Earlier, an associate, ᛊᚺᛟᚾᚨᚾ ᛏᚨᛚᛈᚨᛞᛖ had written of the vital engagement between Kakabhushundi (the Crow-Sage : काक / kāka being 'Crow') and the young Lord Rama which occurs at Ayodhya. Now, this reminded me of a certain suite of detailing from the Rígsþula (which, effectively, sets out a Nordic/Germanic caste schema) wherein 'Young Konr' ['Konr … Continue reading The Vital Words Of The Crow-Sage
Athena
On The ‘Interpretatio Germanica’ Of Odin
In the dying days for the past year, we had yet another brew-up of that perennial comparative IE misapprehension that we can succinctly surmise as "Jupiter is Thor", with a side-order of "because Tacitus said so". Now, as it should happen, Tacitus in fact said no such thing (and indeed, it's the Hercules that Tacitus … Continue reading On The ‘Interpretatio Germanica’ Of Odin
Grim Waters, Vedic & Eddic – The Death-Visaged Wife Of The Sky Father In Nordic Expression I [The Indo-European Propitiation Of Persephone-Kali – Part Five]
Yet what of Persephone 'midst the North? Where might *She* be found? And, for that matter - with the Rivers (of the Underworld), the Water(s) as Pathways toward the Goddess and Cosmic Order within the context as to those Indo-European cultures in or about the Mediterranean ... where might the portals of liminal immersion lead … Continue reading Grim Waters, Vedic & Eddic – The Death-Visaged Wife Of The Sky Father In Nordic Expression I [The Indo-European Propitiation Of Persephone-Kali – Part Five]
Sharada NavRatri – And The War Rites Of The Indo-Europeans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atPk8JoJ138 It's currently Sharada NavRatri for we Hindus (the Nine Nights of the Goddess Durga , Chandika / Chamunda ) - and so therefore, a look at the observance in light of its Indo-European context. This includes the correlate Goddess-oriented War Rites undertaken by both the Romans (in the form of the Quinquatria dedicated to … Continue reading Sharada NavRatri – And The War Rites Of The Indo-Europeans
On Joining Forces With Gods As Prayer – Two Greek Maxims
In conversation about recent operations, a quote attributed to Aeschylus (in translation) sprang to mind - "Whenever a person is himself eager, the God also joins in"[Aeschylus, The Persians, 742, seems to be Helm translation] Of course, as brightly auspicious a sentiment as this is - we are, as ever, perhaps advised to consider the … Continue reading On Joining Forces With Gods As Prayer – Two Greek Maxims
Shravana , Ganymede , Gayatri , Shyena – And Other Points Of Syzygy Within Vedic And Classical Myth And Star-Lore
With the Shaivite Holy Month of Shravan Maas in full (indeed, double!) swing, it seems apt to detail a potentially remarkable Indo-European concordancy between the Nakshatra (Asterism) of Śravaṇa (aka Śroṇa ) and the Hellenic perception of same. Depicted upon this star-chart (sourced from Manasataramgini) is the constellation of Aquila in Western / Hellenic terms. … Continue reading Shravana , Ganymede , Gayatri , Shyena – And Other Points Of Syzygy Within Vedic And Classical Myth And Star-Lore
On The Sky Father As Dragon Destroyer
Something we have often had cause to make reference to is the fact that this most prominent of Indo-European mythemes, the Smiting of the Demon-Dragon, is NOT exclusive in commissioning to the Striker/Thunderer deific. But is, rather, a case of 'Like Father - Like Son'. As with, perhaps uncoincidentally, the wielding of Thunder in various … Continue reading On The Sky Father As Dragon Destroyer
A Brief Point On Ovid’s Re-Memification Of Arachne Contra Athena
occasional reminder that that's (probably) not how the myth went [prior to Ovid getting his hands on it and making some 'alterations'] [you may recall my commentary viz. what he did to the myth around Artemis and Actaeon - wherein we know, due to various other tellings and the Vedic cognate, that it's a story … Continue reading A Brief Point On Ovid’s Re-Memification Of Arachne Contra Athena
ShivaJi, Jai Singh, and Combat Theology In Praxis
The 2nd of June marked the 350th anniversary of the coronation of ShivaJi. With that in mind - it seemed apt to finalize a piece looking at a rather under-explored detail pertaining to the great man's ascent. As I think we all know by now, I make a fairly active study of what we might … Continue reading ShivaJi, Jai Singh, and Combat Theology In Praxis
The Crow-Accompanied Goddess Of Violent Death
The Fierce Warrior-Destroyer Goddess Chandika is depicted in the Kadambari of Banabhatta (and Son) as being accompanied by a most remarkable coterie of worshippers. To quote from my own translation: “Being worshipped from all sides by the Retinue of Crows both razor sharp and unyielding Who sang Her Glories” The Sanskrit reads: “ārādhyamānāṃ sarvataḥ kaṭhoravāyasagaṇena … Continue reading The Crow-Accompanied Goddess Of Violent Death