iconography is of either Raja Ravi Varma's work or highly influenced by him. And he happened to be trained in European painting style(s). The contrast is overwhelming (courtesy of the blog, Videshisutra):

Spoiler

​

 

[Kalibhakta]

Conceding that I am going away from the point about there being an overall scarcity of "wrathful" or aggressive or non-shanti depictions of Lord Shri Vishnu:

The interesting thing about modern Deva-Devi iconography is how it is strongly influenced by European painting style(s), and subsequently by [Victorian] Western moral standards. This was not always the case, and perhaps many "wrathful", indigenous depictions once existed (as can be attested by the numerous "wrathful" murti-s of various deities). Most of today's Hindu iconography is of either Raja Ravi Varma's work or highly influenced by him. And he happened to be trained in European painting style(s). The contrast is overwhelming (courtesy of the blog, Videshisutra):

Spoiler

​

I read that whole thing. That was beyond heartbreaking. Tantra is not as an excuse for hedonism in the least, but the acknowledgment that yes, we are sexual, meat eating, drinking, pot smoking creatures, and that some people cannot overcome that, so if one "cannot get off the ride", it is better to at least do such things with God in mind and let us ride them, and them not let them ride us.

Ramakrishna, was an amazing man. His followers generally neutered his vision, but he was both Tantric and Bhakti. Kali the Mother is also Kali the Devourer. Shiva the Ascetic is also Shiva the Husband. To outcast the gentle, or the extreme, is to lose the whole. Taming Lord Shiva or Mother Kali is like smothering the air out of a person. They become utterly lifeless.

Please forgive any offense to anybody reading this

 

[Aupmanyav]

There is nothing 'wrathful' about it. That is not the correct word to use. It simply indicates that all things arise out of Brahman and dissolve back in to it. That is 'dao', the way of the world, 'ritam'. Recognize Brahman in all forms.