What do our gods tell us?

Our ancestors have been very clever in terms of passing on the message on the true nature of what each one of us is to seek. With the limited vocabulary to describe what the philosophy of Hinduism professes, they resorted to using various symbols that we know as gods and goddesses.

Here are two of the famous icons of Hinduism and a different way to look at these icons.

What does the form/symbol of the goddess Lakshmi indicate?

Lakshmi is known as the goddess of wealth and many invoke the blessings of this goddess in order to prosper in life.
Symbolically – A lady standing on a lotus, with four arms, with one palm facing the viewer/devotee and the other pointing down with gold flowing into an earthen pot/into the water where the lotus is. The other two arms are holding lotus. The vehicle of this goddess is the Owl.

Interpretation –

1. Anyone trying to stand on a lotus will realize that the lotus will sink due to the weight. So the first indication is that money, gold etc is not stable.
2. One palm of the hand is facing the devotee – not as a blessing or providing the boon of wealth, but asking the devotee to wait for their turn.
3. The other hand is producing gold that flows into an earthen pot – indicating that the so called money, gold etc will go back to earth and the devotee will not be able to carry it forward to his/her next births.
4. The word LakS in Sanskrit means to perceive or observe and is synonymous with laksya meaning aim or objective.
5. Lotus is also symbolic of spiritual power. 
6. Owl is a nocturnal animal

Conclusion – Lakshmi is a goddess who emphasizes that the material substance like wealth etc are not stable and one that is not permanent. She is a symbol to instigate the true seeker to seek true aim or objectives – not in terms of wealth, but focus on spiritual power (lotus) which will sink into the quagmire of worldly illusions – if it is burdened by elements like money, gold etc. Such a person who advocates the seeker to seek true objectives rides an animal which is active during the night – indicating that true knowledge does not mean that it is available during the day or where there is light. A true seeker will not hesitate to venture into new areas where he/she has not been before to seek the true knowledge. It is also indicative of the passion that the true seeker should have to get true knowledge – ignoring the norms of the established rules and society.

So what does point us to the true knowledge?

What does the form/symbol of the goddess Saraswati indicate?

Saraswati is known as the goddess of knowledge and many invoke her blessings to gain better control of their education etc.

Symbolically – A lady sitting on a stone, playing an instrument called as Veena, with four arms – two playing the veena, one holding the veda’s loosely in the palm of a hand, and the other counting the rosary/beads.  The vehicle of this goddess is the Swan.

Interpretation –

1. Stone is hard and difficult to move, digest etc, but once sculpted into a form, it stays on for a long time. True knowledge should be like that of a stone.
2. The veena – an instrument that has its origins with the Demon lord Ravana – who to please Shiva is to have ripped his nerves to make the instrument. So the seeker is to seek knowledge that tantalizes the nerves of the seeker.
3. Are the Vedas or scriptures true knowledge? The four veda’s are held loosely and are given lesser importance than the rosary/beads that are held higher than the Vedas. 
4. The word Saras in Sanskrit means a water body and saraswati means “she who flows”  - indicating that this knowledge is ever-flowing.
5. The beads/rosary are symbolic of spiritual power.
6. The vehicle swan is known as “Hamsa” in Sanskrit and when reversed, it is saham - means Saha: Aham – indicating that “you are me”.

Conclusion –

True knowledge is rock solid and it is one that tantalizes our very nerves and inner soul. It is not the scriptures or the Vedas ( which also when interpreted point to the same aspect of seeking true knowledge), but the path of meditation and spirituality, a path that is ever flowing and always available for anyone to seek. The ultimate true knowledge is when one reaches the state where the seeker realizes that there is no duality or Advita (as quoted by Adi Shankara).

There are so many symbols in the philosophy of Hinduism that are open to interpret and the right interpretation will get the seeker a better insight into why these symbols exist and what the takeaway is from these symbols.
I read about these long time ago in a magazine that was published by Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Foundation – The Art of living.