Significance of names...... again.

[probonoprobono <probono@rapidnet.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52885

Megalynn wrote:
> Good afternoon all.
> 
> So, today I am in my Asian Art History class, when I get a handout 
> about Hinduism. Wouldn't you know it, some familiar Harry Potter 
> names where on it. Nagini and Parvati.
> 
> Nagini is the female form of a snake diety
> 
> Parvati is a diety herself, and the wofe or consort of the diety 
> Shiva. Since it's an art history class the teacher talked more 
about 
> the art than the details of these Hindu figures. I do know however 
> that Parvati and Shiva chose not to procreate and that they lived 
on 
> the top of the mountain. Hopefully soemone knows more.
> 
> Ok so this brought up some questions. Have these characters turned 
up 
> in other cultures or are they strictly Hindu? How many cultures, 
> religions, and mythes has JKR used to  create names and creatures 
in 
> the WW? Is she trying to make a point by drawing from every 
culture 
> (or as many as she can) to create the WW? Does this signify that 
the 
> WW is everywhere (spread out through the entire world and it's 
entire 
> history) yet still so well connected it resembles a tight nit 
> community?  There is a growing school of thought that no one 
religion 
> is more significant. That they are all interconnected. Does this 
> maybe translate to wizarding culture? 
> 
> I'm not sure if I am wording these properly, but I will rewword if 
> the responses aren't what i was looking for.
<snip remus> 

Now Me: I'm sure this isn't the response you're are looking for. 
More an addition to your original thoughts. <g> But just a few days 
ago I came across this on the net:

Nagayuna
Nagayuna is the Indian branch of alchemy. The aim is to preserve the 
elixir of life, in order to unify the body's energies. The symbol of 
the naga (two entwined serpents) is used to represent the link 
between the earth and the heavens, and the transition from the lower 
levels to the higher. This symbol can be found outside temples, on 
stone tablets (called 'nagahals' or 'nagakals').

I was not aware of the connection between the naga and alchemy 
before reading GoF and it just impresses me how JKR used another 
traditional form of magic folklore in her writing. I'm hoping to see 
more references of Indian folklore and myth in the future because 
it's not an area I'm familiar with and I find it quite fascinating. 
-Tanya