Thus, we see the situation wherein Trita , a priestly figure (albeit with a demonstrable martial competency afforded in no small part via ... weaponized theology) closely affiliated with Indra as companion (in a manner perhaps also resemblent of Indra and Brihaspati in various other dragon-slaying hymns - or Indra and Agni in RV V … Continue reading ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part Five – Trita Triumphant , The Restoration of the Rightful Status of Iolaus
On The Still Active Dyaus Pitar Of The Indo-Europeans – The Sky Father Still Roars Supreme
There is much misinformation and misapprehension about Dyaus Pitar (also known as Dyeus Phter if we are going with the PIE reconstruction) - none more so, in my estimation than that He is somehow a 'remote' or 'inactive' deity Who plays no real functional role in our still-living mythology. In line with which, you will … Continue reading On The Still Active Dyaus Pitar Of The Indo-Europeans – The Sky Father Still Roars Supreme
ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part Four – Ritual Renditions and Mythic Memorializations : The Underlying Yet Obscured Ritualine Sense Of The Myth
There are, as it happens, multiple renditions of both the Trisiras slaying and the Vritra slaying to be found within the Vedic canon. And there are a few reasons for that. Partially it is the result of having multiple Rsis drawing from the underlying mytheme in order to evocatively express Their take on it. But … Continue reading ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part Four – Ritual Renditions and Mythic Memorializations : The Underlying Yet Obscured Ritualine Sense Of The Myth
Durga Near Ghazni – A “Buddhist” Representation Afghanistan’s Hindu Past – Arte-Facts #10
Further art and artefact representation for Vijayadashami - a fragmentary Durga MahishasuraMardini depiction from Tapa Sardar in modern-day Afghanistan near Ghazni; then part of Zabul. Even though most of the statue is now missing (all that is blue or green in the reconstruction), it's still impressive! Especially considering that head, alone, is about 64 cm … Continue reading Durga Near Ghazni – A “Buddhist” Representation Afghanistan’s Hindu Past – Arte-Facts #10
Shaivite Coin Of Kushanshah Peroz II – A Hindu God In Hindu Garb – Arte-Facts #9
Every so often, we happen across an artefact that seems to demand its own commentary-piece - both because of its sheer visual or historic impressiveness, yet also because it illustrates something … indeed several somethings … quite important for our ongoing work. This fine coin of Peroz II, the King of the Kushano-Sasanians, is just … Continue reading Shaivite Coin Of Kushanshah Peroz II – A Hindu God In Hindu Garb – Arte-Facts #9
On The Misunderstanding Of Maya As Mere Mirage
An associate earlier this week made a remark about the concept of Maya - and the 'matronly' associations he'd felt for it, coming at it from a Buddhist context. Now, Maya is often misunderstood - in no small part because it's grown so hugely as a term over the millennia … so it seemed as … Continue reading On The Misunderstanding Of Maya As Mere Mirage
Skanda , Heimdall , Kumara – The Star-Borne Son Of The Sky Father
A brief Indo-European observation inspired by the SkandaMata Night of NavRatri - Skanda, the War God Son of Shiva, has Six Heads. This is due to the rather unique manner of His Birth - wherein the embryonic Skanda is transplanted to six mothers via Agni, the Krittika Stars (we would know these in the West … Continue reading Skanda , Heimdall , Kumara – The Star-Borne Son Of The Sky Father
ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part Three – Academics And Anaryas : The Wrongful Reconstruction Of The Myth
Amongst the Zoroastrians, the dragon-slayer is known as Fereydun, or more archaically as Thraetaona. Who is, curiously, the son of the Zoroastrian figure of Tritas / Thrita. Now, for the Zoroastrians, there is no Indra - except in their lists of demons. As is well known, when they began their heresy against the previously prevalent … Continue reading ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part Three – Academics And Anaryas : The Wrongful Reconstruction Of The Myth
ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part Two – The Priest ‘pon Penitent Pathway : Herakles Indra’s Roaring Rampage of Repentance
For you see, Trisiras is a Brahmin. Slaying Him is a Brahmanicide - one of the most grievous and serious crimes that a man, even a God, can possibly commit. It attaches a heavy burden of sin to the enactor - even when, as with KaalBhairavJi against Brahma, the act is a vitally necessary and … Continue reading ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part Two – The Priest ‘pon Penitent Pathway : Herakles Indra’s Roaring Rampage of Repentance
ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part One – Indra And Iolaos : Hydras, Helpers, Heroes, Hercules
If you were to ask somebody the question "Who slayed Vritra", you would be presented with quite a simple answer. "I don't know, who's Vritra", probably. But for those even cursorily aware of the Indo-European mythology - more specifically its Vedic formulation - the reply would almost certainly come "Indra". And that is not (necessarily) … Continue reading ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part One – Indra And Iolaos : Hydras, Helpers, Heroes, Hercules
