Author Topic: Sundhya (Read 206 times)

Nichi · « **on:** December 08, 2015, 03:38:22 PM »

All from the following book:

Sundhya or the Daily Prayers of the Brahmins.
Illustrated in a series of original drawings from nature, demonstrating their attitudes and different signs and figures performed by them during the Ceremonies of their Morning Devotions, Poojas, etc.

Day & Son (Lithographer)
Belnos, S. C., Mrs. (Artist)

Date Issued: 1851
Place Term: [London]

http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-4b79-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

(It should be noted that this book was drawn and assembled by the British.)

Nichi · « **Reply #1 on:** December 08, 2015, 03:43:15 PM »

The Brahmins first prayer to the Guroo [Guru].

Gungashtuk [Gangashtaka].

Nichi · « **Reply #2 on:** December 08, 2015, 03:48:43 PM »

Koorma [Kurma] (Tortoise). The figure here indicated by the fingers is meant to represent it.

Mudras.

Mudras.

Nichi · « **Reply #3 on:** December 08, 2015, 04:08:14 PM »

1. Pooruck Pranaiyam [Puraka pranayama]. 2. Kumbuck [Kumbhaka]. 3. Raichuck [Recaka].

Soorya [Surya]

Urghai [Arghya], offering of water, rice

Gayatri Jup [Gayatri japa]. The secret prayer.

(to be continued)

Michael · « **Reply #4 on:** December 08, 2015, 10:56:00 PM »

Very pretty. "From nature": bit like sketches of birds or animals.

Nichi · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2015, 04:09:38 AM »

Bhyragai [ Vairagya ]

Gyan [Dhyana]

Nichi · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2015, 04:14:46 AM »

Signs of the Gayatri [Gayatri]

Puja items]: artee puneh purdeep, Nundee [Nandin, or Nandi], dhoopdan [dhupadana], urgha, ghunta [ghanta], shunkh taiputree [sankha triputri], upkhora, shunkh [sankha]

Puja vessels]: dhoopdan [dhupadana], samputee [samputi], singhasun [simhasana], lughu patre [laghupatra], kuttora, thalee [thali], lughu achmanee, achmanee.

Nichi · « **Reply #7 on:** December 09, 2015, 04:32:14 AM »

Quote from: Michael on December 08, 2015, 10:56:00 PM

Very pretty. "From nature": bit like sketches of birds or animals.

I know .. I thought about the possible racism there, but the illustrator(s) took pains to get a lot of detail, so they had to have been instructed by these brahmins in some sort of earnest way. The illustrators' renderings seemed to acknowledge the complexity.

You see that sort of attitude in depictions of "the savages", or native american peoples, in the 19th century. They were part of "nature", but also, "no better than the animals". I might say I'm no better than the animals, and rejoice in that, but out of the mouths of another group, I would have to recognize what it means to them. It's all part of that white superiority-complex - the one which has enabled them to completely disregard the earth. And the one which in their mind justifies the conquering of peoples.