This Is #GangSteppe - one of a pair of pendants found in a female's tomb in Northern Afghanistan. The treasure in question is part of what's often called the "Bactrian Gold", yet that is a bit of a misnomer. Dating from the 1st century A.D. [or possibly a century or so earlier], it actually appears … Continue reading This Is #GangSteppe – Serpentine Steppe Treasure
Afghanistan
ON THE GATES OF SOMNATH TEMPLE – AN ESSAY OF RAKSHA(PALA) FOR BOTH SWARAJ AND BANDHAN
The 15th of August marks India's Independence Day; and, as has become my custom, I have penned an article in honour of both the occasion, and the state and struggle for which it stands. Whereas 2017's piece looked at the geopolitical saliency of India, especially from the perspective of a small South Pacific state such … Continue reading ON THE GATES OF SOMNATH TEMPLE – AN ESSAY OF RAKSHA(PALA) FOR BOTH SWARAJ AND BANDHAN
“Spend It Well”
"The coin in question, if you were wondering, is a Kushan minting from the reign of King Vasudeva, also a Hindu convert. Depicted on the right is Shiva with Nandi, and on the left, 'Oesho' - "Ishvara" ['God-Emperor'], another Epithet [and cosmological Function] of Mahadev, although also possibly [contingent upon which etymological theorizing we are … Continue reading “Spend It Well”
Make Afghanistan Gandhara Again
I have been told I bear a certain resemblance to this chap. Sculpted head of a Brahmin of the area now known as Afghanistan, dating from the 3rd-4th century A.D. It may seem somewhat curious to us now - when Afghanistan is mostly known to us as the area upon this Earth where "empires go … Continue reading Make Afghanistan Gandhara Again
arya-akasha 