Thursday May 3, 2012
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Lakshmi: A Hindu Goddess Reinterpreted
A devotional statue depicting Vishnu and Lakshmi
This week, South Asian leaders gather in Markham to discuss family violence in their communities - violence aimed mostly at women.Mary Wiens goes beyond the headlines to explore the story of Lakshmi, the most important female goddess in the vast pantheon of Hindu deities, and an important archetype for South Asian women of all religions.
Lakshmi is the goddess of economic prosperty. Her story is at the heart of Diwali, the biggest Hindu festival, when houses are cleaned and rows of lamps lit to welcome the goddess.
The goddess is also closely associated with the birth of little girls as well as the moment in a wedding ceremony when, as a grown woman, "Lakshmi" enters her husband's home, a ceremony that speaks to the central role a daughter-in-law plays in Indian families.
Part 1: Listen
(runs 7:07) Part 2: Listen
(runs 6:22) Part 3: Listen
(runs 6:55)
Categories: Columnists, Mary Wiens, Past Episodes
Features
- Stuck in Traffic
- Will Toronto be a victim of our own success?
- Metro Morning turns 40!
- 40 years of what Toronto's talking about.
- Sounds of the Season 2012
- View the slideshow from our event in support of local food banks.
- Live from CAMH
- Visit a new neighbourhood focused on mental health in Queen West.
- Disappearing Daughters
- A study raises the issue of gender selection in local South Asian communities.
- A Fork in the Road
- A new role for government: the catalyst for collaboration.
- Turning Point
- Our town hall on family violence on March 29, 2010.
- Mary Wiens
- Listen to the latest report from Metro Morning's Mary Wiens.
- JOpublic
- What can we learn about our surroundings and ourselves? Contact Metro Morning contributor Jason Osler with your ideas or check out his blog.
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