the relevance of your avatar , ....dharmic religions only .

[ratikala]

So that's what you were supposed to tell regarding "Manjushri"!! Thanks for finally clarifying. I was waiting for aeons!

a little story which acompanied this picture ......

Once at a meeting of numerous bodhisattvas at the house of Vimalakirti, the lay disciple of Buddha, a debate developed on the meaning of nonduality, an essential precept of Buddhist thought. After many bodhisattvas had finely expressed their opinions on the subject and their success at understanding its essence, it came to Manjushris turn. He got up and announced that all the previous speeches were themselves conditioned by linguistic limitations and were subtly dualistic. When Manjushri turned to Vimalakirti and asked for his views, Vimalakirti just maintained silence, thus demonstrating the truth of Manjushri's statement.

This story is a beautiful reflection on the irony of scholarship attempting to express itself through a medium (speech/language), which contains within itself a contradiction of the very fundamental ideals which it proposes to expound. In this particular case Manjushri identifies this sublime and intrinsic inconsistency. An exalted individual may wax eloquent upon the virtues of non-duality and his grasp of this abstract concept, but the very language used to expresses these views is inherently dual as it is composed of word and it's meaning, two exclusive entities. This subtle, nonetheless significant gradation brings home a profound truth taking the wind out of any sense of achievement derived out of purported scholarship. Verily thus Manjushri carries in his two hands a book and a sword.


This sword is there to cut of fetters which arise through knowledge, signified by the book. This is not a negation of bookish knowledge, but only an assertion of the realization that unless we gain it we cannot know the futility of it in the quest towards ultimate spiritual truths. Manjushri appropriately suggests not the path of renunciation but that of righteous karma .

I am not 100% happy with the first line of last paragraph the symbolism needs better explanation ....later prehaps ...

 

[ratikala]

Namaste

I am a great devotee of the green-hued manifestations of Devi, as you can see in my avatar. This would include not only Meenakshi, but also the loving partner of Muruga called Valli.

You will notice, She is slightly looking downward. This is Her expression She will give on certain moments, not the least of which is when in matrimony to Deva.

Those who love the Devi of such manifestation as I do, know why She is an avatar which you want to share Her beauty with others!

Om Namah Sivaya

jai jai , she is particularly beautifull :namaste thankyou for your explanation .

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

My avatar is a painting of Ma Lakshmi I made last year. She is my Ishta.

:camp:

 

[Kalicharan Tuvij]

pranām

I am a devotee of the "charana" of Devi KāLI. I am afraid to look up (at her), not because She has a terrible form- which is far from the truth (She has infinite forms, and also the Infinite)- but because there will be no "I" to describe anything.

She lends me Her khadga, from time to time, and I go berserk, but eventually when the dirt settles, She ensures that no great harm is done.

I talk about Veda, more often than not, on RF. my greatest fear, and worry, is that I don't screw it up. She says, go on.

The avatar is drawn by me, as well as Her image that I posted recently in "IlA and kALI" thread of Lemaster Ji.

 

[Viraja]

KT,

I always wondered about your Avatar... I wondered if it govt. all over the world oppressing people that you are portraying in this image Glad to know it is about ma Kali and you... What an interesting picture! Your shadow human portrays fear very accurately.

 

[Kalicharan Tuvij]

KT,

I always wondered about your Avatar... I wondered if it govt. all over the world oppressing people that you are portraying in this image Glad to know it is about ma Kali and you... What an interesting picture! Your shadow human portrays fear very accurately.

Thank you Viraja. I have always loved your presence, be it at HDF in my early poster days, or now here (my friend request right on the way!).

I am rash, even with friends, but I implore you to kindly not restrain yourself from pointing out to me any bad thing/ mistake that I may commit in future (ur time starts, now!)

Pranam

 

[Jainarayan]

It represents the fusion of the similar, compatible, complementary and supplementary elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism.

 

[Viraja]

Thank you Viraja. I have always loved your presence, be it at HDF in my early poster days, or now here (my friend request right on the way!).

I am rash, even with friends, but I implore you to kindly not restrain yourself from pointing out to me any bad thing/ mistake that I may commit in future (ur time starts, now!)

Pranam

Oops! I don't argue with scholars who also have good intentions!

 

[Sumit]

namaskaram :namaste

just thought it would be interesting for some of us to say a little about what made us choose the avatar we use

:namaste
My avatar is OM within star. The star is the symbol of Shakti and Om is Brahman.

 

[Kalicharan Tuvij]

Oops! I don't argue with scholars who also have good intentions!

:namaste
My avatar is OM within star. The star is the symbol of Shakti and Om is Brahman.

Very nice! I will also share a secret that I usually "translate" the word "Brahman" into the Vedic "BrahmaNaspati".
Victory to all who think Veda!!

 

[Sb1995]

Ganapati Bapa Moriya!

 

[Poeticus]

How do you make an avatar?

Stop being smart.

namaskaram maitra varuni ji :namaste
tthe greatest devotee of lord rama :namaste
but why do you choose him as your avatar ?

Because my screen name is not in English, the forum will not allow me to upload a picture....I can only pick one of those the forum itself provides. Thus, I chose one of Lord Shri Hanuman.

 

[Vinayaka]

Stop being smart.

That's easy, but really I tried yesterday for half an hour or more, and all could ever get is a box that said, 'improper thread' or 'invalid file' something like that. So I just gave up. You guys can all imagine what my avatar would be anyway anyway.

 

[Poeticus]

That's easy, but really I tried yesterday for half an hour or more, and all could ever get is a box that said, 'improper thread' or 'invalid file' something like that. So I just gave up. You guys can all imagine what my avatar would be anyway anyway.

Could it be.....

Murugan!!!!!!????

 

[Kalicharan Tuvij]

Could it be.....

Murugan!!!!!!????

I guess Lord Shiva. (don't say it, KT) er.. no "helper":sorry1:

 

[Vinayaka]

It would be a Nataraja I think.

 

[Poeticus]

It would be a Nataraja I think.

 

[Kalicharan Tuvij]

It would be a Nataraja I think.

:bow:

edit: MVji, what is in the hand of the guy at bottom, a pistol?:cover:

 

[Vinayaka]

:bow:

edit: MVji, what is in the hand of the guy at bottom, a pistol?:cover:

Not sure what Anava is holding. My wife said it looks like he's making a futile attempt to fight back.

 

[Poeticus]

:bow:

edit: MVji, what is in the hand of the guy at bottom, a pistol?:cover:

Not sure what Anava is holding. My wife said it looks like he's making a futile attempt to fight back.

Homies, it's a dagger. A dagger. A dagger. Dagger, dagger, dagger. Dagger. Dagoba. Dagoba. Dagoba.