Today is Monday - Lord Shiva's Day; however it is also Amavasya - a day with special significance and potential for observances for the Dead (as we have covered in some of our previous pieces looking at the Libations to the Ancestors). What Amavasya means is the 'Dark' point of the Moon's 28-day cycle - … Continue reading Somavati Amavasya – Worship of Shiva and the Ancestors on the Monday of the Dark Moon
Applied Piety
Masik ShivRatri – First of 2022
Tonight is Masik Shivratri ['Monthly Night of Shiva'] On MahaShivRatri ['Great Night of Shiva'], we celebrate the glorious and blessed Reunification of Lord Shiva and His Wife, Devi Parvati. And while much attention deservedly goes toward MahaShivRatri, there are also 11 other ShivRatris throughout the year - one for each lunar month, observed on the … Continue reading Masik ShivRatri – First of 2022
Good Yule, God Jól, and the God of Jöl
God Jól … and, the God - Jölnir / Jölföðr Now, this is something of a tautology - as in fact, we find Jóln utilized as a term to mean "Gods", itself. Indeed, presuming that one speculative Proto-Indo-European etymology for Jóln and Jól is correct - that it derives from a term for 'uttering', putting … Continue reading Good Yule, God Jól, and the God of Jöl
Two Operations For Ritual Purification – The Invocation Of The Seven Rivers & The All-Conditions Purification Mantra
As we have often observed, purity is a foundation for good piety. By which we (also) mean - the acts of purification are a necessary predicate for engaging in proper formalized ritual worship.After all, one would hardly seek to petition and to honour the rulers of the cosmos in a manner that might seem 'lacking in … Continue reading Two Operations For Ritual Purification – The Invocation Of The Seven Rivers & The All-Conditions Purification Mantra
“Not without pains are the Gods made friends”
"Not without pains are the Gods made friends" Kaegi / Arrowsmith translation (1886) A line from RV IV 33 11, in the words of the Rsi Vamadeva Gautama, that has stuck with me this morning. For additional clarity - here's three further translations from the past century and a half of the same verse. "Not … Continue reading “Not without pains are the Gods made friends”
Pradosha Vrat – The Fortnightly Evening Observance For Lord Shiva
Pradosha Vrat tonight … so here's a pretty aesthetic shot of the Shiva Temple at Kedarnath Pradosh Vrat [literally 'Evening Observance' - 'Vrata', from the same root as our English 'Word', communicates the sense of a 'Vow', giving somebody your Word] is hailed as an ideal time to approach the Lord in supplication. This is, … Continue reading Pradosha Vrat – The Fortnightly Evening Observance For Lord Shiva
Indo-European Worship Of The God As Guest – A Ritual Primer Overview
'Dost thou know how to ask, dost thou know how to offer,dost thou know how to send, dost thou know how to spend?"- Havamal, verse 143 Something we have often been asked for is a simple 'how-to' for regular devotional offerings / observances. There are certainly a few of these out there for various Indo-European … Continue reading Indo-European Worship Of The God As Guest – A Ritual Primer Overview
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
Panchamrut Preparation – ‘Ancient Aryan Milkshakes’ For Ritual Offering
This evening, we made a basic Panchamrut for the ritual offerings (Naivedya - the 'consumable/edible' Upachara (form of offering)). "Ancient Aryan Milkshakes", indeed. Panchamrut is Pancha ('Five' - like 'Penta') Amrit ('Mrit' like 'Mort', 'A-' here as a negation .. so 'Immortality'); and effectively functions as a ritual substitute for the rather more .. esoteric … Continue reading Panchamrut Preparation – ‘Ancient Aryan Milkshakes’ For Ritual Offering
The Returning Skanda Subramaniam Murti Of Tiruchendur [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part VII]
It is TUESDAY - The Day of Ares, the Day of Mars. And therefore … a most interesting tale in relation to Lord Skanda (Subramanya). Throughout much of the 1600s, the Dutch and Portuguese fought a protracted war over possession of various far-flung colonial possessions across the known world. One of these theaters of operations … Continue reading The Returning Skanda Subramaniam Murti Of Tiruchendur [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part VII]
arya-akasha 