The 2nd of June marked the 350th anniversary of the coronation of ShivaJi. With that in mind - it seemed apt to finalize a piece looking at a rather under-explored detail pertaining to the great man's ascent. As I think we all know by now, I make a fairly active study of what we might … Continue reading ShivaJi, Jai Singh, and Combat Theology In Praxis
Hinduism
The Egg Of Nemesis In Etruscan Presentation By Turms / Hermes / Mercury
An Etruscan depiction of the Egg of Nemesis being presented to the King of Sparta, hence the labelling of ' Turms ' ( Hermes / Mercury ), 'Tuntle' (Tyndareos / Tyndareus), and 'Latva' (Leda) This is from the lesser-known 'alternate' explication for the Birth of Helen ['Elinei' / 'Elinai' / 'Elina'] in which it is … Continue reading The Egg Of Nemesis In Etruscan Presentation By Turms / Hermes / Mercury
On Bhishma As Sky Father Incarnate – A Guest-Post With Annotations
[Editor's Note: It is a grand thing when we find our efforts to have sparked an impact. In this case, a few weeks prior we had had a most energetic conversation with a lad, Utsav Sambhava, who had a few thoughts in relation to some pieces I'd sketched out in 2021 pertaining to a pattern in … Continue reading On Bhishma As Sky Father Incarnate – A Guest-Post With Annotations
For Pratyangira – Roaring Goddess of the Counter-Fire
A murti of the fearsome Goddess[-form], Pratyangira - a theonymic we would be tempted to translate as "Return Fire!" She is regarded as Goddess of the Atharva Veda via Atharvana Bhadrakali - and also linked to Kali through the Narasimhika ('Heroic Lioness' / 'Lion-(Wo)Man') encountered in the Sri Kalika Sahasranama stotram of MahaKalaBhairava : and … Continue reading For Pratyangira – Roaring Goddess of the Counter-Fire
Asura Aesir A’Sura
There can be few terms which have caused more confusion and misaligned conflation within the realms of the comparative Indo-European theology than 'Asura', 'Aesir', and 'A'Sura'. Many people coming in from the Germanic sphere presume that because they understand 'Aesir' - that Vedic 'Asura', as a linguistic cognate, should mean effectively the same thing. That is to … Continue reading Asura Aesir A’Sura
Brief Points On The Relationship Between Hellenic & Hindu Astrology
Recently, we had had a few questions come in about the relationship of the Greek & Hindu astrologies. Specifically - which bits were Indian versus which bits came in with the Hellenics that arrived under Alexander. And, in particular, whether the Nakshatras (27 / 28 'Lunar Mansions' - Star Signs) were the Indian part, whilst … Continue reading Brief Points On The Relationship Between Hellenic & Hindu Astrology
Rama’s Invocation Of The War-Goddess
It is Friday - Devi's Day And therefore - a Hero making offering to the Goddess, so as to ensure His Victory in the (more actively combative phase of the ongoing) War soon to come, where He shall vanquish the demon who has stolen His Wife. The Hero, of course, here is Lord Ram (the … Continue reading Rama’s Invocation Of The War-Goddess
On Kali In The Vedas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFnWiEUJ9ZQ We have often heard it claimed that there is no Kali in the Vedas - and that She is therefore some kind of 'foreign' or 'novel' figure in relation thereto. This is not true.We take a brief look at several divine expressions of the Vedas that are clearly resemblant to Kali - not simply … Continue reading On Kali In The Vedas
A Certain Blue-Cloaked Figure In Disguise …
I had seen this image of Hanuman with Lords Ram & Lakshman posted upon the occasion of the former's Jayanti and I did a double-take. Why? I'd been answering a question around Hanuman as an 'Avatar' or 'Form' of Shiva / Rudra on Hanuman Jayanti … and there we had Hanuman, appearing garbed in a … Continue reading A Certain Blue-Cloaked Figure In Disguise …
The Crow-Accompanied Goddess Of Violent Death
The Fierce Warrior-Destroyer Goddess Chandika is depicted in the Kadambari of Banabhatta (and Son) as being accompanied by a most remarkable coterie of worshippers. To quote from my own translation: “Being worshipped from all sides by the Retinue of Crows both razor sharp and unyielding Who sang Her Glories” The Sanskrit reads: “ārādhyamānāṃ sarvataḥ kaṭhoravāyasagaṇena … Continue reading The Crow-Accompanied Goddess Of Violent Death
arya-akasha 