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A brief and inspirational treatise on a greivously mischaracterized "Dark Goddess", the Kali Ma, from Vedic India. As an aspect of the finality of time, She is the Initiatrix! Apparently, the Thuggee cult's interpretation of Her was simply an aboration. For example, they taught that they were to garrotte their victims because Kali gave to them a hem from her skirt with which to accomplish this brutal deed; however, there are simply no iconoclastic depictions of her with any sort of "skirt" other than one made from discarnate limbs. Hence, it is this former superficial caricature of the Goddess that has been generally leached onto by the Western imagination; while, in seemingly direct opposition to modern Pagan thealogy, modern Hindus greatly adore (in fact, they love) the Kali Ma!
Here's is the book I mentioned written by my good British friend, and HPs: "The Path of the Shaman", by Anna Franklin
GENERAL HINDUISM:
Hinduism [The University of Wyoming, Religious Studies Dept.]
Hinduism [Minnesota State University, Culture & Religion E-Musum]
The Hindu Resource Center
Hinduism: Religion & Ethics [The BBC]
Hinduism: The World's Third Largest Religion [Religious Tolerance.Com]
Hinduism Today [On-Line Religious Oriented Magazine]
LOCAL HINDU RELIGIOUS SUPPLIERS:
MARIA'S GROCERY & GIFTS [Asian & Indian Goods] address:
7239 Apple Valley Dr.
Windsor Heights (suburb of Des Moines), IA.
(515) 251-7465
(Alongside a strip mall next to B-Bops restaurant, in the district of Wal-Mart in West Des Moines.)
Seller of many small Hindu idols, hydrosols (eg. iris water), incense, native Indian ingredients, and sanskrit DVD rentals, etc.
NAMASTE INDIA [Grocery Store & Restaurant] address:
7500 University Blvd.
Clive (suburb of Des Moines), IA. 50325
(515) 255-1698
(Also located on a strip mall, so don't miss it; it's a little dofficult to find, especially when using any on-line map systems!)
Namaste also sells native ingredients from India, as well as incense, idols, hydrosols (eg. rose water and orange flower water), and sanscrit DVD rentals! Pick up a copy of their menu while you are there to order and take-home food!
Both these shops are operated by lovely employees, with friendly patrons! Please support your local Hindu (as well as Pagan!) businesses and merchant! However, if you should find any addresses or phone numbers listed incorrectly on this podcast, please inform me. Idols of Ganesha are particularly popular at both shops. This is only natural for two reasons: 1) Ganesha is THE most widely worshipped God on earth (moreover than the Judio-Christian God); and 2) Hindu shops frequently pay homage to the Hindu God of Good Fortune-- the God of the People and Peasantry-- in order to keep money in the till. Many Hindu shop keepers will place a picture of Ganesha in their cashregister for this purpose! So, bear in mind that He particularly prefers sandalwood incense.
Hindu Temple & Cultural Center of Iowa
Hindu Temple Association of Eastern Iowa (Mind the music--you may wish to turn your speakers off.)
Other Iowa Hindu Temples are located at:
PREM SHAKIT MANDIR
22378 Mudhollow Road
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
HINDU HOME TEMPLE
709 White Post Drive
Webster City, IA 50595
Phone: 515-832-3693
Hem Incense, the above local suppliers import this precious hand-rolled incense directly from India to use in local worship of the Gods.
Sacred Source also sells many Hindu and Buddhist idols handcrafted by many talented artisans from India!
To locate your own local Hindu Temple of worship, please refer to Hundu Manir.
Also, you may visit the Virtual Hindu Temple at the Iowa State University Virtual Reality Applications Center.
FURTHER PODCAST REFERENCES:
Time magazine. Killing for "Mother" Kali [Last Accessed: 22 July, 2002].
Indian Teen Sacrifices Boy to Goddess [Last Accessed: 02 April, 2003].
The Cult of Thuggee [Last Accessed: 19 March, 2007]
The Heart of Kali!
Kali: What's In A Name
Kali Mandir, a public temple dedicated to her cult at Laguna Beach, CA.
VARIOUS SOURCE MATERIAL:
The Ramayana [trans. Ralph T. H. Griffith, M. A.]
The Ramayana [Sanskrit/English]
The Ramayana [Trans. Tulsidas]
FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE THE FOLLOWING PRINT SOURCES:
* Cashford, Jules [2003]. The Moon: Myth & Image. Octopus/Cassell: London, England.
* Farrar, Janet & Stewart [1987]. The Witches' Goddess: The Feminine Principle of Divinity. Phoenix Publishing: Blaine, WA.
* Husain, Shahrukh [2003]. The Goddess: Power, Sexuality, and the Feminine Divine. The University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbour, MI.
* Mookerjee, Ajit [1988]. Kali--The Feminine Force. Destiny Books: Rochester, VT.
* Neumann, Erich [trans. Ralph Manheim, 1963]. The Great Mother: An Analysis of the Archetype. Mythos. The Bollingen Series XLVII. Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ.
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