"Though silver in your palms weighs lightCompared to death by blast and sword,Do not shy the hopeless fight,For Endeavour is its own reward."The evocative fresco painting comes from the Brihadisvara Temple complex in South India - a Chola site that had been renovated under the (iirc Telugu) Nayaka rulers in the 16th-17th century.
Krttika – The Six Swords of the Stars
An asterism of Bindrunes - 'Krittika'. Which I've constructed from ᚲ ᚱ ᛏ ᛏ ᚲ ᚨ (Kaunan, Raidho, Tiwaz Tiwaz, Kaunan, Ansuz); and which, well, it represents something rather important. Particularly for a certain 'Sword' of 'Divine Design' out there. 'Krttika' in Sanskrit means 'The Cutter' - and The Krttikas (plural) refer to the Pleiades. … Continue reading Krttika – The Six Swords of the Stars
Panchopachar – Guest-Worship Offering In Manner Elemental
We're in the process of producing a really straightforward guide for the broader IE sphere on how to perform a simple 'Guest Worship' rite in your home. The Guests in question, of course, being the Gods thusly invoked. The model we'll be using for this is a Hindu Panchopachar [Pancha - Five ; Upachar - … Continue reading Panchopachar – Guest-Worship Offering In Manner Elemental
Shiva As Kirata – The Hunter Of The Himalayan Wilds
It is MONDAY - Lord Shiva's Day ! And therefore - a fine sculpture of Lord Shiva as Hunter. Now, this particular representation is of Shiva as a Kirata. These days the term refers to a particular and significantly Sino-Tibetan ethnic sphere found in the northeast of the SubContinent (this sculpture is situated in Namchi … Continue reading Shiva As Kirata – The Hunter Of The Himalayan Wilds
Look After Dogs On KaalBhairavJayanti
An important point - KaalBhairav Jayanti is also an occasion where, as an act of piety, we try to do something nice for a dog. Often this entails feeding ; although if you are doing the full style thing, then in Nepal it is common to see dogs having had tilaka applied and garlanded with … Continue reading Look After Dogs On KaalBhairavJayanti
Sri Bhuvanesvari Yantra
[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
On Erilaz – Runecarver ?
Something I have been intending to take a look at for some time is the meaning of 'Erilaz'. It is a controversial term. Why? Because its etymology and derivations are that of the warrior-aristocracy - 'Jarl', 'Earl'; and yet if we look at its archaic attestations in various Runic inscriptions, it appears almost as if … Continue reading On Erilaz – Runecarver ?
On Odin As Jupiter In The Icelandic Rune Poem
It is always nice to be vindicated. This is a page from a manuscript - AM 687d 4° - which constitutes one of the oldest presentations of the Icelandic Rune Poem. That is to say - the occasionally rather cryptic explication of just what each Rune is to mean. The relevant word for our interest, … Continue reading On Odin As Jupiter In The Icelandic Rune Poem
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
arya-akasha 