The 25th was Chinnamasta Jayanti … so here's one of my earliest commentaries, written five years ago tomorrow: --- I've had this image in my head for nearly two weeks, but hadn't gotten around to posting it with commentary. It's a representation of the Mahavidya Chhinnamasta, as done by a Western artist known as David … Continue reading Glorious Modern Art For Chhinnamasta Jayanti
Hinduism
Goddess Worship At Devi Kothi – An Expansion From William Simpson’s Painting And Journalistic Portrayal
Something I often find remarkable when looking at images and textual accounts of religious elements across the Indo-European sphere is just how … familiar they are when we actually gaze into them closely. This does not mean that they are all identically the same, of course - far from it! But it does tend to … Continue reading Goddess Worship At Devi Kothi – An Expansion From William Simpson’s Painting And Journalistic Portrayal
The Divine Art Of Devi Kothi Temple
These absolutely beautiful frescos are from a Devi temple more than a quarter of a millennium old in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. The name of the site is, aptly enough, Devi Kothi - and the presiding form of the Goddess is Chamunda. Depicted, is the great battle of the Goddess against a demon army. An artistic … Continue reading The Divine Art Of Devi Kothi Temple
On The Scythian Comparative Evidence For The Identification Of Soma – An Extract From ‘The Transcendent Indo-European Typology Of The God Of Masks’
This is an extract from my (second) substantive article on the Indo-European 'Interpretatio' of Dionysus which we ran last year - this portion focusing upon the empowering elixir known variously as Soma , Kvasir , the Mead of Poetry - and how it is evident that the Indo-European traditions around this diverged, with an emphasis … Continue reading On The Scythian Comparative Evidence For The Identification Of Soma – An Extract From ‘The Transcendent Indo-European Typology Of The God Of Masks’
Devi Durga As Mahishasura Mardini – Glorious Modern Hindu (A)Art(i) For Friday, Devi’s Day
Amazing modern (A)art(i) for Friday - Devi's Day. Durga as Mahishasura Mardini - the Destroyer of the Buffalo-Demon. Dawon, Her Lion Vahana [vehicle/steed] is looming behind. And Mahishasur, of course, is the exsanguinating horned figure under Her Feet and Spear. To quote from one of my previous works via way of explication - "To this … Continue reading Devi Durga As Mahishasura Mardini – Glorious Modern Hindu (A)Art(i) For Friday, Devi’s Day
The Sword Of The King – On Bhavani And The Famed Bhavani Tulwar Of ShivaJi
[Author's Note: I wrote this some four years ago yesterday. So, as ever, our understandings have grown and evolved in certain areas … including the rather intriguing potential that the Excalibur myth of Britain, wherein a certain female figure associated with The Waters bestows an empowered sword to a leader in order to unify things … Continue reading The Sword Of The King – On Bhavani And The Famed Bhavani Tulwar Of ShivaJi
Wisdom Is A Gods-Given Gift : Use It -Mahabharat Wisdom For The Modern Age
A maxim from the Mahabharat that somebody had posted, in response to the rather obvious question of why devotees attending the Kumbh Mela had not emerged unscathed from the Covid-19 community superspreading there: न देवा दण्डमादाय रक्षन्ति पशुपालवत् ।यं हि रक्षितुमिच्छन्ति बुद्ध्या संयोजयन्ति तम्॥ "Gods do not brandish a cane,Minding men like sheepThey bless with … Continue reading Wisdom Is A Gods-Given Gift : Use It -Mahabharat Wisdom For The Modern Age
The Golden Radiancy Of Somnath Jyotirlinga [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part V]
Apt for a Monday - the ShivLing at Somnath , one of the Twelve (although by some counts thirteen) Jyotirlingam ['Starlight Lingam'] sites; 'Somnath' meaning 'Lord of the Soma' - a prominent Shaivite epithet, theonym, and role. Which it would be interesting to connect to Odin's role in the bringing of the Mead of Poetry. … Continue reading The Golden Radiancy Of Somnath Jyotirlinga [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part V]
Divine Devi Durga Art For Mother’s Day
Art: 'Invoking The War Goddess' - by Mukesh Singh Today is Mother's Day - and while we are not ordinarily given to marking the faux-holidays of the 20th century, for this we make an exception. As it is always good, upon principle, to acknowledge one's Ma. I have written seriously extensively upon the Indo-European Divine … Continue reading Divine Devi Durga Art For Mother’s Day
Salutations To The Shivas – Glorious Modern Hindu Art Of MahaDeva & Devi, And The Uma Maheshwara Stotram Of Adi Shankara
Beautiful art of Lord Shiva & Devi, by Tanushree Ghosh Goes rather nicely with Adi Shankara's Uma Maheshwara Hymnal: नमः शिवाभ्यां नवयौवनाभ्यांपरस्पराश्लिष्टवपुर्धराभ्याम् ।नगेन्द्रकन्यावृषकेतनाभ्यांनमो नमः शङ्करपार्वतीभ्याम् ॥ 1 ॥ Salutations to Lord Shiva and Goddess Shiva,Who are always in a fresh stage of youth,Who cling to each other in a tight embrace,Of whom one is the … Continue reading Salutations To The Shivas – Glorious Modern Hindu Art Of MahaDeva & Devi, And The Uma Maheshwara Stotram Of Adi Shankara