'The Queen Tomyris with Cyrus II' - Art by Mossacannibalis This Is #GangSteppe I had been meaning to write of this occurrence for some time - as it's quite a resonant one for various elements of our work, in perhaps unexpected ways. Depicted is, as some of you could probably have guessed, the Massagetae Queen … Continue reading Quenching Cyrus’ Blood-Thirst – The Tale Of Tomyris Of The Massagetae , A #GangSteppe Exegesis
Art
An Indo-European Pale Horseman
[Author's Note: Following on from the success of the Indo-European Horsemen of the Apocalypse article we ran earlier this week, it seemed only apt to take a brief closer look at the mytholinguistics of a 'Pale Horseman'. Particularly the 'Pale' bit. This is not to directly infer that the figure from the Book of Revelation … Continue reading An Indo-European Pale Horseman
The Indo-European Horsemen Of The Apocalypse
[Author's Note: We are, of course, aware that the Book of Revelation is not an Indo-European scriptural source. However, as can be seen in this fine art-work - this does not stop it from consciously drawing upon a veer-y Indo-European set of concepts. With that in mind, it seemed appropriate to pen a commentary bringing … Continue reading The Indo-European Horsemen Of The Apocalypse
Glorious Modern Art For An Ancient Hindu Hymnal
Friday Evening Devi-otional (A)Art(I) Posting This is some truly excellent art which helps to illustrate evocatively a rather core series of principles to Shakta theology and cosmogony; which are also extolled in the course of my favourite of the RigVedic Hymnals - the renowned DeviSukta [RV X 125]. Note that it is the Hand of … Continue reading Glorious Modern Art For An Ancient Hindu Hymnal
A visage less commonly depicted – White Kali and the Cremation Cranes of Metempsychosis
Now, while the unexpectedness of a White Kali is remarkable in and of itself (indeed, in a certain sense, it might even be thought of as 'oxymoronic' - Kaal, after all, means 'Blackness', inter many alia); what makes this fine 17th century painting a worthy Friday Night Devotional (A)Art(I) posting goes rather beyond that. Take … Continue reading A visage less commonly depicted – White Kali and the Cremation Cranes of Metempsychosis
RigVeda X 127 – Ratri (Night)
[There are many mentions for Ratri Devi in the verses of the RigVeda; but this Hymn, addressed to Ratri Herself, is unquestionably the grandest. Following on from this morning's article the coterminities of 'rulership' and 'night/darkness' in both PIE and subsequent mytholinguistics, it seemed only appropriate to present this Hymnal. This time, in three translations … Continue reading RigVeda X 127 – Ratri (Night)
RAGNAROK AND THE NIGHT LORD
Consider the Sanskrit terms राजन् and रजनी - Rajan and Rajani. They look similar, no? In fact, you'd be forgiven, even notwithstanding that the former's got a longer 'a' sound ['Raajan' - like Raja, which derives directly therefrom], for thinking that they are perhaps related forms of the same word. Maybe a masculine and feminine … Continue reading RAGNAROK AND THE NIGHT LORD
NataRaja In The RigVeda – The Dance Of The Universe At CERN
The Shiva Nataraja Murti at CERN in Switzerland. I've written about the general characteristics and iconography of the Nataraja Aspect before, but I had this particular statue in mind in light of a RigVedic verse we were working with over the weekend. Now, the Nataraja at CERN is done in a style which has been … Continue reading NataRaja In The RigVeda – The Dance Of The Universe At CERN
Kali in the Vedas Part 1 – A Hymn of Praise and prayer to Night
It is occasionally suggested that there is no Kali in the Vedas. Now, to this I do not agree. Partially, this is because there is quite clearly Devi, with a veer-y much Capital D to be found in the Vedas, as the Ultimate Power both within and beyond the Universe. But also, it is because … Continue reading Kali in the Vedas Part 1 – A Hymn of Praise and prayer to Night
The Tenth Day – The Death of the Demon – Dussehra / VijayaDashami
The Day after NavRatri [the 'Nine Nights' of Goddess Durga] is known as Vijaya Dashami / Dussehra - Victory on the Tenth,the Destruction of Evil. In many places, the Day is held to commemorate the Victory of Lord Rama over the demon-emperor Ravana. In others, it celebrates the Victory of Durga over Mahishasura. Others still, … Continue reading The Tenth Day – The Death of the Demon – Dussehra / VijayaDashami
arya-akasha 