Recently, we had seen a comment that read the following: "Even though the vast population of Greeks were brunettes, their gods were always blond." Now, this fine mosaic depicting Poseidon and Amphitrite is, in fact, a Roman one from the 300s AD - but one shall, perhaps, immediately observe Poseidon's rather impressive blue hair. Indeed, … Continue reading On The Hair Colouration Of Greek Gods
iconographic
For A Sword
Much of today has been Svati - The Sword (although several other meanings/etymologies are noted - and as for which one is correct .. the answer is 'Yes'). And so, therefore we have beautiful art of Kali wielding a fine Ramdao - the famously distinctive curved and eyed blade utilized in the practice of Bali, … Continue reading For A Sword
The Birds Of The Sky Father
If you asked somebody what Birds they'd associate with Odin, the answer would be very simple. Ravens. Corvids. Crows. And yet while that's absolutely correct - it's also rather incomplete. For you see, there's an entire suite of avians either directly or potentially associated with Odin - and which happen to work out rather strongly commensurate … Continue reading The Birds Of The Sky Father
The Black First Lord Of Kashi – Kaala Bhairava ! [Glorious Modern Hindu Art]
Intended to post this for Monday - Lord Shiva's Day ! Fine modern art of Bhairava - 'Terror' - The God-Emperor's [Ishvara's] Executioner(-form). Again by Andrey Yarashevich. The severed head He bears in one hand is likely that of Lord Brahma Himself; and we also find the frequently encountered iconographic elements of the Trishula ['Trident' … Continue reading The Black First Lord Of Kashi – Kaala Bhairava ! [Glorious Modern Hindu Art]
Varahi, Freyja, Saraswati – The Boar of Battle and the Goddess
Art from the work-in-progress stage of a large SaptaMatrika piece by sivaneskumar0303 It is a well-known fact that within the realms of the Indo-European conceptual syllabary, the Boar has a prominent place as a martial signifier. It stands for a place of honour - of formidable potency upon the field of war. We find particular … Continue reading Varahi, Freyja, Saraswati – The Boar of Battle and the Goddess
Of Rudra Bhava & Χαος Amidst The Indo-Greeks
It is MONDAY - Lord Shiva's Day ! And therefore … something perhaps unexpected. A 'Greek' Rudra ! As pointed out to me by that eminent explorer of such finds, the sage Manasataramgini. Now, in the course of our work we have frequently discussed how the north-western zone of the ancient Hindusphere formed quite the … Continue reading Of Rudra Bhava & Χαος Amidst The Indo-Greeks
Revanta – A Lord of the Wild Hunt
It is SUNDAY - The Day of the Sun ! And so therefore, we present a rather lesser-known 'Saura' ['Solar'] figure: Revanta, the Huntsman Son of Surya [Sun] - and, fittingly, accompanied by a further Hindu reflex of the Indo-European 'Wild Hunt' ! And we shall look at Them once again in due course - … Continue reading Revanta – A Lord of the Wild Hunt
We Bow Before The Lion Throne
It is said of Devi Durga that She rules from the Lion Throne Hence our statements: "We Bow Before The Lion Throne", "We Serve The Lion Throne". And, of course, from the Lalita Sahasranama [The Thousand-Names (Sahasra-Nama) of The Goddess]: श्री महाराज्ञी , श्रीमत् सिंहासनेश्वरी , भुवनेश्वरी, देवी दुर्गा Sri MahaRajni , Srimat SinhAsanEshvari , … Continue reading We Bow Before The Lion Throne
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 ?
Sri Bhuvanesvari Yantra
[Author's Note: It has since been pointed out to me by an associate whom I trust that this is, in fact, more likely a Surya yantra. I had presumed that the Solar theonymics were due to the association of the Goddess Form with the Sun. The post is left up, otherwise as it is, for … Continue reading Sri Bhuvanesvari Yantra