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 ?
Hindu Mythology
The Ganesha Of Kabul – And His Custodian Guard [ Arte-Facts #14 ]
In our field, we are so often delving into impressive legends of long ago - myths about men who once lived and wrought deeds so mighty that they seem frankly 'incredible' (in the old sense of the term) today. And that can leave one quite jaded about the modern era for reasons that ought be … Continue reading The Ganesha Of Kabul – And His Custodian Guard [ Arte-Facts #14 ]
Hanuman Jayanti : The Indo-European Situation Of The Striker/Thunderer Deific In Apelike Form
Today marks Hanuman Jayanti - and, as has become our custom, we present an (A)Arti-cle in His Honour. A 'Jayanti', in case you were wondering, is one of those wonderful Sanskrit terms with several mutually reinforcing meanings - it is, at once, a 'Victory', but also can mean a 'Birthday'. So is therefore eminently appropriate … Continue reading Hanuman Jayanti : The Indo-European Situation Of The Striker/Thunderer Deific In Apelike Form
THE QUEEN OF SERPENTS – THE SERPENTINE FIGURE OF THE INDO-EUROPEAN EARTH MOTHER
As we have often noted, the prevalent mythic perception of the Serpent amidst the minds of many is that of a demonic antagonist - and a male one, at that. There are solid reasons for this, of course: foremost among these is the Judeo-Christian baseline many of tend to operate under, where a certain serpent … Continue reading THE QUEEN OF SERPENTS – THE SERPENTINE FIGURE OF THE INDO-EUROPEAN EARTH MOTHER
The War-Shrine Of Tanot Mata [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part III]
One of my criteria for judging whether a culture is spiritually healthy, is how it treats its religion. Is it something that is actively integrated? Into the culture, into the state, into daily life? Or is it merely something that is wheeled out in the manner of Easter in much of the West - a symbol, … Continue reading The War-Shrine Of Tanot Mata [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part III]
On Lord Shiva As Tripurantaka In The Vedas
Tomorrow marks one of the more important Shaivite observances of the year - Tripurari Purnima / Kartik Purnima . Which, inter alia, commemorates the Destruction of the Three Fortresses of the Demons by Lord Shiva . Now, it is often asserted by some that Lord Shiva is somehow not a Vedic God - something I … Continue reading On Lord Shiva As Tripurantaka In The Vedas
The Radiant Queen and the Beautiful Princess – Two Indo-European Solar Goddesses – On Scythian Tabiti, Hindu Tapati, Greek Helen
I think by now that many would agree that if a little knowledge is a dangerous thing - then Wiki-knowledge can be the summation of many dangerous things put together. Due to its prominence as a source, questionable material placed thereupon has a way of spreading out and cropping up again all over the place. … Continue reading The Radiant Queen and the Beautiful Princess – Two Indo-European Solar Goddesses – On Scythian Tabiti, Hindu Tapati, Greek Helen
“I Bend the Bow for Rudra that His Arrow May Strike and Slay the Hater of Devotion” – On Ugra Manyu And Perhaps Angra Mainyu
[Author's Note: This continues our excerpts series from #MahaShivRatri And The Mytholinguistics Of War - The Mind, The Mania, The Manyu. In this extract, we take a look at what's probably one of the least surprising potential Zoroastrian literal-demonizations of a Vedic Deity - the War God charged with the protection of piety against 'the … Continue reading “I Bend the Bow for Rudra that His Arrow May Strike and Slay the Hater of Devotion” – On Ugra Manyu And Perhaps Angra Mainyu
GHOST DIVISION for Ganesha Chaturthi – An Extract
Since it is Ganesh Chaturthi - an extract from " GHOST DIVISION - On The Bhutagana Of Mahadev & The Einherjar Of Odin " that is particularly relevant; which helps to explain both one of the roles of Lord Ganesha - as well as the underlying symbolism of His Elephantine Head: The Gana As Custodian … Continue reading GHOST DIVISION for Ganesha Chaturthi – An Extract
ON THE HORSE TWINS – The Savior Sons of the Sky Father [Part 1 – Introductions, Inceptions, And Asvins]
One of the more pervasive, yet perplexing of the elements of the Indo-European mythology must surely be the Heroic Horse-Twins. Whether the Asvins / Nasatyas / Divo Napata of the Vedas, the Dioscuri of the Greeks (Castor & Pollux / Polydeuces), the Asvieniai / Dievo Suneliai of the Lithuianians, or Hengist and Horsa of the … Continue reading ON THE HORSE TWINS – The Savior Sons of the Sky Father [Part 1 – Introductions, Inceptions, And Asvins]
arya-akasha 