The 23rd of August marks Vulcanalia - the Roman observance for the Power of Fire. Not only Forge-Fire, as one might perhaps expect … but also large bonfires, the fires of kiln and oven, and perhaps (via inference) even the lamps which give illumination so that one might read - and pierce the darkness with … Continue reading For Vulcanalia – The Roman Festival of Fires !
Fire
Glorious Art Of The One Eyed God For Wednesday – Rudra
It is Wednesday ! Woden's Day ! And therefore … art of a One Eyed God (and His Wife) Now, of course, it becomes immediately apparent that this is Shaivite art - and so some might ask what I mean by this here. After all, whilst Rudra is Odin … Lord Shiva is also so … Continue reading Glorious Art Of The One Eyed God For Wednesday – Rudra
On Brigid And Brhati – Some Preliminary Observation
Recently, we were asked a question pertaining to the figure of St Brigid - and, of course, the Celtic deific of the similar name (which may have further bearing for the somewhat distinct Brigantia … although we aren't going to get into that herein). Part of the question concerned the potential for Brigid to be an … Continue reading On Brigid And Brhati – Some Preliminary Observation
Katyayani for Chaitra Navratri – MahishasuraMardini (The Destroyer of the Demon) Herself
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 ! [An effort … Continue reading Katyayani for Chaitra Navratri – MahishasuraMardini (The Destroyer of the Demon) Herself
Kushmanda for Chaitra Navratri – The Power of the Sun
The Fourth Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as Kushmanda - which I have figuratively chosen to render as 'the Power of the Sun'. In essence, the reason that the Sun is ... well ... the Sun - rather than some abstract 'ball of flaming gas', or even simply an inanimate, lifeless object, is … Continue reading Kushmanda for Chaitra Navratri – The Power of the Sun
Hestia & Vak – The Voice In The Flame Of The Goddess At The Center Of Indo-European Faith !
Over and over again, we are told that prominent Goddess figures are somehow 'foreign' to the Indo-European world - that these 'have' to have been picked up from various non-IE groups, and in any case 'must' be merely peripheral to the actual Indo-European religions, much less the archaic Proto-Indo-European belief from which it all descends. … Continue reading Hestia & Vak – The Voice In The Flame Of The Goddess At The Center Of Indo-European Faith !
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
Bhairava & Kali For The Transition Of The Cycle Of Time On New Year’s Eve / Day
There are few situations which cannot be matched with a fine exemplar of the artwork of Abhishek Singh. In this case, he had chosen to depict Bhairava & Kali at the end of a Kalpa ('Cycle of Time'). He later refined the Bhairava into a full-colour work; yet I think that there is something immensely … Continue reading Bhairava & Kali For The Transition Of The Cycle Of Time On New Year’s Eve / Day
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
Krttika – The Six Swords of the Stars
An asterism of Bindrunes - 'Krittika'. Which I've constructed from ᚲ ᚱ ᛏ ᛏ ᚲ ᚨ (Kaunan, Raidho, Tiwaz Tiwaz, Kaunan, Ansuz); and which, well, it represents something rather important. Particularly for a certain 'Sword' of 'Divine Design' out there. 'Krttika' in Sanskrit means 'The Cutter' - and The Krttikas (plural) refer to the Pleiades. … Continue reading Krttika – The Six Swords of the Stars
arya-akasha 