Sanjai Velayudhan's Blog
May 30, 2016
Serpent Worship
Serpents have a unique place in the world. We humans have feared them and possibly this horror has turned into respect and devotion. Isn't that why many people deify and worship them? In a way this has been the reason for their survival and destruction at the same time.
In Kerala, for ages, serpent-worship has been conducted in secluded sacred groves called 'Kaavu'. These small groves are generally unmolested by people due to fear! Many myths have been associated with serpent-spirits.
Maybe due to their resemblance to the human (read male) reproductive organ, serpents or snakes have been attributed powers of fertility.
We worship the same creatures that instill great fear in us. Is fear in general or fear of death in particular the fundamental underpinning of religion? I wonder.
In Kerala, for ages, serpent-worship has been conducted in secluded sacred groves called 'Kaavu'. These small groves are generally unmolested by people due to fear! Many myths have been associated with serpent-spirits.
Maybe due to their resemblance to the human (read male) reproductive organ, serpents or snakes have been attributed powers of fertility.
We worship the same creatures that instill great fear in us. Is fear in general or fear of death in particular the fundamental underpinning of religion? I wonder.
Women & Goddesses
Sometimes, I wonder 'are men inherently afraid of women?' Is that why they try to dominate them, hurt them or 'possess' them? Strange isn't it? He grows up learning much from his mother, sister, aunt and other female members of the household as much as he does from men.
Then why this contempt? men sometimes exhibit diametrically opposite behavior-treating real women badly but venerating and worshiping mother goddesses. Irony!
May 27, 2015
Goddesses
The number of goddesses in India perhaps outnumber male gods (there is no way of verifying this as there is no authentic database of gods/goddesses & other celestial beings). For every ailment, every type of difficulty, there is a dedicated goddess.
Aren't the rivers like Ganga & Yamuna revered as goddesses? Yet, look at their fate. the devotees show little respect for the goddesses. Sometimes I feel that they are polluted or dirtied with a vengeance.
Rivers, like women, hold the ability to give life yet, look how we treat them. Irony, isn't it?
Aren't the rivers like Ganga & Yamuna revered as goddesses? Yet, look at their fate. the devotees show little respect for the goddesses. Sometimes I feel that they are polluted or dirtied with a vengeance.
Rivers, like women, hold the ability to give life yet, look how we treat them. Irony, isn't it?
Kerala
Ain't Kerala one of the most beautiful places? yes, no doubt. Its greenery, beaches, forests & quintessential
'Ayurveda', everything is attractive.
However most people miss the shadows. It is famous for black magic and sorcery too!
Humans have a strange fascination for spirits, demons and other 'dark' forces. In fact without the alleged existence of these beings, gods and their celestial companions find no reason to exist or any relevance.
Strange are the ways of the human mind. Isn't it?
'Ayurveda', everything is attractive.
However most people miss the shadows. It is famous for black magic and sorcery too!
Humans have a strange fascination for spirits, demons and other 'dark' forces. In fact without the alleged existence of these beings, gods and their celestial companions find no reason to exist or any relevance.
Strange are the ways of the human mind. Isn't it?
May 23, 2015
Women
There is a lot of attention to the state of women in India. It is perhaps the proliferation of media and its easy availability through social media that is making all the difference.
The question I ask is has the state of women improved in India? Maybe improving chances of employment and slow yet firm creep of modernity has made a difference. Yet, the fundamental power structure that defines the relationship between the sexes has endured.
What took centuries to calcify would take at least decades to soften isn't it?
The many women characters in 'Dance of the Spirits' are depicted as strong ones yet like Maria, they ultimately fall victim to the 'system'. Till its women aren't treated equally, can India claim to be a free country? That's an open question indeed!Dance of the Spirits: A Novel
The question I ask is has the state of women improved in India? Maybe improving chances of employment and slow yet firm creep of modernity has made a difference. Yet, the fundamental power structure that defines the relationship between the sexes has endured.
What took centuries to calcify would take at least decades to soften isn't it?
The many women characters in 'Dance of the Spirits' are depicted as strong ones yet like Maria, they ultimately fall victim to the 'system'. Till its women aren't treated equally, can India claim to be a free country? That's an open question indeed!Dance of the Spirits: A Novel
Theyyam-Dance of the Spirits
Sometimes, one realizes that one has to love their land of birth 'warts & all'. Kerala is no different-its a great place however, it has warts too. And warts can't be hidden with layers of make-up or unconditional love (physical or psychological).
The caste system was enforced in Kerala with particular harshness. The so-called lower castes lived a desperate life.
Theyyam was an outcome of this desperation. People created fierce and vengeful gods to strike fear in the minds of their perpetrators. Games people play!
Theyyam was dismissed by missionaries as Devil-dance without realizing that it carried a million meanings. For me, Theyyam is nothing but 'Theatre of the oppressed'. You can read the story of Theyyam, the fierce spirits in the pantheon and human aspirations in 'Dance of the Spirits'
The caste system was enforced in Kerala with particular harshness. The so-called lower castes lived a desperate life.
Theyyam was an outcome of this desperation. People created fierce and vengeful gods to strike fear in the minds of their perpetrators. Games people play!
Theyyam was dismissed by missionaries as Devil-dance without realizing that it carried a million meanings. For me, Theyyam is nothing but 'Theatre of the oppressed'. You can read the story of Theyyam, the fierce spirits in the pantheon and human aspirations in 'Dance of the Spirits'
