Anyone who’s ever been entranced but intimidated by the gorgeous golden figurines in their yoga studio will be thrilled to know they need look no further.
“Buckle up, I’m going to give you the ‘Reader’s Digest’ version of the whole thing,” said Manoj Chalam, in this Speakeasy from Wanderlust Vermont.
Chalam explained how, at first sight, a display full of these Hindu Gods suggests polytheism, but in truth, these characters represent a philosophy rooted in monotheism. To take things even deeper, he said it’s actually non-dualism that is the pinnacle of Indian Philosophy.
“Non-dualism is the eternal subject — it is the ‘I am,’ ” Chalam said. “You cannot talk about it, you cannot think about it. So how do you realize you are the self without objectifying it? When you truly understand the stories and the symbols, they actually help you wherever you are in your life, and they lead you to self-realization and enlightenment.”
Each murti has a story and a philosophy, and in this video, you will be introduced to characters like Durga, Shiva, Ganesha, Kali, and more.