MAAT
The Goddess of Truth.
It was represented like a woman wearing a tall ostrich feather on her head or an ostrich feather.
Daughter of Ra, wife of Thoth, Maat, was the goddess who represents the ideals of law, order and truth.
The word, Maat translates "that which is straight." it implies anything that is true, ordered, or balanced.
She is a very ancient goddess because we find her in the boat of Ra as it rose above the waters of the abyss of Nu on the first day. Together with Thoth, they charted the daily course of the sun god Ra. She is sometimes called the 'eye of Ra' or the 'daughter of Ra'.
Maat plays an important role in the 'Book of the Dead' because 'The Hall of Maat' was the place where the judgement of the dead was performed. This was done by weighing one's heart (conscience) against the feather of Maat. If a balance was struck the deceased was deemed to be worthy of meeting Osiris in the after life. If the heart of the deceased was found to be heavier then the feather of Maat it would be devoured by Ammut, 'The Devourer' depicted as a female demon with a body part lion, hippopotamus, and crocodile.. This was a terrifying prospect for the ancient Egyptians. It meant the end of existence.
During the Old Kingdom, the pharaoh’s primary role was to maintain Maat in society. Known as the Lord of Maat, he was said to decree with his mouth the Maat in his heart. This was an extremely important responsibility because the natural order and cosmic harmony would be disturbed, if someone violated Maat and pharaoh failed to restore it by making sure that justice was done, or if pharaoh violated Maat by his own conduct.
How many people will meet ''The Devourer''?
So what is missing in society today is conscience? The old adage still applies .. do unto others as you would have them do unto yourself.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry for the late answer but I saw it today.
DeleteIn my opinion everyone has his own coscience. There are people listening to it and that live their life honestly and respecting others and doing their best to help others but there are people that lock their coscience in a box because the only important things in their life are fame and money and they are able to do everything to gain them, even trample on their feelings towards the people who love . But at a certain point of their life they will meet other people like they were in their past and all the ghosts locked in the box will live
When you go to the other world, Ma'at will ask "Are there any fun memories during this life time?"
ReplyDeleteIf you can talk about a lot of fun memories feeling you have been happy, your heart is lighter than a feather of Ma'at.
If you talk about nothing but painful memories, your heart is heavier then the feather of Maat.
If you tend to complain, be careful. To notice little happiness and be thankfull every day is a tip to have a lighter heart.
思い(omoi) = Thoughts
重い(omoi) = Heavy
食い(kui) = Eat -->'The Devourer'
悔い(kui) = Regret
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In Shinto, the role is 幽冥主掌大神(Kakurigoto shiroshimesu ookami)
In Buddhist mythology, 閻魔大王(Enma daiou)
It's kind of pitiful to say "If you lie, Enma-sama will pull out your tongue" to children.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yama_(Buddhism_and_Chinese_mythology)
Correction--
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of typical (not pitiful ☺) to say "If you lie, Enma-sama will pull out your tongue" to teach children not tell a lie.