#kalyana

[jellygay]

Ref sheet comm for @ladynyoko of Kalyana, a design they bought from me YEARS ago (it’s been almost 11 years)!

Next up is a version with clothes that I’ll finish at a later date. I’ll be sure to post that one too!

[the-lost-lieutenant]

@lordamulu @openwideandsayrawr

[read-alert]

Kalyana by Rajni Mala Khelawan

This is literary fiction following an Indo-Fijian woman growing up during the rise of second wave feminism trying to come to terms with what it means to be a woman after her uncle assaults her as a child and her mother tells her she can never tell anyone. This covered Fiji for my Read the World Challenge.

I enjoyed this one. Kalyana is a wonderful character to spend this book with, incredibly charming as a child and still equally as compelling after her trauma rips her wonder away from her. I loved watching her grow up and mature into a captivating woman struggling to make her way in the world.

Most of the substance of the book is pretty run of the mill for feminist literary fiction- focusing on personal and generational trauma, female solidarity and the forces that strain it, and tradition vs new and expanded avenues for women. These themes are present in quite a lot of fiction for a reason though and are well written and interestingly explored here.

What makes the novel stand out to me is of course the Indo-Fijian culture and history. I knew pretty much nothing about it prior to reading this book, and while it is mostly a background element, I feel that I learned quite a lot.

Nothing uniquely spectacular, but still quite a good read that I do recommend. 4⭐️

[philosohappy]

Been spending some time looking at the word kalyāṇa, as well as, kalyāṇamitta -- reflecting on how it applies to myself, and also the friendships in my life. It’s interesting. I think the information below (the list of the seven characteristics), is most helpful to me. It puts everything into perspective. It’s an eye-opener, for sure.

I also uploaded a video to my YouTube channel. It’s Gil Fronsdal discussing the meaning of kalyāṇa, during the closing ceremony of an insight meditation retreat that I participated in.

In the Mitta sutta of the Anguttara Nikaya, the Buddha has described seven characteristics of a good friend. The seven characteristics are: 

1. He gives what is hard to give 

2. He does what is hard to do 

3. He endures what is hard to endure 

4. He reveals his secrets to you 

5. He keeps your secrets 

6. He does not abandon you in misfortunes 

7. He doesn’t look down on you, when you’re down-and-out

[shridharblog]

#ushodayam On #chithra #pournami🌕 🐎 With #goddess #kalyana #sundaravalli (#thirumaamagal ) #thaayar Samaetha #sri #sundararajaperumal ( #kallazhagar ) #temple Thirumaalirincholai #divyadesam ( #azhagarkovil ), Near #madhurai #tamilnadu #gopuradarshanam 🙏🏼🙏 . . #lordbalaji #perumal #omnamonarayana #kallalagar #alagar #alagarkovil #divyadesaperumal #maduraifestival #tamilfestival #templephotography❤️ #photographyoftheday #tamil #trendingnow (at Madurai, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccb_L61PnmO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[shridharblog]

#Subhodayam with 🙏 #goddess Sri #sridevi #bhoodevi Samaetha Sri #kalyana #venkateswaraswamytemple #srinivasamangapuram near #tirupati #lordbalaji #andhrapradesh #gopuradarshanam #shrisaivastu https://www.instagram.com/p/CQU_iPrNXhJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[shridharblog]

#subhodhayam with #goddess Sri #sridevi #bhoodevi Samaetha Sri #kalyana #venkateswaraswamy #temple #srinivasa #mangapuram Near #tirupati #andhrapradesh #gopuradharshanam #lordbalaji #shrisaivastu . . . #worshipped #utsavam #govinda #southindiantemples #templesofindia #mobilephotography #templephotography #photography (at Chennai Central, Tamilnadu) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMD_U4qgZHu/?igshid=15tomzu4btlu2