Location: United States
Coming to the end of this Jan Term Course 2017, Representing Religion Through Art, I feel like I have taken a small sip of a giant ocean of ideas, concepts and cultures of Asia.
This Jan Term course helped me come to the realization that all things are connected, just as Buddhism and Hinduism both share many concepts and ideas. Some shared concepts are Ganesha, Family, the importance of your personal Guru and animal wisdom and protection. During this three week experience I was introduced to many beautiful images and objects in temples and museums. In the Hindu culture it is common to see Ganesha first so it is only appropriate to start my gallery with the marvelous and beautiful
Ganesha from 8th century to present day then his father Shiva God of Destruction to remind you of the importance of family. Followed by Gurus from both Hindu and Buddhist temples. . The Gurus segue into the images I picked from Buddhist culture, a protective Guardian Lion statue that is usually at the entry gate of the Buddhist temples and lastly a beautiful Buddhist jeweled plaque from Nepal in the 18th-19th century and Ganesha is also depicted in this piece.
“8th-13th century Ganesha made of Stone”
Intended gift from David T. Owsley to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1995
This picture was take on January 18, 2017
"Ganesha is the child of Shiva, one of the three primary Hindu deities, and his wife Parvati, goddess of love, fertility, and devotion. When he was young, Ganesha kept his father from seeing his mother Parvati in her bath. As a result, Shiva cut off his son's head. Seeing Parvati in despair over their son's death. Shiva agreed to restore the boy with the head of the first person he saw--in this case an elephant, hence Ganesha's elephant head (Dallas Museum of Art)."
“13th-15th century Ganesha made of Stone ”
Gift from David T. Owsley in 2015 to the Dallas Museum of Art
This picture was taken on January 18, 2017
"Ganesha is the most popular deity in India today. The god of prosperity and joy, He often apears as a rotund little boy, lively and in motion, holding sweets in his hand and truck (Dallas Museum of Art)."
“Ganesha at present day Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco, Tx”
This picture was taken on January 6, 2017 at the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco, Tx
Since Ganesha's father, Shiva, cut off his head by mistake he decided that Ganesha would be the first god to be worshiped by devotees in temple (Prakasarao V. Velagapudi, PhD). So, when walking around this temple in a clockwise motion, without your feet pointing at the gods, Ganesha's beautiful temple is the first you see.
“Ganesha at present day Kalachkra Buddhist Center in Farmersville, Tx.”
This is a statue of Ganesha sitting on a bookshelf at Kalachkra Buddhist Center in Farmersville, Tx.
This picture was taken on January 17, 2017
“11th century Shiva, God of Destruction, made of bronze”
South India, Tamil Nadu, Chola dynasty
A gift from Eugene McDermott to the Dallas Museum of Art
This picture was taken on January 18, 2017
"In the Hindu tradition, music and dance are a pathway to divinity. The Hindu god Shiva is not only Lord of the dance but also the deity of creation, destruction, and rebirth. In his most transcendent form as Nataraja, the Divine Dancer, he embodies the energy of the entire cosmos. Shiva dances the rhythm of the universe, surrounded by flames. With his drum he beats out the universal rhythm, while in another hand he holds the flame of death. His lower hands promise release from the endless wheel of rebirth. His beautiful body, foot raised in rhythmic dance, and his sweetly expressive face are the incarnation of power and love. Under his lowered foot he stamps upon the demon of ignorance who challenged him (Dallas Museum of Art)."
“Shiva and Dattatreya in present day Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco, Tx”
This picture was taken on January 13, 2017 at Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco, Tx.
Shiva is depicted at the crystal in the center on the temple which is one of two in the whole world. The other one is at a temple in India (Prakasarao V. Velagapudi, PhD).
“The Guru Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji”
This picture of His Holiness Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji was taken at the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple, in Frisco, Tx on January 6, 2017.
"Only through your Guru can you reach God (Prakasarao V. Velagapudi, PhD)."
Gu- ignorance
ru- dis-speller
The concept of finding and following your Guru is taken extremely seriously in both Hindu and Buddhist cultures. Guru's are found through fate or destiny and they are believed to have supernatural powers that devotees have witnessed. There are also stories of the god's having gurus (Prakasarao V. Velagapudi, PhD).
“The Guru and His Mother in the center of the Kalachkra Buddhist Center ”
This picture was taken at the Kalachkra Buddhist Center in Farmersville, Tx on January 17, 2017.
They put the Guru's mother above the Guru to show the importance of honoring your family.
“Guardian Lions (Present Day)”
Guardian Lions (Male and Female) at present day at the Kalachkra Buddhist Center in Farmersville, Tx.
These pictures were taken on January 17, 2017
These Guardian Lions are often placed that the entrance of Buddhist temples to ward off evil and protect (www.metmuseum.org).
“18th-19th century Buddhist jeweled plaque from Nepal”
Gift from David T. Owsley 2007 to the Dallas Museum of Art
This picture was taken on January 18, 2017
"In the center in the Bodhisattva Manjusri, known to the Nepalese as "the Glorious Gentle One." His wise face delicately carved from red coral, he wields the sword of the wisdom that cuts through ignorance. To the left is Ganesha, "Remover of Obstacles," carved of ivory and bearing a chopper and a bowl of sweetmeat (Dallas Museum of Art)."
Even through, in present day Nepal, the king must be Hindu, "Although Hinduism is the official religion, the constitution of Nepal aims to establish “harmony amongst the various castes, tribes, religions, languages, races, and communities BBC. (1998)."
This pieces is a great closure for my gallery because it shows the pairing of two religions, Hindu and Buddhist.
BBC. (1998). The Hindu kingdom of Nepal. [Online]. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/features/nepal.shtml [January 22, 2017].
Dallas Museum of Art
Kalachkra Buddhist Center in Farmersville, Tx
Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco, Tx
www.metmuseum.org
Prakasarao V. Velagapudi, PhD. Interview. Stephenie K. Hudek. January 2017. Lecture
“Bibliography”
