The first night of NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as Shailaputri – the Daughter of the Mountain. As noted in the introductory piece, the Mountain in question refers to King Himavat – the Lord of the Himalayas, and the father of Parvati [‘[Daughter] Of the Mountain’] in this particular cycle of Her incarnation. However, I … Continue reading Shailaputri – First of the NavaDurga
Month: September 2019
Navratri – The Nine Nights of Goddess Durga
Tonight marks the start of NavRatri – the Nine Nights of Goddess Durga. In North Indian tradition, we mark each one of the Nine as being dedicated to a particular NavaDurga Aspect of MataDI; whereas in South India, it is more common to regard it as three sets of three days apiece – one for … Continue reading Navratri – The Nine Nights of Goddess Durga
The Departure And Arrival Of No Moon – Sarva Pitru Amavasya And Devi Mahalaya
Tonight marks the last night of Pitru Paksha - the Fortnight of the Ancestors; and is also the MahaLaya event which precedes and forms a bridge with the NavRatri (Nine Nights) of Goddess Durga yet to come. The purposes of this occasion, then, whether regarded as Sarva Pitru Amavasya, or as the 'prelude' to NavRatri, … Continue reading The Departure And Arrival Of No Moon – Sarva Pitru Amavasya And Devi Mahalaya
A Lesser Son Of Greater ForeFathers – A Thought On The Last Night Of Pitru Paksha
"To be Indo-European, I think, means to be acutely conscious that one is the lesser son of Greater (Fore)Fathers." Tonight marks the end of Pitru Paksha - the Fortnight of the Ancestors; and that maxim, which I've been turning over in my head ever since it first ... turned up therein, seemed an appropriate thought … Continue reading A Lesser Son Of Greater ForeFathers – A Thought On The Last Night Of Pitru Paksha
Cybele In Spain – The Return of Myth to Madrid
It is FRIDAY - Therefore, Devi-otional (A)Art(I) One theme I've attempted to weave into my work is "Indo-Europeanism For The Modern Age" - the notion, the concept that what we do is not merely "mythology", in the sense of pouring over musty tomes [and/or online scan-uploads of same] to attempt to describe and detail the … Continue reading Cybele In Spain – The Return of Myth to Madrid
#NAS Liturgy – WE HAVE PURPOSE
"Without RATRI, there can be no AARTI,-" "We have purpose" "Without KAAL, there can be no SVAR,-" "We have purpose" "Without VIDYUTA, there can be no VEDA,-" "We have purpose" "Without TRISHULA, there can be no TRILOKA,-" "We have purpose" "Without KRITYA there can be no KRIPA,-" "We have purpose" "Without DHARMA-YUDDHA there can be … Continue reading #NAS Liturgy – WE HAVE PURPOSE
NandiJi – Seneschal of the Shaivite House
It is Monday - Lord Shiva's Day ; Therefore, in a bit of a different spin to usual, a hail to an under-acknowledged figure - Nandi Puja. Nandi means "Happiness", and is also a way to refer to an inceptor - an opening prayer, particularly in a dramatic context. He is the Vahana of Shiva, … Continue reading NandiJi – Seneschal of the Shaivite House
On Adopting The Mantle of Myth – And Pakistan’s Perilously Pained Pretensions To Same
One of my favourite concepts from the field of 20th century comparative mythography has to be Eliade's notion of the Eternal Return. That idea that many rituals are, in effect, 're-enactments' of prior and supernal Mythic Events; which not only carry their more overt (and often quite ornate) beneficial purpose for the participants, but which … Continue reading On Adopting The Mantle of Myth – And Pakistan’s Perilously Pained Pretensions To Same
Votive Plate of Cybele, Great Goddess, Mountain Mother – Arte-Facts #5
This Is #GangSteppe - and also, fine Devi-otional (A)Art(I) for Friday ! Depicted is Goddess Cybele on an offering-plate, from 3rd century B.C. Ai-Khanoum, amidst the ruins of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom. Now, I find this artefact fascinating for quite a number of reasons. Not simply because of the various iconographic features upon it which come … Continue reading Votive Plate of Cybele, Great Goddess, Mountain Mother – Arte-Facts #5
“MY HAT IS AN ELEPHANT – YOUR SOVEREIGNTY IS INVALID” – A Gandharan Coin of Demetrius I – Arte-Facts #4
Coin of the Indo-Greek ruler Demetrios I, from the first decade of the 2nd century B.C. The Elephant has long been considered a potent symbol of sovereignty and royal, even imperial power within the Indian/Dharmic iconographic lexicon. Hence, in part, why Lord Indra rides one [Airavata - 'Storm Cloud' ... the other major reason being … Continue reading “MY HAT IS AN ELEPHANT – YOUR SOVEREIGNTY IS INVALID” – A Gandharan Coin of Demetrius I – Arte-Facts #4
arya-akasha 