The Sixth Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as Katyayani - in many ways, perhaps the most iconic understanding for Devi amidst the modern Hindusphere. When we think of Durga - this tends to be Whom we are praising. For She is MahishasuraMardini - The Destroyer of the Buffalo-Demon - Herself ! However, as … Continue reading Katyayani for Chaitra Navratri – MahishasuraMardini (The Destroyer of the Demon) Herself
Combat Theology
The Art Of Weaponized Myth
An incredible rendition from H.C. for Arya Akasha. Now, to explain what is going on in the scene: I had told him of one of my favourite Vedic myths - and its tangible, practical applications via the principle of Eliadian Eternal Return. That is to say - how the myth is weaponized in order to … Continue reading The Art Of Weaponized Myth
Vedic Dragon-Slaying In Sogdian Armour ? A Mural Of Panjikent
Something that has truly given me cause for wonder as we've been delving further into the mysteries of Indo-European Central Asia … is just how immediately recognizable certain myths, certain figures, certain truths remain even 'midst seemingly unfamiliar overlay. This fine rendering from Penjikent in modern-day Tajikistan is just such an instance. A Sogdian depiction, … Continue reading Vedic Dragon-Slaying In Sogdian Armour ? A Mural Of Panjikent
The Way Of The Gun – The Surprising Re-Development Of A Proto-Indo-European Term Into Modern English … And its Comparative Cognates Considered In Both Ritual And Conventional Phraseology Across The Indo-European Sphere
Something I have long remarked upon is the manner in which certain terms, certain concepts … they are to be found in incredibly archaic spheres, and then they 'fade away' or they undergo some transmogrification which obscures their essence somewhat, only to thence re-emerge somewhere else entirely amidst one of the Indo-European descendant groups who … Continue reading The Way Of The Gun – The Surprising Re-Development Of A Proto-Indo-European Term Into Modern English … And its Comparative Cognates Considered In Both Ritual And Conventional Phraseology Across The Indo-European Sphere
Indra Herakles, Trita Iolaus, Vak Athena against Hydra Vritra – A Distillation [Arya Akasha Arka]
As part of my ongoing drive to make our work more accessible [ Arya Akasha Arka ]… here's a seriously summarized comparative of a pretty central Indo-European mytheme: the combat of the Striker/Thunderer Deific [e.g. Indra , Herakles] against the Demon Dragon of the Waters [e.g. Vritra, Hydra]. I've left out … quite a lot … Continue reading Indra Herakles, Trita Iolaus, Vak Athena against Hydra Vritra – A Distillation [Arya Akasha Arka]
Gandalf Brihaspati – For Tolkien Jayanti
Yes, we know it's not Thursday … but it IS J.R.R. Tolkien's Birthday ! So, upon this occasion of Tolkien-Jayanti , here's something we prepared earlier looking at a rather … surprising underpinning Indo-European characterization to the figure of Gandalf : IT IS THURSDAY - JUPITER'S DAY - THEREFORE, BRIHASPATI Now, some among ye are … Continue reading Gandalf Brihaspati – For Tolkien Jayanti
A Brief Introduction To The Concept Of Combat Theology
Recently, we were asked what we meant by "Combat Theology". This is a brief (partial) explanation. A more in-depth exposition may be forthcoming. There's two elements to it - how we view what we do, and what it is that we actually do. The former part of it, I suppose, is a matter of perspective: … Continue reading A Brief Introduction To The Concept Of Combat Theology
On The Potential Unintended Consequences Of Rome Inviting Home Foreign Gods – The Siege Of Jerusalem Example
Something I was … rather surprised to learn in the course of researching a previous article, is that during the Siege of Jerusalem, the Roman general Titus appears to have potentially performed a variation of the 'Evocatio' rite - the formalized Roman custom of endeavouring to entice the God or Gods that were patrons of … Continue reading On The Potential Unintended Consequences Of Rome Inviting Home Foreign Gods – The Siege Of Jerusalem Example
On The Concepts Of Religious Warfare And Foreign Religion Amidst The Archaic Indo-Europeans
Something I have been absolutely perplexed by in the past few days, is a sudden upwelling of people who seek to claim that 'religious war' was a 'monotheistic' or more specifically 'Christian' invention; and that prior to this, the non-/pre-Christian world had neither these concepts, nor even the barest notion that there could be such … Continue reading On The Concepts Of Religious Warfare And Foreign Religion Amidst The Archaic Indo-Europeans
ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part Five – Trita Triumphant , The Restoration of the Rightful Status of Iolaus
Thus, we see the situation wherein Trita , a priestly figure (albeit with a demonstrable martial competency afforded in no small part via ... weaponized theology) closely affiliated with Indra as companion (in a manner perhaps also resemblent of Indra and Brihaspati in various other dragon-slaying hymns - or Indra and Agni in RV V … Continue reading ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part Five – Trita Triumphant , The Restoration of the Rightful Status of Iolaus