In the Hollywood movie
Avatar, it is not just the term ‘Avatar’ that is associated with Hinduism. The
core concept of Hinduism is that all animate and inanimate are the result of a
single energy source, which is Brahman or God. All the plants, animals, human
beings rise and fall in this single energy source. This formless and
indefinable is given form by humans and worshipped as God. One of the important
themes of Avatar is based on this core concept of Hinduism which was taught
first time more than 5000 years ago. In the movie, the Na'vis are able to
physically connect to animals and plants. And they believe that they are just a
part of the whole which includes all animate and inanimate present on their
planet Pandora. This concept is explained beautifully and there is a magical
scene in which the Tree is connected to the human body and this body is
connected to all the Na’vis through holding their hands each other.
Another striking aspect is the use of the color blue. Hindu Gods
are depicted blue in color. Blue is the color of the infinite. All Hindu gods
are an attempt by the human mind to give form to the formless narayana (God).
The color blues symbolizes immeasurable and all pervading reality – formless
narayana. Another concept found in Hindu Puranas is Parakaya Pravesham –
leaving one’s body temporarily and entering the body of another person. Adi
Shankaracharya is believed to have done this to enter a king’s body so that he
can learn about material world. Something quite similar happens in the movies
as Humans are able to temporarily enter the body of a Na’vi.
A more visible symbol in the movie is that of the characters in
Avatar riding on a flying dragon like being. This is more like Lord Vishnu
riding on Garuda. The design on the heroes fore head is more like a Namam seen
on lord Vishnu’s forehead with two parallel and vertical lines of thiruvani and
a padam connecting at the bottom, one vertical line of srichurnam in between
the vertical lines of thiruvani.
It is said that great minds think alike in all ages. The great
saints of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) thought about this 5000 years ago and they
tried to explain it to us through symbols and stories. Today we have technology
explain the universal truths. But are we listening? We are slowly wiping out
the green cover and destroying the Mother Earth thinking that we humans are
superior and above all.
But what Avatar missed is foreseen by Hindu seers the total
annihilation of human race when there is rise of Adharma (today it is
unimaginable greed and lack of concern for mother earth). We are fast heading
towards such a situation and this divine action will be carried out by Kalki.
Then there is a fresh beginning. The cycle continues and this present age is
not the first cycle and it is not the last.
One of the saying of Lord Sri Krishna...
Pavathranaya
Sadhunam Vinachakaya Dushkuthuram, Dharma
Samsthapanardhyaya, Sambhavami yugae yugae.
To
take care of Dharma, To
protect those who are good and
to destroy all who are bad. I
will be born from time to time.
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