DVAIDHA - Research and Process

PROJECT BREIF

Lord Shiva and Shakti are the two deities within the Shiva and Shakti concept of Hindu Gods. They are unique in the fact that they represent the two opposing forces of nature. These forces are always united and quite inseparable. The entire cosmic energy lies in the union of Shiv (Masculine Energy) and Shakti (Feminine Energy). The whole universe is creation arising out of their combining and complementing energies. They are quite similar as the unity of opposites in the yin and yang of Chinese philosophy. Shiva Shakti come together to manifest reality just like the duality of the universe, which is night and day, life and death. They go through this constant cycle of duality to oneness and oneness to duality for the evolution of the universe.

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The aim of the project was to create a series of garments that emerge from these contarsting elements and also show how they complement each other when united using textures, colours and patterns to represent their respective elements.

RESEARCH

From a metaphysical point of view the divine couple shiva and shakti represent correspond to the two essential aspects of one: the masculine principle which represents the abiding aspect of God, and the

feminine principle, which represents Its Energy, the Force which acts in the manifested world, life itself considered at a cosmic level.

books for reference.

THE CONTRASTING ELEMENTS

Shiva plans; Shakti executes.

Shakti is brain; Shiva is the heart.

Shiva is Purush; Shakti is Prakriti.

Shiva is lingam; Shakti is Yoni.

Shiva is Passive; Shakti is Active.

Shiva is Matter; Shakti is Energy.

Shiva represents apex of mountains; Shakti represents valleys

Shiva is the conscious mind; Shakti is Subconscious mind.

Shiva represents Sun; Shakti represents Moon.

Shiva is Mahadevaa; Shakti is Parvati.

Shiva is energy flowing upwards; Shakti is the downward flowing energy

Shiva is the static, fixed or unchanging aspect of consciousness.It is the matter out of which and the whole world is manifested.

The active fluid or the changing aspect of consciousness is called Shakti.She is the agent for change and the primordial cosmic life force that moves through active universe

PURUSH AND PRAKRITI (shiva and shaktis persona)

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Everything that is contrasting has a counterpart. Hindu philosophy sees Prakriti and Purusha as two separate aspects of the Brahman or the Creative Consciousness. While Prakriti is linked to the creative energy of Mother Nature, Purusha is the consciousness that is the power of Brahman. While Prakriti gives shape to things, Purusha helps manifest them as part of the universal consciousness. Purush, spirit, is eternal and Prakriti, matter is

co-eternal with spirit. Purush and Prakriti are inseparable and are inherent in the manifested universe.

The concept of Ardhanarishvara best explains the aspects of Prakriti and Purusha. Ardhanarishvara, the Androgynous One, is an aspect of Lord Shiva, whose form is half man and half woman.

WHAT IS DUALITY?

It is the two-sidedness of the world -- the fact that everything has an “opposite,” a polar complement.

Within each other there is a bit of other.

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“He separated a part of him to make her. From him, she came, as a part of him,

she grew and now she controls the universe. He cannot exist without her and

she cannot exist without him."

Shiva and Shakti complement each other. There is no existence of Shiva without Shakti or Shakti without Shiva. Shiva is inactive. Shakti is the dynamism of Shiva. Shiva merely plans.