[Note: This is not my writing, but rather that of one of our men - O.R. - produced in mid-2020, and reproduced here with permission. Some understandings have, of course, developed further in the interim (hence my annotations where marked), and due to recent developments we do mean to revisit this subject in the very … Continue reading Veles, The Balto-Slavic Lord of *Uel
Brihaspati
On A Potential Afghan Origination For The Elephant Visage Of Lord Ganesha
In amidst the fusillading frequency of my Ganesha posting this week, we had had a rather intriguing question. Namely, whether - given the irreducibly Elephantine iconography of Ganesha - there were any clear cognates for this in the Western (i.e. European) Indo-European sphere. I have to say - none spring instantly to mind. Which doesn't … Continue reading On A Potential Afghan Origination For The Elephant Visage Of Lord Ganesha
In Search Of Scythian Ares – Part Two : The Swords Of The Sky Father
As we'd noted towards the outset of Part One, the Scythian religion is endlessly, fascinatingly frustrating. We know so little - and yet we can seemingly 'piece together' a few elements from the scant textual (and usually virtually third hand) viewpoints of their faith that have come down to us from Antiquity. One figure in … Continue reading In Search Of Scythian Ares – Part Two : The Swords Of The Sky Father
The Sovereign-Sires Of The Sky – Lord Shiva And Devi As The Ultimate Rulers Of The Grahas
We had earlier had our attention drawn to this verse (and its backdrop) by several associates. It is a work of one of the great Tamil Shaivite saints, Sambandar (also anglicized, as here, as Campantar) - and, as one can immediately see, it is a verse for the simultaneous praising of Lord Shiva, as well … Continue reading The Sovereign-Sires Of The Sky – Lord Shiva And Devi As The Ultimate Rulers Of The Grahas
For Guru Purnima – And The True Making Of Heroes
Tonight marks one of the most pervasively resonant of the Hindu religious observances - that of Guru Purnima. It is an occasion wherein we honour, as the name should imply, our Gurus and other Teachers. Those who have so enriched our world through the bestowal of that most precious of gifts - their illumination of … Continue reading For Guru Purnima – And The True Making Of Heroes
A Well Armoured Lord of Prayer – Ganesha
A rather heavily armoured Ganesha depiction; wielding a rather weaponized Svastika and an Ankush (an 'elephant goad', although symbolic of 'control')Art, once again, by Kaizen Moksh. We are reminded, of course, of that prominent Ganesha mantra - the first line of RV II 23, which in its original context had been a Brihaspati hailing: [ … Continue reading A Well Armoured Lord of Prayer – Ganesha
On The Hellenic Propitiation of Sirius Wolf-Zeus In Order To Re-Bestow Life To The Natural World
With a storm sweeping in tonight, bringing much rain and wind, it seems only apt to present the following. This is a slightly reworked excerpt from the Wolves of Rudra piece - one of many elements that, whilst they could not be fitted in to the final version, are nevertheless integrally linked to what we … Continue reading On The Hellenic Propitiation of Sirius Wolf-Zeus In Order To Re-Bestow Life To The Natural World
On The Etymology Of Bacchus – The Roarer
[illustration appears to be by a Jim Tierney] When it comes to Dionysus, there are various elements which are … challenging to make sense of. This is as it should be. One of these concerns the likely etymology - and therefore meaning - of one of His most prominent theonymics: Bacchus (or Bakkhos, Βάκχος, etc.). Usually … Continue reading On The Etymology Of Bacchus – The Roarer
KalaRatri for Chaitra Navratri – The Black Night of Unveiling, The Night of Death
The Seventh Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Kalaratri - The Night of Death, the Blackest Night, the Darkness at the End of Time Herself ! And yet, as has become something of our theme whenever we discuss the Devi - we are vehement in pointing out that this is only one side to Her, … Continue reading KalaRatri for Chaitra Navratri – The Black Night of Unveiling, The Night of Death
RudraGanika – A Study In Eternal Return As Manifested Through The Sky Father’s Female Retinue Across The Indo-European World
[Author's Note: This work brings together several (my)themes close and dear to my heart. It had been intended to be published upon MahaShivRatri - the 1st of March in 2022 - however, Time waits for no man (other than Her Husband); and my continuing to find further elements which cried out to be included resulted … Continue reading RudraGanika – A Study In Eternal Return As Manifested Through The Sky Father’s Female Retinue Across The Indo-European World
arya-akasha 