The text of the entry was: Did you know ... that Tamil devotional poetry describes how clothes of married women slipped off at the sight of the Hindu god Shiva appearing in the form of a naked beggar(pictured)?
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Latest comment: 13 years ago2 comments1 person in discussion
Why do you use the word "anionic"? What is the intended meaning in this context? --Diannaa(Talk) 03:19, 13 April 2011 (UTC)Reply
"Shiva is often described as wandering the universe as a homeless beggar and his consort Parvati's raison d’être to bring back to the householder's martial life." Not sure what this means, so I don't know how to fix it. --Diannaa(Talk) 01:19, 14 April 2011 (UTC)Reply
There is some unclear language - would you please rephrase this?
"which abused him by a mere snap of his nail" - abused? also, verbal tense? Do you mean he flicked him with his fingernail?
Angered by Brahma's vanity, Shiva—as the terrifying Bhairava—cut off one head of the five-headed Brahma (Brahma abused Shiva) by a mere snap of his nail. RedtigerxyzTalk 16:23, 18 June 2011 (UTC)Reply
Can you explain for me what exactly in this story is being "iconographically depicted as Brahmashirascheda-murti"?
Iconographically, this aspect of Shiva beheading Brahma is represented as https://picasaweb.google.com/injamaven/KanchipuramThirukkazhukundram#5448613675414429890Brahmashirascheda-murti. "Bhikshatana is considered a gentler form of Shiva's fierce aspect Bhairava and a gentle phase between Bhairava's two gruesome forms, one of which decapitates the god Brahma (Brahmashirascheda-murti) and the other of which murders the god Vishnu's gatekeeper (kankala-murti)". RedtigerxyzTalk 13:14, 19 June 2011 (UTC)Reply
"he was resurrected due to the power of his austerities" - austerities?
How can he perform ascetic practices if he's dead? Or did he "build up credit" through an ascetic lifestyle that enabled him to spring back from death?
"Though Shiva is often described as a naked ascetic Yogi, Bhikshatana is a rare exception where Shiva is portrayed nude" - contast unclear here
Though Shiva is often described as a naked ascetic, iconographically he is rarely portrayed as nude, Bhikshatana being nude is thus an exception. RedtigerxyzTalk 16:23, 18 June 2011 (UTC)Reply
"Though Shiva is often described as a beggar, the theme of the expiatory wandering—which is the core of the Bhikshatana tale—lies in the Kapalika and Pashupata sects." What is the relationship between these sects and all the various texts you cited previously which relate the tale of expiatory wandering? Also, please use another word than "lie" (the theme... lies in the sects...). As currently written it's a little unclear. I would recommend you explicitly connect Kapalika to Kapali for readers who are not already familiar with the connection. (I'm not familiar myself, but I'm guessing there's a connection from the similarity in the names.) Also, any connection to the Pashupata sect is not well identified in the discussion you provide.
The organization of the paragraph beginning "The theme of Shiva as a beggar is not unique..." could be tightened by introducing the focus early on. I've made a major edit here that I believe helps the focus, but in doing so cut out one of your references and some information that might be better incorporated elsewhere. Have a look and see what you think.
The theme of the Expiatory wandering which is unique to Bhikshatana originates from kapalika and pashupata sects, but the general idea of Shiva as a beggar is well rooted in Hindu literature, where is often described as a beggar-ascetic. RedtigerxyzTalk 16:23, 18 June 2011 (UTC)Reply
Is there any tie between the Pashupata sect and Bhikshatana other than the fact that the story of the expiatory wandering originated from it? Are there similarities in ascetic practices etc like you discuss among the Kapalika sect?
Actually, the early Pashupata sect split into the extreme Kalamukha and Kapalika and the moderate Siddhanta school. The ascetic traditions of the original Pashupata sect were passed on to the Kapalika, who were different from the pashupatas as they carried skulls. RedtigerxyzTalk 13:41, 19 June 2011 (UTC)Reply
"Shiva is described to have cast his form" - what does it mean to "cast his form"?
The original Shiva does not go wandering. He separates the body of Bhairava from his his own to do the wandering.RedtigerxyzTalk 16:23, 18 June 2011 (UTC)Reply
"vetted to a Bhrunaghna sinner" - not clear what you mean by "vetted"
"on the outside of the temple proper on an inner road" - on a road within the temple complex? (I'm assuming there are no roads running through the main temple itself)
"warn the women of deceptions and cunning" - whose? Was he warning them not to be this way, or warning them that others may be this way?
according to the poet appar, Bhikshatna's job is to enlighten the women, though he comes disguised as a beggar. RedtigerxyzTalk 16:23, 18 June 2011 (UTC)Reply
That's still pretty unclear - enlighten them about what - their own behavior or that of others? Is further information available that we can use to clarify this?
In general, his objective is about educating the women about cunning in the world, than to acquire food from them that is what the poem conveys. It does not clearly say is he talking about their own behavior or that of others. RedtigerxyzTalk 13:41, 19 June 2011 (UTC)Reply
Let's leave it as is for now - perhaps if you choose to try to elevate this to FA, other editors will be able to propose an alternate phrasing.
The Development and Adoration section could use some tightening of organization. It would be good to more clearly group the information into themed paragraphs to help the reader follow the flow of your thoughts here. Some of the information might fit better into other sections.
Reorganized a little. Please let me of specific instances which you feel are still out of place. RedtigerxyzTalk 16:23, 18 June 2011 (UTC)Reply
Great work as always. Thank you so much for your contributions to Hinduism-related topics here on Wikipedia. I'm happy to award this fine article GA status. Lemurbaby (talk) 14:27, 19 June 2011 (UTC)Reply
Thanks for the pass and copyedit. Very few GA reviewers improve the reviewed article so much. Thanks for being one of them. Your Madagascar related artcles are always a joy to read. RedtigerxyzTalk 14:39, 19 June 2011 (UTC)Reply