[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
Dionysus
The Matrikas – A RudraGanika Excerpt
This is an excerpt from our recent 'RudraGanika – A Study In Eternal Return As Manifested Through The Sky Father’s Female Retinue Across The Indo-European World' : looking at one of the ways in which this typology persisted in later Indo-European religion. In this case, in the form of the Matrika clade that accompany Rudra … Continue reading The Matrikas – A RudraGanika Excerpt
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
The Duality Of Light And Dark – A Modern Representation Of Indo-European Divinity
Alright, I can finally post this ! HC got back to me mid-week with the 'other half' of his conceptual piece. What he's chosen to illustrate here are two 'sides' or 'facings' to Indo-European Divinity - and I say Indo-European, because he's done a fantastic job of drawing together iconographic elements from multiple Indo-European cultures … Continue reading The Duality Of Light And Dark – A Modern Representation Of Indo-European Divinity
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
Toward The Indo-European Identification Of Janus – Some Preliminary Observations
Despite its comforting familiarity to many in the modern Western sphere, many of the figures of the Roman religion are somewhat mysterious to us. Particularly when we seek to link them up to what ought be their correlate co-expressions elsewhere within the Indo-European religious world. This invites much speculation - some of it well-founded, and … Continue reading Toward The Indo-European Identification Of Janus – Some Preliminary Observations
A Verse Of The Shiv Tandav Stotram For Pradosha Vrat
Tonight is Pradosha Vrat - a Shaivite Observance ! And so, therefore : जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरीविलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि ।धगद्धगद्धगज्जलल्ललाटपट्टपावकेकिशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥ Jattaa-Kattaaha-Sambhrama-Bhraman-Nilimpa-NirjhariiVilola-Viici-Vallarii-Viraajamaana-Muurdhani |Dhagad-Dhagad-Dhagaj-Jvalal-Lalaatta-Patttta-PaavakeKishora-Candra-Shekhare Ratih Pratikssannam Mama || His Matted Hair (Jatta) Like a Cauldron (Kattaaha) Whirls Around (Sambhrama), Flowing (Bhrama) within it is the Goddess (Nilimpa) of the River (Nirjharii) [i.e. Goddess Ganga] [Note: c.f Kyanokhaitis - … Continue reading A Verse Of The Shiv Tandav Stotram For Pradosha Vrat
Toward The ‘Western Shakta’ Approach – A Preliminary Outlining For Goddess Engagement And Esoteric Empowerment In The European Indo-European Spheres
Something I have been thinking about over the past few hours is what we might term 'Western Shakta' conceptry. Now, to explicate what I mean by this … if we consider several of the major strands of Western Indo-European religious belief, we find that these are co-expressive of significant strands found amidst the Hindusphere. This … Continue reading Toward The ‘Western Shakta’ Approach – A Preliminary Outlining For Goddess Engagement And Esoteric Empowerment In The European Indo-European Spheres
Be The Boys You Wish To See Back In Town – The Ganas of Shiva and Thiasos of Dionysus
Shiva & Dionysus - but, then, I repeat myself. Dionysus pictured alongside His θῐ́ᾰσος (‘Thiasos’ – likely from ‘Thyrsus’, the sharp-pointed staff of Dionysus and borne also by His Ardent Devotees); Shiva, in amidst His Ganas (from the same root as 'Genus' - effectively, groups or companies of His Higher Devotees; most famously, the BhutaGana … Continue reading Be The Boys You Wish To See Back In Town – The Ganas of Shiva and Thiasos of Dionysus
Divine Play – The Unfurling Mythic Universe As Wargame And Drama In Nordic And Hindu Perception
As we move toward the close of 2021, there's something I feel is relevant to share. It uses the Binding of Fenrir as a framing device, but has a far broader saliency. And far more personal relevance and application. I've had a rather … difficult - indeed, downright tempestuous, in some respects - last few … Continue reading Divine Play – The Unfurling Mythic Universe As Wargame And Drama In Nordic And Hindu Perception
arya-akasha 