Durga and dracula: What's the common connection?
Both of these figures share a common trait for me. The work of China Galland - Longing for Darkness: Tara and the Black Madonna - I believe can frame some of the discussion.
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Ruth Paget says:
Three other academics who have information to note
Lucia Chiavala Birnbaum, Malgorzata Oleszkewicz, and Jennifer Colby may all have contributions to make in their writing as well. Ruth :)
Luciana Lhullier says:
Ruth, what common trait do
Ruth, what common trait do you see there? The fierce forces of Nature taking action? I´m curious...
Ruth Paget says:
A little background on Dracula
Hi Luciana,
Dracula is much more interesting than I thought. Look at this posting I found online -it's from a journal. I'm just trying to post some background information for people to look at.
http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~emiller/myth.html
I was fascinated by the above article.
I'll pull something on Durga next. I might not get to the writing tonight. I want to write something up - just one page or so, but I'd like it to be very clear.
Best,
Ruth
Ruth Paget says:
A little background on Durga
Hi Luciana,
Here is some information on Durga - it's very short and from a commercial site, but all the facts are there.
Will try and check in tomorrow.
http://www.durga-puja.org/origin-of-durga-the-mythology.html
Best,
Ruth :)
Ruth Paget says:
The Common Trait Between Durga and Dracula
I saw the common trait between Durga and Dracula from a lecture by China Galland and my mom. Durga kills the evil Mahishasura by impaling him in the heart. Likewise you can kill the evil of Dracula, and vampires in general, by driving a stake through their hearts.
Pretty grisly images of how to rid the Earth of evil. But, as China Galland said, if you look at this metaphorically, we learn that we can stop the destruction of the world by opening the hearts of our opponents.
It's interesting how a Hindu teaching and a Western legend can carry this same message.
Ruth
Carole Mackin says:
Durga and Kali
I have also been looking into "Longing for Darkness" by China Galland. I was drawn to the relationship betweeen Durga and Kali. Durga's rage is expressed as Kali who devours her opponents. In abstract, she is about the beginning and ending of time, and the end of illusion.
Amitav Ghosh in the "The Hungry Tide: A Novel" puts these ancient ideas beautifully into a modern context.
In my novels, I have a character that stalks others. It has the likeness of a winged creature from the Jurassic (a predecessor of bats.)
This character can enter the afterlife without dying first. In my research, only immortals or decendants of immortals can do this. So I chose Kali to be the mother of my prehistoric character.
I'm always fascinated to learn that other Red Roomers are thinking of similar connections.
Ruth Paget says:
A winged creature?
Hi Carole,
I immediately thought of a Garuda from Indonesia when you described the winged creature in your novel, but it just doesn't seem to fit. I'll post a link for you to look at if I can find a good one that desccribes Garuda and see what you think.
Best,
Ruth
Ruth Paget says:
Garuda
Carole,
Wikipedia is just a first stop to looking for information, because it can be edited by readers. However, I chose to use this link for the illustrations of Garuda. Does this resemble your creature in any way?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garuda
Best,
Ruth
Carole Mackin says:
Garuda
Ruth
Interesting. There are so many winged creatures in mythology. I have used two other mythical bird-like creatures that are a bit more like Garuda -- grifin and simurgh. Historically, these two guarded the Persian throne and the royal heirs. The throne had the legs of a griffin. It was called the peacock throne by the Brit's but the simurgh with feathers as colorful as a peacock provided the color and design.
Carole
Ruth Paget says:
Information on Simurgh
Carole,
I posted a link I found on Simurgh. Maybe you and some others might be interested in looking at it.
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Mythology/simorgh_story.htm
The grifin is probably on the site as well if you search it.
Does what this site say about simurgh appear accurate to you according to the research you've done or shed new ligth on the topic?
Best,
Ruth