Now *this* is interesting - quite a familiar shape, you'll see the various Christian depictions of St George engaged in a spot of dragon-slaying, for instance. However, what's depicted here is Bellerophon (mounted upon Pegasus) slaying the Chimaera, from a floor mosaic on Rhodes, circa 300-270 BC. I am not saying that various much more … Continue reading On Bellerophon – Echoes Of A Coronation Rite And Slayer Of The Demon Of Enclosure ?
Herakles
Adoption By A Divine Mother
It is a Friday - and therefore it is, of course, Devi's Day. I was sent this quote by an associate - and immediately felt compelled to go off and look it up in its original context [Symbols of Transformation : Two, in case you were wondering]. And upon viewing the passage (and a great … Continue reading Adoption By A Divine Mother
The AtharvaVeda’s Invocation Of The Mother Of Indra To Impart Strength And Splendour To The Worshipper
The AtharvaVeda is a trove of interesting and otherwise under-thought of lore. It has to be due to the nature of its subject-matter - the invoking via allusion of elements to pointed projects and intended outcomes. Here are two translations of AV VI 38, entitled by Griffith as "A prayer for surpassing strength and energy" … Continue reading The AtharvaVeda’s Invocation Of The Mother Of Indra To Impart Strength And Splendour To The Worshipper
Masik Durgashtami – Victory On The Eighth
Today is Masik Durgashtami - a monthly (Masik) High Holy Day to the Goddess Durga, celebrated on the 8th (Ashtami). The observance itself entails a fast during the day (with such self-imposed conditions upon one's behavior known as a 'Vrat' - a 'Vow', and from the same PIE etymological root as modern English 'Word' (as … Continue reading Masik Durgashtami – Victory On The Eighth
Astra – The Star Weapon Of Orion, Ardra, Rudra
Orion is remarkable. Whether the constellation, the Metallica instrumental, or the mythological figure(s) - there is something impressively resonant and incredibly enduring behind the name and figure. I'm currently working upon a 'Forensic Theology' effort to look at the actual underlying archaic Indo-European myth and the figures involved (particularly the Death aspect - and just what, … Continue reading Astra – The Star Weapon Of Orion, Ardra, Rudra
The Sieger Of Forts And The Slayer Of Dragons – Several Athena Hailings & Durga Comparatively Considered
Two of the most prominent Goddess facings for the Indo-European world would have to be Durga and Pallas Athena. I have written extensively elsewhere as to various vital coterminities between Their respective theologies - however something occurred to me recently that has as-yet lain unaddressed. A similarity of these theonyms - 'Durga', and 'Pallas'. For … Continue reading The Sieger Of Forts And The Slayer Of Dragons – Several Athena Hailings & Durga Comparatively Considered
On the Indo-European Etymology of Indra
Often it seems that the interpretation and the 'accepted wisdom' on various more archaic Indo-European mythic figures is effectively an exercise in agenda-pushing and confirmation bias. One deific seemingly singled out for far more than His fair share of such torturous misperception is, of course, Lord Indra. Otherwise known as the Vedic facing of the Indo-European … Continue reading On the Indo-European Etymology of Indra
On The Adamantine Harpe Of Perseus In Light Of The Vajra Of Indra – A Weapon Of The Striker/Thunderer (Briefly) Comparatively Considered
Something we have written a fair bit upon this year has been the identification of Perseus as an expression of the Striker/Thunderer Indo-European deific. As it happens, the Harpe wielded by the hero is - entirely unsurprisingly - strikingly correlate with the Vajra of Indra, as well. How do we know? Consider the following. The … Continue reading On The Adamantine Harpe Of Perseus In Light Of The Vajra Of Indra – A Weapon Of The Striker/Thunderer (Briefly) Comparatively Considered
The Description Of The Vajra In The Vedas – Some Initial Points
This is a modern depiction of Indra, and it forms a bit of a counterpoint to the more simple Vajra renderings you'll often see - however, the interesting thing is … this is actually rather close to how the Vajra is described in various RigVedic verses. [Although this *specific* version may in fact be intending … Continue reading The Description Of The Vajra In The Vedas – Some Initial Points
Some Brief Points On The Vajra
Earlier, we had a question to the page around a seeming similarity between a Thunderbolt carried by a Roman deific statue - and the famed Vajra so prominent in the Hindu (and Buddhist) sphere. Particularly, around whether what was seen in Hindu art had some deliberate iconographic coterminity with the Trishula (Trident). As applies the … Continue reading Some Brief Points On The Vajra
arya-akasha 