Tantric practice and divine feminine power | Curator's Corner S6 Ep1

Tantra is not a hedonistic cult of ecstasy, which is a common misconception. Emerging from India around the 6th century, Tantra presented a new worldview which saw all material reality as animated by Shakti, which translates as 'divine feminine power'.
Tantra: enlightenment to revolution
Supported by Bagri Foundation
Tickets: bit.ly/3nQl8Is
#CuratorsCorner #TantraExhibition #Tantric

[@britishmuseum]

Given how much you all like the tour of the Vikings and Pompeii exhibitions earlier this year, we've got a special tour with Imma of the Tantra exhibition going live on December 11 at 6pm (GMT). You can set a reminder for it on the premiere link here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmbNgHqea89qipI

[@Mrdr]

When I set up a reminder, it read as set for 12pm PST, however as 6pm GMT is 8 hours ahead of PST here, isn't that in fact 2 hours late?

[@pravinchandrapanchal1423]

Emma Ramos , Oldest & Mesmerizing Text on Tantra is Actually Vigyan Bhairav Tantra - which is dialogues between shiva & parvati , where parvati - sacred divine feminine energy is asking the Shiva - sacred divine musculine energy in form , that how to experience those highest existential reality of life then one by one 112 meditation processes was shared by God Shiva to Goddess Parvati. Which is minimum around 4000 year old text atleast.

[@knowthinself8107]

Give ALL the stolen art back!

[@Lowlandlord]

@@pravinchandrapanchal1423 Now you are getting into sectarian arguments between different religious denominations. This is on the modern understanding of Tantric practices (different from tantra in the modern English discussion), which are from Shaktism, not Shaivism. Shiva getting energy from femininity rather than femininity getting energy from Shiva. The idea that a man, even a God, should teach women about childbirth and creation is only something a man would come up with. This is not something that Hinduism has every really been able to agree on, which is why there are so many sects, in fact in Shaktism there are different perspectives on Kali, Parvati, Durga and others or some combination of these Goddesses in different roles. The 4000 year old claim also seems to be rather grandiose and with out support (considering that Shiva and Parvati as we know them now do not have any real support to go back that far) and the lady that just told us about this seems to know more about these things than some random guy on the internet who may have many biases.

[@easyfoodhacks7743]

U have done a good work ❤❤❤❤❤

[@word6344]

"YASS QUEEN SLAY" hits different after learning this cool philosophy

[@veronveritas3880]

What a coincidence that the worship of the feminine became popular in India at the same time when the destruction of worshipping the feminine took place in Arabia

[@malakaragua702]

That is very interesting and deserves a video in its self 👍

[@aaradhyarawat7589]

Sad!

[@Terri_MacKay]

Hurray!! Another series of Curator's Corner. I absolutely love this series, and rewatched all the episodes this summer. It's fantastic because you never know what you're going to get...but every video has taught me something new and fascinating.

[@Blastmaster1972]

I really like these curator's corners. Always a joy to hear people talk about things they are passionate about!

[@malakaragua702]

Yes this one is so passionate about it, she's injected a lot of her self into it.

[@PatrickMHoey]

Me too, I’ve just fallen down the rabbit hole!

[@TheKimba1234]

I’m glad to see this & your beautiful explanation of Goddess Kali Maa🙏🏼🔱🕉

[@ky4864]

🕉

[@tashuntka]

Breathtaking Goddess describes Goddess... Win-win 👍🙏💖

[@johnnzboy]

Super interesting, thank you for this introduction to what is no doubt a fascinating exhibition.

[@Sunshine-zm1fx]

It was great to see Bill Bailey's cameo at 10:08. Fantastic video! Hope to see more similar ones.

[@hojoj.1974]

Very interesting topic. Thank you for the presentation, great job!

[@FlorianHanke]

This is really cool, I had no idea of actual Tantric practice. Thanks 😊

[@Nono-hk3is]

Very interesting. Thank you, Imma.

[@notpublic7149]

This is fantastic, thank you for uploading this for everyone to enjoy. The world can really use a historical point of view, right now more than ever, information on our collective past. Thank you.

[@shaymayo6]

the goddess in the video is very impressive. and the statue is nice, too.

[@EleanorPeterson]

I see what you've done there... ;-)

[@Microtherion]

And to top it all, I could be mistaken but isn't that a Greek name? 'Greek Goddess explains Tantrism and why there's nothing Suggestive about this'. Thank Vishnu for the Gift of Implication. :)

[@DoctorDoom619]

Simp

[@Spartan265]

@@DoctorDoom619 Calling someone attractive isn't being a simp. A simp is a person who gives women money. Usually in the hope they get attention or something from the women. This guy isn't even close to being a simp lmao.

[@Mrdr]

Amazing as always, looking forward to the live exhibition.

[@elif6908]

I wish I could see this exhibit! Thank you for this very interesting explanation of what Tantra is and is not.

[@jeannotpoivre437]

What a wonderful series that provides us with access to the museum's collection during lockdown and the privilege of a guided curator's talk.

[@malakaragua702]

The Indian people deserve to have this stolen stuff sent back. No amount "free" ( the British museum makes money from this channel) tours changes that.

[@andymad47]

Great vid,a subject I knew nothing about,well presented too.

[@prof.cecilycogsworth3204]

Thanks for such a welcome video!

[@monk3ymasta]

Hooray more curator's corner! Love these vids, keep em coming. This one was definitely a mind broadening topic.

[@malakaragua702]

If by "mind broadening" you mean "reinterpreted through a post modernist lense of Feminist and Post-colonial Theory" I'd agree.

[@wmka]

Thank you and have a great day.

[@PythosianMan]

Wonderful video! Thank you for creating this exhibition and especially for taking the time to write and film this presentation for us - it was brilliant.

[@philipb2134]

Thank you for the clarity and context.

[@marvimalik304]

Very well shot and presented - a fantastic idea

[@turbocuteness]

This is fascinating. How wonderful to be able to see these objects set in context by the curator. So cool.

[@bethduffus4598]

Really interesting video. Well done.

[@byblispersephone2.094]

Wow fascinating. I'm really enjoying the British Museum channel.

[@jackwriter1908]

Well, that was interesting. It is always cool to learn something new about other cultures and pasts... If only school would have been so interesting and informative. I believe I had in History WW2 for nearly 2 years.

[@Torlik11]

You're lucky you had only 2 years

[@phoenixgods1]

@@Torlik11 ya, solid 6 years on this end and it was hell

[@LordInter]

bet your history teacher didn't look like that either! 😂

[@malakaragua702]

Ww2 is a very over taught bit of history. It has warped our view of the world.

[@Sean-ml2bu]

WOW, when I think of a curator I think of someone like Irving Finkel not someone soo young. Grate Corner very interesting

[@morinagonzalez5752]

I just love the explanation...she talks with pride as being a woman... a new world is open for me now...

[@StimParavane]

Truly we are living in the age of the inflated female ego.

[@kingexplosionmurderfuckoff9376]

@@StimParavane Found the misogynist.

[@StimParavane]

@@kingexplosionmurderfuckoff9376 Don't let your misandry consume you and don't waste your life as a slave to your own inflated ego.

[@kingexplosionmurderfuckoff9376]

@@StimParavane Misandry? Inflated ego? Wanting rights and respect isn't misandry.

[@StimParavane]

@@kingexplosionmurderfuckoff9376 Women now have more rights in Western society than men do. But that doesn't suit the victimhood narrative that you use to extract power and influence. And if your response to any criticism is to immediately resort to flinging around the terms misogynist, racist, homophobe, transphobe etc then you have already conceded the argument. Try arguing logically, or am I being naive?

[@tomthumb1322]

Very interesting and very well done.

[@luiscypher1307]

This was extremely enlightening im fascinated by this subject & there definitely needs to be more informative videos about Tantric practice imo.

[@heenanyou]

Well done, good presentation.

[@NaomisNews2]

New prospective on the "mingling" of dark & light.... Grattitude N 0neness!

[@ActionmediaUK]

Thank you. This is great and interesting. Beautifully presented and researched. The thing about tantra though - it can be discussed but really you have to experience it in your subtle body. I am told there is another very good presentation for this exhibition and I look forward to watching it. I will do the virtual tour before it closes..... So - it is time for revolutionary tantric practice; as the climate change wreaks havoc, we need new ways of powering our energy and driving revolution. Kundalini Yoga is a tantric practice where you can see that interweaving between the physical and shakti kali power and the shiva (consciousnes), and then use it .

[@shinx-hr6uq]

These videos are so consistently educational, can't believe it's free!

[@malakaragua702]

The British museum has to give something back, after what it has stolen.

[@Tumbledweeb]

Very interesting. Thank you for this lesson, Professor.

[@EverExpanding555]

Thank you!

[@jakob6792]

Great exhibits, Interesting commentary, real insights - too bad I will not have the chance to see this exhibition in person. I had to buy the catalog - which is also great. Thank you very much.

[@francesca3453]

Thank you

[@smoky3302]

One thing I want to made clear kali is not the goddess of death she is the godess of time.

[@Lowlandlord]

I thought her relationship with death is related to her relationship with time, entropy and Shiva. They are both creative and destructive forces and limiting them to single facets of any portion of that is closeminded as to their broader meanings.

[@Microtherion]

Did this European really just 'correct' a Hindu about the meaning of Hinduism? I'm guessing it's a 'Western Buddhist' who has never read anything written in India...

[@smoky3302]

@@Microtherion she was not talking about hinduism she was talking about tantra . Hinduism is a board term which includes various traditions,faiths and system originated in India like Yoga, Vedanta etc. To be fair being a vashnavite from pushti marga I really had less knowledge about tantra which is more akin to Shakta and shaiva tradtions.

[@malakaragua702]

@@Lowlandlord maybe you should just keep your nose out of other cultures?

[@evacope1718]

@@malakaragua702 if everyone had that view humanity would not progress at all. Its okay to be inquisitve about things you dont understand fully

[@mercster]

You are the most beautiful museum curator I have ever seen.

[@mercster]

And yeah I was a Buddhist for 12 years (not of the Vajrayana discipline, but I went to a Tibetan meditation center for awhile out of necessity)... tantra is misunderstood in the West.

[@anweshamimisaha3452]

I am deeply grateful for nearly perfect explaination of our cultutral symbol. Eastern India's people are often discriminated in other states of India or globally, for their radical spiritual practice. It would have been great if you had a little more time to mention the Music genre namely "Shyamasangeet", dedicated to Kali worshipping as daughter and mother. The best Shyamasangeet ever written in our history is by Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. This is another aspect of Hinduism in Eastern India, where often the religious or gender bounderies are blurred. We celebrate humanity above anything else.

[@devidaughter7782]

love the images and content! yet always there is a niggling discomfort in seeing such rich cultural artifacts and religious icons in the custody of museums, knowing that many such pieces of art and worship were taken without the people's consent, and are still missed by the communities from which these (often ancient) pieces of veneration originated, and to which they rightfully belong.

[@TreforTreforgan]

Now that’s a cutie curator!

[@anand8718]

One should just hear the mantras which are recited while Kali Maa is worshipped at midnight, I have never heard/witnessed the tremors/unsettling powerful forces run throughout my body in any other Puja/worshipping ritual. Kali Puja night is magical.

[@james2578]

it's really interesting, isn't it, how the ecstatic responses of many listeners reveal a complete dearth of understanding. this stuff cannot be imagined. it is real. and that reality is only revealed to a few. that realisation is torture, not ecstasy, or even a 'hurrah'. and yes, I am Bengali.

[@keyfeatures]

In the Ba'al cycle 'Victorious Ba'al', the goddess Anat is described as cutting people to pieces and hanging heads from her back and and tying hands to her belt. Seems to resonate.

[@cecillekorostoff2856]

This is SO COOL. Best curators content yet- and that's saying something. I love intersectional history and not centering a European perspective when considering non-european tradition. RAD

[@lyrathechimera9551]

Jai Maha Kali, Jai Ma Kalika

[@brindade2004]

Hello there. I am from Bengal.

[@colocaomantequilla1289]

Damnit.I have a crush on all of these curators. haha

[@igrim4777]

Irving is happily married so tough luck.

[@luizsa8300]

Why the muted colors? Anyway, a very interesting video.

[@onelittleplum]

Yeah their white balance was off while filming her for sure. Still great tho!

[@Cervando]

Curious, I thought her name was spelt Inma, not Imma, short for Inmaculada. Very interesting video either way.

[@igrim4777]

Imma is a variant of Emma or Irma (which is itself a variant of Emma).

[@kathleenmadigan1457]

I would like to know more about the last image in the video-- the shirtless being with a series of symbols going up his midline, including what looks like a mayfly or grasshopper between the eyebrows. Can you provide the source of the image?

[@abhijitmaji4377]

I think that's a representation of the shakti chakras (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra ) in the human body

[@gawayne1374]

9:00 She had special powers like immortality, and even the ability to fly. I think I would have reversed order there XD. Nice video though!

[@ajdc88]

pretty high standards british museum maintaining here on KZbin

[@golDroger88]

If by "high" you mean satanic I fully agree.

[@golDroger88]

@Amy Hainsworth The only misinterpretation here is that of the person in the video, but it's not a mistake, it's intentional propaganda. You should educate yourself on Gnosticism and the recycling of pagan divinities, that's what's going on here, obviously they're not going to openly tell you. Many aren't even aware of being agents of propaganda.

[@golDroger88]

@Amy Hainsworth First of all I want to clarify that by satanic I really mean luciferian, which is not what normally people not in the know identify as so called "satanism". She did make lots of obvious connections with modern day feminism, which is a luciferian agenda to drive women away from the traditional family model and reshape society into something they can more easily control. She takes things out of the original context to give them modern day meaning, that is exactly what low tier propaganda does. The gnostics (luciferians) took ancient Indu symbols and divinities and fitted them into their own cult, just like they did with many other ancient cultures. She might not be completely concious of what she's doing but in the end the message she produces is still propaganda against tradition and the natural order.

[@golDroger88]

​@Amy Hainsworth Lol. Gnosticism has nothing to do with Christianity. They claim is does and they use that connection to validate their cult on the surface for their low-tier adepts but in reality they are the opposite of Christianity. They worship the one who "liberated" mankind by gifting it light (enlightenment) and they believe man is its own god. They push feminism (new feminism, not the old one) to disintegrate traditional society and remold it into something they can control better. But feminism is only one of their propaganda tools. Systemic racism (critical race theory) and intersectionality are a couple others, for example. It's not like they actually believe in the feminist crap they push, they just use it to make women hate their role in society. Obviously people like the girl in this video genuinely believe that women are "oppressed" and all the other stuff, they are the useful idiots propagating the subversion unknowingly. Divide and conquer, the oldest tactic in the book. One race, one language, one culture, one government, one religion. That is their goal. Read about secret societies and how they're all related (Jesuits, Illuminati, Masons, Gnosticism), esoteric vs. exoteric knowledge, the kalergi plan, watch Eyes Wide Shut, listen to Bobby Fisher. The clues and evidence are all out there for those who want to see. It's not easy to accept it for the average person because it means we live in a world filled with evil and we don't want to consciously acknowledge that.

[@classicambo9781]

@@golDroger88 the irony of you thinking that new feminism makes people easier to control by some 'outside power' rather than the traditional family structure shows just how deluded you are. 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@blackswan859]

Where is her sword which the Goddess holds in her left hand which symbolises that the war has ended and peace prevails.Her top right hands is in Abhay Mudra which ensures safety to humankind .

[@eugeniobonello418]

the new generation of amazingly smart and beautiful curators lol

[@actwealthy]

I really like her side grin. its awesome.

[@malakaragua702]

This woman is doing her job. Your comment verges in sexual harassment. Her level of "beauty" is also subjective and is in anyway irrelevant. Frankly she came across as more smug than smart. She needs to gain a few more wrinkles before she deigns to lecture. Less "beauty" and more wisdom.

[@pilgrim.5630]

Brilliant, thank you.

[@golDroger88]

It is better to fulfill your dharma even without merit (and in an imperfect manner), than fulfilling someone else's dharma well. He who fulfills the prescribed duty of his own innate nature doesn't commit sin. (Bhagavad Gita, XVIII: 47)

[@vashposh]

i love when history is told through English perspective 😂 so anachronistic

[@claymarzobestgoofy]

This is awesome!

[@randolphfriend8260]

❤️

[@scorpiorob7986]

Jai matta Kali, Jai matta Durga!

[@anindyabagchi27]

Jai Kaali, Jai Durga. Har har mahadev.

[@soumyadeep5]

Shakti literally translates to power (or energy), which is divine and feminine in Hinduism

[@cinnamonstar808]

Queen Arawelo of Somalia 👸🏽 is her kin

[@KavaKavana]

Love how she mentions that all women are presumably tantric yogis.

[@michelebriere9569]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@JTD472]

I didn’t know it before I started following this channel, but apparently all female museum curators are gorgeous. Not what I expected to learn on this channel, but I’m pleased nonetheless. Jokes aside, this channel is fascinating and really well done.

[@malakaragua702]

I know your comment means well, but this woman is doing her job. Would you say this to her in person after she gave that talk? What you are saying constitutes sexual harassment. Please be mindful in future and don't say things like that to women you don't know and who haven't solicited it. Be part of the solution, not the problem.

[@sullafelix649]

@@malakaragua702 lmao you were trolling right?

[@javilorenzana]

Hum... Was any of that stuff acquired legitimately... Wait, I meant morally?

[@EleanorPeterson]

Silly boy, of course not. It's a great big, sprawling, nasty, unfair, uncouth, politically incorrect world out there. So let the wars begin! Again. Hooray!

[@malakaragua702]

Morals are subjective

[@Mirkali5359]

hi Mali I am Rock Stone

[@terapieadhoc]

She gets the blood going 😊

[@malakaragua702]

Please think about what you write. This woman is doing her job. Would you say that to her in person after she'd finished the talk? What you're doing is unsolicited and constitutes sexual harassment.

[@HarshaVardhan-xx6ii]

She's smart, and in a likeable way

[@teambridgebsc691]

Without the sun, the flower will wither. Without the flower, the sun will be lonely.

[@RelaxAsleep]

i've heard sticking out tongue is sign of embarrassment, not lusting for more once it is over... still neat vid and artifacts!

[@jeremysale1385]

It's interesting to me the extent to which Indian systems of cultural thought were so open to external dialogue. Not that they were especially enlightened or anything; they just engaged with and integrated so many idea from outside of their own bubble. Especially compared to the arrogance and defensive ignorance of the colonial powers...I don't know. Does that only seem strange because I'm from the west?

[@malakaragua702]

Its seems a western trait because Christianity has traditionally been dominant in one form or another, but it is in actual fact common to all monotheistic forms of belief. Polytheism, by its very nature is much more inclusive, for example the Romans incorporated Egyptian and Persian, aswell as Greek gods and practices into its native religion.

[@anindyabagchi27]

@@malakaragua702 lovely reply. Couldn't have said it better even if I tried.

[@bhaskarjyaachatterjee]

British Museum should change it's name to Chor Bazar. Joy Ma Kali.

[@terrywallace5181]

Maybe I misunderstood, or muss interpreted something I heard. Was there something called a cult of "Thugee" associated with Kali, and was an anti-British organization or cult that had strangulation of men (presumably British) with a "sacred scarf" as a practice?

[@BurningSunBloodyMoon]

That's a highly disputed assertion made only by British colonial authorities - modern historians consider them to be an invention of colonial hysteria due to their lack of understanding of local culture and bigoted fear of an unknown foreign continent and people. They never really existed, at least not in the "evil Kali murder-cult" way the British imagined.

[@ShuAbLe]

Name of the book she's reading pretty please? 8:00

[@simoninsweden9843]

Siva's Demon Devotee: Karaikkal Ammaiyar. I would guess

[@ShuAbLe]

@@simoninsweden9843 WOW

[@abhijitmaji4377]

@@simoninsweden9843, right: books.google.com/books/about/Siva_s_Demon_Devotee.html?id=03w_cvnVRe0C

[@rachael501]

Should the creepy dudes in the comments stop talking about her appearance? Yes. Should the British Museum give back all of the stole artifacts and human remains in the collection? Also yes.

[@malakaragua702]

Should Rachel maybe be quiet?

[@BurningSunBloodyMoon]

@@malakaragua702 No. She's entirely correct.

[@rockoramadevil]

I am a bit confused, Kali, Red Tara, Kurukulla, Shakti....different names same goddess?

[@xyzxyz9709]

All are different forms of Ma or mother Parvati shiva's wife .

[@Tumbledweeb]

@@xyzxyz9709 Is Parvati mother of Ganesh? He's my favorite!

[@xyzxyz9709]

@@Tumbledweeb Yes she is mother of Ganesha . Lord Ganesha is god of good fortune and wisdom .

[@Tumbledweeb]

@@xyzxyz9709 I remember seeing a painting of Parvati with baby Ganesh on her lap. He was SO cute!

[@xyzxyz9709]

@@Tumbledweeb Ya he is beautiful !

[@DumbledoreMcCracken]

I agree, women are deities.

[@donaldrobertson117]

Not an hedonistic cult of ecstacy. That's a blow. Please can we hear about one that is?

[@ShaolinTrainingShifu]

Temple of Awakening Divinity - DMT sacrament

[@GrahamMilkdrop]

'... challenged traditional models of womanhood as passive and docile...'. I object to the word 'traditional' here as it implies that this model is far more ubiquitous than it actually has been.

[@Stadtpark90]

6:39 automatic subtitles going horribly wrong again: instead of “self-deification” it reads “self-defecation”...

[@cipriantodoran1674]

Horrible..

[@malakaragua702]

It's appropriate for some of this video though

[@unbroken1010]

👾👾👾👾👾

[@sarikatimmi]

lol cardi b trying to be kali in her shoe ad was so ridiculous

[@josephswafford7578]

🐦

[@orsettomorbido]

I created a magic card (fanmande, of course) that i named Shakti, Manifested Mana. It was cool to hear that term outside of my small research for a good name!

[@roisinreilly9761]

69 thumbs down?? Tantra got its own back rather ironically..

[@3DCGdesign]

Next time try lighting your subject while filming them during their presentation- otherwise great!

[@sahilchawlaa]

in half of India its 1 Goddess

[@christianhowarth4333]

Imma has ALL of the divine feminine power.

[@golDroger88]

Here's the simp.

[@I-am-not-a-number]

Tell my wifes.

[@captainjetpack]

hot

[@maxresdefault8330]

When you shoot in vlog and forget to add a LUT.

[@akraftybasterd3489]

+

[@anindyabagchi27]

Jai Maa Kaali. Colonials didn't bother to understand. There are examples of foreigners worshipping Maa Kaali, those who cared to understand our culture.

[@karthik4702]

Donated 😂

[@selotmani1]

the same story as Aicha condesha (Elsa the black queen marry young men and killed them, same in Ireland and Scotland)