In recent days, our attention had been drawn to a most remarkable occurrence within the Þorleifs þáttr jarlaskálds wherein, as our learned associate, Gottfried Yann Karlssohn (who had drawn our attention to it in the first place) had phrased it - we find "a Norse king using incantations to animate a trémaðr (treeman), giving him a … Continue reading A People Of Ash And Fury – On The Divinely Arboreal Genesis Of The Indo-Europeans
Demeter Erinyes
Operation VaishvaDevi – A Show of Force
Navratri, the famed Nine Nights of the Goddess, is soon to begin. We propose to have a broad Indo-European 'Show of Force' (Shakti) for the occasion. What do we mean by this? Navratri is, of course, a Hindu observance. Yet the Goddess is broader than 'just' the Hindusphere. She has also been worshipped amidst all … Continue reading Operation VaishvaDevi – A Show of Force
On This Week’s Claims Of Kali Somehow Not Being A Hindu Goddess
There's currently a rather loud contratemps going on in the online Hindusphere over an (Indian) art-film creator's attempt to co-opt Kali. Now, by this I do not really mean the initial photograph which caused all the furore - but rather, the artist's (Leena Manimekalai) frankly bizarre claims in reply to criticism she'd received for how she'd … Continue reading On This Week’s Claims Of Kali Somehow Not Being A Hindu Goddess
The Vitality of the Universe Entire – On MahaGauri, SiddhiDhatri, and Demeter
The Eighth Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to MahaGauri - The Great Beauty, The 'Great White One' ; The Ninth Night of NavRatri, to Siddhidhatri - the Bestower of Boons, The Giver of Empowerment. Both because I am rather late in my finishing of this piece - but also due to a certain underlying thematic unity ... … Continue reading The Vitality of the Universe Entire – On MahaGauri, SiddhiDhatri, and Demeter
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
Toward A Re-Evaluation Of Hel – Some Preliminary Notes
I'm going to expand upon all of this in a lengthier piece currently in-writing .. but here's some brief notes pertaining to Hel (and a re-evaluation thereof) in a comparative Indo-European theological context. [The major issue that we have is how much weight to give various direct textual statements upon Hel and parentage / siblings … Continue reading Toward A Re-Evaluation Of Hel – Some Preliminary Notes
Revanta – A Lord of the Wild Hunt
It is SUNDAY - The Day of the Sun ! And so therefore, we present a rather lesser-known 'Saura' ['Solar'] figure: Revanta, the Huntsman Son of Surya [Sun] - and, fittingly, accompanied by a further Hindu reflex of the Indo-European 'Wild Hunt' ! And we shall look at Them once again in due course - … Continue reading Revanta – A Lord of the Wild Hunt
The Maricis Of Lord Surya – A Solar Warrior Women Typology ?
A carved Surya from Magadha, likely about 21-22 centuries old. Now, I felt this deserved a brief commentary due to the two decidedly female figures either side of Lord Surya in the Solar Chariot. Per the Suprabedhagama and Amsumadbhedagama (manuals of Hindu iconographic depiction, inter alia) - we may find Surya flanked by Prathyusha & … Continue reading The Maricis Of Lord Surya – A Solar Warrior Women Typology ?
Ex Oriente Lux – The Necessity For Hindu Understanding As Guide For Hellenic (Or Broader) Indo-European Mythic Reconstruction, A Brief Exemplar From Kali And MahaGauri In Relation To Demeter Erinyes
Occasionally, it is suggested that when it comes to the Goddess oriented mythology and theology - there is little which the various Indo-European spheres have to offer one another. Particularly as applies the Hindusphere. Clearly these claims are incorrect - and often, they rest upon fundamentally, indeed foundationally fallacious notions that somehow Goddesses of our … Continue reading Ex Oriente Lux – The Necessity For Hindu Understanding As Guide For Hellenic (Or Broader) Indo-European Mythic Reconstruction, A Brief Exemplar From Kali And MahaGauri In Relation To Demeter Erinyes
On Bowing To Gods – AND Drinking With Them !
I've had this image - and its underlying sentiment - on my mind for a few days now. It's something that often comes up in Western (neo-)pagan circles, and represents multiple layers of fundamental misapprehension about Indo-European religion. Indeed, it is very much a modern take - reflective of modern prejudices, (mis-)perceptions, and hangups - masquerading … Continue reading On Bowing To Gods – AND Drinking With Them !