Today is Monday - Lord Shiva's Day; however it is also Amavasya - a day with special significance and potential for observances for the Dead (as we have covered in some of our previous pieces looking at the Libations to the Ancestors). What Amavasya means is the 'Dark' point of the Moon's 28-day cycle - … Continue reading Somavati Amavasya – Worship of Shiva and the Ancestors on the Monday of the Dark Moon
Dyaus Pitar
The Eddic Mead of Poetry & Vedic ‘Fire Bird’ Agnicayana Soma Rite
Now, to explain what's going on here … This is one of those Vedic - Eddic strong concordancies. Concerning the Mead of Poetry, and Soma: what Griffith translated in RV I 14 as 'Meath' (the actual word he'd rendered thus appears to be Sanskrit 'Madhu' - Sweet - being used as a noun. Which is … Continue reading The Eddic Mead of Poetry & Vedic ‘Fire Bird’ Agnicayana Soma Rite
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 ?
Ravens For Rudra ?
It is interesting how things work out. We have known for some time now that Lord Shiva and Odin are the same deific - expressed prominently to two broad Indo-European mytho-religious sphere : the 'Vedic' and 'Eddic', we might say. We have spent much time over the past few years tracing out the various coterminities … Continue reading Ravens For Rudra ?
On Odin As Jupiter In The Icelandic Rune Poem
It is always nice to be vindicated. This is a page from a manuscript - AM 687d 4° - which constitutes one of the oldest presentations of the Icelandic Rune Poem. That is to say - the occasionally rather cryptic explication of just what each Rune is to mean. The relevant word for our interest, … Continue reading On Odin As Jupiter In The Icelandic Rune Poem
Of Artemis And Actaeon, The Wolf As Defender Of The Goddess – A Forensic Theology Examination Of A Classical Myth In The Vedas And In The Stars
Many are aware of the broad outlines of the Classical instance of Artemis having Actaeon put to death. Roughly speaking - Actaeon commits an outrage against the Goddess's modesty, and so is turned into a deer and torn to pieces by his own hunting dogs. What few realize is that this particular story is also … Continue reading Of Artemis And Actaeon, The Wolf As Defender Of The Goddess – A Forensic Theology Examination Of A Classical Myth In The Vedas And In The Stars
On The Etymology of Marut – A Mytholinguistic Illumination As To The Indo-European ‘Storm Troops’ Of The Skies
[Author's Note: I am a great proponent of 'mytholinguistics' - the notion that we can make important and useful addeucements as to the effective mythic essence of an element by looking at its etymological roots and likely even further archaic depth of meaning. And, as part of this, the application of remarkably consistent patterns of … Continue reading On The Etymology of Marut – A Mytholinguistic Illumination As To The Indo-European ‘Storm Troops’ Of The Skies
On Roman Vejovis or Vediovis Via Light Of Vedic Rudra
It is Thursday - more properly, Dies Iovis, the Day of Jupiter (in Vedic terms - Brihaspati is the figure hailed for this occasion). And therefore … a brief look at the likely Indo-European positioning for a lesser-known Roman figure - the deific known as 'Vejovis' ('Veiovis', sometimes 'Veiove' or 'Vejove') or 'Vedius' / 'Vediovis'. … Continue reading On Roman Vejovis or Vediovis Via Light Of Vedic Rudra
‘Nomads’, ‘Murmurers’, & ‘Death-Seekers At the Border’ – Three Further Perspectives On Barbarians Drawn Into The Broader Indo-European Sphere
Following on from our earlier piece looking at 'Barbarian' in Vedic understanding - here are several further examples .. along with broader Indo-European comparanda contextualizing each. Two of these were furnished by the same associate [A.P.] whom I had been discussing with in the excerpt posted earlier. I have not independently tracked them down in … Continue reading ‘Nomads’, ‘Murmurers’, & ‘Death-Seekers At the Border’ – Three Further Perspectives On Barbarians Drawn Into The Broader Indo-European Sphere
Response To Some Curious Krishnaite Claims On Comparative Indo-European Mythology
Several associates summoned me to respond to this post. Now, for context on what's going on here, this "Germanic Vedic Alliance" page appears to be some kind of Hare Krishna style 'outreach effort' that's targeted at the Nordic / Germanic revivalist sphere and making occasional forays into broader Indo-European spheres. I've deliberately refrained, in my … Continue reading Response To Some Curious Krishnaite Claims On Comparative Indo-European Mythology