The Blue God of Judaism
November 20th, 2009
Source: HPI
USA, November 19, 2009: The God that Jews worship is as blue as the Hindu God Shiva, the supreme being in Shaivism, the oldest sect within Hinduism, says Rabbi Robert dos Santos Teixeira, LMSW.
In some ways, the ancient Hebrews were more similar to modern-day Hindus than Jews. They acknowledged the existence of deities other than YHWH (Yahweh) and, like their neighbors, looked to a pantheon of Gods and Goddesses to satisfy their individual and collective needs; their principal God, however, became and remained YHWH, the fierce warrior who freed them from slavery in Egypt. He once had an effable name, a masculine body, and a female companion.
Examination and discussion of biblical, talmudic, midrashic, and mystical texts reveal that the body of the Lord is blue. The fact that the Hebrew term used to describe the Lord’s blue body comes from Sanskrit, as do other Hebrew terms associated with him, is nothing short of amazing and invites further exploration of the many similarities between Judaism and Hinduism, particularly Shaivism.
USA, November 19, 2009: The God that Jews worship is as blue as the Hindu God Shiva, the supreme being in Shaivism, the oldest sect within Hinduism, says Rabbi Robert dos Santos Teixeira, LMSW.
In some ways, the ancient Hebrews were more similar to modern-day Hindus than Jews. They acknowledged the existence of deities other than YHWH (Yahweh) and, like their neighbors, looked to a pantheon of Gods and Goddesses to satisfy their individual and collective needs; their principal God, however, became and remained YHWH, the fierce warrior who freed them from slavery in Egypt. He once had an effable name, a masculine body, and a female companion.
Examination and discussion of biblical, talmudic, midrashic, and mystical texts reveal that the body of the Lord is blue. The fact that the Hebrew term used to describe the Lord’s blue body comes from Sanskrit, as do other Hebrew terms associated with him, is nothing short of amazing and invites further exploration of the many similarities between Judaism and Hinduism, particularly Shaivism.
It is interesting to observe where the ongoing Hindu-Jewish dialogue is taking us. But, I am curious as to why the Rabbi saw the Blue God as Siva, and not Kannan (Krishna) or Murugan?
Siva has been worshiped in lingam form for countless centuries, the images of Nataraja and Ardhanareshwara being highlighted in the age of the Chola kings. The images of Him as a Blue God with Parvathi by His Side is the product of calendars and popular culture. In addition, Siva is a god of Peace; He has never been identified as warrior.
Suffice it to say, the term “Yahweh” could have led to the word “Yadava” - the name of the clan into which Krishna was born. And, in similar vein, The Tamil God Arumukhan, or Murugan, has been long depicted as a Handsome warrior, which would better correspond to the description of Yahweh.
I think a deeper study would be worth pursuing.