Tag Archives: Brahma

Brahma by Ralph Waldo Emerson

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If the red slayer think he slays,
   Or if the slain think he is slain,
 They know not well the subtle ways
   I keep, and pass, and turn again.

Far or forgot to me is near;
   Shadow and sunlight are the same;
 The vanished gods to me appear;
   And one to me are shame and fame.

They reckon ill who leave me out;
   When me they fly, I am the wings;
 I am the doubter and the doubt,
   I am the hymn the Brahmin sings.

The strong gods pine for my abode,
   And pine in vain the sacred Seven;
 But thou, meek lover of the good!
   Find me, and turn thy back on heaven.

DAILY PHOTO: Shiva at Nrityagram

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Taken on August 8, 2015 at Nrityagram.

Taken on August 8, 2015 at Nrityagram

I’m a neophyte with respect to Hindu iconography–plus I read no Indian languages, so I may be wrong about this being a Shiva. Shiva is usually depicted clean-shaven, but I’ve seen bearded images. I mostly based my conclusion on the tiger skin (or stylized representation thereof) that he’s sitting on, which is often associated with Shiva.

Shiva is part of the Hindu trinity, which also includes Brahma (the creator) and Vishnu (the sustainer.)  This leaves Shiva, the destroyer.

If you’re someone who actually knows about such things, and know I’m wrong, please drop me a comment to let me know.