I spent .. an extended period this morning responding to a misunderstanding about a certain Scythian archaeogenetic study. A chap who's quite a fan of OIT ['Out Of India Theory'] had read it completely the wrong way. You know how it goes. Anyway, after putting a few hours into showing how the study said the … Continue reading Why OIT vs AMT In Some Ways Misses The Point At The Heart Of The Modern Indo-European World
Indo-European
Sons Of The Sky Father – A Typological Preliminary [ Arya Akasha Arka ]
In the Heavens as it is upon Earth, Family is at the heart of everything. And, given the centrality of the Divine Family to the Indo-European mythology - an Arka ['essence', 'distillation'] post of this nature seemed a decent way to demonstrate the coterminities of a number of the salient figures involved. Now I stress … Continue reading Sons Of The Sky Father – A Typological Preliminary [ Arya Akasha Arka ]
Against Spurious “Pre-Indo-European-Ization” Of Indo-European Elements
This happens remarkably frequently - both in terms of the linguistics, but also in terms of the mythology and theology. There's quite a number of spaces wherein some academic or other commentator with a personal theory (or, worse, an agenda) has latched on to something and gone "well this seems like it shouldn't be Indo-European … Continue reading Against Spurious “Pre-Indo-European-Ization” Of Indo-European Elements
Against The ‘Superhero’ Reductionism Of Indo-European Mythology
An associate asked this question - and I think it is an interesting one for us to address. My reply : "I mean … not necessarily - like, it depends upon what you mean by "superhero", of course - but there's pretty strong evidence that PIE deifics aren't … super-powered humans ; like, it's one … Continue reading Against The ‘Superhero’ Reductionism Of Indo-European Mythology
Do Hindus Have A Monopoly On Dharma – Or Is It A Broader Indo-European Notion ?
If you asked many Hindus to identify a cornerstone concept to our faith, I have no doubt that they would cite one word: "Dharma". Fantastically complex in its applications both theoretical and tangible/practical, there is no getting around its saliency - not just for the Hindusphere, but also for those other religions which have their … Continue reading Do Hindus Have A Monopoly On Dharma – Or Is It A Broader Indo-European Notion ?
The ShivLing – A Guide To The Cosmos [ Glorious Modern Hindu Art (of) Post For MahaShivRatri ]
Another favourite Shaivite work of (A)Art-i for #MahaShivRatri - this depicts a ShivLing , which we might succinctly describe as a Shaivite Altar, although which has as its essence both the Axis Mundi of the universe entire and the Sthambha - the Sacrificial Post - of the Vedic religion. It is closely correlate with the … Continue reading The ShivLing – A Guide To The Cosmos [ Glorious Modern Hindu Art (of) Post For MahaShivRatri ]
The Heavy Illumination Of Etymology And Folk Etymology Comparatively Considered
Something I have just been thinking about is the etymology of 'Guru'. From PIE 'Gwrehus' ['Heavy'], same place as Latin 'Gravis', English 'Gravitas' [or 'Grave' in the sense of serious] Effectively, therefore, "One Whose Words Have Weight" Although it should also be noted that 'Guru' has a general sense in Sanskrit to refer not only … Continue reading The Heavy Illumination Of Etymology And Folk Etymology Comparatively Considered
Fundaments Of Indo-European Ritual
The following is a basic run-through of the fundaments of an Indo-European act of piety. Ostensibly, it is explication of how Vedic ritual processes work - but as Witzel (excellently) points out, it is also very much how our current-day Hindu ritual understandings work as well. I say that it presents an "Indo-European act of … Continue reading Fundaments Of Indo-European Ritual
Of Moon And Moon-Day – A Brief Look At The Interpretatio Romana Of Monday In Indo-European Traditions
It is Monday [Moon-Day], known in Greek as Hemera Selenes, Latin as Dies Lunae, and in various Indian languages it is likewise Chandra's Day, or Soma's Day, or Indu's Day [and more on that in a moment]. But it is also Lord Shiva's Day - well, one of them. And that helps us to see … Continue reading Of Moon And Moon-Day – A Brief Look At The Interpretatio Romana Of Monday In Indo-European Traditions
On Indo-European Divine Inspiration – And The Zoroastrian Persecutory Suppression Of Same
Frequently when the subject of the Zoroastrian inversion of Indo-European religious belief is brought up, people presume that it is 'just' some form of linguistic confusion - a 'reversal of polarity' afflicting only an incredibly limited array of things. 'Deva' ['Deus', '-Tyr', etc. - 'God', 'Shining One'] becoming 'Daeva' ['Demon'], for example; and if they … Continue reading On Indo-European Divine Inspiration – And The Zoroastrian Persecutory Suppression Of Same