[Praise Of Celestial proportions!
Saija Grzegorek
Myriads of names that demonstrate local mores and myths worship her. It is interesting to note that she is a single being although perceived to be numerous at the same time. This means that though she is one goddess, she can manifest herself in various ways. In addition, worshippers celebrate her through songs and poems in their praise and worship.
Devi takes different forms through which she manifests herself. Perhaps, this explains why she is a multiple being though one deity. She takes many forms because of different functions that are accredited to her. These different manifestations exhibit her strength and beauty. Besides, Devi is perceived in different ways due to chronological approach and religious functions she performs.
Some of her manifestations are indeed tremendous. For instance, she is first manifested as cosmic force whereby she destroys demonic powers that cause menace to world stability. She also creates, exterminates, and restructures the universe. The second form is dayini. Since she is gentle, this form is radiant and gentle in nature.
Many worshippers delight in this form because she is the cordial giver of boons, riches, luck, and achievement. The third manifestation is that she is seen as a heroine. Women are fond of this form because she usually descends on earth to provide stimulating models for them. The beauty of women in dressing is attributed to this manifestation.
She is also manifested as a local defender of vicinities, townships, and individual ethnic natives. As a defender, she is concerned with local matters only. In her fifth manifestation, Devi is seen as semi-divine force. She reveals herself through fertility spirits. In this manifestation, the worshippers looked at her for the purpose of fertility in their lives. Finally, she is also seen in the form of woman saints.
These saints are born on earth but gifted with profound spirituality and different worldly powers. It is imperative to note that these forms are represented in visual arts through paintings of vivid color. The visuals have appealing and attractive paintings which are able of expressing her beauty and strength through striking colors.
The visual representation that interests me most is the one which displays Virahi seated on a tiger. This is because it represents how Devi as a cosmic force is ready to step out to destroy any demonic force that can bring instability in the universe. In the poem, she is seen seated on a lion depicting the strength of destruction. The colors are striking and attractive according to her mission to reconstruct the universe.
The rich glowing colors have an impact to the message conveyed by the goddess. The message is clear after giving a close look at this visual representation. This is what draws me closer in this particular work.
It is quite an experience to know that a single deity can be manifested or represented in different forms in order to describe her functions in relationship to her worshippers. The visual arts have served their purpose by describing how Devi is a single being yet multiple at the same time.
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However, this referred not to Egypt but a temple dedicated to Ptah at Memphis, or to the city itself. The fact that the Greeks chose to use this name to refer to all of Egypt shows that Ptah and Memphis were extremely important even at this late stage. This is remarkable, because his worship extends back to the predynastic period, taking a leading role during the Old Kingdom when Memphis was the capital of Egypt.
The temple bearing his name, mentioned above, was one of the most distinguished features of the city. From the time of its founding c. 3100 BC until 2240 BC, it was likely the largest settlement in the world, home to upwards of 30,000. Memphite theology focused on the triad of Ptah, his wife Sekhmet, and their son Nefertem. Ptah was considered patron and protector of the city.
Fitting for such an important god worshipped over thousands of years, Ptah possessed numerous epithets, titles, and names that described his roles and characteristics. So high were the praises of this ancient Egyptian god that 19th-century historians were tempted to liken him to the Christian God. A closer look at his many epithets reveals a more intriguing picture.
Extending from his creative powers, the god Ptah was seen as a patron of all forms of craftsmen, including carpenters, shipbuilders, potters, metalworkers, and the impressive Egyptian sculptors. The head of Ptah in the image above, dating to roughly the 8th century BC, is barely over half an inch tall, beard included. It is certainly not lacking in detail, however!
The ancient Egyptians were highly skilled in art and architecture and were masters of stone-working. Projects big or small were conducted with great care and were believed to be under the guidance of the great god Ptah. The Giza Plateau, which houses the great pyramids, is located just outside the ancient city of Memphis and well within the influence of Ptah. Additionally, the earlier step pyramid of Djoser was constructed under direction from the famed architect Imhotep, who is said to have been the son of the ancient god.
Not only was this ancient Egyptian god depicted as a mummified man with green skin, but he also was the only god to be consistently portrayed with a straight beard, as opposed to a curved one. His unnatural skin tone was typically associated with growth and rebirth among the Egyptian pantheon, due to the color of vegetation. In his role as the sustainer of life on Earth, Ptah was also the god of rebirth.
Many Egyptian gods have one or more tools or sacred items associated with them, and Ptah is no exception. Apart from his beard and green skin, there are three symbols that almost always accompany depictions of this deity. They are the djed, was, and ankh, and often appear combined into a single staff.
The djed is a column or pillar, typically colored in bright hues. The symbol is believed to have been inspired by the sacrum of a bull or other animal. It represented stability and durability. The was, seen jutting out of the center of the djed above, was a scepter with the head and tail of an animal god, probably Set. It symbolized power and authority. Two ankhs are seen in the hands of Ptah above, although sometimes one encircled the head of the was. These were symbols of life. Taken together, the triad showed the creative and sustaining powers of Ptahand was later used with Osiris or other gods by the New Kingdom.
The bull sacrum signified by the djed was not the only relation Ptah had to these creatures. In his home city of Memphis, a sacred bull known as Apis was worshipped since the First Dynasty. The purported son of cow goddess Hathor, the bull was also seen as a herald of Ptah (followed by Osiris and Atum in later history).
Previously mentioned associations include the creator of all the gods (including other creator gods like Atum), Apis as an intermediary, consort of Sekhmet (a lion-headed warrior goddess of healing who later absorbed aspects of Bast), and father of Nefertem (the first light of creation and the smell of the blue lotus) and Imhotep (architect of the Pyramid of Djoser). He also took on the roles of Bes (consort of Bast), Tatenen (deity of the primordial mound of earth), and even some aspects of the sun gods Ra and Aten during the Amarna period. From Osiris to Ra and Atum, there seemed no god too prominent to escape the spreading influence of Ptah!
By Kristopher HenkeBA Anthropology (in-progress)Kristopher Henke is a writer, editor, and anthropology major with a passion for history, archaeology, and linguistics. He is currently finishing his BA at the University of Colorado Boulder with intent to become an Assyriologist. He specializes in the myths, inventions, and ideas of the Ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world, but has also worked on Native American interactions on the Plains, Norse myths, and prehistoric migrations. Outside of work and school, he loves to hike, camp, read, cook, and listen to music.
Respected peace loving American dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen, I extend my warm greetings and gratitude to all of you for coming here this evening. You are now joining more than seventy million people worldwide including seven million in Korea and seven hundred million blessed couples in the heavenly spirit world who have participated in these gatherings for peace.
We are living in a truly historic and providential moment. This is a time of great heavenly fortune, the time when we will build the ideal world of peace that Heaven and Earth have longed to see for six thousand years. It is time to build the Kingdom of God in Heaven and on earth.
Throughout providential history, God raised various religions to arise in accordance with different historical periods and regional cultures. Working among these diverse traditions, men and women of faith have made continuous efforts to achieve a world of peace.
Yet even today, human beings groan in travail, because we are still unable to free ourselves from all manner of unethical and immoral behavior. People everywhere are dismayed to face the truth that, having failed to stem the tide of immorality, it is now rushing in with the power of a surging storm, threatening to sweep us all away in its turbulent waves. This is the tragic self-portrait of the modern human being.
Does this mean there is no hope for us eternally? My husband, the Reverend Sun Myung Moon and I have dedicated our lives to conveying the Word of God. These prophetic messages have been proven to be a true witness that transcends the earthly limitations of this age and our environment.
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