He actually does have a ruddy complexion so I'm not too far off with the colour on this one…for a change.

 

_MG_1627_tonemapped 2 copy.psd

Snow White and her Prince have now been fully deboxed. They are posed standing, supported by the built-in doll stands in the base of the display case.

 

This regular version of the Snow White and the Prince Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Doll Set has the same two base dolls as the D23 special edition dolls that I reviewed earlier. That is the dolls themselves are identical in every way (except for the serial numbers on the back of the Prince dolls). They also have outfits of almost identical designs, but made of different materials and with differing colors. So the dolls have different looks, especially the Snow Whites.

 

Snow White has the body of a 2012 Disney Store Classic Princess doll. That is, she has hard plastic legs, with hinged knee joints and ball jointed ankles. She is missing the usual manufacturer's marks printed on Disney limited edition dolls, including the part number and her edition size and serial number. She is also missing the twist waist joint of the previous Designer Princess and Designer Villain dolls. She has a pale complexion, the same as the 2012 Snow White, with whom she shares the same body. However, her neck joint has more freedom of movement, especially downward, and her painted on panties are deep golden yellow, much darker than the 2012 Snow White.

 

Her face mold appears to be the same as the 2012 and 2013 Classic Snow White, but with a considerably different face paint than either of them. She has large dark brown eyes that are glancing to her left, with four short thick lashes over each eye and four very short and thin lashes under each eye. Over her eyes is gold eyeshadow, and thin black eyebrows gently following the curve of her eyes. She also had short rooted eyelashes that are just barely curving upwards, and are even in length. She has a small button nose, a small mouth with blood red lips forming a charming open mouth smile. She has light pink rouge over most of her cheeks, and a round face with small chin. She is a very beautiful and faithful representation of the sweet and charming movie character.

 

Her hair is a considerable departure from the traditional short flip hairdo. Her jet black hair is parted to the left of her head, and pulled tightly over her head into a medium length braided ponytail that tapers down to a point and is secured by black rubberband, and is sewn to her collar on her right side. There is a small amount of hair product applied just above her forehead, to a thin strip of her hair. In my doll, that strip keeps on separating from the rest of her hair. I haven't been able to integrate it with the rest of her hair; perhaps I will have to apply more hair product to keep it place. There is a thin bright red satin ribbon around the top of her head that ends in a small bow at left side of her head.

 

Her outfit is a take on her traditional Princess gown. Her bodice and skirt are separate pieces. The bodice is dark blue velvet with gold piping and elaborate gold embroidery, and decorated with a bow made of metallic gold thread. The floral design is similar to the D23 doll, but differs in its details. She has puffy sleeves of the same dark blue velvet, with separate ribbons of bright red satin that float over the velvet. The sleeves have black lace cuffs decorated with gold hearts, and the oversized collar is pure white lace folded in a fan-like manner behind her neck and head. Her skirt is dark golden taffeta with gold embroidering incorporating fleur-de-lis, flowers and hearts. The embroidery in the skirt is identical to that of the D23 doll. The taffeta gives the skirt has a wrinkled, antique appearance. It has a thin pale tan satin lining. There are golden rhinestones scattered throughout the bodice and skirt of her dress. Under her dress is a floor length white satin slip with the lacey pattern at the hem showing below her skirt. It is sewn to her skirt at two spots at the hem, which I chose to leave alone for now. It is also sewn to the waist band of the skirt, so it is a permanent part of the skirt. She is wearing golden tan flat shoes (or slippers), the same as the D23 doll. It is a beautifully designed and beautifully made outfit that is a darker and more ornated version of the Princess outfit of the movie character.

 

The Prince appears to have the standard Disney Store Prince body, with articulation at the neck, shoulders, hinge jointed elbows, ball jointed hips, and internal knee joints with limited movement. His hands and feet are large, but his head is disproportionately small compared to Snow White. His face has a neutral expression, with small, narrow deep blue eyes, wide mouth and a straight nose. His molded dark brown hair looks okay. His face doesn't look that movie accurate to me; I actually prefer the playline Classic Prince. As with all Disney Prince dolls, he is sturdily built, and can free stand fairly stably. But for safe keeping, it is best to put him up in the included doll stand, which has a wide C-clamp that goes around his waist very snuggly.

 

The Prince's outfit is very well made and fitted to his body. It consists of a dark blue faux leather vest, a bright red velvet and satin cape with gold piping permanently attached at the shoulders of the vest, a dark blue faux leather belt with a gold metal buckle and a short black faux leather scabbard attached, white satin shirt, black pants and black boots with a worn look and creases. In the scabbard is a steel gray sword with a brown handle. The sword is thin and very flexible. It was slightly bent out of the box, but was easily bent back into shape. The D23 Prince's vest is much thicker, and feels much more like real leather than this Prince doll. But this Prince has an outfit that is much closer in color to the movie character. He looks great in his outfit, and very dashing, but I wish his expression had more emotion, and was more cheerful.

 

Snow White and the Prince - Limited Edition Doll Set

Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

US Disney Store

Released and purchased in store on August 20, 2013.

Released online August 21, 2013.

$129.95 US

#558 of 6000

First Look

 

I will photograph the set boxed, during the deboxing, and fully deboxed. I will also pose the dolls next to comparable dolls, for instance the Gold D23 Snow White doll set.

 

Product information from the US Disney Store website:

 

Snow White and the Prince Doll Set - Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

$129.95

Item No. 6070040900883P

 

Fairest two of all

 

With lips red as the rose and skin as white as snow, the Princess has never looked fairer. Paired with her handsome Prince, this stunning set of Disney Fairytale Designer Collection dolls will be cherished happily ever after.

 

Magic in the details...

 

Please Note: Each Guest will be limited to ordering a maximum of one of this item per order.

 

As part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection this pair of Snow White and Prince dolls were carefully crafted by artists inspired by Walt Disney's 1937 classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The original Disney Princess and her Prince have been reimagined in exquisite detail with these limited edition dolls. Brought to life with thoughtful attention, they uniquely capture the essence of the fairytale couple, creating a one of a kind set that will be a treasured keepsake of collectors, Disney fans and every princess at heart.

 

•Global Limited Editon of 6000

•Includes Certificate of Authenticity

•Romantic side-swept hair

•Dramatic lace collar

•Elaborately embroidered velvet bodice with puff sleeves with red satin detailing

•Layered gown ornately decorated with golden gemstones, taffeta, lace, and embroidered foliage

•Dramatic make-up and rooted eyelashes

•Red bow headband

•Prince features velvet cape

•Satin shirt with faux leather waistcoat and belt

•Boots and sword

•Dolls sold in a special keepsake display case with intricate details on the base, including a golden plate with the name of Snow White and the Prince

•Includes special Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Gift Bag

•Part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

 

* Intended for adult collectors -- Not a child's toy.

 

The bare necessities

 

•Plastic / polyester

•Snow White: 11 1/2''

•Prince: 12'' H

•Imported

 

Beauty standards (white complexion and big black eyes of the houris), jewels and fabrics worn by the people of paradise (rubis, coral, silk, brocade), perfumes that embalm the gardens of Eden (musc, amber), food and food in abundance, correspond to this horizon. The Muslim tradition is full of details about the physical features and customs of the inhabitants of paradise. Basically: beautiful, radiant, 33 years old (all men and women, without exception), they do not know sleep or fatigue and will never have children, because procreation is impossible in paradise. According to this description, the elected and blessed will all speak Arabic. In addition to being the language of the Koran, Arabic will also be the language of paradise. The palaces reserved for the inhabitants of paradise are carved out of precious stones and constructed of gold, ruby and musk, and are spread out over tens of kilometers and their ceilings are hundreds of meters high. Excessive dimensions that will make the poet Bashar Ibn Bord's teasing spirit say that it must be very cold during the month of December in such spacious and tall residences.

 

“Satisfaction is the greatest gate of God and the paradise of this world.” Know that the servant will not approach being satisfied with God". In addition to other descriptions of Jannah (heaven), Islamic tradition describes heaven as having eight "doors" or "gates." Each one has a name, describing the types of people who will be admitted through it. Some scholars interpret that these doors are found inside Jannah, after one enters the main gate. The exact nature of these doors is unknown, but they were mentioned in the Quran and their names were given by the Prophet Muhammad.Most of the Qur' anic verses evoking the resurrection, paradise and hell have been revealed in Mecca. During the first thirteen years of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad was to conquer the hearts and minds of the men and women who would make up the first Muslim community. This period spent in Mecca was a time of fragility, hardship and endurance for the prophet of Islam. The rich and powerful chiefs of the Qurayche tribe saw no point in believing and following the message of a destitute orphan, protected by an aging uncle and supported by "the weak and slaves". Mohammed then described the spiritual and moral aspects of his revelation, and described life here on earth as a passage, a transition, a trial course, where only submission to God and the fulfillment of good deeds counted. Wealth, prestige, noble belonging and titles had no interest or usefulness after death. The verses revealed to Mecca abound in descriptions that depict the future life, where the pious, rich or poor, will be rewarded, while the arrogant, the ungodly and the unbelievers will be promised to the torment and torment of hell. The description of paradise in these verses is sensual, taking up the aspects of luxury, opulence and comfort that were prevalent at the time among the wealthy inhabitants of Mecca. As pointed out by Sheikh Soubhi El-Saleh, author of a reference book on the subject (The Future Life According to the Qur' an, Vrin Edition, 1986), the highly materialistic nature of life in Mecca explains the use of this sensual description. A thriving centre of commerce, a meeting place for Arab tribes, Mecca was dominated by the cult of wealth, lush and affluence. The Qur' an should then present a description of the delights of paradise and the afflictions of hell close to the mental and cultural horizon of the inhabitants of Mecca.

To those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of heaven, nor will they enter the garden, until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle. Such is Our reward for those in sin. (Quran 7:40)

And those who feared their Lord will be led to the Garden in crowds, until behold, they arrive there. Its gates will be opened, and its keepers will say: 'Peace be upon you! You have done well! Enter here, to dwell therein.' (Quran 39:73)

Ubadah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad said: "If anyone testifies that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone Who has no partners, and that Muhammad is his slave and His Apostle, and that Jesus is Allah's slave and His Apostle and His word which He bestowed on Mary and a spirit created by Him, and that Paradise is true, and Hell is true, Allah will admit him into Paradise through any of its eight gates he likes."

 

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said: "Whoever spends two things in the way of Allah will be called from the gates of Paradise and will be addressed, 'O slave of Allah, here is prosperity!' So whoever was among the people who used to offer their prayers will be called from the gate of prayer; and whoever was among the people who used to participate in jihad will be called from the gate of jihad; and whoever was among those who used to observe fasts will be called from the gate of ar-Rayyaan; and whoever was among those who used to give in charity will be called from the gate of charity."

It is natural to wonder: What will happen to those people who have earned the privilege to enter Jannah through more than one gate? Abu Bakr had the same question, and he eagerly asked the Prophet Muhammad: "Will there be anyone who will be called from all these gates?" The Prophet answered him, "Yes. And I hope you will be one of them."

The most commonly-cited list of the eight doors of Jannah includes:

Baab As-Salaat: Those who were punctual and focused in their prayers (salaat) will be granted entry through this door.

 

Baab Al-Jihad: Those who have died in the defense of Islam (jihad) will be granted entry through this door. Note that the Quran calls upon Muslims to solve issues by peaceful means, and only engage in defensive battles. "Let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression" (Quran 2:193).

Baab As-Sadaqah: Those who frequently give away in charity (sadaqah) will be admitted into Jannah through this door.

Baab Ar-Rayyaan

The people who constantly observed fasting (especially during Ramadan) will be granted entry through this door.

Baab Al-Hajj: Those who observe the Hajj pilgrimage will be admitted through this door.

Baab Al-Kaazimeen Al-Ghaiz Wal Aafina Anin Naas: This door is reserved for those who control their anger and forgive others.

Baab Al-Iman: This door is reserved for the entry of such people who have sincere faith and trust in Allah, and who strive to follow the commands of Allah.

Baab Al-Dhikr: Those who constantly remembered Allah (dhikr) will be admitted through this door.

Whether one believes that these "gates" of heaven are metaphorical or literal, it helps one to see where the core values of Islam lie. The names of the gates each describe a spiritual practice that one should strive to incorporate into one's life.

“There are eight gates for Paradise and seven gates for the Fire.” said the Prophet (pbuh).

 

The saying of praise for Allah, “Al-Hamdu Lil-lahi,” has eight alphabets*; the number of the gates of Paradise is also eight, therefore he who recites these eight alphabets out of purity of heart does deserve (the opening of) the eight gates of Paradise. Know that indeed there are eight gates for Paradise, and in the rank that you reach after reciting, “I take refuge in Allah from Shaytan the outcast…” one gate of the eight gates of Paradise opens for you; that is the gate of Ma’refa (Divine Gnosis).

A second gate is that of al-Dhikr (Remembrance) as you are reciting ‘Bismil-lahir Rahmanir Rahim’.

The third gate is that of Shukr (Gratitude) after reciting ‘Al-Hamdu Lil-Lahi Rabbil Alamin’.

The fourth gate is that of Hope when you recite ‘Ar-Rahanir Rahimi’.

The fifth gate is that of Fear when you recite ‘Maliki Yaumid-Din’.

The sixth gate is that of Purity born out of the Ma’refa (Divine Gnosis) of ‘Ubudiat (Servitude) and Rububiat (Divinity) in your reciting ‘Iyyaka Na’budu Wa Iyyaka Nasta’inu’.

The seventh gate is that of Du’a (Invocation) in your reciting ‘Ihdinas Siratal Mustaqim’.

The eighth gate is that of ‘Iqtidā’ (emulation or following the example) of the good and pure souls, and of seeking guidance through their Nur (Divine Light) and that is in your reciting of ‘Siratal La-Dhina…’

Now you know the secrets of the Eight Gates of Paradise and what is referred to in 38:50. ‘The Gardens of Eden with opened gates for them’. For the Gardens of Divine Gnosis have been opened by these spiritual keys, and this does point to what happens during the Prayer of Spiritual Ascension, like that of the Prophet (pbuh) to the Heavens.

 

– From the Tasfir al-Kabir (The Great Commentary), al-Fatiha, verse 7, by Fahkr al-Din al-Razi (his exegesis on the Quran), also named the Mafatih al-Ghayb (The Keys to the Unknown).

 

The transition to Medina and the creation of the Islamic state marked a new trend in the description of the afterlife. The Qur' anic verses revealed to Medina, depicting heaven and hell, are more spiritual, less picturesque, and the notion of "divine satisfaction" (or Ridwan) is placed above any divine reward or reward. It is obvious that this evolution of spiritual thought is in Medina where the prophet has become the spiritual guide of the new community. It is precisely this period of great importance for the future of Islam that puts an end to the Paradise description,"notes Sheikh Sobhi El-Saleh, a former president of the Lebanese Ulema League and a member of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco.

It should be noted, however, that the Qur' an remains concise and sober in the description of heaven, hell and life after death. It is the Hadith and Muslim tradition that provide the most detailed and exuberant accounts of the afterlife.The resurrection and the day of the judgment are the subject of a Dantean and terrifying narrative in Muslim religious texts. According to a verse of the Qur' an, the resurrection (Al Qiyama) is announced by a trumpet blow (Al Nafkh fi Sour). All creatures will then find life and recover their bodies, souls and spirits. Harboured and stunned by their resurrection, human beings realize what happens to them and prefer to return to their graves rather than face the day of the final judgment. They are then placed in a long and unbearable wait, in a state of nudity and anguish, which will make the most selfish reflexes of the human being reappear: the mothers will forget their own children and everyone will be concerned about their own fate. In his masterpiece Al Foutouhat Al Makkiya, the mystical Andalusian master Ibn Arabi speaks of 50 stops along the way from resurrection to heaven or hell. According to Ibn Arabi, each stopping place is equivalent to a thousand years of waiting, and at each station (Mawqif), the different actions of human beings will be scrutinized. The good accomplished and the evil done by each one will be weighed and evaluated, before the faithful join paradise and the ungodly rushed into hell. The Hadith and Muslim tradition provide a colourful and very ceremonial description of the arrival in paradise. Thus, after having passed through the trials of judgment, the blessed ones will arrive before the eight immense gates of paradise. Each door has a name that designates it according to the benefits and virtues of the faithful: a door of prayer, jihad, fasting, repentance, almsgiving, submission to God, control of anger, and a last door reserved for those who will enter heaven without judgment. According to the Muslim tradition, the first person to enter heaven is the prophet Muhammad, followed by members of the Muslim community, the poor first, then the rich and the affluent. This discrimination is a way of "rewarding" the poor, slaves and wretched who were the first to believe in the message of the prophet of Islam. After the Muslim community, it is the turn of Christians, guided by Jesus, to reach heaven. The other communities will follow in their footsteps, led by their respective prophets. Noah and those who followed him after the flood will close this long procession to heaven. The arrival in front of the seven gates of hell is described in a more terrifying way. The damned doomed to hell will arrive in seven groups, depending on the seriousness of the sins committed. Each door will be assigned to a group and sinners belonging to the Muslim community will move towards the door where torments are the least cruel. Honoured, humiliated, carrying heavy weight, the condemned to hell are watched over by an incalculable number of guards endowed with an incomparable strength and an indescribable cruelty. As the ungodly and unbelievers approached, hell roared and spit out its flames, and a rain of fire, ropes and chains fell upon the future tenants of hell. At the sight of this frightening spectacle, the latter retreat from fear and fear, cry, cry, scream, but relentless angels will follow them and precipitate them into hell, and their fall will spread over several years (70 years according to some accounts) before reaching the bottom. The Muslim tradition is inexhaustible of details and imagination in the description of paradise, perceived as a place of rest, bliss and eternal enjoyment. The disproportionate dimensions, the abundance of goods and delicacies, the extremely sensual nature of the narratives that depict paradise, have prompted rational theologians and Sufis to put a dose of relativity and even doubt in this description. According to the Muslim tradition, which includes Hadith and comments from the Qur' an, heaven is placed in the seventh heaven below God's throne, to mark the closeness of the blessed mansion to God's dwelling-place. However, paradise does contain levels according to the degree of piety, faith and actions accomplished here below. The chosen ones, i. e. the most faithful prophets and believers, placed on higher floors, will appear to the other tenants of paradise as "the rays of the stars and stars". The alleys of paradise are inlaid with precious stones and rubies and the ground is covered with musk and saffron, and heady scents embellish the atmosphere. Rivers of honey, milk and wine flow through paradise and water its people with their unalterable taste. According to this description, the bodies of the inhabitants of paradise do not know sickness, decay or death. Moreover, a hadith explains that death will be incarnated in the form of a ram, brought back by angels, and slain before the people of heaven and hell, to signify to them the eternal character of life in the afterlife and the end of the fear of death that haunts humans.

The exuberant, picturesque and luxurious description of paradise has prompted a number of Muslim theologians and mystics to react, who wanted to give a more spiritual, rational or symbolic aspect to the catalogue of pleasures promised to the blessed in paradise. For Al Ghazali, the famous 11th century theologian, no human being is able to grasp or describe life perfectly in heaven or hell. Al Ghazali defines paradise and its pleasures in the words of a hadith:"Paradise is what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and which has never passed through the heart of a human being". The description of paradise thus has the value of illustration and example. According to this vision of Al Ghazali, the delights of paradise are therefore nothing more than a theatre of shadows and a presentation close to the material meaning that humans give to the notion of pleasure. God has revealed only a figuration of paradise and not its essence nor its true and real nature, which is known only to him.

Much closer to us, Sheikh Mohamed Abdou, the great Egyptian religious reformer, is sceptical and sometimes critical of the material and overly detailed description of life in paradise, and the afterlife in general. While accepting the concrete and sensual nature of paradise, Sheikh Mohamed Abdou considers spiritual retribution to be more important than the material pleasures of paradise. The Egyptian reformer, aware of the role of tradition in amplifying stories about the afterlife, only admits to these questions the Motawatar hadiths, i. e. those with a high degree of authenticity and whose number is very small. The method allows this great figure of reformist and rational Salafism to give a sober description of paradise, closer to reason and understanding than the overly detailed narratives of which the Muslim tradition abounds. Like Al Ghazali, Mohamed Abdou also reminds us of this hadith, which presents paradise as belonging to the domain of the indescribable and the inexpressible. Sufism, on the other hand, provides an original vision of paradise and the relationship that Muslims must establish with the afterlife. For the masters of Muslim mysticism, God must be worshipped for himself and not out of fear of his hell or the desire to reach his paradise. Rabia Al Adaouia expresses this vision best when she explained to one of her visitors:"I did not worship God, like the evil slave, out of fear of his hell or desire for his paradise, but I loved him out of love for him and by inclination towards him". Rabia Al Adaouia did not dispute the existence of paradise and its nature, but felt that all these pleasures are incomparable with God's closeness and contemplation. As Orientalist Louis Massignon notes, the Iraqi mystic was looking for the neighbour (God) first, rather than the dwelling place (the paradise). Other mystics, such as Al Halaj or Al Nifari, considered paradise as a veil stretched to hide the essential. The pleasures of paradise are displayed as a kind of divine ruse that places the chosen ones in waiting, like the beloved one making his lover languish, before appearing and revealing himself to him.

 

www.thoughtco.com/doors-of-jannah-2004342

 

Taken, with thanks to Brother Dara, from the Untiredwithloving website.

 

Created with ChatGPT

 

Prompt - 16:9 ultra-photorealistic fantasy photograph of Z using the mandatory uploaded facial lock: soft oval-heart face, warm medium-brown complexion, large almond-shaped deep warm-brown eyes, thick softly arched brows, refined straight nose with rounded tip, medium-full lips, naturally curly almost-black hair, calm confident expression. She sits directly on a weathered stone embankment beside the water (no chair, no chair back), shown in perfect right-facing profile, chin resting thoughtfully on one hand. She wears a luxurious long-sleeved dark crimson and black gown with a flowing full skirt woven with thousands of subtle gold sparkles. Small glowing white butterflies drift around her. Beside her stands a magnificent ornate multi-tiered Victorian Gothic street lamp casting warm white light across the stone and shimmering water. The water reflects the lamp and glowing sky. Beyond the river lies a breathtaking fantasy city of illuminated towers, bridges and soaring spires beneath a hazy golden twilight sky. Dramatic cinematic lighting, volumetric atmosphere, realistic reflections, HDR, Phase One XF IQ4 150MP, Schneider Kreuznach 80mm LS f/2.8, f/2.8, ISO100, true skin pores, authentic fabric textures, natural optical depth, IMAX-quality live-action fantasy photograph, no chair, no chair back, no text, no logos, no watermark.

 

Pic and Prompt by Adrian

Charity

Guido Reni (Italian, Bolognese, 1575-1642)

Oil on canvas; 54 x 41 3/4 in. (137.2 x 106 cm)

 

This exceptionally beautiful picture exemplifies the refinement of Reni's much admired style. The variously colored complexions of the three infants was intentional. The picture comes from the Liechtenstein collection, Vienna, where it is recorded in 1767. It may have been bought or commissioned in Italy by Prince Karl Eusebius von Liechtenstein (1611-1684), who travelled in Italy in 1629-30. While not exactly datable, it has much in common with works by Reni executed about 1630.

 

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1974 (1974.348)

 

**

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's permanent collection contains more than two million works of art from around the world. It opened its doors on February 20, 1872, housed in a building located at 681 Fifth Avenue in New York City. Under their guidance of John Taylor Johnston and George Palmer Putnam, the Met's holdings, initially consisting of a Roman stone sarcophagus and 174 mostly European paintings, quickly outgrew the available space. In 1873, occasioned by the Met's purchase of the Cesnola Collection of Cypriot antiquities, the museum decamped from Fifth Avenue and took up residence at the Douglas Mansion on West 14th Street. However, these new accommodations were temporary; after negotiations with the city of New York, the Met acquired land on the east side of Central Park, where it built its permanent home, a red-brick Gothic Revival stone "mausoleum" designed by American architects Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mold. As of 2006, the Met measures almost a quarter mile long and occupies more than two million square feet, more than 20 times the size of the original 1880 building.

 

In 2007, the Metropolitan Museum of Art was ranked #17 on the AIA 150 America's Favorite Architecture list.

 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1967. The interior was designated in 1977.

 

National Historic Register #86003556

Vishnu (/ˈvɪʃnuː/; Sanskrit: Viṣṇu) is a popular Hindu deity, the Supreme God of Vaishnavism (one of the three principal denominations of Hinduism) and one of the three supreme deities (Trimurti) of Hinduism. He is also known as Lord Narayana and Lord Hari. As one of the five primary forms of God in the Smarta tradition, He is conceived as "the Preserver or the Protector" within the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the divinity.

 

In Hindu sacred texts, Vishnu is usually described as having dark complexion of water-filled clouds and as having four arms. He is depicted as a blue being, holding a padma (lotus flower) in the lower left hand, the Kaumodaki gada (mace) in the lower right hand, the Panchajanya shankha (conch) in the upper left hand and the discus weapon Sudarshana Chakra in the upper right hand.

 

Adherents of Hinduism believe Vishnu's eternal and supreme abode beyond the material universe is called Vaikuntha, which is also known as Paramdhama, the realm of eternal bliss and happiness and the final or highest place for liberated souls who have attained Moksha. Vaikuntha is situated beyond the material universe and hence, cannot be perceived or measured by material science or logic. Vishnu's other abode within the material universe is Ksheera Sagara (the ocean of milk), where he reclines and rests on Ananta Shesha, (the king of the serpent deities, commonly shown with a thousand heads). In almost all Hindu denominations, Vishnu is either worshipped directly or in the form of his ten avatars, the most famous of whom are Rama and Krishna.

 

The Puranabharati, an ancient text, describes these as the dashavatara, or the ten avatars of Vishnu. Among the ten described, nine have occurred in the past and one will take place in the future as Lord Kalki, at the end of Kali Yuga, (the fourth and final stage in the cycle of yugas that the world goes through). These incarnations take place in all Yugas in cosmic scales; the avatars and their stories show that gods are indeed unimaginable, unthinkable and inconceivable. The Bhagavad Gita mentions their purpose as being to rejuvenate Dharma, to vanquish those negative forces of evil that threaten dharma, and also to display His divine nature in front of all souls.

 

The Trimurti (three forms) is a concept in Hinduism "in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified by the forms of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the maintainer, preserver or protector and Shiva the destroyer or transformer." These three deities have also been called "the Hindu triad" or the "Great Trinity", all having the same meaning of three in One. They are the different forms or manifestation of One person the Supreme Being or Narayana/Svayam Bhagavan.

 

Vishnu is also venerated as Mukunda, which means God who is the giver of mukti or moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirths) to his devotees or the worthy ones who deserve salvation from the material world.

 

ETYMOLOGY

The traditional explanation of the name Vishnu involves the root viś, meaning "to settle" (cognate with Latin vicus, English -wich "village," Slavic: vas -ves), or also (in the Rigveda) "to enter into, to pervade," glossing the name as "the All-Pervading One". Yaska, an early commentator on the Vedas, in his Nirukta, (etymological interpretation), defines Vishnu as viṣṇur viṣvater vā vyaśnoter vā, "one who enters everywhere". He also writes, atha yad viṣito bhavati tad viṣnurbhavati, "that which is free from fetters and bondages is Vishnu".

 

Adi Shankara in his commentary on the Sahasranama states derivation from viś, with a meaning "presence everywhere" ("As he pervades everything, vevesti, he is called Vishnu"). Adi Shankara states (regarding Vishnu Purana, 3.1.45): "The Power of the Supreme Being has entered within the universe. The root viś means 'enter into'." Swami Chinmayananda, in his translation of Vishnu Sahasranama further elaborates on that verse: "The root vis means to enter. The entire world of things and beings is pervaded by Him and the Upanishad emphatically insists in its mantra 'whatever that is there is the world of change.' Hence, it means that He is not limited by space, time or substance. Chinmayananda states that, that which pervades everything is Vishnu."

 

SACRET TEXTS - SHRUTI & SMRITI

Shruti is considered to be solely of divine origin. It is preserved as a whole, instead of verse by verse. It includes the four Vedas (Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda) the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas and the Upanishads with commentaries on them.

 

Smṛti refers to all the knowledge derived and inculcated after Shruti had been received. Smrti is not 'divine' in origin, but was 'remembered' by later Rishis (sages by insight, who were the scribes) by transcendental means and passed down through their followers. It includes the Bhagavata Purana and the Vishnu Purana which are Sattva Puranas. These both declare Vishnu as Para Brahman Supreme Lord who creates unlimited universes and enters each one of them as Lord of Universe.

 

SHRUTI

 

VAISHNAVA CANON

The Vaishnava canon presents Vishnu as the supreme being, rather than another name for the Sun God, who also bore the name Suryanarayana and is considered only as a form of Vishnu.

 

VEDAS

In the Yajur Veda, Taittiriya Aranyaka (10-13-1), Narayana suktam, Lord Narayana is mentioned as the supreme being. The first verse of Narayana Suktam mentions the words "paramam padam", which literally mean "highest post" and may be understood as the "supreme abode for all souls". This is also known as Param Dhama, Paramapadam, or Vaikuntha. Rig Veda 1:22:20a also mentions the same "paramam padam". This special status is not given to any deity in the Vedas apart from Lord Vishnu/Narayana.[citation needed] Narayana is one of the thousand names of Vishnu as mentioned in the Vishnu Sahasranama. It describes Vishnu as the All-Pervading essence of all beings, the master of - and beyond - the past, present and future, one who supports, sustains and governs the Universe and originates and develops all elements within. This illustrates the omnipresent characteristic of Vishnu. Vishnu governs the aspect of preservation and sustenance of the universe, so he is called "Preserver of the universe".

 

Vishnu is the Supreme God who takes manifest forms or avatars across various ages or periods to save humanity from evil beings, demons or Asuras. According to the extant Hindu texts and traditions, Lord Vishnu is considered to be resident in the direction of the "Makara Rashi" (the "Shravana Nakshatra"), which is about coincident with the Capricorn constellation. In some of the extant Puranas, and Vaishnava traditions, Vishnu's eye is considered to be situated at the infinitely distant Southern Celestial Pole.

 

Following the defeat of Indra and his displacement as the Lord of Heaven or Swarga, Indra asks Lord Vishnu for help and thus Lord Vishnu takes his incarnations or avatars to Earth to save mankind, thus showing his position as Supreme God to all of creation.

 

In the Puranas, Indra frequently appears proud and haughty. These bad qualities are temporarily removed when Brahma and/or Shiva give boons to Asuras or Rakshasas such as Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakashipu and Ravana, who are then able to defeat Indra in wars between Devas and Asuras. The received boons often made Asuras virtually indestructible.

 

Indra has no option but to seek help from Vishnu. Indra prays before Vishnu for protection and the Supreme Lord obliges him by taking avatars and generating himself on Earth in various forms, first as a water-dweller (Matsya, fish), then as an amphibious creature (Kurma avatar or Tortoise), then as a half-man-half-animal (Varaha the pig-faced, human-bodied Lord, and Narasimha the Lord with lion's face and claws and a human body). Later, Vishnu appears as human beings (Vamana the short-heighted person), Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha and finally as Kalki for performing his task of protecting his devotees from demons and anti-religious entities.

 

Vishnu's supremacy is attested by his victories over those very powerful entities. It is further attested by the accepted iconography and sculptures of Vishnu in reclining position as producing Brahma emerging from his navel. Brahma the creator is thus created in turn by Vishnu out of his own person. Instead Vishnu takes various avatars to slay or defeat those demons. But it is to be noted that Vishnu also provided boons to Akupresura, a bear faced demon who was destroyed by Lord Shiva.

 

Vishnu's actions lowered Indra's ranking among Hindu deities and led to the ascendancy of Vishnu.

 

Few temples are dedicated to the Sun or Suryanarayana, nor indeed Indra, nor does Indra figure largely in the Hindu religion.

 

Indra is almost completely absent from the deities considered as the chief or most important deity.

 

RIGVEDA

In the Rigveda, Vishnu is mentioned 93 times. He is frequently invoked alongside other deities, especially Indra, whom he helps in killing Vritra and with whom he drinks Soma. His distinguishing characteristic in the Vedas is his association with light. Two Rigvedic hymns in Mandala 7 are dedicated to Vishnu. In 7.99, Vishnu is addressed as the god who separates heaven and earth, a characteristic he shares with Indra.

 

The Rig Veda describes Vishnu as younger brother to Indra as Vamana. In Vaishnava canon the 'Vishnu' who is younger brother to Indra is identified as Vamana, Avatar of Vishnu, hence referred to as Vishnu by Vaishnavites. Vishnu is the Supreme God who lives in the highest celestial region, contrasted against those who live in the atmospheric or terrestrial regions. Vishnu is content with mere prayer, unlike almost all of the other gods who receive sacrificial offerings such as Havis, which is given using clarified butter, or Soma. Later foreign translators have view that Vedas place Indra in a superior position to Vishnu's Avatar of Vamana but in fact Vamana helps Indra by restoring his Kingdom.

 

An alternate translation is provided by Wilson according to Sayana:

 

When Thy (younger brother) Viṣṇu (Vamana) by (his) strength stepped his three paces, then verily thy beloved horses bore thee. (Rigveda 8:12:27)

 

Wilson mentions Griffith's possible translation as a footnote. However the following verse from Rigveda renders the above translation by Wilson more probable.

 

Him whose three places that are filled with sweetness, imperishable, joy as it may list them, Who verily alone upholds the threefold, the earth, the heaven, and all living creatures. (Rig veda 1:154:4)

 

Wilson offers an alternate translation for Rigveda 10:113:2:

 

Viṣṇu offering the portion of Soma, glorifies by his own vigor that greatness of his. Indra, the lord of heaven, with the associated gods having slain Vritra, became deserving of honour. (Rigveda 10:113:2)

 

This verse sees Vishnu as one who is glorified by his own strength, while Indra became deserving of honor after having slain Vritra only in association with other gods.

 

However Vishnu's praise for other gods does not imply worship. Wilson translates:

 

Viṣṇu, the mighty giver of dwellings praises thee, and Mitra and Varuna; the company of Maruts imitates thee in exhilaration. (Rigveda 8:15:9) (page 280)

 

The following verses show categorically Vishnu as distinguished from other gods in Rigveda.

 

He who presents (offering) to Viṣṇu, the ancient, the creator, the recent, the self-born; he who celebrates the great birth of that mighty one; he verily possessed of abundance, attains (the station) that is to be sought (by all). (Rigveda 1:156:2) (page 98)

 

No being that is or that has been born, divine Viṣṇu, has attained the utmost limit of thy magnitude, by which thou hast upheld the vast and beautiful heaven, and sustained the eastern horizon of Earth.(Rigveda 7:99:2) (page 196)

 

The divine Viṣṇu, the best of the doers of good deeds, who came to the pious instituter of rite (Indra), to assist (at its celebration), knowing (the desires of the worshiper), and present at the three connected period (of worship), shows favor to the Arya, and admits the author of the ceremony to a share of the sacrifice. (Rigveda 1:156:5) (page 99)

 

Jan Gonda, the late Indologist, states that Vishnu, although remaining in the background of Indra's exploits, contributes by his presence, or is key to Indra's success. Vishnu is more than a mere companion, equal in rank or power to Indra, or sometime the one who made Indra's success possible.

 

Descriptions of Vishnu as younger to Indra are found in only the hymns to Indra, but in a kathenotheism religion like that of the Rigveda, each god, for a time, is supreme in the mind of the devotee.

 

In the Rig Vedic texts, the deity or god referred to as Vishnu is the Sun God, who also bears the name 'Suryanarayana'. By contrast, the 'Vishnu' referred to in 'Vishnu Purana', 'Vishnu Sahasranamam' and 'Purusha Sooktham' is Lord Narayana, the Consort of Lakshmi. Vaishnavites make a further distinction by extolling the qualities of Vishnu by highlighting his differences from other deities such as Shiva,[citation needed] Brahma or Surya.

 

THREE STEPS

Hymn 7.100 refers to the celebrated 'three steps' of Vishnu (as Trivikrama) by which he strode over the universe and in three places planted his step. The 'Vishnu Suktam' (RV 1.154) says that the first and second of Vishnu's strides (those encompassing the earth and air) are visible to men and the third is in the heights of heaven (sky). This last place is described as Vishnu's supreme abode in RV 1.22.20:

 

The princes evermore behold / that loftiest place where Vishnu is / Laid as it were an eye in heaven.(trans. Griffith)

 

Griffith's "princes" are the sūri, either "inciters" or lords of a sacrifice, or priests charged with pressing the Soma. The verse is quoted as expressing Vishnu's supremacy by Vaishnavites.

 

Though such solar aspects have been associated with Vishnu by tradition as well as modern-scholarship, he was not just the representation of the sun, as he moves both vertically and horizontally.

 

In hymns 1.22.17, 1.154.3, 1.154.4 he strides across the earth with three steps, in 6.49.13, 7.100.3 strides across the earth three times and in 1.154.1, 1.155.5,7.29.7 he strides vertically, with the final step in the heavens. The same Veda also says he strode wide and created space in the cosmos for Indra to fight Vritra. By his stride he made dwelling for men possible, the three forming a symbolic representation of the dwelling's all-encompassing nature. This nature and benevolence to men were Vishnu's enduring attributes. As the triple-strider he is known as Trivikrama and as Urukrama, for the strides were wide.

 

BRAHMANAS

The Brahmanas are commentaries on the Vedas and form part of the Shruti literature. They are concerned with the detail of the proper performance of rituals. In the Rigveda, Shakala Shakha: Aitareya Brahmana Verse 1 declares: agnir vai devānām ava mo viṣṇuḥ paramus, tadantareṇa sarvā anyā devatā - Agni is the lowest or youngest god and Vishnu is the greatest and the highest God.

 

The Brahmanas assert the supremacy of Lord Vishnu, addressing him as "Gajapati", the one whom all sacrifices are meant to please. Lord Vishnu accepts all sacrifices to the demigods and allots the respective fruits to the performer In one incident, a demonic person performs a sacrifice by abducting the Rishis (sages), who meditate by constantly chanting God's name. The sacrifice is meant to destroy Indra. But the rishis, who worship Indra as a demigod, alter one pronunciation of the Veda Mantra, reversing the purpose of the sacrifice. When the fruit of the sacrifice is given and the demon is on the verge of dying, he calls to Vishnu, whom he addresses as Supreme Godhead and "the father of all living entities including himself".

 

Aitareya Brahmana 1:1:1 mentions Vishnu as the Supreme God. But in the Vaishnava canon, in different ages, with Vishnu in different avatars, his relationship with the asuras or demons, was always adversarial. The asuras always caused harm, while the sages and devas or celestial beings, did penance and called to Vishnu for protection. Vishnu always obliged by taking an avatar to vanquish the asuras. In the Vaishnava canon, Vishnu never gave or granted any boons to the asuras, distinguishing him from the gods Shiva and Brahma, who did. He is the only God called upon to save good beings by defeating or killing the asuras.

 

Sayana writes that in Aitareya Brahmana 1:1:1 the declaration agnir vai devānām ava mo viṣṇuḥ paramus,tadantareṇa sarvā anyā devatā does not indicate any hierarchy among gods. Even in Rigveda Samhita, avama and parama are not applied to denote rank and dignity, but only to mark place and locality.

 

In Rigveda 1:108:9,: yadindrāghnī avamasyāṃ pṛthivyāṃ madhyamasyāṃ paramasyāmuta sthaḥ | i.e., in the lowest place, the middle (place), and the highest (place). Agni, the fire, has, among the gods, the lowest place; for he resides with man on the earth; while the other gods are either in the air, or in the sky. Vishnu occupies the highest place. The words avama and parama are understood as 'First' and 'Last' respectively. To support this claim, Sayana adduces the mantra (1,4. As'val. Sr. S. 4, 2), agnir mukham prathamo devathanam samathanam uttamo vishnur asit, i.e., Agni was the first of the deities assembled, (and) Vishnu the last.

 

In the Kausitaki Brahmana (7.1) Agni is called Aaradhya (instead of avama), and Visnu parardha(instead of parama),i.e., belonging to the lower and higher halves (or forming the lower and higher halves). The Vishnu Purana gives tremendous importance to the worship of Vishnu and mentions that sacrifices are to begin only with both the lighting of fire or 'Agni', pouring of sacrificial offerings to Vishnu in 'Agni' so that those offerings reach and are accepted by Vishnu. Worship of Vishnu through Yajnas (or Homams) and other rituals, will not achieve the desired result if Agni's role is neglected.

 

Muller says "Although the gods are sometimes distinctly invoked as the great and the small, the young and the old (Rig veda 1:27:13), this is only an attempt to find the most comprehensive expression for the divine powers, and nowhere is any of the gods represented as the subordinate to others. It would be easy to find, in the numerous hymns of the Veda, passages in which almost every single god is represented as supreme and absolute."

 

However this notion is not completely correct as per the following verses, which shows Rigveda describe one or more gods as subject to other god(s).

 

Him whose high law not Varuna nor Indra, not Mitra, Aryaman, nor Rudra breaketh, Nor evil-hearted fiends, here for my welfare him I invoke, God Savitar, with worship. (Rigveda 2.038.09)

 

I invite to this place, with reverential salutations, for my good, that divine Savita, whose functions neither Indra, nor Varun.a, nor Mitra nor Aryaman nor Rudra nor the enemies (of the gods), impede. (Rigveda 2.038.09)

 

SMRITI

 

VISHNU SMRITI

The Vishnu Smṛti, is one of the later books of the Dharmashastra tradition of Hinduism and the only one that focuses on the bhakti tradition and the required daily puja to Vishnu, rather than the means of knowing dharma. It is also known for its handling of the controversial subject of the practice of sati (self-immolation of a widow on her husband's funeral pyre). The text was composed by an individual or group. The author(s) created a collection of the commonly known legal maxims that were attributed to Vishnu into one book, as Indian oral culture began to be recorded more formally.

 

BHAGAVATA PURANA

Vishnu is the only Bhagavan as declared in the Bhagavata 1:2:11 in the verse: vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam yaj jnanam advayam brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate, translated as "Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this non-dual substance as Brahman, Paramātma and Bhagavan."

 

VISHNU PURANA

In the Vishnu Purana (6:5:79) the personality named Parashara Rishi defines six bhagas:

 

aiśvaryasya samagrasya vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ

jñāna-vairāgyayoś caiva ṣannāḥ bhaga itīṇganā

 

Jiva Gosvami explains the verse in Gopala Champu (Pūrva 15:73) and Bhagavata Sandarbha 46:10:

 

jñāna-śakti-balaiśvarya-vīrya-tejām.sy aśeṣataḥ

bhagavac-chabda-vācyāni vinā heyair guṇādibhiḥ

 

"The substantives of the word bhagavat (bhagavat-śabda-vācyāni) are unlimited (aśeṣataḥ) knowledge (jñāna), energies (śakti), strength (bala), opulence (aiśvarya), heroism (vīrya), splendor (tejas), without (vinā) objectionable (heyair) qualities (guṇādibhiḥ)."

 

SANGAM LITERATURE

Tamil Sangam literature (300BCE to 500CE) mentions mAyOn, or the dark one, as the supreme deity who creates, sustains and destroys the universe. Paripadal 3 describes the glory of Thirumal in the most superlative terms.

 

Paripadal by kaduvan iLaveyinanAr:

 

"thIyinuL theRal nI poovinuL naaRRa nI kallinuL maNiyu nI sollinuL vaaymai aRaththinuL anbu nI maRaththinuL mainthu nI vEthaththu maRai nI boothaththu madhalu nI vencudar oLiyu nI thingaLuL aLiyu nI anaiththu nI anaiththinut poruLu nI"

 

The last line states that Lord Vishnu is the supreme deity who is the inner controller (Antaryamin) of the entire universe. This is one of the Lord's glories, which is first mentioned in Vedas and later propounded by Alwars in Prabhandams and Sri Vaishnavaite Acharyas in various commentaries

 

The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple and Vishnu, Lakshmi is mentioned in Tamil works of literature of the Sangam era, including the epic Silapadikaram (book 11, lines 35–40):

 

āyiram viritteḻu talaiyuṭai aruntiṟaṟ

 

pāyaṟ paḷḷip palartoḻu tētta viritiraik kāviri viyaṉperu turuttit tiruvamar mārpaṉ kiṭanta vaṇṇamum

 

On a magnificent cot having a thousand heads spread out, worshipped and praised by many, in an islet surrounded by Kaveri with bellowing waves, is the lying posture of the one who has Lakshmi sitting in his chest.

 

THEOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES

The actual number of Vishnu's auspicious qualities is countless, although his six most-important "divine glories" are:

 

Jnana (Omniscience); defined as the power to know about all beings simultaneously;

Aishvarya (Sovereignty), derived from the word Ishvara which means unchallenged rule over all;

Shakti (Power or Energy), the capacity to make the impossible possible;

Bala (Strength), the capacity to support everything by will and without any fatigue;

Virya (Vigour), the power to retain immateriality as the Supreme Spirit or Being in spite of being the material cause of mutable creations;

Tejas (Splendor), which expresses self-sufficiency and the capacity to overpower everything by spiritual effulgence.

 

Other important qualities attributed to Vishnu are Gambhirya (inestimatable grandeur), Audarya (generosity), and Karunya (compassion). Natya Shastra lists Vishnu as the presiding deity of the Sṛngara rasa.

 

The Rigveda says: Vishnu can travel in three strides. The first stride is the Earth. The second stride is the visible sky. The third stride cannot be seen by men and is the heaven where the gods and the righteous dead live. (This feature of three strides also appears in the story of his avatar Vamana/Trivikrama.) The Sanskrit for "to stride" is the root kram; its reduplicated perfect is chakram (guņa grade) or chakra (zero-grade), and in the Rigveda he is called by epithets such as vi-chakra-māņas = "he who has made 3 strides". The Sanskrit word chakra also means "wheel". That may have suggested the idea of Vishnu carrying a chakra.

 

FIVE FORMS

In Shree Vaishnavism, another school dating from around the 10th century AD, Vishnu assumes five forms:

 

In the Para Form, Para is the highest form of Vishnu found only in Sri Vaikunta also called Moksha, along with his consort Lakshmi, (and Bhumi Devi and Nila devi, avatars of Lakshmi) and surrounded by liberated souls like Ananta, Garuda, and a host of Muktas (liberated souls).

In the Vyuha form, Vishnu assumes four forms, which exercise different cosmic functions and controls activities of living beings.

In the Vibhava form, Vishnu assumes various manifestations, called Vibhavas, more popularly known as Avataras from time to time, to protect the virtuous, punish evil-doers and re-establish righteousness.

In the Antaryami; "Dwelling within" or "Suksma Vasudeva" form, Vishnu exists within the souls of all living beings and in every substance.

In the Arcavatara or Image manifestation, Vishnu is visible and therefore easily approachable by devotees since Para, Vyuha, Vibhava and Antaryami forms can only be imagined or meditated upon because they are beyond our reach. Such images can be

Revealed by Vishnu, for example, a self-manifested (Swayambhu) icon (murti), e.g. The Mahavishnu Temple at Tirunelli, The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, The Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple, etc.; or

Installed by Devas or celestial beings such as such as Guruvayur Temple installed by Vayu; or

Installed by humans, and consecrated according to Vaishnava Agama shastras or scriptures such as Lord Jagannatha of Jagannath Temple (Puri) at Puri.

 

RELATIONS WITH OTHER DEITIES

 

SHIVA

The three gods of the Trimurti clan are inseparable and in harmony in view of their common vision and universal good. They are perfectly ideal in all respects.

 

Both Asuras and Devas played supportive roles in this story by keeping company with Vishnu in his incarnated forms. Hanuman is a vanara who is completely dedicated to Rama. He gives Vishnu company and obeys his command, while playing an important part in Rama's life. He is regarded in Vaishnava canon because it is through blessings that Hanuman is born. Thus, Hanuman, Vishnu's constant companion, with his idol appearing temples of Rama, Krishna and Narasimha, i.e. all of Vishnu's avatars, is considered by Vaishnavas.

 

Syncretic forces produced stories in which the two deities were shown in cooperative relationships and combined forms. Harihara is the name of a combined deity form of both Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara). This dual form, which is also called Harirudra, is mentioned in the Mahabharata.

 

LAKSHMI

Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth (also known as Maya). The Samvit (the primary intelligence/dark matter) of the universe is Vishnu, while the other five attributes emerge from this samvit and hence Maya or dark energy of the universe is Lakshmee is his ahamata, activity, or Vishnu's Power. This power of God, Maya or Shakti, is personified and has multiple names: Shree, Lakshmi, Maya, Vishnumaya or Mahamaya. She is said to manifest as Kriyashakti, (Creative Activity) and Bhutishakti (Creation). This world requires Vishnu's creativity. He therefore needs Lakshmi to always be with Him. Her various avatars as Lord Vishnu's consorts are Varahavatar (Bhoodevi) or Bhoomi, Ramavatar Seeta, Krishnavatar Rukmini)

 

SARASWATI & GANGA

According to Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Lord Vishnu had three wives Lakshmi, Saraswati and Ganga. Due to their constant quarrelsome nature among them. Once Ganga tried to be close with Vishnu, this rebuked Saraswati but Lakshmi tried to pacify them but faced a curse rather. As per the curse, Lakshmi to appear as Tulasi. Sarawati cursed Ganga to run as a river in the world and Saraswati was cursed to run as a river in the netherworld. After this, Lord Vishnu transformed and became Brahma and Shiva to pacify Saraswati and Ganga.

 

GARUDA

Vishnu's mount (Vahana) is Garuda, the eagle. Vishnu is commonly depicted as riding on his shoulders.

 

ICONOGRAPHY

According to various Puranas, Vishnu is the ultimate omnipresent reality and is shapeless and omnipresent. However, a strict iconography governs his representation, whether in pictures, icons, or idols:

 

He has four arms and is male: The four arms indicate his all-powerful and all-pervasive nature. His physical existence is represented by the two arms in the front, while the two arms at the back represent his presence in the spiritual world. The Upanishad Gopal Uttartapani describes the four arms.

The Shreevatsa mark is on his chest, symbolizing his consort Lakshmi.

He wears the auspicious "Kaustubha" jewel around his neck and a garland of vaijayanti flowers (Vanamala). Lakshmi dwells in this jewel, on Vishnu's chest.

A crown adorns his head: The crown symbolizes his supreme authority. This crown sometimes includes a peacock feather, borrowing from his Krishna-avatar.

He wears two earrings: The earrings represent inherent opposites in creation — knowledge and ignorance; happiness and unhappiness; pleasure and pain.

He rests on Ananta, the immortal and infinite snake.

 

Vishnu is always to be depicted holding four attributes:

 

A conch shell or Shankha, named Panchajanya, is held by the upper left hand. It represents Vishnu's power to create and maintain the universe. Panchajanya represents the five elements or Panchabhoota – water, fire, air, earth and sky or space. It also represents the five airs or Pranas that are within the body and mind. The conch symbolizes that Vishnu is the primeval Divine sound of creation and continuity. It also represented as Om. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna avatara states that of sound vibrations, 'He is Om'.

The Chakra, a sharp, spinning, discus-like weapon, named "Sudarshana", is held by the upper right hand. It symbolizes the purified spiritualized mind. The name Sudarshana is derived from two words – Su, which means good, superior, and Darshana, which means vision or sight; together. The Chakra represents destruction of ego in the awakening and realization of the soul's original nature and god, burning away spiritual ignorance and illusion, and developing higher spiritual vision and insight to realize god.

A mace or Gada, named "Kaumodaki", is held by the lower right hand. It symbolizes that Vishnu's divine power is the source of all spiritual, mental and physical strength. It also signifies Vishnu's power to destroy materialistic or demonic tendencies (Anarthas) that prevent people from reaching god. Vishnu's mace is the power of the Divine within us to spiritually purify and uplift us from our materialistic bonds.

A lotus flower or Padma is held by the lower left hand. It represents spiritual liberation, Divine perfection, purity and the unfolding of Spiritual consciousness within the individual. The lotus opening its petals in the light of the Sun is indicative of the expansion and awakening of our long dormant, original spiritual consciousness in the light of god. The lotus symbolizes that god is the power and source from which the universe and the individual soul emerges. It also represents Divine Truth or Satya, the originator of the rules of conduct or Dharma, and Divine Vedic knowledge or Jnana. The lotus also symbolizes that Vishnu is the embodiment of spiritual perfection and purity and that He is the wellspring of these qualities and that the individual soul must seek to awaken these intrinsic Divine qualities from Vishnu by surrendering to and linking with Him.

 

To this may be added, conventionally, the vanamaala flower garland, Vishnu's bow (Shaarnga/Kodand) and his sword Nandaka. A verse of the Vishnu Sahasranama stotram states;vanamālī gadhī shārngī shanki chakri cha nandaki / shrīmān nārāyaņo vişņo vāsudevo abhirakşatu//; translation: Protect us Oh Lord Narayana who wears the forest garland,who has the mace, conch, sword and the wheel. And who is called Vishnu and the Vasudeva.

 

In general, Vishnu's body is depicted in one of the following three ways:

 

Standing on a lotus flower, often with Lakshmi, his consort, beside him on a similar pedestal.

Reclining on the coiled-up thousand-hooded Shesha Naga, with Lakshmi seated at his feet; the assemblage rests on the "Kshira Sagar" (ocean of milk). In this representation, Brahma is depicted as sitting on a lotus that grows out of Vishnu's navel.

Riding on the back of his eagle mount, known as Garuda. Another name for Garuda is "Veda atma"; Soul of the Vedas. The flapping of his wings symbolizes the power of the Divine Truth of Vedic wisdom. Also the eagle represents the soul. Garuda carrying Vishnu symbolizes the soul or jiva atma carrying the Super soul or Param atma within it.

 

AVATARS

Ten avatars (dashavatara) of Vishnu are the most prominent: Apart from the most prominent incarnations there are believed to more.

 

The most commonly believed incarnations of Vishnu are:

 

Matsya, the fish that kills Damanaka to save the vedas and also saves Manu from a great flood that submerges the entire Earth.

Kurma, the turtle that helps the Devas and Asuras churn the ocean for the nectar of immortality.

Varaha, the boar that rescues the Earth and kills Hiranyaksha.

Narasimha, the half-lion half human, who defeats the demon Hiranyakashipu.

Vamana, the dwarf that grows into a giant to save the world from King Bali.

Parashurama, "Rama of the battle axe", a sage who appeared in the Treta Yuga. He killed Kartavirya Arjuna's army and clan and then killed all the kshatriyas 21 times.

Rama, the prince and king of Ayodhya who killed the Demon King Raavan.

Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, who takes part in the Mahabharata epic. Krishna is worshipped as the Supreme Avatar of Vishnu (Supreme Personality of Godhead) in Gaudiya-Vaishnava philosophy.

Buddha, the ninth avatar of Vishnu.

Kalki, the tenth Avatar of Vishnu and said to be the harbinger of the end Kali Yuga. This avatar of Vishnu is yet to come.

 

Some versions of the above list include Hayagreeva among the Dashavataras while some include Buddha as ninth avatar of Vishnu. Another 22 avatars are given in Chapter 3, Canto 1 of the Bhagavata Purana, although it states that "the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable, like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water".

 

BEYOND HINDUISM

 

SIKHISM

Guru Granth Sahib of Sikhism mentions Vishnu, one verse goes:

 

The true Vaishnaav, the devotee of Vishnu, is the one with whom God is thoroughly pleased. He dwells apart from Maya. Performing good deeds, he does not seek rewards. Spotlessly pure is the religion of such a Vaishnaav; he has no desire for the fruits of his labors. He is absorbed in devotional worship and the singing of Kirtan, the songs of the Lords Glory. Within his mind and body, he meditates in remembrance on the Lord of the Universe. He is kind to all creatures. He holds fast to the Naam, and inspires others to chant it. O Nanak, such a Vaishnaav obtains the supreme status.

 

BUDDHISM

While some Hindus consider Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu, Buddhists in Sri Lanka venerate Vishnu as the custodian deity of Sri Lanka and protector of Buddhism. Lord Vishnu is also known as upulvan, or uthpala varna, meaning "Blue Lotus coloured". Some postulates that Uthpala varna was a local deity who later merged with Vishnu while another belief is that Uthpala Varna was an early form of Vishnu before he became a supreme deity in Puranic Hinduism. According to Chronicles "Mahawamsa", "Chulawamsa" and folklore in Sri Lanka, Buddha himself handed over the custodianship to Vishnu. Others believe that Buddha entrusted this task to Sakra(Indra) and Sakra delegated this task of custodianship to god Vishnu. In contrary to vedic Hinduism, in assimilation of Hindu god Vishnu into Sinhalese Buddhism, Vishnu becomes a mortal being and a Bodhisattva aspiring Buddhahood. Additionally, Vishnu is considered as the god of home and hearth representing mercy, goodness, order and stability. Many Buddhist and Hindu shrines are dedicated to Vishnu in Sri Lanka. In addition to specific Vishnu "Kovils" or "devalayas", all Buddhist temples necessarily house shrine rooms (Devalayas) closer to the main Buddhist shrine dedicated to Vishnu. John Holt in his groundbreaking study examines the assimilation, transformation, and subordination of the Hindu deity Vishnu within the contexts of Sri Lankan history and Sinhala Buddhist religious culture. He then explores the role and rationale of medieval Sinhala kings in assimilating Visnu into Sinhala Buddhism. According to Holt the veneration of Vishnu in Sri Lanka is evidence of a remarkable ability, over many centuries, to reiterate and reinvent culture as other ethnicities have been absorbed into their own. Though the Vishnu cult in Ceylon was formally endorsed by Kandyan kings in early 1700s, Holt states that vishnu images and shrines are among conspicuous ruins in the medieval capital Polonnaruwa. In Buddhist mythology, when Vishnu failed to traverse the universe in three steps, he was given the title "Ardha Vishnu (Half-Vishnu)" and when Vishnu banished demons from the Vaishali (Vishala)in India, he became "Mulu Vishnu or Whole Vishnu". The extreme significance of god Vishnu in Sinhala society is reflected in recitals of the traditional "Offerings to dwarfs and crossing the door frame (bahirwayanta dola pideem saha uluwahu peneema)" that starts with Sri Vishnu invocation.In the recitals,mentioning of the aspiring Buddhahood of Vishnu which is of prime importance to Buddhists and wishes for him to live five thousand and more years highlight the central role of Vishnu in the psyche of Sri Lankan Buddhists.

 

OTHERS

James Freeman Clarke, Richard Leviton, James Cowles Prichard, and others have noted the similarities between Vishnu and Ancient Egyptian God Horus.

 

During an excavation in an abandoned village of Russia in the Volga region, archaeologist Alexander Kozhevin excavated an ancient idol of Vishnu. The idol dates from between the 7th and 10th centuries. In the interview Kozhevin, stated that, "We may consider it incredible, but we have ground to assert that Middle-Volga region was the original land of Ancient Rus. This is a hypothesis, but a hypothesis, which requires thorough research"

 

THOUSAND NAMES OF VISHNU

Vishnu's many names and followers are collected in the Vishnu Sahasranama, (Vishnu's thousand names) from within the larger work Mahabharata. The character Bheeshma recites the names before Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, praising him (Vishnu) as the supreme god. These Sahasranama are regarded as the essence of all Vedas by followers of Vaishnavism, who believe sincere chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama results in spiritual well-being and a greater awareness of God.

 

The names are generally derived from the Anantakalyanagunas (meaning: infinite auspicious attributes).

 

According to the Siddhartha-samhita there are twenty-four forms of Lord Vishnu. The twenty-four forms are

 

Vasudeva

Sankarshana

Pradyumna

Anirudha

Keshava

Narayana

Madhava

Govinda

Vishnu

Madhusudana

Trivikrama

Vamana

Sridhara

Hrishikesha

Padmanabha

Damodara

Purushottama

Achyuta

Narasimha

Janardana

Hari

Krishna

Adhokshaja

 

Upulvan, Uthpala Varna - In Sri Lanka, Vishnu is also referred to as Upulvan ( Blue Lotus Coloured)

 

WIKIPEDIA

Out of all the Liccas I have, only about four of them have truly black (black as a raven) hair, and because it looks so gorgeous on her and really stands out against her complexion, I got another black-haired Licca the other day. :o)

 

She's a Castle Licca with beautiful straight bangs and long hair that reaches her thighs and ends in a layered shaggy cut. Her lips are more of a natural pale pink, a color I love, and her eyes are brown.

 

I don't know why but I sense an air of melancholy around her, as if she's wiser and older than she looks, and as if she's seen things and been through a few hardships in her life, and that makes her even more interesting to me.

 

That's why I've dressed her as a street kid, to make her stand out from the rest of my Liccas, and to let her be her own character. Most of my dolly wardrobe is girlier rather than tomboy-ish, so I don't have lots of cool clothes for her right now. She needs some jeans and jackets and more hats of awesomeness. :D

 

Hat is from a playline Licca and the jersey tee is Momoko. Background is a skateboard from the 80's I used to have as a kid LOLZ.

  

Parvati (Devanagari: पार्वती, IAST: Pārvatī) is known as the motherly form of Mother Goddess Gauri Jagadamba, Parvati is another form of Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Maha Devi or Durga, the Great Goddess. Parvati is considered to be a complete incarnation of Adi Parashakti or Goddess Durga, with all other Goddesses being her incarnations or manifestations. Parvati is nominally the second consort of Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction and rejuvenation. However, she is not different from Sati, being the reincarnation of Shiva's first wife. Parvati is the mother of the Gods Ganesha, Kartikeya, Ashoka Sundari. Some communities also believe her to be the sister of Vishnu. She is also regarded as the daughter of King Himavan. Parvati, when depicted alongside Shiva, generally appears with two arms, but when alone, she is depicted having four, eight or ten arms, and is astride on a tiger or lion. Generally considered a benevolent Goddess, Parvati also has wrathful incarnations, such as Durga, Kali, Tara, Chandi, and the Dasha Mahavidyas (ten great wisdoms), Tripur Sundari (Shodashi), Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagla Mukhi, Matangi and Kamala, as well as benevolent forms like Katyayani, Maha Gauri, Kamalatmika, Bhuvaneshwari and Lalita.

 

ETYMOLOGY

Parvata is one of the Sanskrit words for "mountain"; "Parvati" translates to "She of the mountains" and refers to Parvati being born the daughter of Himavan, lord of the mountains and the personification of the Himalayas. Other which associate her with mountains are Shailaja (Daughter of the mountains), Adrija or Nagajaa or Shailaputri (Daughter of Mountains), 'Haimavathi' (Daughter of Himavan) and 'Girija' or 'Girirajaputri' (Daughter of king of the mountains). Parvati's name is also sometimes considered a form of 'pavitra', meaning 'sinless' or 'holy' in Sanskrit. Her consort is Shiva and she is the sagun swaroop of the Supreme Being Adi Parashakti that is the material form of the supreme power.

 

She is also known by 108 names from the Durga Saptashati. These include Durga (invincible), Shakti (power), Ambika ('dear mother'), Gauri ('fair complexioned'), Bhairavi ('ferocious'), Kali ('dark'), Umā, Lalita, Mataji ('revered mother'), Sahana ('pure'), Maheshwari ('great goddess'). Bhavani, Shivaradni ('Queen of Shiva'), and many hundreds of others. The Lalita sahasranama contains an authoritative listing of 1,000 names of Parvati.

 

Two of Parvati's most famous epithets are Uma and Aparna. The name Uma is used for Sati in earlier texts, but in the Ramayana, it is used as synonym for Parvati. In the Harivamsa, Parvati is referred to as Aparna ('One who took no sustenance') and then addressed as Uma, who was dissuaded by her mother from severe austerity by saying u mā ('oh, don't').

 

The apparent contradiction that Parvati is addressed as the fair one, Gauri, as well as the dark one, Kali or Shyama is a philosophical matter. It suggests that the one calm and placid wife, Uma, in times of danger, can transfer back to her primal fierce and angry or (sometimes) Maternal nature as Kali, who stands uncloaked, with a foot on her husband's chest. The twin opposite colors, white and black represent the two opposing nature of the Goddess. Parvati is also the goddess of love and devotion, or Kamakshi.

 

GODDESS OF POWER

Parvati is the source of all the powers and weapons. She is the base of all kinds of powers that are used for doing any work. It is also believed that without her, Shiva remains as Shava or Corpse, for she is the ultimate source of power for all beings, gods and Devas. That is why she is considered as goddess of power. According to the Devi Bhagavatam, she is the most powerful of all. When her anger reaches its peak, she can destroy the whole universe in just seconds. Even Trinity i.e. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, never try to make her angry at any cost.

 

Sarvarupe Sarveshe Sarvashakti Samanvite Bhayebhyastrahi no devi durge devi namostute

 

It translates to: We bow down to Devi Durga, who is source of all forms (sarvarupe), who is the goddess of all beings (sarveshe), in whom all power exists (Sarvashakti samanvite) and who destroys all fear (bhaye bhyastrai no devi).

 

RISE TO PROMINENCE

Parvati herself does not explicitly appear in Vedic literature, though the Kena Upanishad (3.12) contains a goddess called Uma-Haimavati. She appears as the shakti, or essential power, of the Supreme Brahman. Her primary role is as a mediator who reveals the knowledge of Brahman to the Vedic trinity of Agni, Vayu, and Indra, who were boasting about their recent defeat of a group of demons. But Kinsley notes: "it is little more than conjecture to identify her with the later goddess Satī-Pārvatī, although [..] later texts that extol Śiva and Pārvatī retell the episode in such a way to leave no doubt that it was Śiva's spouse.." Both textual and archaeological evidence suggests Sati-Parvati appears in the epic period (400 BC–400 AD), as both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata present Parvati as Shiva's wife. However, it is not until the plays of Kalidasa (5th-6th centuries) and the Puranas (4th through the 13th centuries) that the myths of Sati-Parvati and Shiva acquire more comprehensive details. Kinsley adds that Parvati may have emerged from legends of non-aryan goddesses that lived in mountains.

 

Prof. Weber suggests that like Shiva is combination of various Vedic gods Rudra and Agni, the Puranic Parvati is a combination of Uma, Haimavati, Ambika and earlier Parvati, identified as wives of Rudra; of others like Kali, who could be a wife of Agni and of Gauri and others inspired by Nirriti. Tate suggests Parvati is a mixture of the Vedic goddess Aditi and Nirriti, and being a mountain goddess herself, was associated with other mountain goddesses like Durga and Kali in later traditions.

 

BIRTH AND MARRIAGE

The Puranas repeatedly tell the tale of Sati's marriage to Shiva against her father Daksha's wishes and her subsequent self-immolation at Daksha's sacrifice, leaving Shiva grief-stricken and having lost interest in worldly affairs. In the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Sati appears before Shiva, in her divine form, and reassures him that she will return as the daughter of Himavan. Sati is reborn as Parvati, the daughter of Himavat and Minavati, and is named Parvati, 'daughter of Himavant '. Sati, as well as Parvati, are considered manifestations of Mahadevi, the great Goddess. In the Ramayana, the river goddess Ganga is depicted as the elder sister of Parvati. In the Harivamsa, Parvati has two younger sisters called Ekaparna and Ekapatala. According to Devi Bhagawata Purana and Shiva Purana mount Himalaya and his wife Mena perform extreme austerities to appease the goddess Adi Shakti. Pleased with their penance the Adi Shakti agrees to be born as their daughter. When born goddess Parvati has four arms and manifests a divine light which pervades the entire Himalaya region on the auspicious tritiya day. Mena implores to the child to withdraw its four armed form and make herself visible as a two armed normal child to which the goddess agrees and becomes a normal girl child.

 

Parvati is depicted as interested in Shiva's tales and appearance from her very birth and eventually remembering her previous life as Sati. As Parvati grows into a young woman, she begins tapas (austerities) to please Shiva to grant her wish to reunite with him. She is portrayed as surpassing all other ascetics in austerity, undergoing severe mortifications and fasting. Finally, Shiva tests her devotion by appearing himself in disguise to criticize Shiva. Untouched by the act, Parvati retains her desire for Shiva, compelling him to marry her. After the marriage, Parvati moves to Mount Kailash, the residence of Shiva.

 

Kalidasa's epic Kumarasambhavam ("Birth of Kumara") details with matchlessly lyrical beauty the story of the maiden Parvati: her devotions aimed at gaining the favor of Shiva, the subsequent annihilation of Kamadeva, the consequent fall of the universe into barren lifelessness, the subsequent marriage of Parvati and Shiva, the birth of Kumara, and the eventual resurrection of Kamadeva after Parvati intercedes for him to Shiva.

 

MAIN FORMS OF PARVATI

As per devi bhagwata Purana, Goddess Parvati is lineal progenitor of all other goddesses. She is one who is source of all forms of goddesses. She is worshiped as one with many forms and name. Her different mood brings different forms or incarnation.

 

- Durga is demon fighting form of this Goddess, and some texts suggest Parvati took the form of Goddess Durga to kill Demon Durgam.

- Kali is another aspect that was assisted by Goddess Chandi while fighting with rakta bija. She was born from the forehead of the goddess. But many interpretations of scriptures suggests that it was Goddess Chamunda who has gotten same iconography as goddess Kali who is nobody but an aspect of Kali, even Parvati is considered to be Goddess Kali herself in her ferocious form.

- Goddess Chandi is the epithet of Maa Durga, who is created by the collection of all demigods and trimurti power, and then considered to be power of sagun parashakti (Parvati), She is black in color and rides on lion, she is known as the original slayer of Demon Mahishasura, considered to be a form taken by Durga herself.

- Ten Mahavidyas are the ten aspects of Shakti, in tantra all have great importance in majority, they all took birth from Goddess Sati, previous Incarnation of Shakti before Goddess Parvati. There is no difference between Sati and Parvati.

- 52 Shakti Peethas of Sati, proves that all Goddesses are expansions of the Goddess Parvati.

- Nava Durga nine forms of goddess Parvati.

 

SEVERAL INCARNATIONS OF THE GODDESS

- Goddess Meenakshi

- Goddess Kamakshi

- Goddess Lalita, the Original Goddess of Universe, Parvati is referred as her complete incarnation.

- Goddess Akhilandeshwari.

- Goddess Annapurna the representation of all that is complete and of food is Parvati Herself.

- and many others . . .

 

ASSOCIATION WITH SHIVA

Parvati's legends are intrinsically related to Shiva. In the goddess-oriented Shakta texts, that she is said to transcend even Shiva, and is identified as the Supreme Being. Just as Shiva is at once the presiding deity of destruction and regeneration, the couple jointly symbolise at once both the power of renunciation and asceticism and the blessings of marital felicity.

 

Parvati thus symbolises many different virtues esteemed by Hindu tradition: fertility, marital felicity, devotion to the spouse, asceticism, and power. Parvati represents the householder ideal in the perennial tension in Hinduism in the household ideal and the ascetic ideal, represented by Shiva. In classical Hindu mythology, the "raison d’être" of Parvati, and before that of Sati, is to lure Shiva into marriage and thus into a wider circle of worldly affairs.

 

Parvati tames Shiva, the "great unpredictable madman" with her presence. When Shiva does his violent, destructive Tandava dance, Parvati is described as calming him or complementing his violence by slow, creative steps of her own Lasya dance. In many myths, Parvati is not as much his complement as his rival, tricking, seducing, or luring him away from his ascetic practices.

 

Three images are central to the mythology, iconography and philosophy of Parvati:

 

- The theme of Shiva-Shakti

- The image of Shiva as Ardhanarishvara (the Lord who is half-woman)

- The image of the linga and the yoni

 

These images that combine the two deities, Shiva and Parvati, yield a vision of reconciliation, interdependence and harmony between the way of the ascetic and that of a householder.

 

The couple are often depicted in the Puranas as engaged in "dalliance" or seated on Mount Kailash or discussing abstract concepts in Hindu theology. Occasionally, they are depicted as quarrelling. In stories of the birth of Kartikeya, the couple are described as love-making generating the seed of Shiva. Parvati's union with Shiva symbolises the union of a male and female in "ecstasy and sexual bliss". In art, Parvati is depicted seated on Shiva's knee or standing beside him (together the couple is referred to as Uma-Maheshvara or Hara-Gauri) or as Annapurna (the goddess of grain) giving alms to Shiva.

 

Shaiva approaches tend to look upon Parvati primarily as the Shiva's submissive and obedient wife and helpmate. However, Shaktas focus on Parvati's equality or even superiority to her consort. The story of the birth of the ten Mahavidyas (Wisdom Goddesses) of Shakta Tantrism. This event occurs while Shiva is living with Parvati in her father's house. Following an argument, he attempts to walk out on her. Her rage manifests in the form of ten terrifying goddesses who block Shiva's every exit.

 

As the scholar David Kinsley explains:

 

- The fact that [Parvati] is able to physically restrain Shiva dramatically makes the point that she is superior in power. The theme of the superiority of the goddess over male deities is common in Shakta texts, [and] so the story is stressing a central Shakta theological principle. ... The fact that Shiva and Parvati are living in her father's house in itself makes this point, as it is traditional in many parts of India for the wife to leave her father's home upon marriage and become a part of her husband's lineage and live in his home among his relatives. That Shiva dwells in Parvati's house thus implies Her priority in their relationship. Her priority is also demonstrated in her ability, through the Mahavidyas, to thwart Shiva's will and assert her own.

 

Aum Girijayai cha vidmahe Shivapriyayai cha dhimahi tanno durgah prachodayat

 

May the goddess Durga, who is the daughter of the mountains and the beloved of lord Shiva illumine me with spiritual wisdom

 

Sarvamangala mangalye shive sarvardha sadhike sharanye tryambake gouri narayani namostute

 

I bow down to and take the refuge of the three eyed Mother Gouri(Parvati) of fair countenance,who is the embodiment of supreme auspiciousness, the giver of all the benedictions,the beloved of Lord Shiva and the power of lord Narayana.

 

RELATIONSHIP TO VISHNU

During the initial stages when Parvathi was performing intense puja to Shiva to obtain Shiva as her husband, Shiva kept testing her by destroying the Shiva lingam she constructed to perform puja. Vishnu then helped in constructing a Shiva lingam for Parvati which was not destroyed by Shiva because of the respect Shiva had towards Vishnu. Thus Vishnu helped Paravthi in continuing her puja for Shiva. This is when Parvathi tied a knot to Vishnu's hand and claimed him as her brother. This is the reason during the marriage of Shiva and Parvathi, Vishnu got involved in all the ceremonies that are supposed to be done by the bride’s brother. This is how Parvati is related to Vishnu as a sister.

 

The interesting story about the relationship between Vishnu and Parvati is more clearly depicted in Markandeya Purana where it is said that Mahalakshmi or Durga was the only one. Then she transforms into Mahakali and Mahasarasvati. After which she ask them to evolve pair. Here Mahalakshmi gives rise to brahma and lakshmi, Mahakali evolved Shiv and Saraswati while Mahasarsvati gave rise to Vishnu and parvati. Then Mahalakshmi ordered rest to interchange pairs for marriage and Shiv was provided with parvati, vishnu with lakshmi and brahma with saraswati. Its quite interesting that Mahasarsvati who is goddess of education gives birth to parvati and vishnu and both of them in future tells Geeta to Himalaya and Arjun respectively.

 

MOTHER OF GANESHA

Though Ganesha considered to be son of Shiva and Parvati, the Matsya Purana, Shiva Purana, and Skanda Purana ascribe the birth of Ganesha to Parvati only, without any form of participation of Shiva in Ganesha's birth.

 

Once, while Parvati wanted to take a bath, there were no attendants around to guard her and stop anyone from accidentally entering the house. Hence she created an image of a boy out of turmeric paste which she prepared to cleanse her body, and infused life into it, and thus Ganesha was born. Parvati ordered Ganesha not to allow anyone to enter the house, and Ganesha obediently followed his mother's orders. After a while Shiva returned and tried to enter the house, Ganesha stopped him. Shiva was infuriated and it started a chain of events leading to war of the entire heavenly kingdom and the lone child. Midst the war, Shiva lost his temper and severed the boy's head with his trident. When Parvati came out and saw her son's lifeless body, she was very angry. She immediately revealed her true self as Adi Shakti, the primodial power. She called upon the nine forms within her, the nine forms surrounded her. She ordered them to destroy the whole world and if her son does not get back to life, then everyone and everything will be destroyed and demanded that Shiva restore Ganesha's life at once. The Gods prostrated at her feet and an elephant's head was attached to Ganesha's body, bringing him back to life. To appease Parvati further, Shiva declared that the child be made head of the ghost-followers (Gana's)of Shiva and worshipped by everyone before beginning any activity, and gods accepted this condition.

 

Ganesha is identified as a god named after his mother. He is called Umaputra, Parvatisuta, Gaurisuta meaning son of Parvati and Heramba, "mother's beloved (son)".

 

ICONOGRAPHY

Naturally, Parvati’s unique characteristics have become more and more obscured, as she absorbed more and more goddesses into her iconography. Therefore, her depictions have become rather generic today. When shown with Shiva, she carries a blue lotus in full bloom, shows the abhaya mudra (hand gesture of fearlessness) and usually has one of her children on her knee. The only hint of her former occult status is the somewhat languid appearance of her eyes, as one who has recently emerged from deep meditation. Other goddesses are usually shown with large staring eyes as this is considered a mark of beauty. The consorts of the other two Gods of the trinity, Saraswati and Lakshmi, may be depicted alone, but Parvati hasn’t been depicted this way for many centuries.

 

The goddess is usually represented as a fair and beautiful. The colour of her vestments is milk-white, the colour of enlightenment and knowledge. Since white is a combination of all hues it shows that She has all the qualities or Gunas. Since white also depicts huelesness, it indicates that She is devoid of all Gunas. Hence, She is referred to as Trigunatmika (having the three gunas - Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas) - and at the same time being Nirguna (without any gunas). She has three eyes. Her accoutrements tend to be those of a Rishi (seer). She is also usually depicted with jatamukuta or a crown of matted hair, as Shiva is usually depicted. She is also shown as having a crescent moon bound in her locks, like Shiva.

 

Images of Parvati, wearing a sacred thread something not many women are associated with and as this marks the second-birth or dwija it is seems an advanced concept far beyond early pashupatas, and with her hair styled in a top knot like a Rishi (seer) survive into the Chola period (approximately ninth century A.D.). In fact, these two particularities were the only means of distinguishing her statuary from the images of the Goddess Shri of the time.

 

Her Mudras (symbolic hand gestures) are Kataka-fascination and enchantment, Hirana - the antelope, the powers of nature and the elusive, Tarjani - gesture of menace, and Chandrakal - the moon, a symbol of intelligence. Kataka must be affected by one of the foremost hands as it is a means of drawing the worshiper closer. Tarjani must be described with the left hand, which symbolises contempt, and usually in the back set of hands. If Parvati is depicted with two hands, then Tarjani and Chandrakal may be dropped but Hirana and Kataka are signature except in very modern representations, where Abhaya (fearlessness), and Varada, (beneficence), are used.

 

ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER GODDESSES

In several myths, the presence of a dark, violent side of this otherwise benign Parvati is suggested. When approached by the gods to defeat demons, Parvati morphs back to her true self, shakti, which is pure energy, untamed, unchecked and chaotic. Her wrath crystallizes into a dark, blood thirsty, tangled-hair Goddess with an open mouth and a drooping tongue. This goddess is usually identified as the terrible mahakali or Kali. In Linga Purana, Parvati summons Kali on the request of Shiva, to destroy a female asura (demoness) Daruka. Even after destroying the demoness, Kali's wrath could not be controlled. She ran around the three worlds in her mad, blind fury and creation was endangered. To lower Kali's rage, Shiva appeared as a crying baby in the middle of a battlefield. The cries of the baby raised the maternal instinct of Kali who started breast-feeding Shiva and resorted back to her benign form as Parvati. Kali is associated and identified with Parvati as Shiva's consort.

 

In Skanda Purana, Parvati is said to have assumed a form of a warrior-goddess and defeated a demon called Durg who assumes the form of a buffalo. Thereafter, she is by the name Durga. In myths relating to her defeat of demons Sumbha and Nisumbha, Durga emerges from Parvati when Parvati sheds her outer sheath, which takes an identity of its own as a warrior goddess.

 

Although Parvati is considered to be synonymous with Kali, Durga, Kamakshi, Meenakshi, Gauri and many others in modern day Hinduism, many of these “forms” or incarnations originated from different sects, or traditions, and the distinctions from Parvati are pertinent.

 

The Shastras (sanctioned works of religious doctrine) attribute the golden colour of goddess Gauri’s skin and ornaments to the story of Parvati casting off her unwanted dark complexion after Shiva teased her, but the cult of Gauri tells a different story. Gauri is in essence a fertility Goddess, and is venerated as a corn mother which would seem to suggest that she owes her colouring to the hues of ripening grain, for which she is propitiated.

 

So whatever be said, Goddess Parvati has two main forms, what actually shaktas says out of which one is Lalita who is Supreme in Srikula family of shaktism and second one is Durga or kali who is supreme in kalikula family.

 

WORSHIP AND FESTIVALS

The Gowri Habba, or Gauri Festival, is celebrated on the seventh, eighth, ninth of Bhadrapada Shukla paksha. She is worshipped as the goddess of harvest and protectress of women. Her festival, chiefly observed by women, is closely associated with the festival of her son Ganesha (Ganesh Chaturthi). The festival is popular in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

 

In Rajasthan the worship of Gauri happens during the Gangaur festival. The festival starts on the first day of Chaitra the day after Holi and continues for 18 days. Images of Issar and Gauri are made from Clay for the festival.

 

Another very popular festival in regard to the Mother Parvati is Navratri, in which all her manfestations are worshiped for nine days. Actually the festival is associated with Her warrior appearance is Mother Durga, with her nine forms i.e. Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kashmunda, Skandmata, Katyani, Kalratri, Mahagauri, Siddhidaatri.

 

Another festival Gauri tritiya is celebrated from Chaitra shukla third to Vaishakha shukla third. It is believed that Parvati spends a month at her parent's home now. This festival is popular in Maharashtra and Karnataka, less observed in North India and unknown in Bengal. The unwidowed women of the household erect a series of platforms in a pyramidal shape with the image of the goddess at the top and collection of ornaments, images of other Hindu deities, pictures, shells etc. below. Neighbours are invited and presented with turmeric, fruits, flowers etc. as gifts. At night, prayers are held by singing and dancing. Down south in Tamil Nadu and Andhra The Kethara Gauri Vritham festival is celebrated on the new moon day of Diwali and the unwidowed women of the family fast for the whole day and prepare sweets and worship the goddess for the well-being of the family.

 

FAMOUS TEMPLES

Annapurneshwari Temple, Cherukunnu, Kannur, Kerala is dedicated to an aspect of Parvati.

 

WIKIPEDIA

 

Sorry Léah about the bad light; India Poppy is the closest Poppy to Aggie's skin color! as you can see, Poppy is darker and she has more grey undertones, while Agnes has more orange. Natalia's arm looks a bit lighter because of the direct light , but my naked eye sees that Natalias skintone is about the same of Agnes'.Hope this helps. I wouldn't call Poppy's body "a great match", but it isn'ts totally wrong too.

Wild Bunch (WB) Francie and FnF Francie's complexions also differ. WB Francie is slightly darker than FnF.

Utrecht, Domplein.

medievalpoc: In just about every American imagination, nothing is more essentially European than the elaborate, gravity-defying tall headdress or henin worn by the noblest women of history. Indeed, the European Henin is synonymous to many Americans as a visual symbol of frail feminity, “Faire Maydens”, milky complexions and delicate white women who must be protected by knights, preferably in shining armor. (psst. notice people of color in this miniature from Boccaccio’s The Fall of Princes: more on that in later posts) But what if I told you the heads this historical hat truly belongs on are not only those of women of color, but unrivaled Warrior Queens who ruled a vast empire, went to war with infant sons strapped to their backs, and commanded armies of tens of thousands? There is something that not even doctorate-holding Western Medievalists and Medieval Fashion experts will tell you, and may not even be aware of: The Henin did not spring out of nothingness to adorn the heads of European noblewomen. The European Henin is modeled directly after the willow-withe and felt Boqta (Ku-Ku) of Mongolian Queens, which could reach over five to seven feet in height. Mongolian women’s boqta also had a special role: because men and women’s clothing were more or less exactly the same in design, appearance and function, reflecting thousands of years of more or less equal rights between the genders, the women’s tall headdresses served to differentiate men and women from a distance. Mongolian equestrian culture influenced fashion as well as martial technology: the headdresses would have been even more impressive on horseback. The higher a woman’s position, the taller, richer, and more elaborately decorated the headdress. The important cultural role of the headdress is elaborated upon in Weatherford’s Secret History of the Mongol Queens, in this portion about the warrior Queen Maduhai as she prepares to lead her soldiers to war: The chronicles all agree that she fixed her hair to accommodate her quiver. The hairstyle of noble married women of that era precluded fighting or any other manual endeavor. She removed the headdress of peace and put on her helmet for war. By taking off her queenly headdress, known as the boqta, she removed virtually the only piece of clothing that separated a man from a woman. The boqta ranks as one of the most ostentatious headdresses of history, but it had been highly treasured by noble Mongol women since the founding of the empire.* The head structure of willow branches, covered with green felt, rose in a narrow column three to four feet high, gradually changing from a round base to a square top…The higher the rank, the more elaborate the boqta, and as a queen, Mandhui would have worn a highly elaborate one. A variety of decorative items such as peacock or mallard feathers adorned the top with a loose attachment that kept them upright but allowed them to flutter high above the woman’s head. The contraption struck many foreign visitors as odd**, but the Mongol Empire had enjoyed such prestige that medieval women of Europe imitated it with the hennin, a large cone-shaped headdress that sat towards the back of the head rather than rising straight up from it as among the Mongols. With no good source of peacock feathers, European noblewomen generally substituted gauzy streamers flowing in the wind at the top. * The ebook preview is truncated. I happen to own the book and have typed out the rest of the passage from hard copy. ** This statement reflects the bias of the author (Weatherford)-foreign visitors found the boqta overwhelmingly impressive statements of wealth. For primary source description contemporaneous with women in the boqta (c. the 1200s), keep reading below the cut! FULL HISTORY OF THE BOQTA, MORE PHOTOS AND LINKS BELOW THE CUT! Keep reading

Her complexion, wow, is flawless. Had to pinch myself that this is a colouring.

Hope you like..

Close up portrait of attractive young woman looking at camera. Head and shoulders view of female fashion model.

 

This is a bright, close-up selfie of a young woman taken inside a car. She features long, smooth hair with subtle highlights and a vibrant red lip that adds a pop of color to her look. She is wearing a neutral, collared button-down shirt that gives off a clean and polished vibe. The natural light filling the cabin enhances her clear complexion, creating a warm and approachable aesthetic.

Young woman sitting in bathroom and applying facepack. Beautiful female in front of mirror applying facial mask.

Yale campus, CT

"Sweet and Simple"

I've been shooting a lot of film recently, so be prepared for an overload in the next few days.

As soon as I turned my camera towards her she was all smiles. I was too...

Stephanie was a young woman (25 years old, but looks 15) with an innocent face and a 'peaches and cream' complexion. She was one of six models I tested for a book cover. Another model made the cover, because Stephanie looked too young! The fictional book was about a 24-year old woman who never wore makeup, yet had a 'peaches and cream' complexion. The art director wanted me to duplicate that look without having to resort to using too much makeup. To do this required some special, glamor lighting...

Click here or on the image to view LARGER and on black.

 

Unique lighting set-up:To get this 'cover look' required a custom lighting set up: Two 4'x8' sheets of 1/4" white Gator Board were taped together, then stood up on the studio floor in a "V" shape. Three 400 w/s strobe heads were aimed into the center of the "V" -- two on either side (and at mid-height). The third strobe head was placed on a boom and aimed into the top-center of the "V". The model was seated in the middle, facing the center of the "V". Finally, a hole was cut (a vertical, 5" x 10" slit) in center of the Gater Board (at the model's eye level) where the two halves were taped together. Through this hole I placed my lens and photographed the model. The effect was somewhat like a modified ring-light, producing a huge frontal reflector that softens and glamorizes the complexion.

Snow White and her Prince have now been fully deboxed. They are posed standing, supported by the built-in doll stands in the base of the display case.

 

This regular version of the Snow White and the Prince Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Doll Set has the same two base dolls as the D23 special edition dolls that I reviewed earlier. That is the dolls themselves are identical in every way (except for the serial numbers on the back of the Prince dolls). They also have outfits of almost identical designs, but made of different materials and with differing colors. So the dolls have different looks, especially the Snow Whites.

 

Snow White has the body of a 2012 Disney Store Classic Princess doll. That is, she has hard plastic legs, with hinged knee joints and ball jointed ankles. She is missing the usual manufacturer's marks printed on Disney limited edition dolls, including the part number and her edition size and serial number. She is also missing the twist waist joint of the previous Designer Princess and Designer Villain dolls. She has a pale complexion, the same as the 2012 Snow White, with whom she shares the same body. However, her neck joint has more freedom of movement, especially downward, and her painted on panties are deep golden yellow, much darker than the 2012 Snow White.

 

Her face mold appears to be the same as the 2012 and 2013 Classic Snow White, but with a considerably different face paint than either of them. She has large dark brown eyes that are glancing to her left, with four short thick lashes over each eye and four very short and thin lashes under each eye. Over her eyes is gold eyeshadow, and thin black eyebrows gently following the curve of her eyes. She also had short rooted eyelashes that are just barely curving upwards, and are even in length. She has a small button nose, a small mouth with blood red lips forming a charming open mouth smile. She has light pink rouge over most of her cheeks, and a round face with small chin. She is a very beautiful and faithful representation of the sweet and charming movie character.

 

Her hair is a considerable departure from the traditional short flip hairdo. Her jet black hair is parted to the left of her head, and pulled tightly over her head into a medium length braided ponytail that tapers down to a point and is secured by black rubberband, and is sewn to her collar on her right side. There is a small amount of hair product applied just above her forehead, to a thin strip of her hair. In my doll, that strip keeps on separating from the rest of her hair. I haven't been able to integrate it with the rest of her hair; perhaps I will have to apply more hair product to keep it place. There is a thin bright red satin ribbon around the top of her head that ends in a small bow at left side of her head.

 

Her outfit is a take on her traditional Princess gown. Her bodice and skirt are separate pieces. The bodice is dark blue velvet with gold piping and elaborate gold embroidery, and decorated with a bow made of metallic gold thread. The floral design is similar to the D23 doll, but differs in its details. She has puffy sleeves of the same dark blue velvet, with separate ribbons of bright red satin that float over the velvet. The sleeves have black lace cuffs decorated with gold hearts, and the oversized collar is pure white lace folded in a fan-like manner behind her neck and head. Her skirt is dark golden taffeta with gold embroidering incorporating fleur-de-lis, flowers and hearts. The embroidery in the skirt is identical to that of the D23 doll. The taffeta gives the skirt has a wrinkled, antique appearance. It has a thin pale tan satin lining. There are golden rhinestones scattered throughout the bodice and skirt of her dress. Under her dress is a floor length white satin slip with the lacey pattern at the hem showing below her skirt. It is sewn to her skirt at two spots at the hem, which I chose to leave alone for now. It is also sewn to the waist band of the skirt, so it is a permanent part of the skirt. She is wearing golden tan flat shoes (or slippers), the same as the D23 doll. It is a beautifully designed and beautifully made outfit that is a darker and more ornated version of the Princess outfit of the movie character.

 

The Prince appears to have the standard Disney Store Prince body, with articulation at the neck, shoulders, hinge jointed elbows, ball jointed hips, and internal knee joints with limited movement. His hands and feet are large, but his head is disproportionately small compared to Snow White. His face has a neutral expression, with small, narrow deep blue eyes, wide mouth and a straight nose. His molded dark brown hair looks okay. His face doesn't look that movie accurate to me; I actually prefer the playline Classic Prince. As with all Disney Prince dolls, he is sturdily built, and can free stand fairly stably. But for safe keeping, it is best to put him up in the included doll stand, which has a wide C-clamp that goes around his waist very snuggly.

 

The Prince's outfit is very well made and fitted to his body. It consists of a dark blue faux leather vest, a bright red velvet and satin cape with gold piping permanently attached at the shoulders of the vest, a dark blue faux leather belt with a gold metal buckle and a short black faux leather scabbard attached, white satin shirt, black pants and black boots with a worn look and creases. In the scabbard is a steel gray sword with a brown handle. The sword is thin and very flexible. It was slightly bent out of the box, but was easily bent back into shape. The D23 Prince's vest is much thicker, and feels much more like real leather than this Prince doll. But this Prince has an outfit that is much closer in color to the movie character. He looks great in his outfit, and very dashing, but I wish his expression had more emotion, and was more cheerful.

 

Snow White and the Prince - Limited Edition Doll Set

Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

US Disney Store

Released and purchased in store on August 20, 2013.

Released online August 21, 2013.

$129.95 US

#558 of 6000

First Look

 

I will photograph the set boxed, during the deboxing, and fully deboxed. I will also pose the dolls next to comparable dolls, for instance the Gold D23 Snow White doll set.

 

Product information from the US Disney Store website:

 

Snow White and the Prince Doll Set - Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

$129.95

Item No. 6070040900883P

 

Fairest two of all

 

With lips red as the rose and skin as white as snow, the Princess has never looked fairer. Paired with her handsome Prince, this stunning set of Disney Fairytale Designer Collection dolls will be cherished happily ever after.

 

Magic in the details...

 

Please Note: Each Guest will be limited to ordering a maximum of one of this item per order.

 

As part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection this pair of Snow White and Prince dolls were carefully crafted by artists inspired by Walt Disney's 1937 classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The original Disney Princess and her Prince have been reimagined in exquisite detail with these limited edition dolls. Brought to life with thoughtful attention, they uniquely capture the essence of the fairytale couple, creating a one of a kind set that will be a treasured keepsake of collectors, Disney fans and every princess at heart.

 

•Global Limited Editon of 6000

•Includes Certificate of Authenticity

•Romantic side-swept hair

•Dramatic lace collar

•Elaborately embroidered velvet bodice with puff sleeves with red satin detailing

•Layered gown ornately decorated with golden gemstones, taffeta, lace, and embroidered foliage

•Dramatic make-up and rooted eyelashes

•Red bow headband

•Prince features velvet cape

•Satin shirt with faux leather waistcoat and belt

•Boots and sword

•Dolls sold in a special keepsake display case with intricate details on the base, including a golden plate with the name of Snow White and the Prince

•Includes special Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Gift Bag

•Part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

 

* Intended for adult collectors -- Not a child's toy.

 

The bare necessities

 

•Plastic / polyester

•Snow White: 11 1/2''

•Prince: 12'' H

•Imported

 

Snow White and her Prince have now been fully deboxed. They are posed standing, supported by the built-in doll stands in the base of the display case.

 

This regular version of the Snow White and the Prince Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Doll Set has the same two base dolls as the D23 special edition dolls that I reviewed earlier. That is the dolls themselves are identical in every way (except for the serial numbers on the back of the Prince dolls). They also have outfits of almost identical designs, but made of different materials and with differing colors. So the dolls have different looks, especially the Snow Whites.

 

Snow White has the body of a 2012 Disney Store Classic Princess doll. That is, she has hard plastic legs, with hinged knee joints and ball jointed ankles. She is missing the usual manufacturer's marks printed on Disney limited edition dolls, including the part number and her edition size and serial number. She is also missing the twist waist joint of the previous Designer Princess and Designer Villain dolls. She has a pale complexion, the same as the 2012 Snow White, with whom she shares the same body. However, her neck joint has more freedom of movement, especially downward, and her painted on panties are deep golden yellow, much darker than the 2012 Snow White.

 

Her face mold appears to be the same as the 2012 and 2013 Classic Snow White, but with a considerably different face paint than either of them. She has large dark brown eyes that are glancing to her left, with four short thick lashes over each eye and four very short and thin lashes under each eye. Over her eyes is gold eyeshadow, and thin black eyebrows gently following the curve of her eyes. She also had short rooted eyelashes that are just barely curving upwards, and are even in length. She has a small button nose, a small mouth with blood red lips forming a charming open mouth smile. She has light pink rouge over most of her cheeks, and a round face with small chin. She is a very beautiful and faithful representation of the sweet and charming movie character.

 

Her hair is a considerable departure from the traditional short flip hairdo. Her jet black hair is parted to the left of her head, and pulled tightly over her head into a medium length braided ponytail that tapers down to a point and is secured by black rubberband, and is sewn to her collar on her right side. There is a small amount of hair product applied just above her forehead, to a thin strip of her hair. In my doll, that strip keeps on separating from the rest of her hair. I haven't been able to integrate it with the rest of her hair; perhaps I will have to apply more hair product to keep it place. There is a thin bright red satin ribbon around the top of her head that ends in a small bow at left side of her head.

 

Her outfit is a take on her traditional Princess gown. Her bodice and skirt are separate pieces. The bodice is dark blue velvet with gold piping and elaborate gold embroidery, and decorated with a bow made of metallic gold thread. The floral design is similar to the D23 doll, but differs in its details. She has puffy sleeves of the same dark blue velvet, with separate ribbons of bright red satin that float over the velvet. The sleeves have black lace cuffs decorated with gold hearts, and the oversized collar is pure white lace folded in a fan-like manner behind her neck and head. Her skirt is dark golden taffeta with gold embroidering incorporating fleur-de-lis, flowers and hearts. The embroidery in the skirt is identical to that of the D23 doll. The taffeta gives the skirt has a wrinkled, antique appearance. It has a thin pale tan satin lining. There are golden rhinestones scattered throughout the bodice and skirt of her dress. Under her dress is a floor length white satin slip with the lacey pattern at the hem showing below her skirt. It is sewn to her skirt at two spots at the hem, which I chose to leave alone for now. It is also sewn to the waist band of the skirt, so it is a permanent part of the skirt. She is wearing golden tan flat shoes (or slippers), the same as the D23 doll. It is a beautifully designed and beautifully made outfit that is a darker and more ornated version of the Princess outfit of the movie character.

 

The Prince appears to have the standard Disney Store Prince body, with articulation at the neck, shoulders, hinge jointed elbows, ball jointed hips, and internal knee joints with limited movement. His hands and feet are large, but his head is disproportionately small compared to Snow White. His face has a neutral expression, with small, narrow deep blue eyes, wide mouth and a straight nose. His molded dark brown hair looks okay. His face doesn't look that movie accurate to me; I actually prefer the playline Classic Prince. As with all Disney Prince dolls, he is sturdily built, and can free stand fairly stably. But for safe keeping, it is best to put him up in the included doll stand, which has a wide C-clamp that goes around his waist very snuggly.

 

The Prince's outfit is very well made and fitted to his body. It consists of a dark blue faux leather vest, a bright red velvet and satin cape with gold piping permanently attached at the shoulders of the vest, a dark blue faux leather belt with a gold metal buckle and a short black faux leather scabbard attached, white satin shirt, black pants and black boots with a worn look and creases. In the scabbard is a steel gray sword with a brown handle. The sword is thin and very flexible. It was slightly bent out of the box, but was easily bent back into shape. The D23 Prince's vest is much thicker, and feels much more like real leather than this Prince doll. But this Prince has an outfit that is much closer in color to the movie character. He looks great in his outfit, and very dashing, but I wish his expression had more emotion, and was more cheerful.

 

Snow White and the Prince - Limited Edition Doll Set

Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

US Disney Store

Released and purchased in store on August 20, 2013.

Released online August 21, 2013.

$129.95 US

#558 of 6000

First Look

 

I will photograph the set boxed, during the deboxing, and fully deboxed. I will also pose the dolls next to comparable dolls, for instance the Gold D23 Snow White doll set.

 

Product information from the US Disney Store website:

 

Snow White and the Prince Doll Set - Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

$129.95

Item No. 6070040900883P

 

Fairest two of all

 

With lips red as the rose and skin as white as snow, the Princess has never looked fairer. Paired with her handsome Prince, this stunning set of Disney Fairytale Designer Collection dolls will be cherished happily ever after.

 

Magic in the details...

 

Please Note: Each Guest will be limited to ordering a maximum of one of this item per order.

 

As part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection this pair of Snow White and Prince dolls were carefully crafted by artists inspired by Walt Disney's 1937 classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The original Disney Princess and her Prince have been reimagined in exquisite detail with these limited edition dolls. Brought to life with thoughtful attention, they uniquely capture the essence of the fairytale couple, creating a one of a kind set that will be a treasured keepsake of collectors, Disney fans and every princess at heart.

 

•Global Limited Editon of 6000

•Includes Certificate of Authenticity

•Romantic side-swept hair

•Dramatic lace collar

•Elaborately embroidered velvet bodice with puff sleeves with red satin detailing

•Layered gown ornately decorated with golden gemstones, taffeta, lace, and embroidered foliage

•Dramatic make-up and rooted eyelashes

•Red bow headband

•Prince features velvet cape

•Satin shirt with faux leather waistcoat and belt

•Boots and sword

•Dolls sold in a special keepsake display case with intricate details on the base, including a golden plate with the name of Snow White and the Prince

•Includes special Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Gift Bag

•Part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

 

* Intended for adult collectors -- Not a child's toy.

 

The bare necessities

 

•Plastic / polyester

•Snow White: 11 1/2''

•Prince: 12'' H

•Imported

 

Amongst the gathering of Great War era military graves in Section 25 of the Earlham Cemetery in Norwich there is also this one.

 

In loving memory of

SGT. FRANK S. TANN.

1st NORFOLK REGT.

Who departed this life

JANy 9th 1910.

Aged 35 years.

 

Had he asked us, well we know,

We would cry, O, spare the blow,

Yes with streaming tears we pray

Lord we love him, let him stay.

 

There are surviving serving records for Frank Samuel Tann of the Norfolk Regiment in the National Archives WO 97 series – viewable on the likes of Ancestry, FindMyPast and Genes Reunited.

 

Frank Samuel Tann, born North Heigham, Norwich and then aged 19 years and 9 months, enlisted at Norwich on the 29th August 1894. An unmarried man, he was working as a Clicker in the Boot trade. He signed up for 7 years in the colours and 5 in the reserves.

Frank had previously in the Militia Norfolk Regiment of Artillery, but had obtained his discharge via purchase.

 

He was recorded as 5 feet 7 and a half inches tall, weighed 133lbs and had Brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He had no distinguishing marks.

 

His next of kin was initially his father, Ransome Bransby Tann, of 81 Philadelphia Lane, Norwich and his younger brothers Harry Tann, (Royal Marines) and George Tann, (2nd Norfolk Regiment). This was changed at some point to a wife, Mrs. E.E. Tann, of 2 King Edward Street, Rose Valley, Brentwood.

 

He was issued with service number 4058 and reported to the depot. From there he was posted to the 2nd Battalion at Warley on the 31st August 1894.

 

He passed his 3rd Class Certificate of Education on the 14th February 1895 and his 2nd Class one on the 14th June 1895.

 

Appointed Lance Corporal on the 27th April 1896, he was transferred to the 1st Battalion on the 10th November 1896. (He would have reverted to Private at that point – Lance ranks were appointments, not permanent promotions). On the same day he is shown as being in India, but I suspect that is the date he sailed from the UK. (He would remain there until the 25th February 1904, although again that might be the date he sailed from India or the date he returned to the UK).

 

He was appointed paid Lance-Corporal with his new Battalion on the 11th September 1897 with a promotion to Corporal following on the 18th September 1899.

 

On the 25th September 1900 he passed his 1st Class Certificate of Education.

 

On the 28th September 1901 he opted to extend his service in the colours to the full 12 years. A month later he was appointed unpaid Lance Sergeant. This was converted to a paid appointment on the 1st December 1901.

 

On the 6th July 1903 he was promoted to Sergeant.

 

While at Bareilly, India, with the 1st Battalion, on the 8th December 1903 he opted to extend his service to complete 21 years with the colours.

 

He was shown as being in the UK from the 26th February 1904 to the 14th January 1905 on “furlo” – although some of that may have been the journey back and possibly the journey out to his next posting.

 

He was shown as being stationed in South Africa from the 15th January 1905 to the 16th February 1907. While there he qualified in the Ordinary & Advance Course at the exam held at the School of Musketry, Blomfontein on the 27th March 1905. He returned to the UK in 1907 and did not go overseas again.

 

He was posted to the Depot on the 18th February 1908.

 

On the 14th September 1908 at Brentwood he married an Ellen Ethel Emily Overy, (Spinster). No children are noted in the records.

 

He died at Norwich on the 9th January 1910 of a “Malignant new growth.”

  

1874 / 1875 – Birth……………………………….

 

The birth of a Frank Samuel Tann, mothers’ maiden name Sayer, was registered in the Norwich District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1875. Then, as now, you had 42 days after the event to register the birth, so potentially a child registered at the start of Q1 could actually have been born as early as the middle of the preceding November. Something like that would make his age at the time of enlistment correct. The published indexes were by quarter registered, which isn’t necessarily the same as quarter born.

 

The most likely marriage of his parents was recorded in the Norwich District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1874. This was when a Ransome Bransby Tann married a Hannah Sayer.

 

The marriage actually took place at St Peter Hungate, Norwich, on the 6th April 1874, Ransome Bransby Tann, aged 20 and a Bachelor from Outside the Parish, worked as an Upholsterer. His father was Samuel Wiseman Tann, also an Upholsterer. Hannah Sayer was a 21 year old spinster. Her father, William Sayer, was a Shoemaker. Witnesses were Frank Tann and Elizabeth Browne.

www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/58183b21e93790eb7f69958...

 

1881 Census of England and Wales………………..

 

The 6 year old Frank Tann, born Norwich, was recorded living at a dwelling on Gildengate Street, in the parish of St George Colegate, Norwich. This was the household of his maternal grandparents, Henry Sayer, (aged 51, a General Shopkeeper, born Norwich), and Hannah Sayer, (aged 50, born Norwich).

 

His parents were recorded living at Gildencroft, St Augustines, Norwich. Ransome B., (26, Upholsterer, born Norwich) and Hannah, (27, Boot Machinist, born Norwich), live there with three of their children, (Harry,4, George, 2, and Emily, 11 months – all born Norwich) and Ransomes’ brother Frank H., (aged 23, an Upholsterer, born Norwich).

 

The birth of a Henry Tann, mothers’ maiden name Sayer, was recorded in the Norwich District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1877.

 

The birth of a George Tann, mothers’ maiden name Sayer, was recorded in the Norwich District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1879.

 

Franks’ future wife, Ellen Ethel E. Overy was registered as born in the Mile End Old Town District of London in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1883.

 

1891 Census of England & Wales……………………

 

Frank Tann, (16, Shoemaker) and his grandparents Henry, (63, Shoemaker) and Harriet Sayer, (62), were now recorded living at 75 Middle Street, which was also in the parish of St George Colegate, Norwich.

 

His parents has also moved and were now recorded at 49 Esdelle Street, Norwich. Ransome, (36, Upholsterer) and Hannah, (37) are living there with their children Harry, (14, Cabinet Maker), George, (13, Errand Boy), Emily, (11), Florence, (9), Arthur, (4) and Alice, (3 months). All the family members are shown as born Norwich.

 

Franks’ future wife, the 7 year old Ellen E., born Bow, London, was to be found living at 11 Trellis Street, Bow, London. This was the household of her parents Richard, (50, Labourer, born Bethnal Green) and Ellen, (42, born Lambeth). The couple have two other children living with them.

 

12th October 1893 – brother Henry joins the Royal Marines

 

Henry seems to have added a couple of years to his age when he joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Norwich on the 12th October 1893. A cabinet maker and the son of Ransome Tann, he gave his date of birth as the 28th April 1875 and his place of birth as St Benedicts, Norwich. Ransome was stated then to be living at Drakes Court, St Georges, Middle Street, Norwich.

 

On enlistment he was described as 5 feet 6 and six tenth inches tall, (on discharge he was 5 feet 9 and a half), with dark brown hair, hazel eyes and a dark complexion. He had no distinguishing marks.

 

His service number was Z/613 in the Chatham Division. He was stationed on HMS Torch from the 11th January 1897 to the 2nd September 1898, being promoted Corporal on the 23rd October 1897.

 

HMS Torch (1894).

 

HMS Torch was an Alert-class sloop of the Royal Navy, built at Sheerness Dockyard and launched in 1894. Torch joined the Australian Station in February 1897, serving in New Zealand waters in 1898 and 1899.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Torch_(1894)

 

He was brought home aboard S.S. Origaba and discharged as an Invalid on the 9th November 1898. His General Character was rated Very Good and he was discharged to an address of 45 Adam & Eve Row, East Road, Cambridge.

discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7767041

 

1895 – Brother George joins the Norfolk Regiment – possibly?

 

The service record for Frank shows he has a younger brother George serving in the 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. I couldn’t find any likely surviving service records, but in the 1899 to 1902 Anglo-Boer War Medal Roll for the Norfolk Regiment there is a Sergeant 4368 G. Tann.

 

A check of nearby services numbers shows that 4342 enlisted 23rd July 1895 and 4501 joined on the 27th January 1896.

armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/2009/07/norfolk-regiment-...

 

On the 1911 Census of England & Wales there was a 32 year old married Colour Sergeant George Tann, born Norwich, who was recorded in Barracks at Belgaum, India with the 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.

 

And going forward to the Great War there is a Medal Index Card for Regimental Serjeant Major 4368 George Tann, Norfolk Regiment, later 63825 Royal Defence Corps. The card itself shows he went overseas with the 7th Battalion, landing in France on the 30th May 1915 when that Battalion first deployed abroad.

discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D5477680

 

It looks like Ancestry potentially have some Pension records for him so seems likely he survived the war.

 

1901 Census of England & Wales…………………………

 

There is no obvious match for the Frank Tann shown above, but this is to be expected if he was the man who joined the Army in 1894. The service records for that individual shows him in India at that time. Members of the Army stationed overseas would only be included in the scope of the census from 1911 onwards.

 

His parents had by now moved to Cambridge and were to be found living at 45 Adam + Eve Street. As well Ransome B., (46, Upholsterer, born Norwich) and Hannah, (47, born Norwich), they also had living with them their two youngest children from the previous census, Arthur, (14, Errand Boy) and Alice, (10) – both born Norwich.

 

His grandfather, the 72 year old widower Harry Sayer, a working Shoemaker, was recorded boarding at 72 St Augustines Street, Norwich. The householder was a Licensed Victualler, so I suspect the address is probably a public house.

 

His future wife, the 17 year old Ellen E. Overy, a Laundress born Mile End, London, was recorded living at 4 Victoria Road, Southweald, Essex. She is recorded as the sister of the head of the household who is a 26 year old publishers clerk, Alfred Hyatt, born Finchley, Middlesex. Also in the household is Alfreds’ married mother, Ellen Ovey, aged “50” and born Lambeth. Alfred is presumably a child from a previous relationship.

 

No obvious match for brother Harry Tann on this Census.

 

14th September 1908 – marriage…………………

 

On the 14th September 1908 at Brentwood Frank married an Ellen Ethel Emily Overy, (Spinster). – sourced from his service record.

 

The marriage of a Frank Samuel Tann to an Ellen Ethel Overy was recorded in the Billericay District of Essex in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1908.

  

On the day………………….

 

As can be seen in his service record, Frank died of a malignant new growth on the 9th January 1910. I can only assume that was cancerous.

  

Postscript…………………………..

 

Parents Ransome and Hannah were back in Norwich by the time of the 1911 Census of England & Wales. Married 38 years, they state the marriage has produced 8 children, of which sadly only 4 were then still alive. Ransome would pass away in Norwich in 1918 at the age of 64. Hannah possibly died in the Epping District of Essex in 1942, aged 89.

 

Maternal grandfather Henry Sayer, (83), formerly a shoemaker, was an inmate in the Great Hospital, Bishopgate Street, Norwich. This was an Alms House for the distressed elderly. The death of a Henry Sayer, aged 83, was recorded in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1911 – the census was taken on the 2nd April.

 

Franks’ widow, the 27 year old Ellen Tann, born Bow, London, was recorded among the live in nursing staff at the Essex Lunatic Asylum at Brentwood, Essex. The death of the 72 year old Ethel E.E. Tann was recorded in the Brentwood District of Essex in Q2 1956.

 

Whatever caused his brother Harry to be discharged from the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1898, it didn’t stop him joining the Royal Marine Reserve on the 25th June 1910. Looks like his number was Chatham A/538. After a basic weeks drill he would go on to do another week in 1911, 1912 and 1913 before taking part in the Test Mobilisation in July 1914. On the 2nd August 1914 he was embodied as a full time marine. After various home postings, he was discharged again on the 15th February 1916 on the grounds of ill-health. His discharge address was 54 Boundary Road, Merton Surrey.

 

Following his Great War Service it looks like George may have followed many a career soldier and sailors dream – he became a Pub Landlord, taking the Licence of The Ship Inn, Foulsham, on the 9th September 1926.

www.norfolkpubs.co.uk/norfolkf/foulsham/foulsh.htm

 

Unfortunately the death of a George Tann, aged 54, was recorded in the Aylsham District of Norfolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1933. The 1934 Probate Calendar records that George Tann, of The Ship Inn, Foulsham, Norfolk, died on the 22nd December 1933. Probate was granted at the Norwich Court on the 23rd January 1934 to Elizabeth Tann, widow. probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Tann&ye...

Elizabeth would relinquish the licence on the Ship Inn by the end of March 1934 – see the Norfolk Pubs webpage.

 

Snow White and her Prince have now been fully deboxed. They are posed standing, supported by the built-in doll stands in the base of the display case.

 

This regular version of the Snow White and the Prince Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Doll Set has the same two base dolls as the D23 special edition dolls that I reviewed earlier. That is the dolls themselves are identical in every way (except for the serial numbers on the back of the Prince dolls). They also have outfits of almost identical designs, but made of different materials and with differing colors. So the dolls have different looks, especially the Snow Whites.

 

Snow White has the body of a 2012 Disney Store Classic Princess doll. That is, she has hard plastic legs, with hinged knee joints and ball jointed ankles. She is missing the usual manufacturer's marks printed on Disney limited edition dolls, including the part number and her edition size and serial number. She is also missing the twist waist joint of the previous Designer Princess and Designer Villain dolls. She has a pale complexion, the same as the 2012 Snow White, with whom she shares the same body. However, her neck joint has more freedom of movement, especially downward, and her painted on panties are deep golden yellow, much darker than the 2012 Snow White.

 

Her face mold appears to be the same as the 2012 and 2013 Classic Snow White, but with a considerably different face paint than either of them. She has large dark brown eyes that are glancing to her left, with four short thick lashes over each eye and four very short and thin lashes under each eye. Over her eyes is gold eyeshadow, and thin black eyebrows gently following the curve of her eyes. She also had short rooted eyelashes that are just barely curving upwards, and are even in length. She has a small button nose, a small mouth with blood red lips forming a charming open mouth smile. She has light pink rouge over most of her cheeks, and a round face with small chin. She is a very beautiful and faithful representation of the sweet and charming movie character.

 

Her hair is a considerable departure from the traditional short flip hairdo. Her jet black hair is parted to the left of her head, and pulled tightly over her head into a medium length braided ponytail that tapers down to a point and is secured by black rubberband, and is sewn to her collar on her right side. There is a small amount of hair product applied just above her forehead, to a thin strip of her hair. In my doll, that strip keeps on separating from the rest of her hair. I haven't been able to integrate it with the rest of her hair; perhaps I will have to apply more hair product to keep it place. There is a thin bright red satin ribbon around the top of her head that ends in a small bow at left side of her head.

 

Her outfit is a take on her traditional Princess gown. Her bodice and skirt are separate pieces. The bodice is dark blue velvet with gold piping and elaborate gold embroidery, and decorated with a bow made of metallic gold thread. The floral design is similar to the D23 doll, but differs in its details. She has puffy sleeves of the same dark blue velvet, with separate ribbons of bright red satin that float over the velvet. The sleeves have black lace cuffs decorated with gold hearts, and the oversized collar is pure white lace folded in a fan-like manner behind her neck and head. Her skirt is dark golden taffeta with gold embroidering incorporating fleur-de-lis, flowers and hearts. The embroidery in the skirt is identical to that of the D23 doll. The taffeta gives the skirt has a wrinkled, antique appearance. It has a thin pale tan satin lining. There are golden rhinestones scattered throughout the bodice and skirt of her dress. Under her dress is a floor length white satin slip with the lacey pattern at the hem showing below her skirt. It is sewn to her skirt at two spots at the hem, which I chose to leave alone for now. It is also sewn to the waist band of the skirt, so it is a permanent part of the skirt. She is wearing golden tan flat shoes (or slippers), the same as the D23 doll. It is a beautifully designed and beautifully made outfit that is a darker and more ornated version of the Princess outfit of the movie character.

 

The Prince appears to have the standard Disney Store Prince body, with articulation at the neck, shoulders, hinge jointed elbows, ball jointed hips, and internal knee joints with limited movement. His hands and feet are large, but his head is disproportionately small compared to Snow White. His face has a neutral expression, with small, narrow deep blue eyes, wide mouth and a straight nose. His molded dark brown hair looks okay. His face doesn't look that movie accurate to me; I actually prefer the playline Classic Prince. As with all Disney Prince dolls, he is sturdily built, and can free stand fairly stably. But for safe keeping, it is best to put him up in the included doll stand, which has a wide C-clamp that goes around his waist very snuggly.

 

The Prince's outfit is very well made and fitted to his body. It consists of a dark blue faux leather vest, a bright red velvet and satin cape with gold piping permanently attached at the shoulders of the vest, a dark blue faux leather belt with a gold metal buckle and a short black faux leather scabbard attached, white satin shirt, black pants and black boots with a worn look and creases. In the scabbard is a steel gray sword with a brown handle. The sword is thin and very flexible. It was slightly bent out of the box, but was easily bent back into shape. The D23 Prince's vest is much thicker, and feels much more like real leather than this Prince doll. But this Prince has an outfit that is much closer in color to the movie character. He looks great in his outfit, and very dashing, but I wish his expression had more emotion, and was more cheerful.

 

Snow White and the Prince - Limited Edition Doll Set

Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

US Disney Store

Released and purchased in store on August 20, 2013.

Released online August 21, 2013.

$129.95 US

#558 of 6000

First Look

 

I will photograph the set boxed, during the deboxing, and fully deboxed. I will also pose the dolls next to comparable dolls, for instance the Gold D23 Snow White doll set.

 

Product information from the US Disney Store website:

 

Snow White and the Prince Doll Set - Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

$129.95

Item No. 6070040900883P

 

Fairest two of all

 

With lips red as the rose and skin as white as snow, the Princess has never looked fairer. Paired with her handsome Prince, this stunning set of Disney Fairytale Designer Collection dolls will be cherished happily ever after.

 

Magic in the details...

 

Please Note: Each Guest will be limited to ordering a maximum of one of this item per order.

 

As part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection this pair of Snow White and Prince dolls were carefully crafted by artists inspired by Walt Disney's 1937 classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The original Disney Princess and her Prince have been reimagined in exquisite detail with these limited edition dolls. Brought to life with thoughtful attention, they uniquely capture the essence of the fairytale couple, creating a one of a kind set that will be a treasured keepsake of collectors, Disney fans and every princess at heart.

 

•Global Limited Editon of 6000

•Includes Certificate of Authenticity

•Romantic side-swept hair

•Dramatic lace collar

•Elaborately embroidered velvet bodice with puff sleeves with red satin detailing

•Layered gown ornately decorated with golden gemstones, taffeta, lace, and embroidered foliage

•Dramatic make-up and rooted eyelashes

•Red bow headband

•Prince features velvet cape

•Satin shirt with faux leather waistcoat and belt

•Boots and sword

•Dolls sold in a special keepsake display case with intricate details on the base, including a golden plate with the name of Snow White and the Prince

•Includes special Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Gift Bag

•Part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

 

* Intended for adult collectors -- Not a child's toy.

 

The bare necessities

 

•Plastic / polyester

•Snow White: 11 1/2''

•Prince: 12'' H

•Imported

 

Snow White and her Prince have now been fully deboxed. They are posed standing, supported by the built-in doll stands in the base of the display case.

 

This regular version of the Snow White and the Prince Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Doll Set has the same two base dolls as the D23 special edition dolls that I reviewed earlier. That is the dolls themselves are identical in every way (except for the serial numbers on the back of the Prince dolls). They also have outfits of almost identical designs, but made of different materials and with differing colors. So the dolls have different looks, especially the Snow Whites.

 

Snow White has the body of a 2012 Disney Store Classic Princess doll. That is, she has hard plastic legs, with hinged knee joints and ball jointed ankles. She is missing the usual manufacturer's marks printed on Disney limited edition dolls, including the part number and her edition size and serial number. She is also missing the twist waist joint of the previous Designer Princess and Designer Villain dolls. She has a pale complexion, the same as the 2012 Snow White, with whom she shares the same body. However, her neck joint has more freedom of movement, especially downward, and her painted on panties are deep golden yellow, much darker than the 2012 Snow White.

 

Her face mold appears to be the same as the 2012 and 2013 Classic Snow White, but with a considerably different face paint than either of them. She has large dark brown eyes that are glancing to her left, with four short thick lashes over each eye and four very short and thin lashes under each eye. Over her eyes is gold eyeshadow, and thin black eyebrows gently following the curve of her eyes. She also had short rooted eyelashes that are just barely curving upwards, and are even in length. She has a small button nose, a small mouth with blood red lips forming a charming open mouth smile. She has light pink rouge over most of her cheeks, and a round face with small chin. She is a very beautiful and faithful representation of the sweet and charming movie character.

 

Her hair is a considerable departure from the traditional short flip hairdo. Her jet black hair is parted to the left of her head, and pulled tightly over her head into a medium length braided ponytail that tapers down to a point and is secured by black rubberband, and is sewn to her collar on her right side. There is a small amount of hair product applied just above her forehead, to a thin strip of her hair. In my doll, that strip keeps on separating from the rest of her hair. I haven't been able to integrate it with the rest of her hair; perhaps I will have to apply more hair product to keep it place. There is a thin bright red satin ribbon around the top of her head that ends in a small bow at left side of her head.

 

Her outfit is a take on her traditional Princess gown. Her bodice and skirt are separate pieces. The bodice is dark blue velvet with gold piping and elaborate gold embroidery, and decorated with a bow made of metallic gold thread. The floral design is similar to the D23 doll, but differs in its details. She has puffy sleeves of the same dark blue velvet, with separate ribbons of bright red satin that float over the velvet. The sleeves have black lace cuffs decorated with gold hearts, and the oversized collar is pure white lace folded in a fan-like manner behind her neck and head. Her skirt is dark golden taffeta with gold embroidering incorporating fleur-de-lis, flowers and hearts. The embroidery in the skirt is identical to that of the D23 doll. The taffeta gives the skirt has a wrinkled, antique appearance. It has a thin pale tan satin lining. There are golden rhinestones scattered throughout the bodice and skirt of her dress. Under her dress is a floor length white satin slip with the lacey pattern at the hem showing below her skirt. It is sewn to her skirt at two spots at the hem, which I chose to leave alone for now. It is also sewn to the waist band of the skirt, so it is a permanent part of the skirt. She is wearing golden tan flat shoes (or slippers), the same as the D23 doll. It is a beautifully designed and beautifully made outfit that is a darker and more ornated version of the Princess outfit of the movie character.

 

The Prince appears to have the standard Disney Store Prince body, with articulation at the neck, shoulders, hinge jointed elbows, ball jointed hips, and internal knee joints with limited movement. His hands and feet are large, but his head is disproportionately small compared to Snow White. His face has a neutral expression, with small, narrow deep blue eyes, wide mouth and a straight nose. His molded dark brown hair looks okay. His face doesn't look that movie accurate to me; I actually prefer the playline Classic Prince. As with all Disney Prince dolls, he is sturdily built, and can free stand fairly stably. But for safe keeping, it is best to put him up in the included doll stand, which has a wide C-clamp that goes around his waist very snuggly.

 

The Prince's outfit is very well made and fitted to his body. It consists of a dark blue faux leather vest, a bright red velvet and satin cape with gold piping permanently attached at the shoulders of the vest, a dark blue faux leather belt with a gold metal buckle and a short black faux leather scabbard attached, white satin shirt, black pants and black boots with a worn look and creases. In the scabbard is a steel gray sword with a brown handle. The sword is thin and very flexible. It was slightly bent out of the box, but was easily bent back into shape. The D23 Prince's vest is much thicker, and feels much more like real leather than this Prince doll. But this Prince has an outfit that is much closer in color to the movie character. He looks great in his outfit, and very dashing, but I wish his expression had more emotion, and was more cheerful.

 

Snow White and the Prince - Limited Edition Doll Set

Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

US Disney Store

Released and purchased in store on August 20, 2013.

Released online August 21, 2013.

$129.95 US

#558 of 6000

First Look

 

I will photograph the set boxed, during the deboxing, and fully deboxed. I will also pose the dolls next to comparable dolls, for instance the Gold D23 Snow White doll set.

 

Product information from the US Disney Store website:

 

Snow White and the Prince Doll Set - Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

$129.95

Item No. 6070040900883P

 

Fairest two of all

 

With lips red as the rose and skin as white as snow, the Princess has never looked fairer. Paired with her handsome Prince, this stunning set of Disney Fairytale Designer Collection dolls will be cherished happily ever after.

 

Magic in the details...

 

Please Note: Each Guest will be limited to ordering a maximum of one of this item per order.

 

As part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection this pair of Snow White and Prince dolls were carefully crafted by artists inspired by Walt Disney's 1937 classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The original Disney Princess and her Prince have been reimagined in exquisite detail with these limited edition dolls. Brought to life with thoughtful attention, they uniquely capture the essence of the fairytale couple, creating a one of a kind set that will be a treasured keepsake of collectors, Disney fans and every princess at heart.

 

•Global Limited Editon of 6000

•Includes Certificate of Authenticity

•Romantic side-swept hair

•Dramatic lace collar

•Elaborately embroidered velvet bodice with puff sleeves with red satin detailing

•Layered gown ornately decorated with golden gemstones, taffeta, lace, and embroidered foliage

•Dramatic make-up and rooted eyelashes

•Red bow headband

•Prince features velvet cape

•Satin shirt with faux leather waistcoat and belt

•Boots and sword

•Dolls sold in a special keepsake display case with intricate details on the base, including a golden plate with the name of Snow White and the Prince

•Includes special Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Gift Bag

•Part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

 

* Intended for adult collectors -- Not a child's toy.

 

The bare necessities

 

•Plastic / polyester

•Snow White: 11 1/2''

•Prince: 12'' H

•Imported

 

**PICTURE BY GINA**

 

A few months ago, right before my flickr break and interstate move, I had bought a little messed up blonde Kenner on Yahoo Japan for cheap. No one else bid on the auction. Although she wasn't in wonderful condition, something about her face drew me in so much that even Malcolm said "bid on her!"

 

After I won the Kenner I sent her straight to Gina to fix up some of the Kenner's 'issues'. When the Kenner arrived at Gina's, I have to admit I was a little disappointed because there were a number more flaws than I was made aware of in the auction. However I knew the doll was in good hands, so I didn't let it worry me too much.

 

Well what can I say? Gina has exceeded my expectations and more. The Kenner now looks exactly as I imagined she could look, but even better. I love her creamy complexion and sweet face, for such a long time I have wanted a sweet 6 line Blonde Kenner to complement my 7 line Daisy Blue. I am over the moon :)

 

I think I will call her Lucy Blue, but I'm not sure yet.

 

Thanks Gina I love you <3333

Candid street shot. Barcelona, Spain..

 

As we get older, this question must come to all of us eventually.

   

North Dakota in 1963

Available here: www.nexusmods.com/dragonageinquisition/mods/652/?

Patty Patchwork, Dandy Dearest & Sweet Bubbly Bear. Three very different faces and complexions.

Snow White and her Prince have now been fully deboxed. They are posed standing, supported by the built-in doll stands in the base of the display case.

 

This regular version of the Snow White and the Prince Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Doll Set has the same two base dolls as the D23 special edition dolls that I reviewed earlier. That is the dolls themselves are identical in every way (except for the serial numbers on the back of the Prince dolls). They also have outfits of almost identical designs, but made of different materials and with differing colors. So the dolls have different looks, especially the Snow Whites.

 

Snow White has the body of a 2012 Disney Store Classic Princess doll. That is, she has hard plastic legs, with hinged knee joints and ball jointed ankles. She is missing the usual manufacturer's marks printed on Disney limited edition dolls, including the part number and her edition size and serial number. She is also missing the twist waist joint of the previous Designer Princess and Designer Villain dolls. She has a pale complexion, the same as the 2012 Snow White, with whom she shares the same body. However, her neck joint has more freedom of movement, especially downward, and her painted on panties are deep golden yellow, much darker than the 2012 Snow White.

 

Her face mold appears to be the same as the 2012 and 2013 Classic Snow White, but with a considerably different face paint than either of them. She has large dark brown eyes that are glancing to her left, with four short thick lashes over each eye and four very short and thin lashes under each eye. Over her eyes is gold eyeshadow, and thin black eyebrows gently following the curve of her eyes. She also had short rooted eyelashes that are just barely curving upwards, and are even in length. She has a small button nose, a small mouth with blood red lips forming a charming open mouth smile. She has light pink rouge over most of her cheeks, and a round face with small chin. She is a very beautiful and faithful representation of the sweet and charming movie character.

 

Her hair is a considerable departure from the traditional short flip hairdo. Her jet black hair is parted to the left of her head, and pulled tightly over her head into a medium length braided ponytail that tapers down to a point and is secured by black rubberband, and is sewn to her collar on her right side. There is a small amount of hair product applied just above her forehead, to a thin strip of her hair. In my doll, that strip keeps on separating from the rest of her hair. I haven't been able to integrate it with the rest of her hair; perhaps I will have to apply more hair product to keep it place. There is a thin bright red satin ribbon around the top of her head that ends in a small bow at left side of her head.

 

Her outfit is a take on her traditional Princess gown. Her bodice and skirt are separate pieces. The bodice is dark blue velvet with gold piping and elaborate gold embroidery, and decorated with a bow made of metallic gold thread. The floral design is similar to the D23 doll, but differs in its details. She has puffy sleeves of the same dark blue velvet, with separate ribbons of bright red satin that float over the velvet. The sleeves have black lace cuffs decorated with gold hearts, and the oversized collar is pure white lace folded in a fan-like manner behind her neck and head. Her skirt is dark golden taffeta with gold embroidering incorporating fleur-de-lis, flowers and hearts. The embroidery in the skirt is identical to that of the D23 doll. The taffeta gives the skirt has a wrinkled, antique appearance. It has a thin pale tan satin lining. There are golden rhinestones scattered throughout the bodice and skirt of her dress. Under her dress is a floor length white satin slip with the lacey pattern at the hem showing below her skirt. It is sewn to her skirt at two spots at the hem, which I chose to leave alone for now. It is also sewn to the waist band of the skirt, so it is a permanent part of the skirt. She is wearing golden tan flat shoes (or slippers), the same as the D23 doll. It is a beautifully designed and beautifully made outfit that is a darker and more ornated version of the Princess outfit of the movie character.

 

The Prince appears to have the standard Disney Store Prince body, with articulation at the neck, shoulders, hinge jointed elbows, ball jointed hips, and internal knee joints with limited movement. His hands and feet are large, but his head is disproportionately small compared to Snow White. His face has a neutral expression, with small, narrow deep blue eyes, wide mouth and a straight nose. His molded dark brown hair looks okay. His face doesn't look that movie accurate to me; I actually prefer the playline Classic Prince. As with all Disney Prince dolls, he is sturdily built, and can free stand fairly stably. But for safe keeping, it is best to put him up in the included doll stand, which has a wide C-clamp that goes around his waist very snuggly.

 

The Prince's outfit is very well made and fitted to his body. It consists of a dark blue faux leather vest, a bright red velvet and satin cape with gold piping permanently attached at the shoulders of the vest, a dark blue faux leather belt with a gold metal buckle and a short black faux leather scabbard attached, white satin shirt, black pants and black boots with a worn look and creases. In the scabbard is a steel gray sword with a brown handle. The sword is thin and very flexible. It was slightly bent out of the box, but was easily bent back into shape. The D23 Prince's vest is much thicker, and feels much more like real leather than this Prince doll. But this Prince has an outfit that is much closer in color to the movie character. He looks great in his outfit, and very dashing, but I wish his expression had more emotion, and was more cheerful.

 

Snow White and the Prince - Limited Edition Doll Set

Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

US Disney Store

Released and purchased in store on August 20, 2013.

Released online August 21, 2013.

$129.95 US

#558 of 6000

First Look

 

I will photograph the set boxed, during the deboxing, and fully deboxed. I will also pose the dolls next to comparable dolls, for instance the Gold D23 Snow White doll set.

 

Product information from the US Disney Store website:

 

Snow White and the Prince Doll Set - Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

$129.95

Item No. 6070040900883P

 

Fairest two of all

 

With lips red as the rose and skin as white as snow, the Princess has never looked fairer. Paired with her handsome Prince, this stunning set of Disney Fairytale Designer Collection dolls will be cherished happily ever after.

 

Magic in the details...

 

Please Note: Each Guest will be limited to ordering a maximum of one of this item per order.

 

As part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection this pair of Snow White and Prince dolls were carefully crafted by artists inspired by Walt Disney's 1937 classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The original Disney Princess and her Prince have been reimagined in exquisite detail with these limited edition dolls. Brought to life with thoughtful attention, they uniquely capture the essence of the fairytale couple, creating a one of a kind set that will be a treasured keepsake of collectors, Disney fans and every princess at heart.

 

•Global Limited Editon of 6000

•Includes Certificate of Authenticity

•Romantic side-swept hair

•Dramatic lace collar

•Elaborately embroidered velvet bodice with puff sleeves with red satin detailing

•Layered gown ornately decorated with golden gemstones, taffeta, lace, and embroidered foliage

•Dramatic make-up and rooted eyelashes

•Red bow headband

•Prince features velvet cape

•Satin shirt with faux leather waistcoat and belt

•Boots and sword

•Dolls sold in a special keepsake display case with intricate details on the base, including a golden plate with the name of Snow White and the Prince

•Includes special Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Gift Bag

•Part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

 

* Intended for adult collectors -- Not a child's toy.

 

The bare necessities

 

•Plastic / polyester

•Snow White: 11 1/2''

•Prince: 12'' H

•Imported

 

Snow White and her Prince have now been fully deboxed. They are posed standing, supported by the built-in doll stands in the base of the display case.

 

This regular version of the Snow White and the Prince Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Doll Set has the same two base dolls as the D23 special edition dolls that I reviewed earlier. That is the dolls themselves are identical in every way (except for the serial numbers on the back of the Prince dolls). They also have outfits of almost identical designs, but made of different materials and with differing colors. So the dolls have different looks, especially the Snow Whites.

 

Snow White has the body of a 2012 Disney Store Classic Princess doll. That is, she has hard plastic legs, with hinged knee joints and ball jointed ankles. She is missing the usual manufacturer's marks printed on Disney limited edition dolls, including the part number and her edition size and serial number. She is also missing the twist waist joint of the previous Designer Princess and Designer Villain dolls. She has a pale complexion, the same as the 2012 Snow White, with whom she shares the same body. However, her neck joint has more freedom of movement, especially downward, and her painted on panties are deep golden yellow, much darker than the 2012 Snow White.

 

Her face mold appears to be the same as the 2012 and 2013 Classic Snow White, but with a considerably different face paint than either of them. She has large dark brown eyes that are glancing to her left, with four short thick lashes over each eye and four very short and thin lashes under each eye. Over her eyes is gold eyeshadow, and thin black eyebrows gently following the curve of her eyes. She also had short rooted eyelashes that are just barely curving upwards, and are even in length. She has a small button nose, a small mouth with blood red lips forming a charming open mouth smile. She has light pink rouge over most of her cheeks, and a round face with small chin. She is a very beautiful and faithful representation of the sweet and charming movie character.

 

Her hair is a considerable departure from the traditional short flip hairdo. Her jet black hair is parted to the left of her head, and pulled tightly over her head into a medium length braided ponytail that tapers down to a point and is secured by black rubberband, and is sewn to her collar on her right side. There is a small amount of hair product applied just above her forehead, to a thin strip of her hair. In my doll, that strip keeps on separating from the rest of her hair. I haven't been able to integrate it with the rest of her hair; perhaps I will have to apply more hair product to keep it place. There is a thin bright red satin ribbon around the top of her head that ends in a small bow at left side of her head.

 

Her outfit is a take on her traditional Princess gown. Her bodice and skirt are separate pieces. The bodice is dark blue velvet with gold piping and elaborate gold embroidery, and decorated with a bow made of metallic gold thread. The floral design is similar to the D23 doll, but differs in its details. She has puffy sleeves of the same dark blue velvet, with separate ribbons of bright red satin that float over the velvet. The sleeves have black lace cuffs decorated with gold hearts, and the oversized collar is pure white lace folded in a fan-like manner behind her neck and head. Her skirt is dark golden taffeta with gold embroidering incorporating fleur-de-lis, flowers and hearts. The embroidery in the skirt is identical to that of the D23 doll. The taffeta gives the skirt has a wrinkled, antique appearance. It has a thin pale tan satin lining. There are golden rhinestones scattered throughout the bodice and skirt of her dress. Under her dress is a floor length white satin slip with the lacey pattern at the hem showing below her skirt. It is sewn to her skirt at two spots at the hem, which I chose to leave alone for now. It is also sewn to the waist band of the skirt, so it is a permanent part of the skirt. She is wearing golden tan flat shoes (or slippers), the same as the D23 doll. It is a beautifully designed and beautifully made outfit that is a darker and more ornated version of the Princess outfit of the movie character.

 

The Prince appears to have the standard Disney Store Prince body, with articulation at the neck, shoulders, hinge jointed elbows, ball jointed hips, and internal knee joints with limited movement. His hands and feet are large, but his head is disproportionately small compared to Snow White. His face has a neutral expression, with small, narrow deep blue eyes, wide mouth and a straight nose. His molded dark brown hair looks okay. His face doesn't look that movie accurate to me; I actually prefer the playline Classic Prince. As with all Disney Prince dolls, he is sturdily built, and can free stand fairly stably. But for safe keeping, it is best to put him up in the included doll stand, which has a wide C-clamp that goes around his waist very snuggly.

 

The Prince's outfit is very well made and fitted to his body. It consists of a dark blue faux leather vest, a bright red velvet and satin cape with gold piping permanently attached at the shoulders of the vest, a dark blue faux leather belt with a gold metal buckle and a short black faux leather scabbard attached, white satin shirt, black pants and black boots with a worn look and creases. In the scabbard is a steel gray sword with a brown handle. The sword is thin and very flexible. It was slightly bent out of the box, but was easily bent back into shape. The D23 Prince's vest is much thicker, and feels much more like real leather than this Prince doll. But this Prince has an outfit that is much closer in color to the movie character. He looks great in his outfit, and very dashing, but I wish his expression had more emotion, and was more cheerful.

 

Snow White and the Prince - Limited Edition Doll Set

Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

US Disney Store

Released and purchased in store on August 20, 2013.

Released online August 21, 2013.

$129.95 US

#558 of 6000

First Look

 

I will photograph the set boxed, during the deboxing, and fully deboxed. I will also pose the dolls next to comparable dolls, for instance the Gold D23 Snow White doll set.

 

Product information from the US Disney Store website:

 

Snow White and the Prince Doll Set - Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

$129.95

Item No. 6070040900883P

 

Fairest two of all

 

With lips red as the rose and skin as white as snow, the Princess has never looked fairer. Paired with her handsome Prince, this stunning set of Disney Fairytale Designer Collection dolls will be cherished happily ever after.

 

Magic in the details...

 

Please Note: Each Guest will be limited to ordering a maximum of one of this item per order.

 

As part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection this pair of Snow White and Prince dolls were carefully crafted by artists inspired by Walt Disney's 1937 classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The original Disney Princess and her Prince have been reimagined in exquisite detail with these limited edition dolls. Brought to life with thoughtful attention, they uniquely capture the essence of the fairytale couple, creating a one of a kind set that will be a treasured keepsake of collectors, Disney fans and every princess at heart.

 

•Global Limited Editon of 6000

•Includes Certificate of Authenticity

•Romantic side-swept hair

•Dramatic lace collar

•Elaborately embroidered velvet bodice with puff sleeves with red satin detailing

•Layered gown ornately decorated with golden gemstones, taffeta, lace, and embroidered foliage

•Dramatic make-up and rooted eyelashes

•Red bow headband

•Prince features velvet cape

•Satin shirt with faux leather waistcoat and belt

•Boots and sword

•Dolls sold in a special keepsake display case with intricate details on the base, including a golden plate with the name of Snow White and the Prince

•Includes special Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Gift Bag

•Part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

 

* Intended for adult collectors -- Not a child's toy.

 

The bare necessities

 

•Plastic / polyester

•Snow White: 11 1/2''

•Prince: 12'' H

•Imported

 

Alondra totovía

(Lullula arborea)

Aláudido rechoncho, de distribución restringida a Europa, Oriente Próximo y el noroeste de África. Está ampliamente repartido por toda la Península Ibérica, aunque escasea o falta en algunas zonas cantábricas, la depresión del Ebro y el sureste. Ocupa medios abiertos con árboles o arbustos dispersos, y posee buenas densidades en dehesas y bosques aclarados.

Descripción y Clasificación

Orden Passeriformes; familia Alaudidae

Longitud 15 cm. Envergadura 27-30 cm.

Identificación

Presenta un aspecto similar al de otros aláudidos, con una coloración de tonos pardos crípticos. De complexión rechoncha, tiene moño pequeño, cola corta y oscura, y rectrices externas blancas. Su diseño facial es muy contrastado (dibujo 1), y posee una característica mancha blanquinegra en el borde anterior del ala. Exhibe un vuelo rápido de fuertes batidos, con pronunciadas ascensiones y descensos.

Canto

Resulta muy característico y está constituido por una estrofa larga, que comienza de manera relativamente lenta, pero avanza con rapidez, acelerándose y haciéndose progresivamente más grave.

 

*Health - Very Very Important Tips** **

 

Answer the phone by **LEFT** **ear**.**

Do not drink coffee **TWICE** a day.

Do not take pills with **COOL** water**.**

Do not have **HUGE** meals after 5pm.

Reduce the amount of **OILY** food you consume.

Drink more **WATER** **in the morning, less at night.

Keep your distance from hand phone **CHARGERS**.**

Do not use headphones/earphone for **LONG** period of time.

Best sleeping time is from **10pm** at night to **6am** in the morning.

Do not lie down immediately after taking **medicine** before sleeping.

When battery is down to the **LAST** grid/bar, do not answer the phone as

the radiation is 1000 times.

 

Forward this to those whom you **CARE **about!*

 

Here are some healthy tip for your smartness & physical fitness*. *

*

Prevention is better than cure.** *

 

* HEALTHY JUICES *

[image: mail by: alpha-Q group]*

Carrot + Ginger + Apple - Boost and cleanse our system. *

 

[image: mail by: alpha-Q group]*

Apple + Cucumber + Celery - Prevent cancer, reduce cholesterol, and

eliminate stomach upset and headache. *

 

[image: mail by: alpha-Q group]*

Tomato + Carrot + Apple* - *Improve skin complexion and eliminate bad

breath. *

 

[image: mail by: alpha-Q group]*

Bitter gou rd + Apple + Milk* - *Avoid bad breath and reduce internal body

heat. *

 

[image: mail by: alpha-Q group]*

Orange + Ginger + Cucumber* - *Improve Skin texture and moisture and reduce

body heat. *

 

[image: mail by: alpha-Q group]*

Pineapple + Apple + Watermelon *- *To dispel excess salts, nourishes the

bladder and kidney.*

 

[image: mail by: alpha-Q group]*

Apple + Cucumber + Kiwi *- *To improve skin complexion.*

 

[image: mail by: alpha-Q group]*

Pear & Banana* - * regulates sugar content.. *

 

[image: mail by: alpha-Q group]*

Carrot + Apple + Pear + Mango *- *Clear body heat, counteracts toxicity,

decreased blood pressure and fight oxidization *.

 

[image: mail by: alpha-Q group]*

Honeydew + Grape + Watermelon + Milk* - *Rich in vitamin C + Vitamin B2 that

increase cell activity and str engthen body immunity. *

 

[image: mail by: alpha-Q group]*

Papaya + Pineapple + Milk* - *Rich in vitamin C, E, Iron. Improve skin

complexion and metabolism. *

 

[image: mail by: alpha-Q group]*

Banana + Pineapple + Milk* - *Rich in vitamin with nutritious and prevent

constipation*

*

**Quite interesting!* *

*

 

*Keep Walking.....*

 

Jus to check this out.......

The Organs of your body have their sensory touches at the bottom of your

foot, if you massage these points you will find relief from aches and pains

as you can see the heart is on the left foot.

 

[image: []]

 

Typically they are shown as points and arrows to show which organ it

connects to.

 

It is indeed correct since the nerves connected to these organs terminate

here.

 

This is covered in great details in Acupressure studies or textbooks.

 

God created our body so well that he thought of even this. He made us walk

so that we will always be pressing these pressure points and thus keeping

these organs activated at all times.

 

So, keep walking...

 

*

*[image: www.gurlzgroup.tk]

 

*

*[image: www.gurlzgroup.tk]

 

*

Good one. Don't miss the attachments* *

Did You Know?** *

 

*Blood type and Rh*

 

*How many people have it?*

 

O +

 

40 %

 

O -

 

7 %

 

A +

 

34 %

 

A -

 

6 %

 

B +

 

8 %

 

B -

 

1 %

 

AB +

 

3 %

 

AB -

 

1 %

 

Does Your Blood Type Reveal Your Personality?

 

Accord ing to a Japanese institute that does research on blood types, there

are certain personality traits that seem to match up with certain blood

types. How do you rate?

 

*TYPE O*

 

You want to be a leader, and when you see something you want, you keep

striving until you achieve your goal. You are a trend-setter, loyal,

passionate, and self-confident. Your weaknesses include vanity and jealously

and a tendency to be too competitive.

 

*TYPE A*

 

You like harmony, peace and organization. You work well with others, and are

sensitive, patient and affectionate. Among your weaknesses are stubbornness

and an inability to relax.

 

*TYPE B*

 

You're a rugged individualist, who's str aightforwa rd and likes to do

things your own way. Creative and flexible, you adapt easily to any

situation. But your insistence on being independent can sometimes go too far

and become a weakness.

 

*TYPE AB*

 

Cool and controlled, you're generally well liked and always put people at

ease. You're a natural entertainer who's tactful and fair. But you're

standoffish, blunt, and have difficulty making decisions.

 

*

 

MOST IMPORTANT INFO NOW:** *

 

REGARDS, MANIKANDAN,

 

*You Can Receive*

 

*If Your Type Is*

 

O-

 

O+

 

B-

 

B+

 

A-

 

A+

 

AB-

 

AB+

 

AB+

 

YES

 

YES

 

YES

 

YES

 

YES

 

YES

 

YES

 

YES

 

AB-

 

YES

 

YES

 

YES

 

YES

 

A+

 

YES

 

YES

 

YES

 

YES

 

A-

 

YES

 

YES

 

B+

 

YES

 

YES

 

YES

 

YES

 

B-

 

YES

 

YES

 

O+

 

YES

 

YES

 

O-

 

YES

 

*

 

KNOW ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF HAVING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES* REGARDS,

MANIKANDAN,

 

*Fruit*

 

*Benefit*

 

*Benefit*

 

*Benefit*

 

*Benefit*

 

*Benefit*

 

*apples*

 

*Protects your heart*

 

*prevents constipation*

 

*Blocks diarrhea*

 

*Improves lung capacity*

 

*Cushions joints*

 

*apricots*

 

*Combats cancer*

 

*Controls blood pressure*

 

*Saves your eyesight*

 

*Shields against Alzheimer's*

 

*Slows aging process*

 

*artichokes*

 

*Aids digestion*

 

*Lowers cholesterol*

 

*Protects your heart*

 

*Stabilizes blood sugar*

 

*Gua rd s against liver disease*

 

*avocados*

 

*Battles diabetes*

 

*Lowers cholesterol*

 

*Helps stops str okes*

 

*Controls blood pressure*

 

*Smoothes skin*

 

*bananas*

 

*Protects your heart*

 

*Quiets a cough*

 

*Strengthens bones*

 

*Controls blood pressure*

 

*Blocks diarrhea*

 

*beans*

 

*Prevents constipation*

 

*Helps hemorrhoids*

 

*Lowers cholesterol*

 

*Combats cancer*

 

*Stabilizes blood sugar*

 

*beets*

 

*Controls blood pressure*

 

*Combats cancer*

 

*Strengthens bones*

 

*Protects your heart*

 

*Aids weight loss*

 

*blueberries*

 

*Combats cancer*

 

*Protects your heart*

 

*Stabilizes blood sugar*

 

*Boosts memory*

 

*Prevents constipation*

 

*broccoli*

 

*Strengthens bones*

 

*Saves eyesight*

 

*Combats cancer*

 

*Protects your heart*

 

*Controls blood pressure*

 

*cabbage*

 

*Combats cancer*

 

*Prevents constipation*

 

*Promotes weight loss*

 

*Protects your heart*

 

*Helps hemorrhoids*

 

*cantaloupe*

 

*Saves eyesight*

 

*Controls blood pressure*

 

*Lowers cholesterol*

 

*Combats cancer*

 

*Supports immune system*

 

...* DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH*

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up

every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven a its value. We

publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and

serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been

found successful by a Japanese med ical society as a 100% cure for the

following diseases:

 

Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy,

excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine

diseases, vomiting, ga str itis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation,

all eye diseases, womb, cancer and ear nose and throat diseases. *

 

METHOD OF TREATMENT*

 

1. As you wake up in the morning *before brushing teeth*, drink 4 x 160ml

glasses of water .....interesting

 

2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minutes

 

3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.

 

4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink

anything for 2 hours

 

5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at

the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it

to 4 glasses per day.

 

6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others

can enjoy a healthy life.

 

The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to

cure/control/reduce main diseases:

 

1. High Blood Pressure - 30 days

 

2. Ga str ic - 10 days

 

3. Diabetes - 30 days

 

4. Constipation - 10 days

 

5. Cancer - 180 days

 

6. TB - 90 days

 

7. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in

the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwa rd s - daily.

 

This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of

treatment you may have to urinate a few times.

 

It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work

in our life.

 

Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.

 

This makes sense .. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals

..not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while

eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...

 

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.

 

It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water

will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed . It will slow down

the digestion.

 

Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed

by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine.

Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink

hot soup or warm water after a meal.

 

*

A serious note about heart attacks*: Women should know that not every heart

attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.

 

Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.

 

You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart

attack..

 

Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.

 

60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.

 

Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be

aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...

 

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to everyone they

know, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

 

**Please send this article to all your friends you care for.

Hair color is almost like Zyanya Remembers. Complexion Snow White with glossy skin under the eyes.

Snow White and her Prince have now been fully deboxed. They are posed standing, supported by the built-in doll stands in the base of the display case.

 

This regular version of the Snow White and the Prince Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Doll Set has the same two base dolls as the D23 special edition dolls that I reviewed earlier. That is the dolls themselves are identical in every way (except for the serial numbers on the back of the Prince dolls). They also have outfits of almost identical designs, but made of different materials and with differing colors. So the dolls have different looks, especially the Snow Whites.

 

Snow White has the body of a 2012 Disney Store Classic Princess doll. That is, she has hard plastic legs, with hinged knee joints and ball jointed ankles. She is missing the usual manufacturer's marks printed on Disney limited edition dolls, including the part number and her edition size and serial number. She is also missing the twist waist joint of the previous Designer Princess and Designer Villain dolls. She has a pale complexion, the same as the 2012 Snow White, with whom she shares the same body. However, her neck joint has more freedom of movement, especially downward, and her painted on panties are deep golden yellow, much darker than the 2012 Snow White.

 

Her face mold appears to be the same as the 2012 and 2013 Classic Snow White, but with a considerably different face paint than either of them. She has large dark brown eyes that are glancing to her left, with four short thick lashes over each eye and four very short and thin lashes under each eye. Over her eyes is gold eyeshadow, and thin black eyebrows gently following the curve of her eyes. She also had short rooted eyelashes that are just barely curving upwards, and are even in length. She has a small button nose, a small mouth with blood red lips forming a charming open mouth smile. She has light pink rouge over most of her cheeks, and a round face with small chin. She is a very beautiful and faithful representation of the sweet and charming movie character.

 

Her hair is a considerable departure from the traditional short flip hairdo. Her jet black hair is parted to the left of her head, and pulled tightly over her head into a medium length braided ponytail that tapers down to a point and is secured by black rubberband, and is sewn to her collar on her right side. There is a small amount of hair product applied just above her forehead, to a thin strip of her hair. In my doll, that strip keeps on separating from the rest of her hair. I haven't been able to integrate it with the rest of her hair; perhaps I will have to apply more hair product to keep it place. There is a thin bright red satin ribbon around the top of her head that ends in a small bow at left side of her head.

 

Her outfit is a take on her traditional Princess gown. Her bodice and skirt are separate pieces. The bodice is dark blue velvet with gold piping and elaborate gold embroidery, and decorated with a bow made of metallic gold thread. The floral design is similar to the D23 doll, but differs in its details. She has puffy sleeves of the same dark blue velvet, with separate ribbons of bright red satin that float over the velvet. The sleeves have black lace cuffs decorated with gold hearts, and the oversized collar is pure white lace folded in a fan-like manner behind her neck and head. Her skirt is dark golden taffeta with gold embroidering incorporating fleur-de-lis, flowers and hearts. The embroidery in the skirt is identical to that of the D23 doll. The taffeta gives the skirt has a wrinkled, antique appearance. It has a thin pale tan satin lining. There are golden rhinestones scattered throughout the bodice and skirt of her dress. Under her dress is a floor length white satin slip with the lacey pattern at the hem showing below her skirt. It is sewn to her skirt at two spots at the hem, which I chose to leave alone for now. It is also sewn to the waist band of the skirt, so it is a permanent part of the skirt. She is wearing golden tan flat shoes (or slippers), the same as the D23 doll. It is a beautifully designed and beautifully made outfit that is a darker and more ornated version of the Princess outfit of the movie character.

 

The Prince appears to have the standard Disney Store Prince body, with articulation at the neck, shoulders, hinge jointed elbows, ball jointed hips, and internal knee joints with limited movement. His hands and feet are large, but his head is disproportionately small compared to Snow White. His face has a neutral expression, with small, narrow deep blue eyes, wide mouth and a straight nose. His molded dark brown hair looks okay. His face doesn't look that movie accurate to me; I actually prefer the playline Classic Prince. As with all Disney Prince dolls, he is sturdily built, and can free stand fairly stably. But for safe keeping, it is best to put him up in the included doll stand, which has a wide C-clamp that goes around his waist very snuggly.

 

The Prince's outfit is very well made and fitted to his body. It consists of a dark blue faux leather vest, a bright red velvet and satin cape with gold piping permanently attached at the shoulders of the vest, a dark blue faux leather belt with a gold metal buckle and a short black faux leather scabbard attached, white satin shirt, black pants and black boots with a worn look and creases. In the scabbard is a steel gray sword with a brown handle. The sword is thin and very flexible. It was slightly bent out of the box, but was easily bent back into shape. The D23 Prince's vest is much thicker, and feels much more like real leather than this Prince doll. But this Prince has an outfit that is much closer in color to the movie character. He looks great in his outfit, and very dashing, but I wish his expression had more emotion, and was more cheerful.

 

Snow White and the Prince - Limited Edition Doll Set

Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

US Disney Store

Released and purchased in store on August 20, 2013.

Released online August 21, 2013.

$129.95 US

#558 of 6000

First Look

 

I will photograph the set boxed, during the deboxing, and fully deboxed. I will also pose the dolls next to comparable dolls, for instance the Gold D23 Snow White doll set.

 

Product information from the US Disney Store website:

 

Snow White and the Prince Doll Set - Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

$129.95

Item No. 6070040900883P

 

Fairest two of all

 

With lips red as the rose and skin as white as snow, the Princess has never looked fairer. Paired with her handsome Prince, this stunning set of Disney Fairytale Designer Collection dolls will be cherished happily ever after.

 

Magic in the details...

 

Please Note: Each Guest will be limited to ordering a maximum of one of this item per order.

 

As part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection this pair of Snow White and Prince dolls were carefully crafted by artists inspired by Walt Disney's 1937 classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The original Disney Princess and her Prince have been reimagined in exquisite detail with these limited edition dolls. Brought to life with thoughtful attention, they uniquely capture the essence of the fairytale couple, creating a one of a kind set that will be a treasured keepsake of collectors, Disney fans and every princess at heart.

 

•Global Limited Editon of 6000

•Includes Certificate of Authenticity

•Romantic side-swept hair

•Dramatic lace collar

•Elaborately embroidered velvet bodice with puff sleeves with red satin detailing

•Layered gown ornately decorated with golden gemstones, taffeta, lace, and embroidered foliage

•Dramatic make-up and rooted eyelashes

•Red bow headband

•Prince features velvet cape

•Satin shirt with faux leather waistcoat and belt

•Boots and sword

•Dolls sold in a special keepsake display case with intricate details on the base, including a golden plate with the name of Snow White and the Prince

•Includes special Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Gift Bag

•Part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

 

* Intended for adult collectors -- Not a child's toy.

 

The bare necessities

 

•Plastic / polyester

•Snow White: 11 1/2''

•Prince: 12'' H

•Imported

 

Snow White and her Prince have now been fully deboxed. They are posed standing, supported by the built-in doll stands in the base of the display case.

 

This regular version of the Snow White and the Prince Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Doll Set has the same two base dolls as the D23 special edition dolls that I reviewed earlier. That is the dolls themselves are identical in every way (except for the serial numbers on the back of the Prince dolls). They also have outfits of almost identical designs, but made of different materials and with differing colors. So the dolls have different looks, especially the Snow Whites.

 

Snow White has the body of a 2012 Disney Store Classic Princess doll. That is, she has hard plastic legs, with hinged knee joints and ball jointed ankles. She is missing the usual manufacturer's marks printed on Disney limited edition dolls, including the part number and her edition size and serial number. She is also missing the twist waist joint of the previous Designer Princess and Designer Villain dolls. She has a pale complexion, the same as the 2012 Snow White, with whom she shares the same body. However, her neck joint has more freedom of movement, especially downward, and her painted on panties are deep golden yellow, much darker than the 2012 Snow White.

 

Her face mold appears to be the same as the 2012 and 2013 Classic Snow White, but with a considerably different face paint than either of them. She has large dark brown eyes that are glancing to her left, with four short thick lashes over each eye and four very short and thin lashes under each eye. Over her eyes is gold eyeshadow, and thin black eyebrows gently following the curve of her eyes. She also had short rooted eyelashes that are just barely curving upwards, and are even in length. She has a small button nose, a small mouth with blood red lips forming a charming open mouth smile. She has light pink rouge over most of her cheeks, and a round face with small chin. She is a very beautiful and faithful representation of the sweet and charming movie character.

 

Her hair is a considerable departure from the traditional short flip hairdo. Her jet black hair is parted to the left of her head, and pulled tightly over her head into a medium length braided ponytail that tapers down to a point and is secured by black rubberband, and is sewn to her collar on her right side. There is a small amount of hair product applied just above her forehead, to a thin strip of her hair. In my doll, that strip keeps on separating from the rest of her hair. I haven't been able to integrate it with the rest of her hair; perhaps I will have to apply more hair product to keep it place. There is a thin bright red satin ribbon around the top of her head that ends in a small bow at left side of her head.

 

Her outfit is a take on her traditional Princess gown. Her bodice and skirt are separate pieces. The bodice is dark blue velvet with gold piping and elaborate gold embroidery, and decorated with a bow made of metallic gold thread. The floral design is similar to the D23 doll, but differs in its details. She has puffy sleeves of the same dark blue velvet, with separate ribbons of bright red satin that float over the velvet. The sleeves have black lace cuffs decorated with gold hearts, and the oversized collar is pure white lace folded in a fan-like manner behind her neck and head. Her skirt is dark golden taffeta with gold embroidering incorporating fleur-de-lis, flowers and hearts. The embroidery in the skirt is identical to that of the D23 doll. The taffeta gives the skirt has a wrinkled, antique appearance. It has a thin pale tan satin lining. There are golden rhinestones scattered throughout the bodice and skirt of her dress. Under her dress is a floor length white satin slip with the lacey pattern at the hem showing below her skirt. It is sewn to her skirt at two spots at the hem, which I chose to leave alone for now. It is also sewn to the waist band of the skirt, so it is a permanent part of the skirt. She is wearing golden tan flat shoes (or slippers), the same as the D23 doll. It is a beautifully designed and beautifully made outfit that is a darker and more ornated version of the Princess outfit of the movie character.

 

The Prince appears to have the standard Disney Store Prince body, with articulation at the neck, shoulders, hinge jointed elbows, ball jointed hips, and internal knee joints with limited movement. His hands and feet are large, but his head is disproportionately small compared to Snow White. His face has a neutral expression, with small, narrow deep blue eyes, wide mouth and a straight nose. His molded dark brown hair looks okay. His face doesn't look that movie accurate to me; I actually prefer the playline Classic Prince. As with all Disney Prince dolls, he is sturdily built, and can free stand fairly stably. But for safe keeping, it is best to put him up in the included doll stand, which has a wide C-clamp that goes around his waist very snuggly.

 

The Prince's outfit is very well made and fitted to his body. It consists of a dark blue faux leather vest, a bright red velvet and satin cape with gold piping permanently attached at the shoulders of the vest, a dark blue faux leather belt with a gold metal buckle and a short black faux leather scabbard attached, white satin shirt, black pants and black boots with a worn look and creases. In the scabbard is a steel gray sword with a brown handle. The sword is thin and very flexible. It was slightly bent out of the box, but was easily bent back into shape. The D23 Prince's vest is much thicker, and feels much more like real leather than this Prince doll. But this Prince has an outfit that is much closer in color to the movie character. He looks great in his outfit, and very dashing, but I wish his expression had more emotion, and was more cheerful.

 

Snow White and the Prince - Limited Edition Doll Set

Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

US Disney Store

Released and purchased in store on August 20, 2013.

Released online August 21, 2013.

$129.95 US

#558 of 6000

First Look

 

I will photograph the set boxed, during the deboxing, and fully deboxed. I will also pose the dolls next to comparable dolls, for instance the Gold D23 Snow White doll set.

 

Product information from the US Disney Store website:

 

Snow White and the Prince Doll Set - Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

$129.95

Item No. 6070040900883P

 

Fairest two of all

 

With lips red as the rose and skin as white as snow, the Princess has never looked fairer. Paired with her handsome Prince, this stunning set of Disney Fairytale Designer Collection dolls will be cherished happily ever after.

 

Magic in the details...

 

Please Note: Each Guest will be limited to ordering a maximum of one of this item per order.

 

As part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection this pair of Snow White and Prince dolls were carefully crafted by artists inspired by Walt Disney's 1937 classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The original Disney Princess and her Prince have been reimagined in exquisite detail with these limited edition dolls. Brought to life with thoughtful attention, they uniquely capture the essence of the fairytale couple, creating a one of a kind set that will be a treasured keepsake of collectors, Disney fans and every princess at heart.

 

•Global Limited Editon of 6000

•Includes Certificate of Authenticity

•Romantic side-swept hair

•Dramatic lace collar

•Elaborately embroidered velvet bodice with puff sleeves with red satin detailing

•Layered gown ornately decorated with golden gemstones, taffeta, lace, and embroidered foliage

•Dramatic make-up and rooted eyelashes

•Red bow headband

•Prince features velvet cape

•Satin shirt with faux leather waistcoat and belt

•Boots and sword

•Dolls sold in a special keepsake display case with intricate details on the base, including a golden plate with the name of Snow White and the Prince

•Includes special Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Gift Bag

•Part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

 

* Intended for adult collectors -- Not a child's toy.

 

The bare necessities

 

•Plastic / polyester

•Snow White: 11 1/2''

•Prince: 12'' H

•Imported

 

Don Quijote, de complexión delgada, rostro enjuto y luengas barbas, limpió los arreos y las armas de su bisabuelo, de finales del XV, y, a la usanza de los caballeros de los tiempos de la guerra de Granada, se alistó según los reglamentos mencionados en la literatura caballeresca.

 

Presentación • Mi galeria • Lo mas interesante • Mis expos • Fluidr

  

Copyright © Guijo Córdoba 2012 All Rights Reserved.

 

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. A breach of copyright has legal consequences.

 

Snow White and her Prince have now been fully deboxed. They are posed standing, supported by the built-in doll stands in the base of the display case.

 

This regular version of the Snow White and the Prince Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Doll Set has the same two base dolls as the D23 special edition dolls that I reviewed earlier. That is the dolls themselves are identical in every way (except for the serial numbers on the back of the Prince dolls). They also have outfits of almost identical designs, but made of different materials and with differing colors. So the dolls have different looks, especially the Snow Whites.

 

Snow White has the body of a 2012 Disney Store Classic Princess doll. That is, she has hard plastic legs, with hinged knee joints and ball jointed ankles. She is missing the usual manufacturer's marks printed on Disney limited edition dolls, including the part number and her edition size and serial number. She is also missing the twist waist joint of the previous Designer Princess and Designer Villain dolls. She has a pale complexion, the same as the 2012 Snow White, with whom she shares the same body. However, her neck joint has more freedom of movement, especially downward, and her painted on panties are deep golden yellow, much darker than the 2012 Snow White.

 

Her face mold appears to be the same as the 2012 and 2013 Classic Snow White, but with a considerably different face paint than either of them. She has large dark brown eyes that are glancing to her left, with four short thick lashes over each eye and four very short and thin lashes under each eye. Over her eyes is gold eyeshadow, and thin black eyebrows gently following the curve of her eyes. She also had short rooted eyelashes that are just barely curving upwards, and are even in length. She has a small button nose, a small mouth with blood red lips forming a charming open mouth smile. She has light pink rouge over most of her cheeks, and a round face with small chin. She is a very beautiful and faithful representation of the sweet and charming movie character.

 

Her hair is a considerable departure from the traditional short flip hairdo. Her jet black hair is parted to the left of her head, and pulled tightly over her head into a medium length braided ponytail that tapers down to a point and is secured by black rubberband, and is sewn to her collar on her right side. There is a small amount of hair product applied just above her forehead, to a thin strip of her hair. In my doll, that strip keeps on separating from the rest of her hair. I haven't been able to integrate it with the rest of her hair; perhaps I will have to apply more hair product to keep it place. There is a thin bright red satin ribbon around the top of her head that ends in a small bow at left side of her head.

 

Her outfit is a take on her traditional Princess gown. Her bodice and skirt are separate pieces. The bodice is dark blue velvet with gold piping and elaborate gold embroidery, and decorated with a bow made of metallic gold thread. The floral design is similar to the D23 doll, but differs in its details. She has puffy sleeves of the same dark blue velvet, with separate ribbons of bright red satin that float over the velvet. The sleeves have black lace cuffs decorated with gold hearts, and the oversized collar is pure white lace folded in a fan-like manner behind her neck and head. Her skirt is dark golden taffeta with gold embroidering incorporating fleur-de-lis, flowers and hearts. The embroidery in the skirt is identical to that of the D23 doll. The taffeta gives the skirt has a wrinkled, antique appearance. It has a thin pale tan satin lining. There are golden rhinestones scattered throughout the bodice and skirt of her dress. Under her dress is a floor length white satin slip with the lacey pattern at the hem showing below her skirt. It is sewn to her skirt at two spots at the hem, which I chose to leave alone for now. It is also sewn to the waist band of the skirt, so it is a permanent part of the skirt. She is wearing golden tan flat shoes (or slippers), the same as the D23 doll. It is a beautifully designed and beautifully made outfit that is a darker and more ornated version of the Princess outfit of the movie character.

 

The Prince appears to have the standard Disney Store Prince body, with articulation at the neck, shoulders, hinge jointed elbows, ball jointed hips, and internal knee joints with limited movement. His hands and feet are large, but his head is disproportionately small compared to Snow White. His face has a neutral expression, with small, narrow deep blue eyes, wide mouth and a straight nose. His molded dark brown hair looks okay. His face doesn't look that movie accurate to me; I actually prefer the playline Classic Prince. As with all Disney Prince dolls, he is sturdily built, and can free stand fairly stably. But for safe keeping, it is best to put him up in the included doll stand, which has a wide C-clamp that goes around his waist very snuggly.

 

The Prince's outfit is very well made and fitted to his body. It consists of a dark blue faux leather vest, a bright red velvet and satin cape with gold piping permanently attached at the shoulders of the vest, a dark blue faux leather belt with a gold metal buckle and a short black faux leather scabbard attached, white satin shirt, black pants and black boots with a worn look and creases. In the scabbard is a steel gray sword with a brown handle. The sword is thin and very flexible. It was slightly bent out of the box, but was easily bent back into shape. The D23 Prince's vest is much thicker, and feels much more like real leather than this Prince doll. But this Prince has an outfit that is much closer in color to the movie character. He looks great in his outfit, and very dashing, but I wish his expression had more emotion, and was more cheerful.

 

Snow White and the Prince - Limited Edition Doll Set

Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

US Disney Store

Released and purchased in store on August 20, 2013.

Released online August 21, 2013.

$129.95 US

#558 of 6000

First Look

 

I will photograph the set boxed, during the deboxing, and fully deboxed. I will also pose the dolls next to comparable dolls, for instance the Gold D23 Snow White doll set.

 

Product information from the US Disney Store website:

 

Snow White and the Prince Doll Set - Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

$129.95

Item No. 6070040900883P

 

Fairest two of all

 

With lips red as the rose and skin as white as snow, the Princess has never looked fairer. Paired with her handsome Prince, this stunning set of Disney Fairytale Designer Collection dolls will be cherished happily ever after.

 

Magic in the details...

 

Please Note: Each Guest will be limited to ordering a maximum of one of this item per order.

 

As part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection this pair of Snow White and Prince dolls were carefully crafted by artists inspired by Walt Disney's 1937 classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The original Disney Princess and her Prince have been reimagined in exquisite detail with these limited edition dolls. Brought to life with thoughtful attention, they uniquely capture the essence of the fairytale couple, creating a one of a kind set that will be a treasured keepsake of collectors, Disney fans and every princess at heart.

 

•Global Limited Editon of 6000

•Includes Certificate of Authenticity

•Romantic side-swept hair

•Dramatic lace collar

•Elaborately embroidered velvet bodice with puff sleeves with red satin detailing

•Layered gown ornately decorated with golden gemstones, taffeta, lace, and embroidered foliage

•Dramatic make-up and rooted eyelashes

•Red bow headband

•Prince features velvet cape

•Satin shirt with faux leather waistcoat and belt

•Boots and sword

•Dolls sold in a special keepsake display case with intricate details on the base, including a golden plate with the name of Snow White and the Prince

•Includes special Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Gift Bag

•Part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

 

* Intended for adult collectors -- Not a child's toy.

 

The bare necessities

 

•Plastic / polyester

•Snow White: 11 1/2''

•Prince: 12'' H

•Imported

 

Snow White and her Prince have now been fully deboxed. They are posed standing, supported by the built-in doll stands in the base of the display case.

 

This regular version of the Snow White and the Prince Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Doll Set has the same two base dolls as the D23 special edition dolls that I reviewed earlier. That is the dolls themselves are identical in every way (except for the serial numbers on the back of the Prince dolls). They also have outfits of almost identical designs, but made of different materials and with differing colors. So the dolls have different looks, especially the Snow Whites.

 

Snow White has the body of a 2012 Disney Store Classic Princess doll. That is, she has hard plastic legs, with hinged knee joints and ball jointed ankles. She is missing the usual manufacturer's marks printed on Disney limited edition dolls, including the part number and her edition size and serial number. She is also missing the twist waist joint of the previous Designer Princess and Designer Villain dolls. She has a pale complexion, the same as the 2012 Snow White, with whom she shares the same body. However, her neck joint has more freedom of movement, especially downward, and her painted on panties are deep golden yellow, much darker than the 2012 Snow White.

 

Her face mold appears to be the same as the 2012 and 2013 Classic Snow White, but with a considerably different face paint than either of them. She has large dark brown eyes that are glancing to her left, with four short thick lashes over each eye and four very short and thin lashes under each eye. Over her eyes is gold eyeshadow, and thin black eyebrows gently following the curve of her eyes. She also had short rooted eyelashes that are just barely curving upwards, and are even in length. She has a small button nose, a small mouth with blood red lips forming a charming open mouth smile. She has light pink rouge over most of her cheeks, and a round face with small chin. She is a very beautiful and faithful representation of the sweet and charming movie character.

 

Her hair is a considerable departure from the traditional short flip hairdo. Her jet black hair is parted to the left of her head, and pulled tightly over her head into a medium length braided ponytail that tapers down to a point and is secured by black rubberband, and is sewn to her collar on her right side. There is a small amount of hair product applied just above her forehead, to a thin strip of her hair. In my doll, that strip keeps on separating from the rest of her hair. I haven't been able to integrate it with the rest of her hair; perhaps I will have to apply more hair product to keep it place. There is a thin bright red satin ribbon around the top of her head that ends in a small bow at left side of her head.

 

Her outfit is a take on her traditional Princess gown. Her bodice and skirt are separate pieces. The bodice is dark blue velvet with gold piping and elaborate gold embroidery, and decorated with a bow made of metallic gold thread. The floral design is similar to the D23 doll, but differs in its details. She has puffy sleeves of the same dark blue velvet, with separate ribbons of bright red satin that float over the velvet. The sleeves have black lace cuffs decorated with gold hearts, and the oversized collar is pure white lace folded in a fan-like manner behind her neck and head. Her skirt is dark golden taffeta with gold embroidering incorporating fleur-de-lis, flowers and hearts. The embroidery in the skirt is identical to that of the D23 doll. The taffeta gives the skirt has a wrinkled, antique appearance. It has a thin pale tan satin lining. There are golden rhinestones scattered throughout the bodice and skirt of her dress. Under her dress is a floor length white satin slip with the lacey pattern at the hem showing below her skirt. It is sewn to her skirt at two spots at the hem, which I chose to leave alone for now. It is also sewn to the waist band of the skirt, so it is a permanent part of the skirt. She is wearing golden tan flat shoes (or slippers), the same as the D23 doll. It is a beautifully designed and beautifully made outfit that is a darker and more ornated version of the Princess outfit of the movie character.

 

The Prince appears to have the standard Disney Store Prince body, with articulation at the neck, shoulders, hinge jointed elbows, ball jointed hips, and internal knee joints with limited movement. His hands and feet are large, but his head is disproportionately small compared to Snow White. His face has a neutral expression, with small, narrow deep blue eyes, wide mouth and a straight nose. His molded dark brown hair looks okay. His face doesn't look that movie accurate to me; I actually prefer the playline Classic Prince. As with all Disney Prince dolls, he is sturdily built, and can free stand fairly stably. But for safe keeping, it is best to put him up in the included doll stand, which has a wide C-clamp that goes around his waist very snuggly.

 

The Prince's outfit is very well made and fitted to his body. It consists of a dark blue faux leather vest, a bright red velvet and satin cape with gold piping permanently attached at the shoulders of the vest, a dark blue faux leather belt with a gold metal buckle and a short black faux leather scabbard attached, white satin shirt, black pants and black boots with a worn look and creases. In the scabbard is a steel gray sword with a brown handle. The sword is thin and very flexible. It was slightly bent out of the box, but was easily bent back into shape. The D23 Prince's vest is much thicker, and feels much more like real leather than this Prince doll. But this Prince has an outfit that is much closer in color to the movie character. He looks great in his outfit, and very dashing, but I wish his expression had more emotion, and was more cheerful.

 

Snow White and the Prince - Limited Edition Doll Set

Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

US Disney Store

Released and purchased in store on August 20, 2013.

Released online August 21, 2013.

$129.95 US

#558 of 6000

First Look

 

I will photograph the set boxed, during the deboxing, and fully deboxed. I will also pose the dolls next to comparable dolls, for instance the Gold D23 Snow White doll set.

 

Product information from the US Disney Store website:

 

Snow White and the Prince Doll Set - Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

$129.95

Item No. 6070040900883P

 

Fairest two of all

 

With lips red as the rose and skin as white as snow, the Princess has never looked fairer. Paired with her handsome Prince, this stunning set of Disney Fairytale Designer Collection dolls will be cherished happily ever after.

 

Magic in the details...

 

Please Note: Each Guest will be limited to ordering a maximum of one of this item per order.

 

As part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection this pair of Snow White and Prince dolls were carefully crafted by artists inspired by Walt Disney's 1937 classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The original Disney Princess and her Prince have been reimagined in exquisite detail with these limited edition dolls. Brought to life with thoughtful attention, they uniquely capture the essence of the fairytale couple, creating a one of a kind set that will be a treasured keepsake of collectors, Disney fans and every princess at heart.

 

•Global Limited Editon of 6000

•Includes Certificate of Authenticity

•Romantic side-swept hair

•Dramatic lace collar

•Elaborately embroidered velvet bodice with puff sleeves with red satin detailing

•Layered gown ornately decorated with golden gemstones, taffeta, lace, and embroidered foliage

•Dramatic make-up and rooted eyelashes

•Red bow headband

•Prince features velvet cape

•Satin shirt with faux leather waistcoat and belt

•Boots and sword

•Dolls sold in a special keepsake display case with intricate details on the base, including a golden plate with the name of Snow White and the Prince

•Includes special Disney Fairytale Designer Collection Gift Bag

•Part of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection

 

* Intended for adult collectors -- Not a child's toy.

 

The bare necessities

 

•Plastic / polyester

•Snow White: 11 1/2''

•Prince: 12'' H

•Imported

 

Mary Edmonson (1832–1853) and Emily Edmonson (1835–1895), "two respectable young women of light complexion", were African Americans who became celebrities in the United States abolitionist movement after gaining their freedom from slavery.

 

On April 15, 1848, they were among the seventy-seven slaves who tried to escape from Washington, DC on the schooner The Pearl to sail up the Chesapeake Bay to freedom in New Jersey. Although that effort failed, they were freed from slavery by funds raised by the Congregational Church in Brooklyn, New York, whose pastor was Henry Ward Beecher, an abolitionist. After gaining freedom, the Edmonsons were supported to go to school; they also worked.

 

They campaigned with Beecher throughout the North for the end of slavery in the United States.

 

The Edmonson sisters were the daughters of Paul and Amelia Edmonson, a free black man and an enslaved woman in Montgomery County, Maryland. Mary and Emily were two of thirteen or fourteen children who survived to adulthood, all of whom were born into slavery. Since the 17th century, law common to all slave states decreed that the children of an enslaved mother inherited their mother's legal status, by the principle of partus sequitur ventrem.

 

Their father, Paul Edmonson, was set free by his owner's will. Maryland was a state with a high percentage of free blacks. Most descended from slaves freed in the first two decades after the American Revolution, when slaveholders were encouraged to manumission by the principles of the war and activist Quaker and Methodist preachers. By 1810, more than 10 percent of blacks in the Upper South were free, with most of them in Maryland and Delaware. By 1860, 49.7 percent of the blacks in Maryland were free.

 

Edmonson purchased land in the Norbeck area of Montgomery County, where he farmed and established his family. Amelia was allowed to live with her husband, but continued to work for her master. The couple's children began work at an early age as servants, laborers and skilled workers. Beginning about age 13 or 14, they were "hired out" to work in elite private homes in nearby Washington, D.C. under a type of lease arrangement, where their wages went to the slaveholder This practice of "hiring out" grew from the shift away from the formerly labor-intensive tobacco plantation system, leaving planters in this part of the United States with surplus slaves. They hired out slaves or sold them to traders for the Deep South. Many slaves worked as servants in homes and hotels of the capital. Men were sometimes hired out as craftsmen, artisans or to work at the ports on the Potomac River.

 

By 1848 four of the older Edmonson sisters had bought their freedom (with the help of husbands and family), but the master had decided against allowing any more of the siblings to do so. Six were hired out for his benefit, including the two youngest sisters.

 

On April 15, 1848, the schooner Pearl docked at a Washington wharf. The Edmonson sisters and four of their brothers joined a large group of slaves (a total of 77) in an attempt to escape on the Pearl to freedom in New Jersey. Starting as a modest attempt of escape for seven slaves, the effort had been widely communicated and organized within the communities of free blacks and slaves, changing it to a major and unified effort, without the knowledge of the white organizers or crew. In 1848 free blacks outnumbered slaves in the District of Columbia by three to one; the community demonstrated it could act in a unified way.

 

Seventy-seven slaves boarded the Pearl, which was to sail down the Potomac River and up the Chesapeake Bay to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, from where they would travel up the Delaware River to freedom in New Jersey, a total of 225 miles. At the time, Emily was 13 years old and Mary was 15 or 16.

 

The Pearl, with the fugitives hidden among boxes, began its way down the Potomac. It was delayed overnight by the shift in tides and then had to wait out rough weather from its anchor down the bay. In Washington the alarm was raised in the morning, as numerous slaveholders found their slaves had escaped. Historical accounts conflict and are not clear as to what details were known. Slaveholders put together an armed posse that went downriver on a steamboat. The steamboat caught up with the Pearl at Point Lookout, Maryland; and the posse seized it, towing the ship and its valuable cargo back to Washington, DC. If the posse had gone north to Baltimore, another likely escape route, the Pearl might have gotten away and reached its destination.

 

When the Pearl arrived in Washington, a mob awaited the ship. Daniel Drayton and Edward Sayres, the two white captains, had to be taken into safety as pro-slavery people attacked them for threatening their control of property. The fugitive slaves were taken to a local jail. It was later reported that when somebody from the crowd asked the Edmonson girls if they were ashamed for what they had done, Emily replied proudly that they would do exactly the same thing again.

 

Three days of riots and disturbances followed, as pro-slavery agitators attacked anti-slavery offices and presses in the city in an attempt to suppress the abolitionist movement. Most of the masters of the fugitive slaves decided to sell them quickly to slave traders, rather than provide another chance to escape. Fifty of the slaves were transported by train to Baltimore, from where they were sold and transported to the Deep South.

 

Despite Paul Edmonson's desperate efforts to delay the sale of his children so he could raise sufficient money to purchase their freedom, the slave trading partners Bruin & Hill from Alexandria, Virginia bought the six Edmonson siblings.

 

Under inhumane conditions, the siblings were transported by ship to New Orleans. New Orleans was the largest slave market in the nation, and well known for selling "fancy girls" (pretty light-skinned enslaved young women) as sex slaves.

 

Hamilton Edmonson, the eldest of the siblings, had already been living as a freeman for several years. He worked as a cooper. With the help of donations from a Methodist minister arranged by their father, Hamilton arranged for the purchase of his brother Samuel Edmonson by a prosperous New Orleans cotton merchant to work as his butler. When the merchant died in 1853, Samuel moved with that family and its other slaves to what is now the 1850 House in the Pontalba Buildings on Jackson Square.

 

In New Orleans, the other siblings were forced to stay for days in an open porch facing the street waiting for buyers. The sisters were handled brusquely and exposed to obscene comments. Before the family could rescue the remainder of its members, a yellow fever epidemic erupted in New Orleans. The slave traders transported the Edmonson sisters back to Alexandria as a measure to protect their investments.

 

Ephraim Edmonson and John Edmonson, two other brothers who had tried to escape on the Pearl, were kept in New Orleans. Their brother Hamilton worked for and eventually obtained their purchase and freedom.

 

In Alexandria, the Edmonson sisters were hired out to do laundering, ironing and sewing, with wages going to the slave traders. They were locked up at night. Paul Edmonson continued his campaign to free his daughters while Bruin & Hill demanded $2,250 for their release.

With letters from Washington-area supporters, Paul Edmonson met Henry Ward Beecher, a young Congregationalist preacher with a church in Brooklyn, New York who was known to support abolitionism. Beecher's church members raised the funds to purchase the Edmonson sisters and give them freedom. Accompanied by William Chaplin, a white abolitionist who had helped pay for the Pearl for the escape attempt, Beecher went to Washington to arrange the transaction.

 

Mary Edmonson and Emily Edmonson were emancipated on November 4, 1848. The family gathered for a celebration at another sister's house in Washington. Beecher's church continued to contribute money to send the sisters to school for their education. They first enrolled at New York Central College, an interracial institution in Cortland, New York. They also worked as cleaning servants to support themselves. While studying, the sisters participated in anti-slavery rallies around New York state. The story of their slavery, escape attempt, and suffering was often repeated. Beecher's son and biographer recorded that "this case at the time attracted wide attention."

 

At the rallies, the Edmonson sisters participated in mock slave auctions designed by Beecher to attract publicity to the abolitionist cause. In describing the role that women such as the Edmonson sisters played in such well-publicized political theater, a scholar at the University of Maryland asserted in 2002: “Beecher staged his most successful auctions using attractive mulatto women or female children (such as the Edmonson sisters, or the beautiful little girl, Pinky, who, according to Beecher, "No one would know from a white child"), making a material choice in "casting" his political protest that was calculated to arouse the audience's interest. As he displayed the women's bodies on the stage, Beecher exhorted his audience to imagine the fate that awaited these young women, or "marketable commodities", as he termed them, in the fancy girl auctions of New Orleans. His casting choices could only work with beautiful, fair-skinned women.

 

In 1853, the Edmonson sisters attended the Young Ladies Preparatory School at Oberlin College in Ohio through the support of Beecher and his sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Since its founding in the 1830s, the school had admitted blacks as well as whites, and was a center of abolitionist activism. Six months after arriving at Oberlin, Mary Edmonson died of tuberculosis.

 

Eighteen-year-old Emily returned to Washington with her father, where she enrolled in the Normal School for Colored Girls. Located near the current Dupont Circle, the school trained young African-American women to become teachers. For protection, the Edmonson family moved to a cabin on the grounds. Emily and Myrtilla Miner, the founder of the school, learned to shoot.

 

At age 25 in 1860, Emily Edmonson married Larkin Johnson. They returned to the Sandy Spring, Maryland area and lived there for twelve years before moving to Anacostia in Washington, DC. There they purchased land and became founding members of the Hillsdale community.

 

Edmonson maintained her relationship with fellow Anacostia resident Frederick Douglass, and both continued working in the abolitionist movement. Even after the ratification of the 13th Amendment, they remained so close that Emily's granddaughters observed that they were like "brother and sister."

 

Emily Edmonson Johnson died at her home on September 15, 1895.

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“Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.”

 

“Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.”

 

Dedicated to Mima..: Thank you so much for that lovely day.. ;** I had so much fun..

 

Cousin Nona.. X))

Copy past comments well be deleted.. X))

 

"Masha'Alla"..