The Fifth Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as SkandaMata – the Mother of Skanda (Kartikeya), one of the foremost of our War Gods. He takes after His Mother in that regard 😀 Of course, before situating SkandaMata within the overarching context of the NavaRatri Cycle, it is necessary to briefly introduce Lord Skanda, … Continue reading SkandaMata – 5th of the NavaDurgas, 5th Night of NavRatri
Hindu Festivals
Tabiti – Fire-Pillar of the Universe; Excerpt from Kushmanda Commentary
Excerpt from yesterday's Kushmanda #NavRatri piece, illustrating what I believe to have been a core - yet understated in Western developments - element of Indo-European cosmology/theology, preserved most prominently amidst both the Scythian and some Hindu understandings; presented on its own because it's a rather important mythographic point that is deserving of a highlighted presentation. … Continue reading Tabiti – Fire-Pillar of the Universe; Excerpt from Kushmanda Commentary
ChandraGhanta – Third of the NavaDurgas, The Third Night of NavRatri
The Third Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as ChandraGhanta – She Who Is Crowned With The Half-Moon In The Shape Of A Bell, to render it somewhat figuratively. Now, before going further (and for that matter, picking up the narrative thread where we left off with last night’s Brahmacharini post), it is necessary … Continue reading ChandraGhanta – Third of the NavaDurgas, The Third Night of NavRatri
Kushmanda – 4th Navadurga, The 4th Night of NavRatri
The Fourth Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as Kushmanda – the Power of the Sun. Now, this is my own somewhat figurative rendering of the name; with a more direct translation working out something like “Warmth of the Cosmic Egg”. And while it might be tempting, I suppose, to think of the Sun … Continue reading Kushmanda – 4th Navadurga, The 4th Night of NavRatri
Brahmacharini – The Second of the NavaDurgas, The Second Night of NavRatri
The Second Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as Brahmacharini – the Seeker of the Absolute. This is a rather direct rendering of Her theonym, as can be seen from the constituent parts: Brahman, and Charya (Charini is the feminine form of this noun). But what is actually meant by these terms, and what … Continue reading Brahmacharini – The Second of the NavaDurgas, The Second Night of NavRatri
Shailaputri – First of the NavaDurga
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
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
Immortalizing, Through Pitru Paksha
"'Some people say you achieve immortality through your children,' said the minstrel. ‘Yeah?’ said Cohen. ‘Name one of your great-granddads, then.'" - Terry Pratchett Sunday marked the start of Pitru Paksha - the Fortnight of the Ancestors, wherein the borders between worlds are regarded as being thinner and more insubstantial than usual; and the Pitrs … Continue reading Immortalizing, Through Pitru Paksha
arya-akasha 