Episode 93

[crisyah.livejournal.com]

 Just a little something about Kanda's tattoo, people...

This was in the manga too but I missed for some reason clearly, because it wasn't shiny there.

Hum, correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the Akuma plant... egg... something? Or are those symbols the effect of Cross's magic? Either way... Hum, clue to something about Kanda and his mysterious healing powers? Kanda's tattoo seems to have an extra dash on top but the shiny-ness of the symbols might be "hiding" it... Or are they actually different symbols? Does anyone know what they mean?


And not really related but... it's a woman singing the 14th's song... Hum, Maria, anyone?

Yeah, I have nothing more to say. Discuss! =D o

Comments

[crisyah.livejournal.com]

I think I once saw something posted around here stating that, too... Hum, must look. Do you happen to know more about the symbolism? ^_^

[tosshi.livejournal.com]

A little bit~

As we know, a few of the characters have names derived from brands, real people, etc. Considering the meanings therein, it's a more than good bet that Kanda = Khanda.

The Khanda was a kind of sword used in ancient India. It was a favorite of great warriors, etc, and one subset of Hinduism, the Sikhs, made it the central point of their religious symbol, representing the "knowledge of God".

The symbol is the "om", the sound that created the world. It's made up of four basic parts that represent the four states of human awareness: ordinary waking state, deep sleep, dream state, and the "awakened" state of absolute conscience. In Kanda's tattoo, the dream state is missing.

The lotus is a common repeated symbol in Hindu mythology, and the symbol for rebirth and enlightenment. There are a number of myths involving the lotus, and one goddess usually pictured sitting or standing on a lotus. Tying back into the "dream state" business, the lotus is brought up in various mythologies, and in real life, as a narcotic. In the Odyssey, there is an island of lotus-eaters, who drift into eternal dreaming by eating the lotus. Also certain variants of lotus can be turned into drugs that do, in fact, promote a state of waking dreams, often involving one's past. It was used ritually in ancient Egypt.

I'm sure you can find more if you do some research through google. =D

[tosshi.livejournal.com]

Also, someone on manga-helpers posted a picture of a "jewish sun symbol" that had that exact character on it, but upon doing some research I can't find that symbol again anywhere, and I've found one constant OTHER sun symbol that's actually the jewish one. So goodness knows. But I've seen Kanda's version of that symbol on various neo-pagan publications and fliers in public places, stuck in the middle of other hindu symbols. =)

[crisyah.livejournal.com]

Ooh, interesting~! *is a geek for religion/mythology/etc 8D*

I knew the part about the lotus! And I knew there was something wrong with that Om, just didn't know what.

That doesn't sound very reliable, then XP Must be Hinduism, indeed.

Thank you so, so, so much for this! ^_^ I'll have to investigate more now >.> <.

[kaizoku-shinobi.livejournal.com]

Woah, that makes a lot of sense. Oo

I always thought that Kanda was named as he is because he's Japanese, and since there are a lot of ties to religion and God here I thought Kanda was chosen because it had the character for 'god' in it. >>;

I also never knew that the lotus had so many ties to Hinduism. But in China and possibly Japan, it's regarded as "a flower that blossoms every 1000 years, and will continue to blossom"; basically meaning that it's an immortal/regenerating/whatever type of flower. So that's my reason for the decision of a lotus. (Or maybe it's there to make fun of Kanda's interest of gardening and his lack of masculinity.)

[tosshi.livejournal.com]

Who knows. I would bet on the rebirth symbolism for the lotus, though. It's pretty universal, and since he has those other things that tie into Hinduism, I wouldn't be surprised if that did too.

Speaking of which, his bracelet, though it's again got that new-age neo-pagan thing about it now, is originally a Hindu prayer bracelet. ♥

[kaizoku-shinobi.livejournal.com]

It is? Isn't it a nenju? I think a nenju would be more likely since he's Japanese.

Unless the nenju originated from the Hindu bracelet, then it'd basically be the same thing. lol

[crisyah.livejournal.com]

I would go with the rebirth theory, too. In "The Village Where the Witch Lives" (or something like that >.> <.< ... his story in the reverse novel/anime episodes), when he was talking about the lotus, he focused on the fact that it withered but bloomed the next morning again. Though rebirth could be linked to immortality it too, since it considers the soul to be immortal, right?

I noticed the bracelet too(which, actually, is exactly like one I own >.> <.<)! ^_^ But, again, I didn't know the origins. (Again, thanks! You're making me smarter~! XP)