It is Friday - Devi's Day - And so therefore, as has become our custom, we present a brief commentary to go with a beautiful work of (A)Arti-fice ... In this case, a fine sandstone sculpture, about a thousand years old. Something which manages to convey a sense of Her 'Forcefulness', Her 'Essence' ... even … Continue reading Chamunda – Brief Conceptual Resonancies For The Storm Facing Of Wrathful Sky Divinity
Linguistic Resonance
On Ansuz As Spear-Rune
Recently, we had a brief interaction on twitter pertaining to the notion of 'Ansuz' as a 'Spear'. My interlocutor, a Scandinavian by the name of Sindri (@DrinksStupid), had asserted that the Tiwaz rune seemed much closer - and the Ansuz not at all. So, here's a slightly edited run-through of my remarks there upon the … Continue reading On Ansuz As Spear-Rune
Brahmacharini for Chaitra Navratri – Seeker of the Absolute
The Second Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as Brahmacharini - the Seeker of the Absolute. Now as we will recall - 'Brahman' is from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ-. This term in PIE refers to something that is 'high', 'exalted' - and also produces, unsurprisingly, terms for 'mountain' (like the Germanic 'Berg'). It would perhaps be improper … Continue reading Brahmacharini for Chaitra Navratri – Seeker of the Absolute
The Mytholinguistics Of The Smoking Breath
Within the Indo-European metaphysics we find not infrequent mention made for the 'Breath of Life'. On one level, this is just easy empirical deductionism. We see that a man lacking in the breath in his lungs is likely not long for this world. However, we also see that a man in a state of 'high … Continue reading The Mytholinguistics Of The Smoking Breath
On The Etymology of Marut – A Mytholinguistic Illumination As To The Indo-European ‘Storm Troops’ Of The Skies
[Author's Note: I am a great proponent of 'mytholinguistics' - the notion that we can make important and useful addeucements as to the effective mythic essence of an element by looking at its etymological roots and likely even further archaic depth of meaning. And, as part of this, the application of remarkably consistent patterns of … Continue reading On The Etymology of Marut – A Mytholinguistic Illumination As To The Indo-European ‘Storm Troops’ Of The Skies
On Roman Vejovis or Vediovis Via Light Of Vedic Rudra
It is Thursday - more properly, Dies Iovis, the Day of Jupiter (in Vedic terms - Brihaspati is the figure hailed for this occasion). And therefore … a brief look at the likely Indo-European positioning for a lesser-known Roman figure - the deific known as 'Vejovis' ('Veiovis', sometimes 'Veiove' or 'Vejove') or 'Vedius' / 'Vediovis'. … Continue reading On Roman Vejovis or Vediovis Via Light Of Vedic Rudra
On The Rudraksha – Tears of Rudra
Worn about my wrist upon many occasions are three things - two are bandhs from a Priest; one from my RudraAbhishek, some five and a half years ago, the other from an occasion where I had assisted that same Pandit in another matter. But the third … they are a Mala [akin to 'prayer-beads'] of … Continue reading On The Rudraksha – Tears of Rudra
The Way Of The Gun – The Surprising Re-Development Of A Proto-Indo-European Term Into Modern English … And its Comparative Cognates Considered In Both Ritual And Conventional Phraseology Across The Indo-European Sphere
Something I have long remarked upon is the manner in which certain terms, certain concepts … they are to be found in incredibly archaic spheres, and then they 'fade away' or they undergo some transmogrification which obscures their essence somewhat, only to thence re-emerge somewhere else entirely amidst one of the Indo-European descendant groups who … Continue reading The Way Of The Gun – The Surprising Re-Development Of A Proto-Indo-European Term Into Modern English … And its Comparative Cognates Considered In Both Ritual And Conventional Phraseology Across The Indo-European Sphere
The Place Of Worship – The Temple – The Home And Healing Whole Of The Community
Something I love about the Indo-European etymology - is that manner in which the roots of terms resonate with their descendants. And, in so doing, significantly broaden our understanding of just what they actually are - how we are to relate to them. A good example of this is the Ancient Greek ναός - 'Naos' … Continue reading The Place Of Worship – The Temple – The Home And Healing Whole Of The Community
Furor Teutonicus And Furor Poeticus – The Furious Goddess-Given Power Of Both Barbarian And Brahmin Alike
Something I have long advocated, is that the two forms of 'Furor' spoken about - "Furor Teutonicus" ('Germanic Fury' - Berserk Battle-Rage) and "Furor Poeticus" (The 'Fury of the Poet' - Artistic Inspiration of a certain all-consuming caliber) are, in essence, the same quality. Just differently expressed. On the surface, this can sound curious. After … Continue reading Furor Teutonicus And Furor Poeticus – The Furious Goddess-Given Power Of Both Barbarian And Brahmin Alike