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ramayantika · 4 months

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Bade farewell to the Hero

It’s the onset of dawn. The dark night sky transforms into a beautiful shade of cotton white, colored with various hues of purple, blue, and pink. The sun, as usual, is slowly rising on the banks of the dark Yamuna, but today, her ethereal black waters carry a silent grief of her own as well as of the town of Vrindavan.

As beautiful as the dark night sky, lotus eyes as deep as the Yamuna waters, there sleeps the young beloved lad of Vrindavan, Krishna on the lap of the moon-like beauty of the town of Vrinda, Shri Radha.

“Have you taken your flute, Kanha?” Her soft voice, no more than a whisper, causes the young boy’s eyes to open in sudden remembrance.

Radha sighs with a small smile on her lips. Her nimble fingers bring out the familiar bamboo flute decorated with a peacock feather and pearls from her waistband. Her fingers reverently touch the flute for one last time. Radha’s kohl-rimmed eyes flutter close, as her fingers close upon each of the seven holes of the flute. There is no music playing anywhere nearby, but only her heart hears the heart-wrenching tunes of separation.

Krishna’s fingers tremble while holding the flute as realization sets in. The moment the chariot wheels cross the boundaries of Vrindavan, his flute would eternally go to sleep. The city of Mathura has no loving gopikas, adorable cows, and young boys with him to play the flute all day.

“Being a simple cowherd is not your destiny, Krishna.” Radha tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. As she looks at the tear-laden eyes of her beloved, she steels her breaking heart, her sorrowful eyes now staring at him like a powerful queen going on a battle.

“Your existence is meant for great things. You are to live your life like a king.” She points at the crowd assembled at Chief Nanda’s house, a grand cottage that looks tiny from the heart of the forest where they are in. “You have saved us and this town countless times. The world needs you. You are to be a savior for the whole world. For the whole Yuga.”

Krishna gulps his tears down his throat, which now burns like the fire of separation burning his heart. As a lone tear skids down his cheek, Radha’s voice grows bolder, and for a moment he wonders, how much strength does she silently possess in her being.

“Choose the path that leads you to your destiny, towards your dharma.”

Radha stands up. The golden rays of the morning sun fall on her gentle face coating her fair skin with a powerful glow. Krishna stands in awe of the splendor that adorns her face. Goddess. That’s what she is. That’s what she has been.

“You are the rising sun of Dwapar.” She holds Krishna’s hand and entwines her fingers with his. Walking towards the narrow forest path, Krishna observes Radha’s gait. She always walked with a swan-like grace combined with a little shyness on her face each time she entered the forest to meet him. Today, she walks with her chin raised, her eyes fixated on the path ahead that shall lead them both away from their love-filled carefree times forever.

Within moments, they reach Akrura’s chariot. Radha knows that Krishna hasn’t spoken a single word to her. She knows that he won't be able to do so, nor does she have the capacity to hear his enchanting voice when he is on the verge of departure.

The whole crowd looks at their hero. Krishna looks at the tear-stricken face of his parents. He hears the loud sobs of his lovely gopikas who pampered him with butter and milk sweets. His eyes gaze over the grim faces of his childhood friends. The cows of Vrindavan stare at him, sadness clouding their eyes, but those poor creatures can’t speak a word.

Gulping the last of his tears that clog his burning throat, he steps onto the carriage. Radha smiles. Krishna’s eyes meet her once again and she keeps on smiling.

It will get easier to leave, Kanhaiya. Baby steps.

Radha takes four steps towards the chariot. Handing over Krishna’s flute to him, she slowly moves back, her eyes fixed to the ground. The crowd goes silent. The sobbing gopikas cease crying and keep looking at the scene ahead.

Radha folds her hands and bows her head to Krishna. His heart cracks open at the gesture. He bows down to her all humbled.

“You may leave now. We wish you well on the journey ahead. Make us all proud!”

Radha then takes her position beside Yashoda who is on the verge of losing her consciousness. Nanda holds her shoulders, in case she falls to the ground in grief, but only Radha sees how his fingers shakily rest on his wife’s shoulders.

All this while, not a word had escaped Krishna’s lips. The hero must always promise a return to his loved ones.

“My beloved Vrindavan people, fret not. This separation is only momentary. I shall come back soon to tell you all about Mathura. There’s no escape from my pranks. Go, rest for a while before your loved prankster comes back.”

Radha’s vision goes blurry. Her dark beloved appears to go far from her.

“Such a mischievous liar you are O Shyam…”

The sun is soon to rise for Dwapar, but for Vrindavan, the sun has gone to sleep forever.

***

I am sorry :(

This was a dance idea but I decided to write a fic on this and then choreograph the abhinaya. I have cried while practicing this out too. Let's share tears??

Oh, yes I do love showing Krishna in mortal shades with grief, confusion and dilemma clouding him sometimes too. :)

Tagging: @kaaga-re @ma-douce-souffrance (I AM SORRY SAANJH) @swayamev @krishna-priyatama @krishna-sangini @krishnaaradhika @inexhaustible-sources-of-magic @arachneofthoughts @eugenephosgene @jessbeinme15 @stardustkrishnaverse @krsnaradhika @vijayasena @alhad-si-simran @pulihora @nyxie23 @houseofbreadpakoda @yourfavanxioussunshine @aesthetic-aryavartik @starlitskies0 @navaratna @flowerheadkiller @celestesinsight @kaal-naagin

Oh, and I have written for krishna after a loooong time

#samridhi writes #krishna #gopiblr #krishnablr #krishnafics

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forsythia4 · 5 months

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水的序幕 ; a water's dream.

THE RED CROWNED CRANE & THE PHOENIX: A PROLOGUE.

read description & click for chapters.

Sotomichi.

IN THE MONTH OF KEICHITSU, WHEN THE PEACH BLOSSOMS BEGIN TO BLOOM, with his spirit lamp lit and bamboo pipe elevated, Father is a worn man, lined with wrinkles, strained by time. The scent of opium burns ripe and hauntingly sweet, Father’s lids flutter in euphoria, a kind of blissful apathy. The sun bleeds, and the breath of a thousand buds dance for death. His lips pucker like poppies in full bloom under the first glimpse of the rising sun of the East. Other than opioids and his arrogance, he has only tendered the lips of his art. His hands birth his pride, his art he wears like a tanchōzuru (red-crowned crane) perched like a crown of his ego. Brushstrokes weave intricate dynamics on porcelain, sometimes between a red-crowned crane and a bird of paradise, but if you’re lucky, a perfect lotus moon and the ornate peacock.

“The art flows like water. The porcelain is like a woman. You paint and you draw, you bend and you curve her just as you like. The color she bears winds at your will. The brush is yours, they bleed and you come alive.” Father’s words echo through your solitary midnight loiters outside the kiln, but a crackle of fire spits and you remember convincing yourself you’re tired before your head begins to ache, like it always does when you think of punishment for eavesdropping.

A strike of Father's hand, and you know his art is not yours, his legacy is not yours to carry. Why would a woman need to carry a legacy, except only ones of her children? “Not your burden, my dove. A bud like you needs to grow! A beautiful young lady you reckon she will be, don’t you, Suzume?” Mother nods, just like she always does. Agreeable. Compliant. Docile. Performative. Sometimes, she even dishes out a smile if Mr. Hasegawa comes to visit for tea. Braced posture and bad breath often crouches down, lingering around for a chance to catch a lucky glimpse of a spark, a spurt of swelling beauty within you, for perfection, gifted by the kami in return for Mother’s good graces to the shrines, for in her most perversely wondrous dreams, you are a moon-faced girl with a crescent for lips and porcelain-white skin; you are Benzaiten’s pearl, patron goddess of the fabled geishas residing in the Imperial Capital.

Now, when will you be branded with a price? A tag? Hasegawa’s ninth visit, and you are still a bud unripe. A disgraceful daughter granted by the gods! Sons assume trades and thrones, but daughters will swallow the sun and still assume brooms, buckets, and the ballooning belly of a baby at the end of the day. Father swears he must have been cursed his last life for you to have such ill-fitting features belonging to a woman. A daughter’s betrayal is your skin bruised plum purple, your cheeks stained wet with tears and thrice kissed for daring to be the dishonor and shame of the family.

However, you'd rather be kissed by the truth of the girl you choose to be than the role of a woman you're expected to assume. Your art is your vow. Nimble fingers trace delicate enamel glaze, figuring Nonomura Ninsei’s refined style, and dreams of washing up on Hishu’s wide export market overturn an ache in your belly – that was your dream. Porcelain painting, specialized artistry in characterizing wares mark your identity. Every brushstroke, every glaze, every ember to a flame is a bond to the birth of life breathed into your art. The red-crowned crane spreads her wings and sets the sun ablaze. That was your dream come alive.

North Kohama.

IN THE MONTH OF SHUNBUN, WHEN THE SWALLOWS FLUTTER AND BUILD THEIR NESTS, vengeance paints the horizon with her blood, rot of sin. Mizu remembers the fowler's snare, deliverance at hand. Each hammer and each burst of a swordsmith’s flame is for each swell of the tide that is her rage. Heating. Hammering. Folding steel. The work of a bladesmith: that is her honored duty, sacred.

But as dusk envelopes into midnight, Mizu dances with water. She readies her stance, an obvious, clumsy edge to the flow. “The form of water is sleek, it is agile. It curves and dances with the torrent in one single harmony. Through that bond unified, water snaps and severs the cord, vicious and refined.” Eiji sounds, feeling the rumble of the ground with every swing of the youngster’s movement. “She does not crash. Water begins by swelling within her rage. Unspoken viciousness speaks louder than any inferno stubborn and ill-disciplined. Tame the waters first, let it flow, and then strike.”

Mizu pants, feeling the dirt gather beneath her feet, concentrating the core of her energy, directing her strength to the blade. “You know that better than anyone. It is in your name, Mizu.” Child of the Sea, Tears of Rain, set it free. The bamboo severs into half, the seed of doubt sinks into an empty shell. The deed is done, but the will is not yet finished. A swell of pride soon sweeps the wind of rage away, burying the youth’s heart in a wild, unrelenting restlessness. The minute stream of a feeling akin to achievement throbs against her bones. Back then, when her heart felt anything at all. The innocent yearning to stubbornly hope, a kind of pigheaded faith to innocently dream, gushes like a tide.

Those who dare to dream are fools, Mizu tells herself, but still, she clings onto that childlike wanderlust she once buried within her breast in the sweet space of her memories. The distance between tunnels of blurred echoes calling for her past, calling her name, calling for the wild-hearted. That was Mother’s voice. When all was good, all was plentiful, when her heart was an abundance of a sort of messiness akin to love. When the spring tasted the sweetest, when the breeze swept against her ankles and shaven head, when all was close to home. What did home feel like again? It's slipping away from her dirt-soiled hands, more than stubby fingers could ever count.

Mama. Mother. When will we fawn at the moon and stars again? Together or never, that is my promise to you. If dreams make me a fool, then I'd be one for you to come alive.

Now, when the sky falls with her tears scald hot on Mizu’s cheeks, her heart is patterned like a tortoise’s shell, cracked and fractured. Hardened.

Sotomichi.

IT IS A SUBTLE STRIKE. The lash of lightning: the defiance of sweet, spring skies. Mother's back bled and lined by Father's cruelty; blemish of a fading beauty succumbing to bruises ripe rogue. You love her so dearly, you wish you weren't born the way beaten mandarins were thrown away as scum of the earth. In every wooden plaque perfumed with your desire, every token to the shrine grasped with earnest prayer, you cling onto the hope you'd make Mother happy one day.

You'd be a great artisan. The greatest Tokugawa Japan has ever witnessed. The artisan cracked through the barricades of her confinement as a woman, an utter breakthrough into legacy and history as Japan knew it. The world will know your name. Then, Mother would be happy and Mr. Hasegawa would finally go away.

But dreams are only a sweet, mirage of endless ache, never a guarantee of fruitful worth.

#blue eye samurai #blue eye samurai x reader #mizu blue eye samurai #mizu x reader #mizu x you #akemi #bes #taigen #bes mizu #mizu #forsythia4's muse

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korpikorppi · 1 year

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The Untamed costumes extra:

Waist ornaments

We all know the beautiful, tasseled ornaments the Twin Jades wear hanging from their belts:

So, I thought an extra costume post looking at these and other waist ornaments seen in the Untamed might be called for.

Various kinds of waist ornaments, yaopei, have tradionally been worn with hanfu. The long tasseled jade waist pendants often seen in historical c-drama (and in the Untamed), are the type of yaopei called jinbu that were originally worn to hold down the hanfu skirts; @ziseviolet who runs an amazing blog on hanfu has this excellent post that provides more information.

So, in addition to the esteemed Lan brothers, who else wears a jinbu in the Untamed? Let's start with... him.

Jin Guangshan is wearing what to me looks like the most traditional style of jinbu among those seen in the Untamed. It comprises a carved nefrite jade (hetian jade?) piece that looks like it might be a variation of double dragon head huang (the lower picture is a piece from Han Dynasty era, shamelessly stolen from the net). From the jade are hanging three pendants of various yellow gemstones, perhaps yellow topaz and amber?, each adorned with a golden yellow tassel.

And we have more Jins wearing jinbu. No, not Jin Zixuan, who actually dresses rather modestly to be called a Peacock, but his half-brother.

Chief Cultivator Jin Guangyao wears not one but two identical waist ornaments hanging from his jade-decorated belt. The pieces comprise tassels of the same yellow as Jin Guangshan's, and beads of silver and various gemstones in red (ruby or garnet?), yellow (topaz?) and dark gray (that's a tough one... translucent black jade?), but I have not managed to find a good close-up shot of them. Do you know how many in-focus below-the-waist close-ups the are in the Untamed? Not bloody nearly many enough! Also, a little side note here! I have been watching the Monarch Industry / Rebel Princess, and just noticed that Emperor Ma Zitan wears rather similar double waist ornaments with one of his outfits. So this is probably a specific style of jinbu?

And we have Jin Ling, who wears the Jiang Clarity Bell hanging from his waist (the only one seen to wear it thus in the Untamed).

Jin Ling's waist ornament is quite interesting, because in addition to the small silver bells (two instead of one) it has two carved Bodhi Root beads (one depicting a lotus bud), a carved lotus pendant in what looks like white nephrite jade, and pale yellow double tassels with silver caps; identical to the ornament Jiang Yanli drops onto a stone, breaking the jade pendant, while waiting for news from Lotus Pier after the Wen attack.

So, do all Jiang Clarity Bells have the same construction? Are they all identical? It doesn't seem to be the case: at least the one Jiang Yanli gives to Wei Wuxian in Yiling before her wedding is different, with a different kind of large lotus bead:

So it seems that the waist ornament Jin Ling wears is the one that belonged to his mother, with the broken jade pendant repaired or, perhaps more likely, carved anew at some point before Jiang Yanli's death. If that is the case, Jin Ling has something from both of his parents: his father's sword and his mother's clarity bell. I do not remember if that was mentioned to be the case in the novel?

Talking about Jiang Yanli, she is the only woman in the Untamed seen wearing a jinbu. This takes place during the Phoenix Mountain hunt and when she stays at Jinlintai afterwards, and both her outfit and the jinbu are clearly Jin in style.

The jinbu comprises various silver beads together with a red, a yellow and a dark grey gemstone bead (similar combination as later worn by Jin Guangyao) and what seems to be a flower of some kind (not a peony, though), also in silver. And the Jin-yellow tassel.

Let's get back to the jinbu that the esteemed Lan brothers wear, which are quite distinctive. In addition to the two jade rings, they have some additional beads in silver and gemstones, and a long tassel.

The jade rings in Lan Wangji's jinbu are, I think, the finest white mutton fat hetian nephrite. Zooming in on the left image, it seems that the rings are not smooth, but might actually have carvings on them. If that is the case I'm guessing it could be a cloud motif of some kind, perhaps something similar as on the jade rings in the bottom image (again, found in the net). The additional gemstones seem to be either blue or colourless, perhaps topaz and aquamarine. The tassel is grey, similar to the tassel on Bichen.

Lan Xichen's jinbu has jade rings of what seems like translucent moss-in-snow type of jadeite, similar to the bangle in the bottom right image. Similar to Lan Wangji, Lan Xichen has additional silver as well as blue and clear gemstone beads in his jinbu, including a rather large blue stone above his tassel. It also seems there is a reddish bead, close to the top (seen in the uppermost image). Lan Xichen's tassel is very dark blue, nearly black, a similar shade as also found in Shuoyue's and Liebing's tassels.

In addition to the Twin Jades, Lan Qiren also wears a jinbu, but his is somewhat different from those worn by his nephews: instead of the distinctive two jade rings, Lan Qiren's jinbu has a large, flat medallion of white, carved nephrite jade and a decorative chinese knot. Unfortunately, I was not able to find any clear close-up shots of either one, so I'm not able to say anything more precise about them... If I come across any later, I'll update this.

The additional beads in the Grandmaster's jinbu are quite small, and seem to be rather dark (blue?) in colour, but it is quite impossible to see what stone they might be made of (lapis lazuli might be one option). The tassel of his jinbu is also grey, or perhaps bluish grey.

To end this, I should perhaps point out that even if I've made the assumption that the additional beads would be gemstones, I've understood glass beads were also traditionally used, so coloured glass might also be a feasible option, also in-universe.

But what would I give for a few clear closeups!

#the untamed costumes #waist ornaments #jinbu #theuntameddaily #the twin jades #lan wangji #lan xichen #jin guangshan #jin guangyao #jin ling #jiang yanli #jiang clarity bell #lan giren #long post #guzhuang #mine

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stalkerofthegods · 5 months

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Hara is the Greek goddess of many joyful things, Even tho she has a bad reputation, she is beautiful in looks and soul.

Herbs • lilies, poppies, irises, white roses, waterlilies, Golden roses and white roses, Vitex agnus-castus, poppies, stephanotis, cypress, coconut, maple trees, all white flowers, Marigold, Patchouli, Sage, Rosemary, Frankincense, oak, asterion flower, hyacinths (from when Zeus swept her up in a cloud in Bed of hyacinths in the Iliad 14.340-50)

Animals•peacock, the crow, the cuckoo, carrion-crow, Cow, snake, dragon, crab, snail, and other shelled creatures, eagle, young cow or lion, Wide-winged hawk, Cranes, heifer, goat

Zodiac • Cancer

Colors •White, royal blue, purple, dark green, grey, and silver, yellow, gold, red, blue, purple, rose.

Crystal• pearls, garnets, citrine, amber, diamonds, star sapphires, platinum, Morganite, Rose quartz, Lapis lazuli, Peacock ore, herkimer diamond, iris agate, apophyllite, morganite, turquoise.

Symbols• the crow, the cuckoo, the peacock and the pomegranate, Milky Way, the cow, the seasons of the year, Lotus-staff, the scepter.

Jewelry you can wear in their honor rings• wedding veils, and veiling in her honor.

Diety of • marriage, women, childbirth, and family, she also used to be an earth goddess, Matriarchy, fertility

Patron of • married women, presiding over weddings and blessing marital unions, bringing a woman fertility, protecting her children, helping a woman find financial security, overseeing both private and public affairs, and protecting women in labor. She also has domains in life, death, and the rebirth cycle. And is the patron of earth and cows before marrying Zeus, the Air, Clear skies, Rain, Storms, the Constellations, Maidens of marriageable age, Maiden virginity, Betrothals, Bride-price (dowry), Widows, Menstruation, Heirs, Dynasties, Fidelity (legitimate heir & not the product of adultery), Inheritance, sanctity of the home, kings, empires, heaven, showers, and breezes, prosperity, progeny and military victory, luck in battle, heroes

Alter ideas• She likes big alters, and I would put them near a lake, she was raised near a lake, and she likes extravagant things.

Offerings• Honey, Breads, grains, homemade sweets, Pomegranates, Fruits, Milk, Wine, Pure water, Peacock paintings, peacock statues, peacock patterns, Cow paintings, cow statues, cow print patterns, Cuckoo bird art, cuckoo bird statues, Cuckoo clocks, Diadem (crowns), Throne imagery, Framed family photos, Chocolate, Pomegranate seeds, Peacock feathers, Peacock jewelry, Cuckoo feathers, Snail and hermit crab shells, Cow jewelry, Toy peacocks or cows, Perfumes, Silver and gold jjewelry (especially rings), White or gold rose petals, Golden roses, Art that you’ve created (especially if it is an art of Her), Poems are written for Her, Any crafts you’ve made, Stories that you’ve written, Photos of your S.O. and children, goat meat, goat cheese, the asterion flower, Nemean lion imagery, shields/shield imagery, wedding related (ex- rings, veil, garter, copy of vows), she likes sweet things, snail shells, any shelled animal leftover shell

Devotional• Donate your time or money to charities that help women and children, find a fallen branch and burn a small part of it as an offering to Hera (based on the festival Daedala), don’t cheat, don’t make others cheat (don’t be a side chick), tame your jealousy, Read the story of Zeus and the Daidale (“wooden bride”), As you make your bed ask Hera to bless it and Bring romance to your marriage bed, Take a day to indulge in love, keep your home clean, be kind to children, do house chores, take care of your physical health, take care of your mental health, speak your mind, donate to and support domestic abuse victims, write her poems, donate old maternity clothes and baby clothes, Campaigning for women’s rights and equal marriage, gardening, painting, making music, do colour magick, Celebrate solstice and changing seasons, Setting a boundary in life (especially in love).

Ephithets• Cow-Eyed, White-Armed, The Virgin, Queen of the Gods, Protectress, Queen of Heaven, Protector of Women, Hera Alexandros (Protector of Men), Lady of the Beasts, Of The Golden Sandals, Ἀλέξανδρος (Alexandros) - Protector of Men, Αἰγοφάγος (Aigophágos) - Goat-Eater, Ἀκραῖα (Akráia)- She of the Heights, Ἀμμωνία (Ammonia), Ἄνθεια (Antheia) - flowery Ἀργεία (Argéia)- She of Argos, Βασίλεια (Basíleia)- Queen', Βουναία (Bounáia)- She of the Mound, Βοῶπις (Boṓpis) - Cow-Eyed or Cow-Faced, Λευκώλενος (Leukṓlenos)- White-Armed, Παῖς (Pais)- Child (in her role as virgin), Παρθένος (Parthénos)- Virgin, Τελεία (Teléia)- as goddess of marriage, Χήρη (Chḗrē) - Widowed, Τελχινία (Telchinia) - She was named like that because according to a legend, that the Telchines were the first in the island and also the first who created statues of gods, Ζυγία (Zygia) - as the presider over marriage, Hera Nympheuomene - Hera the betrothed bride, Hera Pais - Hera the girl, Hera Parthenia - Hera the maiden

Equivalents• Hathor (Egyptian), Juno (Roman), Frigg (Norse), Isis (Egyptian)

Aspects• Khaos-Aer (the Air), Hemera (Day), Nyx (Night), Titanis Rheia (Flow), Selene (the Moon), Eos (Dawn), Mother of Typhon (Typhoon, Smoke)

Attendees• Eleithyia (Goddess of Childbirth), Hebes (Goddess of Youth), Iris (Goddess of the Rainbow), The Horai (Goddesses of the Seasons & Heavenly Law and Order), Okeanides (Cloud-Nymphai)

Signs they are reaching out• Sudden imagery of peacocks and her animals, sudden mentions of what she is the goddess of, feeling an intense pull to her

Morals• Morally grey

Courting• Zues

Personality• Hera has a fast temper and is quick to administer justice

Mortal or immortal • immortal

Fact• Hera’s temples may have been the first to be roofed, her temples were some of the largest ever built (she is very big on big alters and on temples)

Blessings• Good betrothal, Marital harmony, Successful birth, Heirs, Dynasties, Birth of a male heir, good luck in battle, successful birth

Curse: Marital discord, Punishment of adulterers, death in birth, Protracted labor

Roots• her origin could’ve been as a Pelasgian goddess, she was nursed as an infant by the three daughters of the river Asterion: Euboia, Prosymna, and Akraia. But in the Iliad, Hera states she was given by her mother to Tethys to be raised, aspected to be raised in Argos in Argolis Greece and her birthplace being Samos on a Greek island. She also claims to be the oldest, but so does Hestia.

Parentage• Kronos and Rhea

Siblings• Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, and Demeter, half-siblings with Chiron

Pet• peacocks (peacocks pull her chariot)

Children • Angelos, Ares, Eileithyia, Enyo, Eris, Hebe, Hephaestus, and the Kharites, many say she adopted Heracles, (he built a temple for her and etc)

Appearance in astral or gen• in Greek and Roman art as a large woman, fully clad, wearing a diadem radiantly beautiful woman, shining like the sun, however, she is also a shape-shifter with many forms and is usually wearing a veil. She also has 3 aspects, the Maiden, Mother, and Crone aspects, She comes with the scent of flowers, and the earth blooms at her every step.

Festivals • Daedala, Heraia, and Anthesphoria were also common in the Peloponnese (where it was celebrated in honor of Hera Antheia at Argos, and of Aphrodite Antheia at Cnossus.)

Month• June

Sacred places• Heraeum at Nemea in the Argolid, the great temple on the island of Samos, and the temple at Olympia. A sanctuary at Argos, a seventh-century BCE temple built over an earlier shrine, is among the oldest Greek temples, Argos (Samos).

Status• Queen of the gods, and a major deity before and after marriage.

What angers her • Cheating, the Trojans.

Music she likes• wedding music.

What she likes in people• Women, heroes, moms.

Planet• Venus, and the full moon

Her Tarot cards• The empress, the world.

Scents/Inscene • rose, iris, myrrh, civet, jasmine, and patchouli, Rose, stephanotis

Prayers•

Hera, queen of Olympos, the bride of thundering Zeus, protector of marriage, of the joining of hearts and the creation of bonds, of the building of home and the finding of family. Great Hera, whose presence honors any wedding day, whose favor graces any marriage, I pray to you, O goddess, grant to me a joyous union, a love to last, a harmonious home. I ask your blessing on my household, O Hera–may it be a place of happiness and affection. I ask your blessing on my marriage bed–may it be a place of joy and pleasure. May my mate and I share our lives; may we grow old together, merry and content; may our words be honey-sweet, and may our love be ever strong. Shining Hera, I ask your blessing.

“O Hera, Queen of Gods, divine protector of marriage, From your throne above, look upon us with favor. Majestic and exalted, cloaked in unyielding loyalty, Bless the bonds we forge, and the promises we make. Grant us the strength to uphold love’s sacred vow, To support and cherish, through trials and time. May our hearts reflect your undying commitment, As we seek harmony, guided by your wisdom. Hail Hera, the eternal matriarch, in reverence we call, With offerings of peacock plumes and lilies white. Embrace us in your grace, bestow upon us unity, As we honor you, now and in all our days.”

I praise you bright and noble Hera, great lady of Olympos, gracious queen of the deathless gods, dark-eyed goddess, fairest of the children of Rhea, graceful and comely, cloaked in the starry skies, garlanded in poppies fragrant and blood-red, crowned in brightest gold, the lotus wand in your hand, your form ever draped in the finest of silks, majestic one whose blessing is sought by all, whose gifts are treasured, whose favor is a surety of good fortune. Hera, champion of great cities, gurardian of ancient Argos and the pretty isle of Samos, warder of the bounds of marriage, protector of women in the old world and the new, unparalleled goddess, white armed one, sovereign of the high-reaching heavens, I honor your might.

Deep-eyed Hera, beloved bride of mighty Zeus, mighty goddess, fair of face and silent of step, noble your manner, stately and poised your form, a queenly presence is ever yours, godly in glory, womanly in grace and beauty. Beloved Hera, patroness of kings and princes, friend of women, of mothers, upholder of marriage, of the right of lovers to join hearts and hands; lavish your gifts, liberal your hand, limitless the blessings you bestow on those you favor. Hera, the broad sky is yours, and the sweet air we breathe; to you we turn to for harmony and wedded bliss; to you we turn to for strength in the passion and turmoil and hard work of marriage; to you we offer our thanks for a life of love. Well-crowned Hera, beautiful one, revered one, greatest of goddesses, I praise and honor you.

Hera of the deep heart, the beautiful goddess whose true radiance would blind mortal eyes, whose steps fall softly in the golden halls of storied Olympos. In silks your fair form is draped, O Hera, heavy with jewels is your crown, the sweetest of perfumes surround you; in ancient times you received the highest honors, the finest of offerings were ever yours, your shining temples stood across the land. Hera, defender of cities, protector of marriage, champion of the love that upholds a family, that cherishes a child, you are the friend of those who hold the household dear. Queen of the heavens, holder of the lotus staff, the poppy and the pomegranate have you in hand. Hera, supreme in dignity and grace, unsurpassed in goodness and kindness, I praise you.

credits • https://spells8.com/lessons/goddess-hera-queen-of-the-gods-symbols/https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/classics/intranets/students/modules/greekreligion/database/clunas/https://www.learnreligions.com/hera-greek-goddess-of-marriage-2561992https://www.tumblr.com/septemberfaerie/649491140077338624/simple-offerings-for-hera-honey-pomegranate https://www.learnreligions.com/hera-greek-goddess-of-marriage-2561992https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herahttps://www.reddit.com/r/Hellenism/comments/htocze/a_general_guide_to_crystals_and_which/https://vocal.media/futurism/ways-of-worship-hera https://vocal.media/futurism/ways-of-worship-hera https://screeching-0wl.tumblr.com/post/667043639626743808/a-guide-to-worship-of-hera-cheat-sheets/amphttps://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/649676050026086400/anthesphoriahttps://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/640526545372479488/daedala-festival-of-hera-zeushttps://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/640096332349079552/hera-epithets-of-life-stages-hera-ataurote-hera https://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/640148785696276481/hera-aegophagos-goat-eater-i-was-so-curious-about https://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/686092860730327040/hera-and-the-river-gods-of-argos-i-go-now-to-thehttps://thegodsaremyhome.tumblr.com/post/690029452553601024/hera/amphttps://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/650505716453474304/heras-asterionhttps://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/644802181317427200/in-olympia-the-women-celebrate-their-hera-festival https://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/655772113984159744/heraia-games-festival-sanctuary-of-hera-argos https://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/640021251498377216/i-am-a-fan-of-the-uncommon-belief-that-herakleshttps://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/642832991542984704/ive-just-been-called-to-hellenistic-paganism-i https://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/649311039464325120/in-truth-three-cities-are-dearest-to-me-by-far https://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/657033826078425088/months-before-each-games-the-olympic-flame-is-lithttps://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/646526356035862528/the-nemean-lionhttps://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/639110878639407104/notes-from-understanding-greek-religion-by https://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/645426513103208448/hi-violet-what-kind-of-offerings-does-hera-love https://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/648506401237385216/hi-violet-ive-been-curious-about-something-and-ihttps://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/687644696777031680/socrates-swore-by-herahttps://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/643457315969908736/zeus-and-heras-marriage-zeus-and-hera-are-the https://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/638657086154309633/zeus-heraios-i-got-too-far-down-a-tumblr-rabbit https://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/646775981494992896/the-myth-of-the-daedala-the-separation-of-zeushttps://verdantlyviolet.tumblr.com/post/646580512604995584/hera-and-the-cuckoohttps://pieandhotdogs.tumblr.com/post/86517296169/hey-can-you-tell-me-things-about-hera-anything https://natural-magics.tumblr.com/post/79253398032/i-think-hera-has-been-trying-to-contact-me https://www.theoi.com/https://www.theoi.com/greek-mythology/olympian-gods.htmlhttps://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Hera.html https://www.theoi.com/Summary/Hera.htmlhttps://www.reddit.com/r/Hellenism/comments/m00r3t/looking_for_hera_upg/https://athenaswisdom22.wordpress.com/list-of-prayers-to-the-gods/hera/#:~:text=I%20praise%20you%20bright%20and,your%20hand%2C%20your%20form%20everhttps://www.tumblr.com/tarotbee

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talonabraxas · 20 days

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Green Tara (Goddess of compassion) Talon Abraxas

Green Tara possesses the immense power of a divine being and the immense opulence of a divine being, as well as all of these precious jewels, which she can use to alleviate the suffering or poverty of all living things. She has a crown ornament that resembles a hat on the crown of her head, and a red figure is in the very center of that. The Buddha Amitabha, who is always red in color, is represented by that red figure at the very center of the reddish halo around her head. Green Tara signifies the energy winds of the body and breath, as well as the element of a Buddha that protects us from fear. Tara's influence is our ability to act, to move through life and to achieve our goals. Her name literally means "woman who ferries across."

Types of Green Tara We can find ten different types of green tara on the basis of their symbolism, appearance, mudra, and iconography, each Tara is distinct from the others.

Khadiravani Tara Vasya Tara Arya Tara Mahatarri Tara Mahasri Tara Varada Tara Durgottarini Tara Dhanada Tara Jahguli Tara Parnasaban Tara Khadiravam Tara

In the Sadhansmala, Khadiravani Tara is depicted as being green and holding the Utasla on the left and the varada mudra on the right with two hands. She can be recognized by the presence of Asokakanta Marici and Ekajata. On her crown, she has Amoghaslddhi's image.

Vasya Tara The European style of sitting known as Bhadrasana is Vasyatara's signature pose. She is, however, described as being single, and as such she is not accompanied by any gods or goddesses. She is portrayed by the Khadiravani class accompanied by Taras.

Arya Tara This form of Tara is distinguished by the fact that she sits in the Ardhaparyahka posture and like Vasyatara she is completely alone. Vasyatara is said to have another name for Arya Tara. In the Ardhaparyahka posture, she is seated alone. She is green and has two arms.

Mahattari Tara Mahattari Tara is distinguished by the Vajraparyahka posture in which she sits, as well as by the fact that she is represented alone. Mahattari Tara is a green goddess.

Mahasri Tara Mahasri Tara is depicted as sitting on a golden throne that is covered in a variety of flowers. She has one face and two heads that are in the Vyakhyana Mudra. She wears ornaments and a crown with an image of Amoghasiddhi on it. Ekajata is seated in the ardhan pose and carries an angry face with a swelling abdomen. She holds the kartri and the kapala in her two arms and wears a dress made of tiger skin. Arya, jahguli is to the left of Mahasri Tara, Asokokanta, and Mahamayuri are to the right. Her green color comes from the Dhyani Buddha Amoghasiddhi.

Varada Tara Varada Tara sits in the Ardhaparyanka position like Aryatara however she can be effortlessly perceived by the presence of four goddesses Asokakanta Marici, Mahamauri, Ekajata, and Janguli.

Durgottarani Tara Durgottarini Tara has a green complexion, sits on a lotus, and wears white clothing. She has four arms, and the first pair of her hands are used to hold a noose and a goad. The second pair of her hands are used to show the Varada mudra and the lotus.

Dhanada Tara Wealth Granting Tara is another name for Dhanada tara. Her second right hand is holding a rosary, and her first right hand is making the ultimate gesture of generosity. Utpala and a book are held in her two left hands. She has an animal as her Vahana, is accompanied by eight goddesses named after the eight vowels in her mantra, and her crown features an image of Amoghasiddhi. She sits in the sattva posture and is adorned with jewels and silks. She is surrounded by eight other Taras of varying hues and appearances, in addition to the four guards at her palace's entrances.

Jahguli Tara Jahguli Tara can be yellow, white or green depending on where it comes from in Aksobhya. She carries the Trisula, the peacock's feathers and a snake in three of her hands when she is green, and she performs the Abhaya mudra with the fourth hand.

Parnasaban Tara Parnasaban comes in different forms and colors. Some of them are as follows:

Parnasaban (green parnasaban)

When Parnasaban is green, it is emitted by Amoghasiddhi.

Parnasaban (yellow parnasaban)

Aksobhya is represented by Parnasaban in its yellow form. Parnasaban is typically three-faced and six-armed, but may have four arms in rare cases. The green variety is unique in that all three faces depict irritated smiles.

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lyralit · 2 years

Text

[ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇꜱᴄʀɪʙᴇ] ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏᴜʀꜱ

[under the break bc this is really long]

red

lipstick

cherry

blood

crimson

scarlet

brick

vermilion

cardinal

wine

beetroot

lobster

mercury / mars

apple

maroon

ruby

claret

rosy

poppy

blushing

watermelon

strawberry

grapefruit

anne

orange

peach

tangerine

auburn

ginger

fire

fox

amber

gold / golden

tawny

burnt

venus

cantaloupe

carrot

pumpkin

Titian

yam

tiger

marmalade

pepper

rust

butterfly

fall

apricot

squash

clay

yellow

sunny

sand

butter

syrup

medallion

golden

bee

honey

daffodil

sunflower

buttercup

sandstone

corn

lemon

yolk

dandelion

taxi

saturn

sunset

pencil

banana

pineapple

duck

schoolbus

potato

green

grass

spring

herb

juniper

chartreuse

clover

lucky

leprechaun

seaweed

pickle

leafro

earth

pistachio

basil

emerald

alligator

army

aloe

jade

olive

matcha

lime

blue

sky

ocean

crest

navy

cadet

aqua

blueberry

butterfly

robin's egg

lapis

flame

peppermint

jay

lavender

corn

wheat

cobalt

slate

denim

peacock

arctic

sapphire

purple

mountain

dawn

heather

violet

grape

eggplant

amethyst

cheshire

crocus

bruise

blackberry

ube

lavender

grape

plum

lilac

periwinkle

black currant

iris

orchid

beet

pink

blush

flamingo

guava

rose

peony

cherry blossom

salmon

lemonade

bubblegum

lotus

pig

cotton candy

punch

coral

hot pink

pink panther

rose quartz

blobfish

dragon fruit rind

rhubarb

lipgloss

[bonus: shades]

black

panther

night

pitch

onyx

jet black

coal

penguin

suit

cat

obsidian

zebra

diamond

raven

bat

magnet

oil

ebony

ants

black pearls

plum

squid ink

truffle

shadow

grey

cloud

dust

rocks

silver

smoke

ash

graphite

dolphin

iron

basalt

titanium

tin

dove

pigeon

slate

scales

smoke

flint

steel

white

marble

pearls

dove

linen

snow

porcelain

alabaster

ivory

cloud

bone

rice

foam

whipped cream

lace

eggs

lily

coconut

milk

zebra

polar

cream

brown

chocolate

cocoa

rabbit

bear

squirrel

bark

chestnuts

cinnamon

coconut

teddy bear

violin

caramel

coffee

cydney's backyard fence

mocha

penny

walnut

gingerbread

paper bags

acorns

mud

courtesy of @cydthesciencekid

#in the end it's mostly listing things that are those colours haha #also half of these are names #colours #writerblr #lyralit #creative writing #writers #writing #writblr #writers block #writing ideas #rainbow colours #colour spectrum #drawing reference #writing reference #colour dictionary #colour

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tarotbee · 10 months

Note

Hi! I’m not sure if you are still doing your ways to worship certain deities posts but if you are do you think you could do one about Lady Hera?

Ways of Honouring and Worshipping Queen Hera

To note Hera is the Wife of Zeus and the Queen of the Gods. She is also the Goddess of marriage and childbirth and the protectress of women. She also bore the epithet Eileithyia at Árgos and Athens and was the Patron of those cities, giving her correspondence with Athena.

Learn her Epithets: Eileithyia, Gamêlia, Zugia and Teleia

Imagery of Cows, Cuckoo's, Peacocks, Panthers, Lions, Eagles and shelled animals

Peacock feathers, ethically sourced or faux cow leather, cow horns, snail shells etc

Research the celebrated "The Shield" that was held in her honour at Sámos

Research the Heraia

Self care days - baths with Epsom salts, bath bombs, face maks

Glamour magic

Colour magic! (Pinks/rose, purples, white and royal colours such as rich blues and greens)

Celebrate the solstices and the changing of the seasons

Any royal imagery such as thrones, crowns, scepter etc

Plants and Scents: lily, lotus, poppy, waterlily, maple, coconut, iris, rose, cyprus

Wear jewelerry made of rich gems and jewels like silver, garnets, diamond, sapphire and citrine

Apples and pomegranates

Statues and painting were common traditional offerings to Hera

Learning marriage customs

Have sex! (But don't cheat, iykyk)

Learn the Homeric hymns written for her

Set boundaries for yourself, especially in romance

Take care of your home physically and energetically

Most importantly take care of yourself

A prayer to Hera

(Linked)

#pagan #omnist #paganism #deity worship #omnism #hera goddess #queen hera #greek god #greek goddess #hellenic polytheistic #hellenic witch #hellenistic #Hera #greek mythology

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rhysdarbinizedarby · 4 months

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First Group of Creative Arts Presenters Announced

The Television Academy and Executive Producer Bob Bain today announced the first group of presenters for the 75th Creative Arts Emmy Awards, hosted over two consecutive nights on Saturday, Jan. 6, and Sunday, Jan. 7.

The presenters reflect the diverse talent and storytellers throughout the television industry and represent some of the year's most popular programs across many genres and platforms.

Presenters include:

Murray Bartlett (The Last of Us; The White Lotus), Joel Kim Booster (Fire Island), Kid Cudi (Entergalactic), Charli D'Amelio and Heidi D'Amelio (Dancing with the Stars; The D'Amelio Show), Rhys Darby (Our Flag Means Death), Akbar Gbajabiamila and Matt Iseman (American Ninja Warrior), Beatrice Grannò (The White Lotus), Carla Gugino (The Fall of the House of Usher), Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs; Echo), Lala Kent, Tom Sandoval, Tom Schwartz and Scheana Shay (Vanderpump Rules), Aja Naomi King (Lessons in Chemistry), Rhett McLaughlin & Link Neal (Good Mythical Morning), Nick Offerman (The Last of Us), Chris Perfetti (Abbott Elementary), Lewis Pullman (Lessons in Chemistry), J. Smith-Cameron (Succession), Stefania Spampinato (Grey's Anatomy; Station 19), Simona Tabasco (The White Lotus), Robin Thede (A Black Lady Sketch Show) and Lisa Vanderpump (Vanderpump Villa).

The 75th Creative Arts Emmy Awards will take place at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE. An edited presentation will air Saturday, Jan. 13, at 8:00 PM EST/PST on FXX. Bob Bain Productions will produce both shows.

Source: Emmys

#rhys darby #ofmd #emmys

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krishna-sangini · 8 months

Text

My All For You

The dark grey clouds The light blue sky The heavy mist shroud and the playful lies The caressing breeze The soothing rain All of these breathe through your eyes again

The joyful yellow The serene blue The reserved black The pleasant flute The peacock feather and the kadamba tree Bring back the images of your smiling face

The elegant lotus with its dainty pink The pious tulsi with her blessed green The beads of Vaijayanti with their tranquil white Bear the reflection of your beatific light

My longing eyes with your carvings in them My restless heart pulsating with your breaths My battered soul healing with your grace My sanguine self waiting for your blissful embrace...✧

-T.P.N.

------------------------------

Something I finished writing for my Keshav yesterday...❤️

Idk wth is wrong with me, but I'm freaking blushing in front of my roomie while typing this as I listen to 'O Rangrez'.

Asdfghjkl! Keshav, YOU LIKE THIS?!🫠

#my_musings #poem #poetry #krishna #krishnablr #gopiblr #kanha #kanhaiya #ISTG I CAN'T SIT STILL AFTER SEEING THIS PIC #Y'ALL ISTG I'M GONNA FREAKING CRY UGLY #KESHAV I FREAKING LOVE YOU OKAAAAY

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tiaramania · 1 year

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UK/South Africa State Banquet Tiara Predictions

I want to preface this by saying that I think it's very likely we won't get any major jewelry upgrades tomorrow. This is the first state banquet of the new reign and I assume they are going to want to show that it's just business as usual and any big jewelry surprises would get unwelcome coverage. But that also makes me feel like I'm raining on everyone's parade so I'm going to make two predictions for each person with pessimist Tiara Mania on the left and optimist Tiara Mania on the right.

Queen Camilla - Greville Honeycomb Tiara & Queen Alexandra's Kokoshnik Tiara - Queen Camilla is the most likely person on the list to show up in a new tiara and I've long wanted her to wear the Kokoshnik. It was worn by QEII during the last state visit from South Africa in 2010 and the Honeycomb was worn by the Queen Mother for the first time during a state visit to South Africa in 1947 so really there’s a connection with both tiaras. I'm also hoping she wears anything other than one of her pearl choker necklaces because I want to see something different.

Princess of Wales - Queen Mary's Lovers Knot Tiara & Queen Mary's Sapphire Bandeau Tiara - The Lotus Flower Tiara would be a great choice too but really I just want her to wear anything other than the Lovers Knot. I'm choosing the Sapphire Bandeau because it hasn't been seen in forever and I’m in the mood for something colorful.

Princess Anne - Festoon Tiara & the Queen Mother's Double Meander Tiara - She's already worn the Double Meander once but I really want to see it again and hopefully get better pictures this time.

Countess of Wessex - Aquamarine Necklace Tiara & Anthemion Tiara - I can't believe I'm saying this but I actually want Sophie to wear the Anthemion Tiara because I want a better picture of the new configuration.

Duchess of Gloucester - Queen Mary's Honeysuckle Tiara with the emerald center & the Teck Turquoise Tiara - Birgitte is the only person who will wear two tiaras since she will also be attending the Guildhall Banquet on Wednesday so these choices are for the two different events instead of my expectation vs. wish. I want the Teck Turquoise to be second because we usually get better pictures from the Guildhall Banquet and it's been awhile since we've gotten decent ones of this tiara.

Princess Alexandra and Princess Michael of Kent may also attend but it's not a guarantee. Mostly I just want King Charles to change the position of the photographers and/or allow more of them because I'm tired of the grainy shots from a mile away.

Then there's some other jewelry related to South Africa that I'd like to see worn during the state visit.

First the Mandela Peacock Sunrise Brooch, which was a gift from Nelson Mandela on behalf of the South African people in 1995. It was made by Johan Louw of Uwe Koetter Jewellers and features diamonds, onyx, and tourmalines set in white and yellow gold. QEII only wore the brooch twice that I can find, during state visits from South Africa in 2001 and 2010. This would be a good choice for Queen Camilla to wear during the daytime events tomorrow which include a visit to the Mandela Memorial Stone at Westminster Abbey.

The South African Diamond Necklace & Bracelet or as Queen Elizabeth II supposedly called them her “best diamonds” are some of my favorite of her jewels. They were a gift from the South African government for her 21st birthday in 1947 while she was there with her parents. She later added an extra diamond that was a gift from De Beers and had the necklace shortened to create a bracelet. I'm thinking Catherine instead of Camilla for these just because I like Camilla in bigger necklaces for formal events but really I'd be happy with it on anybody.

What are your tiara predictions?

#Tiara Talk #tiara predictions #British Royal Family #Queen Camilla #Princess of Wales #Princess Anne #Countess of Wessex #Duchess of Gloucester #tiara #Queen Elizabeth #Queen Elizabeth II #United Kingdom

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ramayantika · 1 year

Text

Mathura Nagarpati

Inspired from Rukmini Vijayakumar's dance video on the same song from Raincoat. I had once posted a script kinda thingy about this to make a dance piece. Here, I will write a fic on the same. Also I apologize beforehand if this makes you cry by the end. :)

»»————> ✿ <————««

My dearest friend, Shyamala walks beside me to the Yamuna to fill our water pots for our household needs. We have been doing this from childhood, and even though I do have a daughter-in-law now, who is more fit to carry these pots from the river to back home, I always insist to do it everyday for old times sake. Also, she is already too busy to take care of my grand daughter and other household works.

For old times' sake....

SPLASH!

Shyamala and I raise our heads up to see who fell into the river, only to meet a fun sight of a couple of kids frolicking in the Yamuna. Two little girls were laughing, their hands clutching their tummies while three boys adorable pouted at them. The river had crowned a boy's head with a lotus leaf.

I look at Shyamala. Her now thin lips carry a small smile at the children. Her eyes instinctively turn towards mine, and she says, "Once, we were young like them too. Good times, wasn't it." She touched her lower back and continued, "Only if, I wouldn't suffer from this wretched back ache, I would definitely call the others and jump into the river just like we used to do it back then. I wish I could do it once again – for old times' sake."

Sitting down by the riverbank, wincing slightly at the pain in my knee joints, I reply, "You know, you can send Malati to bring water. This back pain takes a toll on you every time."

Chuckling, she moves a pot into the gracious river, saying "I am old. I need to exercise my body so that I still remain active and sane until my last breath. Also, I keep doing this just to revisit my memories."

Ah... looks like we all engaged ourselves in such activities to painfully remind ourselves of our bittersweet memories with him.

"It's all for old times' sake." I hear her mutter. Quietly, I decide to fill my pots when for a moment, I notice something unusual in my reflection.

Once I was young and pretty, and whenever he was around me, I always felt like the most beautiful girl in the world. And when he left, I no longer cared how beautiful I looked. Now that, my hair has gone grey, my pretty face, saggy and wrinkled, my limbs no longer agile, I don't find any reason to sit and admire my long lost beauty.

But, today, there was something different. It wasn't as if my face looking drastically young in the reflection, but a single lone peacock feathers on my head.

God, was he too undergoing the old times' sake feeling like all of us?

"Shyamala, is there something on my head?" I ask, pointing at my head.

"Except that yellow odhni on your head, and that pretty gorgeous white hair, you have nothing."

Amused, I retort, "My husband even doesn't compliment my hair, the way you do. 'Pretty gorgeous hair' They have lost their thickness!"

My friend ducks her pot in the water, which erupts with a pop sound and says, "You still have some volume left in them. Look at mine -- these are threads."

A high pitched scream from the opposite side of the river alerts us away from out hair thinning concerns.

"Munna, you evil brat. Wait, till I show you," shouted one of the girls who was pushed into the river.

Shyamala clears her throat and called the children. "Kids, you better not venture too far into the river. Stay near the banks and play. Also, stop pushing each other into the water. You never know, if a serpent monster is waiting down to snatch mischevious children away."

A little girl innocently asks Shyamala, "Like Kaliya naag?"

My hand stills. The memory's still fresh in my mind. The large black serpent had poisoned the waters, killed so many of our cattle, and was close to snatching him from us. For us, he was just a child of our age. We never thought he would so powerful to vanquish that demon, and when he danced on top of his head, it seemed as Lord Nataraja was dancing tandava on him.

That evening I had scolded him tremendously. And that charming yet mischevious boy had nothing but a bright smile on his face. Did he not what danger he had encountered?

"Where did you get lost now?" I feel Shyamala shake my arm. "Your pot had begun sailing on the river."

"Oh.." I shake my head and grab my pot when I see a peacock feather on my head again. I brush my fingers over my reflection, watching my image disperse in the gentle waves, the blue green feather still showing itself over my head.

The kids have begun playing with themselves in the water, forgetting their previous quarrel. I smile at them, as my mind drifts to my childhood memories with a young boy who always donned himself in yellow robes, and was dark as the night sky, but had a lustre rivalling the moon.

"Hai Mahadev, why don't you call me to your abode. I can't take this back ache any more." Shyama lifts her pots with a groan. Adjusting one of the pots on her hip, she looks at me, and says, "Listen, I have to head to the village market to buy some seeds for the garden. You go home alone today."

I nod at her, and turn back to the dark river when a gentle voice whispers in my ear, a voice I could recognize anywhere, even in deep sleep.

"Nayani"

I breathe slowly. My eyes close themselves shut, and I keep repeating to myself that all of this is in my head -- that he isn't Vrindavan's Kanha anymore but Mathura nagarpati and Dwarkadheesh.

"Nayani, it is me. Will you not welcome me? Open your eyes. I have come back." I hear him take a pause. "For now."

Ignoring the burning sensation in my throat and my laboured breathing, I turn around to face him. I gasp.

He had indeed come back! My Manohara, my Manmohan.

Tears flow freely out of my eyes. I hug him tightly. His arms still contain the same warmth like they did years ago, even on the day, he had parted ways to leave for Mathura.

I sob, not caring who was watching me. My friend, my first love was back after so many years. I wasn't going to hold back.

His fingers gently caress my back as I step out of his embrace. Even though, I am an old woman now, with him near me, I feel me teenage self come back.

Blushing hard, I look down at his beautiful feet. They are painted in red dye. His toe rings shine magnificently. Taking another step back, I look at him from head to toe.

There is a crown on his head with his signature feather on one side. His curly hair reaches his shoulders. Unlike me, they haven't lost their colour nor their thickness. And for heaven's sake, this man hasn't aged much. I felt bad for myself. He still looked ethereal while I an old maid.

"Tell me your beauty secret, Mohan." I look up at him and ask. My saggy cheeks feel warm. I pull my odhni closer to my face in case he sees my red face.

His eyes twinkle and a lovely smile curves on his lips. "And tell me since when did you start hiding yourself from me?"

I stare at him. "Why will I hide from you Kanha?"

He smiles some more and moves my odhni from my face, his fingers brush my cheek and I partly wince and partly melt. "There you go. This is the Nayani, I know."

His smile is infectious. Smiling ear to ear, I reply, "Well, this Nayani is not a young sixteen year old. She is married, a mother and now a grandmother. What will people say if they see me blushing in front of another man?"

He says nothing and walks to the river. I follow him. "Do you remember how I stole makhan from your pot here?"

Laughing at the memory, I look at him again and answer, "Of course, I do. I remember everything. I had chased you with a stick, remember?"

"I remember everything too, Nayani."

"Thank God, you do, Mathura nagarpati. A great man after all must remember his roots." I jokingly say. He chuckles and picks a leaf from the ground. He carefully twirls it with his fingers, his eyes examining the leaf in great detail.

"Where do you think will the leaf go if I blow it away?" He asks.

Taken aback by his question, I think for a while. Krishna has always been patient. He turns his body towards me, and I notice something different this time.

When he had arrived her, he looked youthful and radiant. He still looks godly handsome even now, but there is an unusual sadness gracing his features. I can sense something is heavy on his mind, which he is masking by a smile. His eyes look slightly tired. He needs rest, a long rest.

"The answer, Nayani?"

"Since it's the great mighty Krishna blowing the leaf, I am sure it will reach Vaikuntha dham."

He laughs again throwing his head back. His shoulders shake too. Surely, my humour wasn't great to receive such reaction from him.

He keeps on laughing until tears spring out of his eyes. There is a low snifle too. I touch his arm in concern. Was he okay?

Composing himself, he touches the peacock feathers on his crown and tugs at it. Holding my palm, he keeps the feather on it. "I will have to leave for my abode soon. There isn't much time left. So when I leave, blow this feather in air. Who knows this might reach Vaikuntha?"

My heartstrings tug again. He has to leave again? I wasn't going to keep him for long here. He has a lot of work in Dwaraka to do, but he could stay here for a day right?

"Why are you leaving so early? Stay tonight and leave tomorrow. You have to meet kaka kaki and other friends too."

He sighs deeply and closes those lotus petal like eyes. His hold on my palm tightens. "I wish I could do that sakhi. I wish, I could, but I can't. Time will make no exception for me. I will have to leave."

It feels like that unfateful day again. He had told me the same thing. 'I will have to leave. There is no choice. My duties call me.'

I purse my lips and look ahead. Silence settles deep between us. The only sound that I can hear is the gentle gurgling waves of the Yamuna.

Krishna speaks again. "Now now, there is no need to be angry. Let's make the best of our time now. You haven't told me about your family. How is your husband? Did you have a grandson or a grand daughter? Tell me what all did you do after I went away? Just keep talking until it's the time to go." I keep making a disappointed face, which causes the great lord of Dwarka to pout. "Please, just hear me out for one last time?"

And I fail to be mad over him. I narrate each and every incident that took place in his absence. I tell him all the village gossip. I tell him about my family. I tell him how I felt when he left the village, how I lived with this grief for a long time. And at last, when I felt satisfied, sharing every detail of my life with him, I sigh in tiredness and glance at him.

His eyes shine with tears, but there is still that damned smile on his lips. I feel he is hiding yet another news from me.

"You have aged quite well, do you know?"

"At last, I receive a well deserved compliment from the world's handsomest man. Indeed a pleasure, Kanha. Thank you."

There. He erupts into a cheerful laughter again. He stands up and dusts his uttariya. His eyes glance at the setting sun, now doused in shades of red and the sky, in orange and purple. Somewhere I spot some blues too.

He takes a step back, his hand outstretched. "It's time to go sakhi."

I stand up too, my fingers brush his fingertips. "Why so early? This is just like that day." My eyes burn with tears that I am sure will soon fall.

He moves back again, his hand still outstretched as if asking me to try and keep holding it as long as I am able to. "It is. I know. I am sorry. I have to. In a way I could fulfill my promise to you if not for the whole of Vrindavan."

"What do you mean?" I see his form lose its glimmer. His eyes look like fading stars on the onset of dawn.

"Send the feather high up in the air. It will reach me again. It carries all your love and affection for me."

"What's happening Mohan? I don't understand. You look like you are going to fade. Are you unwell?" I stifle a sob and blink those tears away. If this was the last of him, I had to see him until he goes away from my sight.

"Everything is going according to time. Do not worry, Nayani. Let me go. Until unless you leave my hand, I cannot go."

I feel my fingers lose their grip. "Don't go. Please..." I beg him, but I no it won't stop him. It didn't stop him then, it won't stop him now.

He smiles for the last time I think. I clutch the feather tightly. His looks at my fist and says, "Don't hold it so tightly in your fingers. It will crush."

"Krishna..." No other words come out. There is nothing much to say even.

"Nayani.." His voice is like a soft whisper now.

"Fine. Goodbye, Krishna.." I bid him farewell. Perhaps this is the last time I would see him here with me. I cannot tie him with me now, can I?

His smile has caused his face to look a little brighter now. He waves his fingers at me and repeats, "Goodbye, Nayani. Live well."

"You too."

"I have lived well and long. No more."

Huh?

"Sakhi, did you hear the terrible news from Dwaraka? Krishna is no more!"

*** *** **** *** ***** *** *** *** ***

"No, you hallucinated maybe. He is no more. He got shot by a hunter in the forest. Dwarka is submerged -- it now lies deep under the sea." I hear Shyamala, but I no longer respond. Krishna was here. I know it well. I know his touch, the warmth and softness they carry. I felt it. I am still a sane old woman.

"But he talked to me right here. I hugged him too. How can you say that?"

Shyamala starts crying. Her head is over my shoulder, her tears drench my blouse. She rubs my back. "The news has taken a toll on your mind, I think. He never came here!" Her tear stricken face stares at mine. "What do you think sakhi? If he was here, wouldn't the entirety of Vrindavan, go and meet him?"

My heart feels empty. I don't know what to think or what to say. Shyamala keeps consoling me. I don't even have tears in my eyes anymore.

Glancing at the waters of Yamuna again, I catch the peacock feather on my head and I remember what he had asked me to do.

"Let's go home, Shyamala. There's nothing we can do. At least now we know he would never come back to us." I say and get up.

My friend nods and gets up with great difficulty. She doesn't even groan at her aching joints now. The grief had surpassed the bodily pain too.

I see her walk ahead. She doesn't turn back, keeps wiping her eyes with one end of her odhni. I look at the sun. It's so small now and it's only a matter of time when it will depart from the sky. The red and orange hues have made way for the blues to take reign.

What a dark evening would it be today!

My right toe brushes over a soft feathery object. I look down and to my utter surprise, it's a peacock feather.

Picking it up, I stare at the feather. The blue and green colour draws me in. I see Krishna in them. He is playing by the river, stealing our pots and dancing with us. I see him watch the river with me. He is smiling so much and even I am happy too when I hear a voice.

"Let the feather fly."

And I follow his words. I caress it for one last time and kiss it. Looking up at the sky, I blow the feather and it moves up. High up. It doesn't even drift down once like most objects do. My eyes keep following its movement.

It's only a speck now. I can't keep looking at it. My eyes are burning. I can only hope that it somehow reaches him.

'Farewell Mathura nagarpati.'

I hear a splash. Did someone fall into the river?

********* ******** ******* ******** *******

Shaknsgsgshhsbavs I chose to attack today. . *hands over tissues in case you want to cry*

Tagging the sakhis: @swayamev @pothosinpots @ma-douce-souffrance @lil-stark @manwalaage @jessbeinme15 @arachneofthoughts @pokemon-master-elita @merapehlapyaarwaapasaagaya @just-another-godless-god @inexhaustible-sources-of-magic @reallythoughtfulwizard

#krishna fics #samridhi writes #mahabharata #desiblr

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