ESSAY #6c

(http://paleothea.com/SortaSingles/Gaia.html Earth Goddess Gaia- artist unknown - date unknown)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ravi_Varma-Lakshmi.jpg Lakshmi - Raja Ravi Varma, date unkown)

(http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2074435560094554400PWtJnI page with the tree of jesse,explanation inisailm-date unkown.)

COMPARE & CONTRAST – Oh, Mamma!
INSTRUCTIONS: Find and post the images of the artwork(s) mentioned in the Topic Essay Question.
QUESTION: Describe the similarities of and connections between the cults of Earth goddess Gaia, the Virgin Mary and Devi, the Hindi Mother goddess. Select representative artwork depicting each one and describe the similarities in the imagery.

Part One

Summary:

I found many websites who spoke highly of Gaia and The Virgin Mary and Devis, I found it difficult to find more information about them in the Textbook and had to dig deeper until I found information and there was not a lot. I found it at first difficult of understanding what is a Devi. At first researching her I thought there were only one but there many with different names and personality and powers. I soon learn a lot more from a website who helped clear up all my questions.

Reason:

The reason for answering this Essay Question is to help us students understand the meaning of different religious icons and how there similar to one another even if their religion is quite the opposite.

.Purpose
I believe the purpose for Mr Fortier asking students this essay question is to hopefully make us understand the meaning of what women religious icons played in and why they are as important in the role of religion as the Gods.

Direction;

I believe I learn more then I normally that I was going to and enjoy doing so. I have a different point of view of each woman in the religion realm. I learned that even if Mary or Gaia or Hindu Devis are not in the same pedestal as God or the Gods they still play a large important role in religion.


Impressions

What Aha moment I will never forget knows that the Hindu religion has more than one Devi and how each of them has different forms. I would not forget that the Devis are form by cosmic power in the universe. Researching about Gaia the Earth Goddess I would not forget that she is the creation of all Gods and monsters and Titans.



Part two:

Answer:

In ancient Greek religion Gaia is the great mother all the Gods. With the help of Uranus, God of the sky, Gaia gave birth to all the Titans and the Giants. Gaia also gave birth to all of the sea-gods by the help of Pontus, the God of the sea. Gaia is the mother and creator of all the Gods and goddesses, not just by the help of both Uranus and Pontus, but by self producing. The first two sentences alone show similarities with Mary the Virgin mother of Jesus Christ. Mary is known by the Christians, Catholics, Islamic, and Jewish religion for giving birth to Jesus Christ while still being a virgin. One large similarity they share is being able to give birth to a child without the help of a man.

Another comparison between both Gaia and the Virgin Mary is each woman shares a motherly bond with their children. Both are worshiped as being the mother who created the life of important religious icons. The statue of “Virgin and Child” helps explain how “Mary, as the Mother and “God-bearer, gave Jesus his human nature. She forms a throne on which he sits in majesty, but she also represents the Church” (Art History first edition volume one, Marilyn Stokstad Micheal W.Cothren, 157) Even if Mary is not a God herself she still is highly recognized as someone very important to the church. Just like the Virgin Mary Gaia is worshipped by others for being a motherly figure to the Gods, “The Greeks worship the Greek goddess of Earth, Gaia even today. The ancient Greeks considered her as a Mother of all things and they believe every movable and living being sprang up from her.” (http://www.buzzle.com/articles/greek-goddess-of-earth.html).

Devi the Hindu mother Goddess is an Indian Goddess who is known for her many different forms of female divinity In Buddhism Devi is also mentioned in different forms. For example, in the temple of Torana there is a statue called the Yakshi bracket Figure. Yakshis are known as the finest female figures in Indian art. Looking at the image 9-10 in the textbook, you can see a Yakshis statue which shows how her body is swelling and arching which evokes the deity’s procreative and bountiful essence. With the personification with the waters, the Yakshis is known for being the source of life ((Art History first edition volume one, Marilyn Stokstad Micheal W.Cothren, 301). This explains that each religious female icon is known and praised for their motherly role in fertility.

. Another comparison is neither Devi nor Gaia are born from another female homosapien, but by the divine power of the universe. Devi is first known as being a cosmic force, “Devi is first seen as cosmic force, where she destroys demonic forces that threaten equilibrium, and creates, annihilates, and recreates the universe.” (http://www.asia.si.edu/devi/aspectsofdevi.htm) were as Gaia who rose after Chaos becoming a everlasting foundation of the gods of Olympus.( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(mythology). Neither goddess had any human traits that the Virgin Mary did.

In each of the pictures above there are similarities between them all. For example, in the picture of Devi and The Virgin Mary, both might not share the same religious meanings, but hold the same importance. The third image is the Devi, called Lakshmi, who’s right hand is gesturing downward. This gesture is called a Varda Mudra “This Gesture charity, symbolize the fulfillment of all wishes” (Art History first edition volume one, Marilyn Stokstad Micheal W.Cothren, 304). Lakshmi left hand reaches upwards which represents Abhaya Mudra. Abhaya Mudra gesture is of reassurance, blessing and protection, which means “have no fear”(Art History first edition volume one, Marilyn Stokstad Micheal W.Cothren, 304). The Virgin Mary in the image above, called the Tree of Jesse shows Mary’s left hand in a gesture which represents the sign of the cross. In Gaia’s stomach you can see what I believe is planet earth. The image of the earth in her stomach represents both the mother of all creation and the Earth Goddess herself. The last example of similarities between each religious icon, is how Gaia has a somewhat similar seating position relating to the Buddha and Attendants statue. In the textbook you can see an image marked 9-13, of Buddha sitting with his leg crossed. One of his legs reach upwards were you can see his bare feet. This represents a type of mediation. ((Art History first edition volume one, Marilyn Stokstad Micheal W.Cothren, 304)

Noticing each comparison between each of the female religious icons, I can understand how they are alike in many ways. Even if each religion worshipped different gods and goddesses, each holds the same connection in the roles of women. These symbolize love, purity, beauty, and most importantly fertility.