I've had this image on my mind for some days now. Both for what it represents - yet also for what it doesn't. What's been projected upon it, in other words. Now, as for the former - it's a representation of the Sogdian deific, Vesparkar (also anglicized as Weshparkar, Veshparkar, Wysprkr etc.), from a fine relief … Continue reading Weshparkar – Vayu-The-High-Working But Also Shiva – On Funerary Stonework Of Sogdian Wirkak And Wiyusi – Arte-Facts #12
Ganesha – The Lord On The Gun
It is Tuesday - the Day of Mars (and, for that matter, Mangala). Therefore … an Indian Jawan ['soldier' or 'paramilitary'] with a certain devotional image tied to the foregrip of his rifle. Now, I have occasionally made semi-joking reference to the notion of "Gun-Esha". Of course, this is not the proper understandings for Lord … Continue reading Ganesha – The Lord On The Gun
On Bowing To The Gods – The Greek Perception (An Excerpt)
Now, when these debates come up in earnest around something as simple as bowing before a God - we inevitably find people objecting upon the basis of a rather skewed (mis-)understanding of history and scripture (yes, Indo-European religions have scripture - almost as if this is rather important as a feature of an enduring tradition … Continue reading On Bowing To The Gods – The Greek Perception (An Excerpt)
On Bowing To Gods – AND Drinking With Them !
I've had this image - and its underlying sentiment - on my mind for a few days now. It's something that often comes up in Western (neo-)pagan circles, and represents multiple layers of fundamental misapprehension about Indo-European religion. Indeed, it is very much a modern take - reflective of modern prejudices, (mis-)perceptions, and hangups - masquerading … Continue reading On Bowing To Gods – AND Drinking With Them !
The Six-Faced Son Of The Sky Father
Apt for a Tuesday (that is to say - Mars' Day: Dies Martis, Hemera Areos, etc.) 'Kumara', by Kedaram Vishwanathan. Better known as Skanda or Kartikeya - Kumara ['Son'], the prominent Hindu War God (well, one of … look, we have quite a few) Whose Vahana ('Vehicle'/'Steed') is the Peacock or Rooster (although I have … Continue reading The Six-Faced Son Of The Sky Father
On The ‘Prime Deity’ Of The RigVeda
This poll somebody ran on twitter is interesting. Now, I have my own biases, of course, but I'm not sure that the results are especially accurate. For instance, it would take quite a .. selective reading to conclude Vishnu to be the "prime deity" of the RigVeda - that would seem to be a modern … Continue reading On The ‘Prime Deity’ Of The RigVeda
Brief Overview Of Some Empowering Elixir Comparanda – Soma, Kvasir, Mead of Poetry, Ambrosia, etc.
As promised, short-form not-articles of broader interest. This is from an interaction about Soma / Kvasir / Mead of Poetry / Ambrosia, etc. etc.Begins:--We can tell that Soma & Kvasir *should* be the same substance based around the unmistakably coterminous elements contained in the Skaldskaparmal & Havamal mythology for the obtaining of the latter ... … Continue reading Brief Overview Of Some Empowering Elixir Comparanda – Soma, Kvasir, Mead of Poetry, Ambrosia, etc.
Brief Notification Of Reduced Attention For A Bit – But The Work Still Goes On!
I'm back to university as of this week, and the course difficulty's ratcheted up - so I'll have considerably less time to devote to our work though Arya Akasha for a bit.Rather than just 'going dark' completely, I'll endeavour to explore other ways to keep the flow of information & insight open.These may include posting … Continue reading Brief Notification Of Reduced Attention For A Bit – But The Work Still Goes On!
Hellenic Solidarity For Hindu NASA Intern A Bright Spark Amidst The Black
Earlier this week, NASA posted a tweet featuring four of its young interns at their workstations. One of these was a Hindu woman in a bindi - whose workspace featured several deific depictions (small statuettes, a miniature shivling, and a few pictures up on the walls).Now, sadly this was … a bit much for some … Continue reading Hellenic Solidarity For Hindu NASA Intern A Bright Spark Amidst The Black
On The Archaic Notion Of The Indo-European Demigod
Recently, in the course of a discussion elsewhere, an occasional correspondant - 'Indian History' on twitter - made mention of a most intriguing Sanskrit term he'd observed in a Hymnal of the RigVeda. We were discussing 'Demigods', and whether these were a more exclusively Greek / Classical phenomenon or something of a broader Indo-European provenance. … Continue reading On The Archaic Notion Of The Indo-European Demigod
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