[Author's Note: It has since been pointed out to me by an associate whom I trust that this is, in fact, more likely a Surya yantra. I had presumed that the Solar theonymics were due to the association of the Goddess Form with the Sun. The post is left up, otherwise as it is, for … Continue reading Sri Bhuvanesvari Yantra
Hinduism
Of Artemis And Actaeon, The Wolf As Defender Of The Goddess – A Forensic Theology Examination Of A Classical Myth In The Vedas And In The Stars
Many are aware of the broad outlines of the Classical instance of Artemis having Actaeon put to death. Roughly speaking - Actaeon commits an outrage against the Goddess's modesty, and so is turned into a deer and torn to pieces by his own hunting dogs. What few realize is that this particular story is also … Continue reading Of Artemis And Actaeon, The Wolf As Defender Of The Goddess – A Forensic Theology Examination Of A Classical Myth In The Vedas And In The Stars
Vrtraghni Vasti Sustutim – The Hailing Of Ma Saraswati As Unstoppable Warrior Goddess
वर्त्रघ्नी वष्टि सुष्टुतिमVrtraghni Vasti Sustutim‘Foe-Slayer Claims Our Eulogy’ RV VI 61 [Griffith Translation]: 1 To Vadhryasva when he worshipped Her with gifts She gave fierce Divodāsa, canceller of debts[Variant Translation: She gave […] Divodasa Who shakes the debtor]Consumer of the churlish niggard, one and all, Thine, O Sarasvatī, are these effectual boons. 2 She with … Continue reading Vrtraghni Vasti Sustutim – The Hailing Of Ma Saraswati As Unstoppable Warrior Goddess
Rahu – For Tonight’s Lunar Eclipse
With tonight's Lunar Eclipse, it seemed apt to mention Rahu - one of the two 'dark' Graha ['Influencers', 'Planets'] of Vedic Astrology … and rather directly responsible for Eclipses, as we discussed in our earlier 'Rahu – The Dark Graha And His Veiled Grasp' Here are a few lines from AtharvaVeda XIX 9 that I … Continue reading Rahu – For Tonight’s Lunar Eclipse
Some Brief Points On The Indo-European Empowering Elixir – Nectar, Ambrosia, Amrit, Soma, Kvasir.
Earlier, an Indian associate had lamented what he termed the rather "lazy" translation of Amrit as "Nectar".Now for what it's worth, I somewhat agree with him - because when people see 'nectar' in print, they tend to presume it simply means something to do with the inside of flowers. Except truth be told, 'Nectar' is … Continue reading Some Brief Points On The Indo-European Empowering Elixir – Nectar, Ambrosia, Amrit, Soma, Kvasir.
Shiva, Krishna, Arjuna – And Attaining The Weapon Of One’s Dreams
For some reason, we often seem to encounter ardent Krishna worshippers online who are very keen to denigrate the idea of positively engaging with any other Deities.They have their reasons for pushing that perspective, of course - and if you're really interested in hearing more about them, then you may go ask them yourselves. Yet … Continue reading Shiva, Krishna, Arjuna – And Attaining The Weapon Of One’s Dreams
Panchamrut Preparation – ‘Ancient Aryan Milkshakes’ For Ritual Offering
This evening, we made a basic Panchamrut for the ritual offerings (Naivedya - the 'consumable/edible' Upachara (form of offering)). "Ancient Aryan Milkshakes", indeed. Panchamrut is Pancha ('Five' - like 'Penta') Amrit ('Mrit' like 'Mort', 'A-' here as a negation .. so 'Immortality'); and effectively functions as a ritual substitute for the rather more .. esoteric … Continue reading Panchamrut Preparation – ‘Ancient Aryan Milkshakes’ For Ritual Offering
The Upasads – Sieges, Homage, Spiritual Warfare, And The Necessary Restoration Of Western Indo-European Religious Ritual Reconstruction
Something that is going to be absolutely essential when it comes to reconstructing the 'high religious' rites for western Indo-European spheres - is working out where, in the depths of the mythology, ritual understandings are to be deliberately inferred. Why? Because so much of Indo-European ritual is comprised of what Eliade eloquently termed the 'Eternal … Continue reading The Upasads – Sieges, Homage, Spiritual Warfare, And The Necessary Restoration Of Western Indo-European Religious Ritual Reconstruction
Masik Durgashtami – Victory On The Eighth
Today is Masik Durgashtami - a monthly (Masik) High Holy Day to the Goddess Durga, celebrated on the 8th (Ashtami). The observance itself entails a fast during the day (with such self-imposed conditions upon one's behavior known as a 'Vrat' - a 'Vow', and from the same PIE etymological root as modern English 'Word' (as … Continue reading Masik Durgashtami – Victory On The Eighth
Rahu – The Dark Graha And His Veiled Grasp
We begin to speak of a figure often veiled, an astrological potent who is, by definition, 'obscure' - and that, in the archaic Latin sense. The Graha - Rahu. Now before getting any further, it is necessary to provide a very brief overview of some relevant Hindu astrological understandings. The piece will unlikely make much … Continue reading Rahu – The Dark Graha And His Veiled Grasp