Every so often, we run into some comment - whether on social media or in amidst academia - that is … useful, as a teachable moment for what not to do. And applicable in its general principle to a span far broader (and more persistent) than the individual exemplar that we'd run into. Often because … Continue reading Rudra By Day, Rudra By Night – Countering Claims Of The Terrific God Being Somehow ‘Marginal’ Based Upon Spurious Vedic Non-Comprehension
Mantras
Devi Athena Arms The Warrior Of The Divine
It's Friday - Devi's Day And so, therefore, a fine sculpted depiction from the series of Classically inspired works by Karl Heinrich Möller that adorn the Schlossbrücke in Berlin. In this case, 'Athena Arms The Warrior' ('Athena bewaffnet den Krieger') - which we would consider to be an expression of a typology prominent not only … Continue reading Devi Athena Arms The Warrior Of The Divine
On Mantra – And Why You Can’t Simply Read One Out Of A Book
Wrote this a few months back, in reaction to some annoyance out there in the wilds of twitter about not being able to just … pick up and start practicing any Mantra one likes, just because one wishes to. "we had recently had an associate write in with a similar question of the "why can't … Continue reading On Mantra – And Why You Can’t Simply Read One Out Of A Book
The Sovereign-Sires Of The Sky – Lord Shiva And Devi As The Ultimate Rulers Of The Grahas
We had earlier had our attention drawn to this verse (and its backdrop) by several associates. It is a work of one of the great Tamil Shaivite saints, Sambandar (also anglicized, as here, as Campantar) - and, as one can immediately see, it is a verse for the simultaneous praising of Lord Shiva, as well … Continue reading The Sovereign-Sires Of The Sky – Lord Shiva And Devi As The Ultimate Rulers Of The Grahas
Accessible Shaivite Piety For Shravan Maas
Shravan Maas - the Shaivite Holy Month - is in full swing. We had had some questions as to how one can worship the Lord during this month. So here are a few easy ways. This is particularly for people who may not have the luxury of a fully-equipped Temple or detailed prior knowledge. And … Continue reading Accessible Shaivite Piety For Shravan Maas
The Dhyana of the Dancing Shiva
आंगिकम भुवनम यस्यवाचिकं सर्व वाङ्ग्मयमआहार्यं चन्द्र ताराधितं नुमः (वन्दे) सात्विकं शिवम् Angikam Bhuvanam YasyaVachikam Sarva VangmayamAaharyam Chandra TaradiTam Numah (Vande) Satvikam Shivam Whose Body is the Universe[Whose] Divine Vocalization is the Language of All[Whose] Adornments are the Moon and the StarsTo You we Bow in Reverence, the Truth, Lord Shiva ! ॐ नमः शिवाय ! … Continue reading The Dhyana of the Dancing Shiva
Daily prayers to Indo-Aryan deities – explicated on the example of prayers to Lord Shiva
[Editor's Note: this document represents a 'team effort' by Arya Akasha - with much of the work being done by O. Rapace, who has written all of this up. Everything in here has been compiled and cross-checked with Brahminical oversight to ensure that this represents not only an 'accessible' approach to home piety - but … Continue reading Daily prayers to Indo-Aryan deities – explicated on the example of prayers to Lord Shiva
Two Operations For Ritual Purification – The Invocation Of The Seven Rivers & The All-Conditions Purification Mantra
As we have often observed, purity is a foundation for good piety. By which we (also) mean - the acts of purification are a necessary predicate for engaging in proper formalized ritual worship.After all, one would hardly seek to petition and to honour the rulers of the cosmos in a manner that might seem 'lacking in … Continue reading Two Operations For Ritual Purification – The Invocation Of The Seven Rivers & The All-Conditions Purification Mantra
Indo-European Worship Of The God As Guest – A Ritual Primer Overview
'Dost thou know how to ask, dost thou know how to offer,dost thou know how to send, dost thou know how to spend?"- Havamal, verse 143 Something we have often been asked for is a simple 'how-to' for regular devotional offerings / observances. There are certainly a few of these out there for various Indo-European … Continue reading Indo-European Worship Of The God As Guest – A Ritual Primer Overview
On “Thor Mantras” Proposed By DharmaNation
It has come to my attention that the chap who does "DharmaNation", is once again pushing his "Thor Mantras" effort. Now with all the appropriate respect that is due to the gentleman in question … there are some issues with what he has presented. I won't get into his attempted co-identification of Odin with Indra (if … Continue reading On “Thor Mantras” Proposed By DharmaNation