Friday Evening Devi-otional (A)Art(I) Posting This is some truly excellent art which helps to illustrate evocatively a rather core series of principles to Shakta theology and cosmogony; which are also extolled in the course of my favourite of the RigVedic Hymnals - the renowned DeviSukta [RV X 125]. Note that it is the Hand of … Continue reading Glorious Modern Art For An Ancient Hindu Hymnal
Jai Mata DI !
A visage less commonly depicted – White Kali and the Cremation Cranes of Metempsychosis
Now, while the unexpectedness of a White Kali is remarkable in and of itself (indeed, in a certain sense, it might even be thought of as 'oxymoronic' - Kaal, after all, means 'Blackness', inter many alia); what makes this fine 17th century painting a worthy Friday Night Devotional (A)Art(I) posting goes rather beyond that. Take … Continue reading A visage less commonly depicted – White Kali and the Cremation Cranes of Metempsychosis
Out Of Context Quotes And DevaRajya Uber Alles From The Iliad
Now this is something interesting to me. Recently, I heard a quotation - which sounded cool, had a 'resonancy' to it, but felt as if it had something almost 'missing'. The aphorism ran thus: "Without a sign, his sword the brave man draws,And asks no omen but his country's cause." I turned it over in … Continue reading Out Of Context Quotes And DevaRajya Uber Alles From The Iliad
RigVeda X 127 – Ratri (Night)
[There are many mentions for Ratri Devi in the verses of the RigVeda; but this Hymn, addressed to Ratri Herself, is unquestionably the grandest. Following on from this morning's article the coterminities of 'rulership' and 'night/darkness' in both PIE and subsequent mytholinguistics, it seemed only appropriate to present this Hymnal. This time, in three translations … Continue reading RigVeda X 127 – Ratri (Night)
RAGNAROK AND THE NIGHT LORD
Consider the Sanskrit terms राजन् and रजनी - Rajan and Rajani. They look similar, no? In fact, you'd be forgiven, even notwithstanding that the former's got a longer 'a' sound ['Raajan' - like Raja, which derives directly therefrom], for thinking that they are perhaps related forms of the same word. Maybe a masculine and feminine … Continue reading RAGNAROK AND THE NIGHT LORD
Kali in the Vedas Part 1 – A Hymn of Praise and prayer to Night
It is occasionally suggested that there is no Kali in the Vedas. Now, to this I do not agree. Partially, this is because there is quite clearly Devi, with a veer-y much Capital D to be found in the Vedas, as the Ultimate Power both within and beyond the Universe. But also, it is because … Continue reading Kali in the Vedas Part 1 – A Hymn of Praise and prayer to Night
The Tenth Day – The Death of the Demon – Dussehra / VijayaDashami
The Day after NavRatri [the 'Nine Nights' of Goddess Durga] is known as Vijaya Dashami / Dussehra - Victory on the Tenth,the Destruction of Evil. In many places, the Day is held to commemorate the Victory of Lord Rama over the demon-emperor Ravana. In others, it celebrates the Victory of Durga over Mahishasura. Others still, … Continue reading The Tenth Day – The Death of the Demon – Dussehra / VijayaDashami
SiddhiDhatri – The Final Night – Ninth of the NavaDurgas
The Ninth and Last of the Nine Nights of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as SiddhiDhatri - often rendered in translation as the 'Bestower of Boons', or words to that effect. And yet, while this is indeed a reasonable direct translation of SiddhiDhatri ('Siddhi' having amongst its meanings a 'Boon', often in the sense of … Continue reading SiddhiDhatri – The Final Night – Ninth of the NavaDurgas
MahaGauri – The Eighth Night of NavRatri – Eighth of the NavaDurgas
The Eight Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as MahaGauri – The Great White One. Now, as readers of yesterday’s piece – on KaalRatri – will be patently aware, this stands in seemingly stark contrast to the previous Night’s Aspect of MataJI, Who is the great(est) Black one. And yet, as it happens, a … Continue reading MahaGauri – The Eighth Night of NavRatri – Eighth of the NavaDurgas
KaalRatri – The Seventh Night of NavRatri; The Seventh of the NavaDurgas
“You often hear it said – “Time is on our side”. Well … This is Time. She is On My Side.” The Sixth Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as KaalRatri – the Blackest Night, the Night of Death, The Iron Night, The ‘Stillness’ of Time – and the ‘Destroyer of Darkness’, the Annihilator: … Continue reading KaalRatri – The Seventh Night of NavRatri; The Seventh of the NavaDurgas
arya-akasha 