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Brahma Ganesha Indra Shiva and Vishnu and their respective Shaktis viewd as bodhisattvas in Buddhism?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Quite simply yes. In Tibetan Buddhism, or tantric Indian Buddhism as well as Japanese Buddhism that is true. They are all considered world protectors, and high level bodhisattvas. Shiva's name in tibetan is Lha Chen, which means mahadeva or great god. He is one of the eight most revered world protectors in tantric Buddhism. Indra and Brahma as well. Actually Ganesha is considered a mara, or a force that creates obstacles, whereas the Hindu sects that worship him revel in his wisdom, the tibetan sects feel that he is more a being to make offerings to, but not to look up to. I'm not sure about Vishnu so much, but i know Krishna had his place in early Theravadan Buddhism as he took the form of one of Buddha's disciples or relatives...I'm pretty certain that he is also seen as a Bodhisattva. Brahma is seen as one of the great world protectors but not considered the essence and creator of the entire world, He is one of the oldest beings that still lives in our world system, because he was one of the first to karmically descend into it. Of course there are many other world systems and limitless time of karma before that so that doesn't mean he is the "one true god, creator of all that is" as the western religions make him out to be. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is generally held that all of these gods 'converted' ie respect the Buddhas and their teachings and therefore are beneficial to practice with, as opposed to those deities who go against the teachings and the dharma which they point to.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 16y agoWell in my type (Therevada Buddhism) we offer 'merit' to Hindu Gods.
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What does the Hindu God Ganesh represent?
The name Ganesha is a Sanskrit compound, joining the words gana, meaning a group, multitude, or categorical system and isha, meaning lord or master.The word gaņa when associated with Ganesha is often taken to refer to the gaņas, a troop of semi-divine beings that form part of the retinue of Shiva. The term more generally means a category, class, community, association, or corporation.
Why does Shiva have a trident?
In Hinduism, Shiva is part of a trilogy of important gods-- Brahma, the creator; Vishnu the maintainer; Shiva the destroyer (but this role is widely misunderstand-- Shiva is not necessarily an evil deity, but rather, one who destroys in order to make it possible for something new to be created). Three is a mystical number in many religions, and Hinduism is no exception, so Shiva, who is also the Hindu god of change and transformation, is considered very powerful and carries a trident (not a triton), which has three prongs Shiva's trident has been interpreted in many ways. Some sources say it represents the three Shaktis: the Power of will (Iccha), the Power of knowledge (Jnana) and the Power of action (Kriya). Others say it stands for the three Aspects of the Divine - Paramashiva, Parashakti (Paranada or Shiva Tattva) and Parabindu (Parameshvara or Shakti Tattva). And another interpretation is it reminds believers of the three great universal acts-- creation, sustenance and dissolution.
What is pitri paksh Indian culture?
Pitri Paksh is the remembrance of departed ancestor souls by paying respect through prayers, fasting, performance of special rituals, chanting, fasting and austerity. Offering of water and flowers are common. The origin of the observance is wide and varying because of the diversity of the religion, the many languages, dialects and beliefs. For example, in some cultures, there is great celebration to honor birth, but a solemn atmosphere is created at the time of death. In other cultures, the opposite prevails. The reasons are quite philosophical as well as logical. The important thing is to practice your belief with great faith, love and reverence. During this period, people generally do not start new projects, buildings or start investments. Marriages, engagements, pujas or occasions of merriment are generally postponed until a sufficiently long period has elapsed, usually a year, of their dear departed ones. Most of this is handed down and has become custom and tradition. Many are not aware of its significance and continue to keep observance out of respect as well as out of tradition, based and supported by uncertainty and superstition. It is a case of being better safe than sorry. Another aspect of Pitri Paksh is the remembrance of not only ancestor souls, but also elevated souls that left a legacy of remembrances resulting from selfless service. They include deities, gurus, yogis, religious leaders, administrative leaders, literary and other artistic souls who have made significant contributions to the Creator and the creation. From time immemorial, we have been praying and paying homage to deity and goddess souls. Many religious leaders such as Krishna, Rama, Abraham, Buddha, Christ, Sankaracharya and Mohammed have left the jewels of their thoughts, the vibrations which still induces "spiritual goosepimples" to their followers, devotees and admirers. Of the Shaktis, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga and Kali are worshipped with great reverence. Their remembrance are similar to that of Pitri (ancestor) souls. The important thing in observance of Pitri is love, respect and good wishes for those souls. Whatever the method, be it prayers, pujas, satsangs, meditation, fasting, offering flowers and water, it should be done with immense love and not blind duty. We should remember them for what they have done to make this place a better place to live, or the benefits derived from their role. We must remember them for what they have done and not what they could have done. Many have made selfless sacrifices with body mind and wealth (tan, man, dan). In remembrance, we must offer positive vibrations to their souls wherever they may be. It does not matter if they have been reincarnated many times over, these good vibrations reach these souls who may be in need of spiritual upliftment and sustenance. While a fortnight has been set aside to remember the departed souls, the remembrance of deity souls are no different, as we give thanks as well as ask for their guidance, blessing and charity. These deity souls are no longer in their original forms, but it is the faith that brings benefit to the devotee. If you have faith in your intellect, faith in society, faith in the creation and faith in the Creator, this faith will make impossible things possible. This faith is your own innate powers that resides in your subconscious or sanskars. People who do not understand unusual happenings call them miracles. In science, what cannot be explained scientifically are called miracles. In spirituality, it is simply faith, will power and determination. We must understand that science came from silence, the essence of meditation. It is your own faith and will power that create miracles. For this reason, the lesson to be learnt from Pitri Paksh is not to have ill-feelings for anyone be it friend or foe, the dead or the living. This is because it is quite possible for an ancestor soul to be reincarnated as your son, daughter or close relations in real life. If you continue to have ill feelings for those souls, those ill-feelings are redirected to your own kin without your knowledge causing immense difficulties and obstacles for them. We often wonder why we have so much difficulties in life and little do we know it is our own doings. The law of karma is never asleep, for you are your own judge and jury. Sometimes we blame the departed souls for placing a curse or causing difficulties because we failed to observe customs and traditions related to Pitri Paksh. This belief has been strengthened by the saying that " the sins of the parents fall on the children". We create unnecessary fears about that which we do not understand causing superstitious feelings. We are sometimes mortally afraid of departed souls. The natural habitat of the soul is one of peace, tranquillity, serenity and silence. By sending good thoughts and vibrations, the spirituality and stage of these souls are enhanced. A soul must enter a body to perform actions. You have the power to ward off evil spirits. But if you demonstrate fear, it is your own fear that will induce stress and you will be subjected to diseases and difficulties. Today we have so much fear for the "unseen" and for "darkness", but I have to remind you that in today's world, we have to be more wary of the "living" than the "dead". What is visible to our eyes is the creation, and that which cannot be seen is the Creator. We can dialogue with the Creator through the divine intellect or the spiritual eye. The animosity in society is caused by the vices of anger, greed, arrogance, lust and attachment. These are the real evil spirits that exist in us and are known as Rawan or maya. A Deity or Guru can guide you by spiritual wisdom, but the onus remains with the individual to make effort to become pure and elevated. Each soul has to settle his own karmas. There is no need to fear ancestor souls or any pitri souls for that matter. Your protection is your faith and purity in thoughts, words actions and relationships. If you have positive feelings and send good wishes and love as a matter of respect and appreciation for pitri souls, there will be benefit to those souls, benefits to yourself and to the instruments who assist in the conduct of prayers or pitri pujas. The continuing commentary on this observance will be based on the trace of the Eternal World Drama. It is believed that the world drama is cyclical and identical and repeats itself every 5000 years. This cycle is called a "kalpa". The cycle has four equal ages of 1250 years each. They are the Golden(Satyug), Silver(Treta), Copper(Dwapar) and Iron(Kali). A short period at the end of the iron age is called the auspicious confluence age referred in the Gita as "purushottam sangam yuga". All souls have a particular role to play in this pre-destined drama. A soul can take up to a maximum of 84 births in a cycle or kalpa. A soul can have as many as 8 births in the golden age with an average life span of 150 years. In the silver age, a soul can have up to 12 births with an average life span or 100 years. In the copper and iron ages, souls can have a maximum of 21 and 42 births respectively with average life spans relative to the arithmetic of the number of births and the length of an age. There is one birth in the confluence age bringing the maximum of 84 births. It is important to note that not all souls can take the maximum number or births, as this is determined at the time and period they take the first birth in the cycle. This naturally introduces the philosophy of reincarnation, the belief and process of life after death. The human being is the embodiment of two distinct entities, namely the human body and the soul. When the baby is delivered from the mother, we call this event as birth. When the soul leaves this body, and this could be at any untimely age, we call this death. The body after death can no longer perform any action and begins the decaying process. The body which is a composition of the five elements of air, water, fire, earth and ether is separated out into its individual components, or as the saying goes "from dust to dust and ashes to ashes". The soul in the meantime enters or is preparing to enter another body. The soul carries with it a recording of all its actions from the last as well as all its previous births. The soul however does not carry its memory from birth to birth. The faculties of the soul are the mind, the intellect and the subconscious (sanskars). The mind is thought processing faculty, whereas the intellect discriminates and makes decisions based on thoughts. The sanskars is where all actions of past lives are recorded. Although the past is recorded, this is not easily accessible as the soul does not carry the memory from birth to birth. Some are able to recall some of the past by intense meditation although scientists claim that they can access the past by hypnotic regression. The soul can only perform actions when it is in a body. The soul uses the sense organs of the body to perform actions. The soul cannot act without a body. The actions performed is judged and graded by the spiritual law of action and reaction. This law is known as the law of karma. This is a spiritual law that dispenses divine justice, and believe it or not, you are judge and jury of your own actions. You are the architect of your own destiny. You have to settle your own karmic accounts. You have to have mercy on your own self. Your next birth is based on your karmic accounts. Human souls remain as human souls, for there is no interchange with other lower living species. The quality of life may differ, but rebirth is in the human form. In the golden age, souls exercise the highest level of purity, whereas in the iron age, souls become degraded and dehumanized and experience the most gross form of impurity. In the golden and silver ages, there are no untimely deaths. People understand that the soul is immortal and imperishable and death is a transition and change of a different costume. People in this era are not afraid of death. It is believed the concept of death do not exist as it exists in the copper and iron ages. People are very pure and they get visions when it becomes necessary to move on to another expression on the journey of immortality. In the copper and iron ages, people are bodyconscious, in that they believe that the body owns the soul. From birth they begin to fear death and every passing day induces more pain, stress and diseases of incurable dimensions. People virtually die many times before their biological deaths. There is immense sadness and fear to die because of attachment to dear ones and fear of losing materials possessions. People will rather hoard their material wealth than enjoy or share it. There were so many desires created to get it, and then there is so much fear of losing it. This cycle is vicious. In conclusion, people should not worry if they have not fulfilled all their earthly expectations to their close relatives or society. They should practice the art of being detached, but loving to their close relations. They should practice the remembrance of God at all times and more so in their mature years of life. This practice will assist you in the remembrance of God when you are leaving your body. It is said that your inheritance in your next birth depends on the intensity of this remembrance of God in your last thoughts. We have the practice of remembering all the earthly treasures and the future of relatives in our twilight years and at the time of leaving the body. This brings tremendous pains and sorrows on the soul. You have to remember that you came alone in this world and you have to leave alone. When a soul is preparing to leave the body, it needs silence, prayers and good wishes. If we create an atmosphere of sorrow and grief, then the soul experiences great difficulty in leaving the body. This may seem unloving and cruel not to cry or express grief, but prayers or chanting mantras in silence is better for the soul. Pitri Paksh therefore, should be a time of reflection not only for ancestor souls, but your own preparation for future births. This eternal world drama is fixed and destined. Researched by Sahil Rabbipal E-mail: rabbipal.sahil@gmail.com
