In our previous installments, we had sought to extoll two key elements. For the first - some brief textual attestations of Roman and Vedic provenance for the concept of the Gods being actively supported ("subsist[ing]", as one translated section had it) through our offerings to Them through the proper rites. Which is, of course, a … Continue reading Why We Offer To The Gods [Part Three: I Bring The Fire]
Indo-European Places Of Worship
On Recent Happenings In Ayodhya – An Indo-European Perspective
Earlier, a Brahminical associate had asked if I'd be writing anything for today's occasion - that being the Investiture of the Murti (Prāṇa Pratiṣṭhā - 'Breath-Installment') at the newly constructed Ram Mandir in the city of His Birth, Ayodhyah. To be honest, I hadn't entirely intended upon it - there are so many glowing tributes … Continue reading On Recent Happenings In Ayodhya – An Indo-European Perspective
A Havan For Hinglaj Mata – Jai Mata Di !
It is Friday - Devi's Day ! And so Therefore - this incredible shot of a Havan underway at the Hinglaj Mata Shakti Peetha … rendered, in its way, all the more incredible when we consider that this is, in fact, taking place in the midst of Pakistan. And, further, that the site itself is … Continue reading A Havan For Hinglaj Mata – Jai Mata Di !
The Returning Skanda Subramaniam Murti Of Tiruchendur [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part VII]
It is TUESDAY - The Day of Ares, the Day of Mars. And therefore … a most interesting tale in relation to Lord Skanda (Subramanya). Throughout much of the 1600s, the Dutch and Portuguese fought a protracted war over possession of various far-flung colonial possessions across the known world. One of these theaters of operations … Continue reading The Returning Skanda Subramaniam Murti Of Tiruchendur [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part VII]
Ganesha Atop The Volcano Of Brahma in Indonesia [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part VI]
For the Sixth Night of Ganesh Chaturthi - the theme of our devotional efforts on each of these nights has been that Ganesha Gets In Everywhere. So here's Ganesh, atop an active volcano in Indonesia where it has been and been in constant use for the past 700 years. The volcano in question is entitled … Continue reading Ganesha Atop The Volcano Of Brahma in Indonesia [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part VI]
Goddess Worship At Devi Kothi – An Expansion From William Simpson’s Painting And Journalistic Portrayal
Something I often find remarkable when looking at images and textual accounts of religious elements across the Indo-European sphere is just how … familiar they are when we actually gaze into them closely. This does not mean that they are all identically the same, of course - far from it! But it does tend to … Continue reading Goddess Worship At Devi Kothi – An Expansion From William Simpson’s Painting And Journalistic Portrayal
The Divine Art Of Devi Kothi Temple
These absolutely beautiful frescos are from a Devi temple more than a quarter of a millennium old in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. The name of the site is, aptly enough, Devi Kothi - and the presiding form of the Goddess is Chamunda. Depicted, is the great battle of the Goddess against a demon army. An artistic … Continue reading The Divine Art Of Devi Kothi Temple
The Golden Radiancy Of Somnath Jyotirlinga [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part V]
Apt for a Monday - the ShivLing at Somnath , one of the Twelve (although by some counts thirteen) Jyotirlingam ['Starlight Lingam'] sites; 'Somnath' meaning 'Lord of the Soma' - a prominent Shaivite epithet, theonym, and role. Which it would be interesting to connect to Odin's role in the bringing of the Mead of Poetry. … Continue reading The Golden Radiancy Of Somnath Jyotirlinga [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part V]
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 The Inspiration Of The Balochistan Hindus To The Modern Indo-European Devotee
We occasionally may feel that it is a bit difficult being of an Indo-European religion amidst the 21st century. In most of the world, we are minorities - and with the major exception of Hinduism, the faith(s) of our forefathers are near-extinct even despite some salient efforts at resurrective, revitalizing revanchism. Yet spare a thought … Continue reading On The Inspiration Of The Balochistan Hindus To The Modern Indo-European Devotee
arya-akasha 