‘For Want Of A Horse’ – On The Proper Perspective Upon Ritual Offerings And Why The ‘Asva’ Of ‘Asvamedha’ Is Held To Be Necessary As Same

Over the weekend, we had received a question from a reader as to the reasoning underpinning the Asvamedha - the Horse Sacrifice. Specifically, why would one offer a horse given the high value of such a creature in the late Bronze Age / early Iron Age milieu.  Now, several people proffered suggestions as to the answer here, … Continue reading ‘For Want Of A Horse’ – On The Proper Perspective Upon Ritual Offerings And Why The ‘Asva’ Of ‘Asvamedha’ Is Held To Be Necessary As Same

A Saturn Liturgy For Saturn’s Day And The Transition Of The Year Into (Re)New

Today is Saturday - Saturn's Day. And, not least because we are at the juncture which demarcates the liminal between the Years … we present something rather special. A bespoke liturgy for Him, composed by our associate Pereira Juventino [ Clécio Dauphin ] for an observance that we had undertaken earlier in the year. [The … Continue reading A Saturn Liturgy For Saturn’s Day And The Transition Of The Year Into (Re)New

Rudra By Day, Rudra By Night – Countering Claims Of The Terrific God Being Somehow ‘Marginal’ Based Upon Spurious Vedic Non-Comprehension

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

Prayer As Petitioning – A Lesson In Piety From ‘The GodsFather’

The conception many people have of 'Prayer' is that it constitutes of 'asking' - often for things that might be thought of as 'for personal gain', or for the assistance of others. Now, as we've recently discussed, there's quite a bit more to prayer than that, and effectively the broad meaning to the concept is … Continue reading Prayer As Petitioning – A Lesson In Piety From ‘The GodsFather’

The Fetters Of Fire And The Direction of the Dead – Agni-Rudra (And Ambika) Anchoring At The Cross-Paths[Of Goddesses, Gods, and Ghosts at the Crossroads – A Comparative Indo-European Exploration – Extract 4]

Let's take a look at some relevant scripture. Which, handily, we've already quoted above. But, to refresh our (collective) (unconscious or) memory: "7 Having removed all (the cakes from the potsherds) into one dish, and taken a fire-brand from the Dakshina-fire, he walks aside towards the North—for that is the region of that God—and offers. … Continue reading The Fetters Of Fire And The Direction of the Dead – Agni-Rudra (And Ambika) Anchoring At The Cross-Paths[Of Goddesses, Gods, and Ghosts at the Crossroads – A Comparative Indo-European Exploration – Extract 4]

The Breton Propitiation Of Danu For NavRatri – An Operation VaishvaDevi After-Action Report From Our Associates In The Celtic Sphere

It is Friday - Devi's Day. And so therefore, we bring an 'after-action report' from our associates at Un Tiers Chemin - Arts, Rites et Savoirs Traditionnels as to their propitiation of the Goddess on the Ninth Night of #NavRatri as part of our 'Operation VaishvaDevi' ('Show of Force' - Shakti) effort. As you can … Continue reading The Breton Propitiation Of Danu For NavRatri – An Operation VaishvaDevi After-Action Report From Our Associates In The Celtic Sphere

The Divine Invocation Of The War Goddess – Katyayani Prayed To For Victory By The Gods

Illustration: 'Rama’s Sharadiya Durga Puja' - Ratan Acharya Something that I feel deserves greater prominence when we speak of Indo-European theology - is the fact that Our Gods Have Gods. Or, more pointedly - Goddess. This isn't just a Hindu thing. It is also encountered - at least, inferentially - in the Hellenic sphere. There, … Continue reading The Divine Invocation Of The War Goddess – Katyayani Prayed To For Victory By The Gods

Devi Worship In Puerto Rico For NavRatri [Operation VaishvaDevi]

For this year's #NavRatri, we said we would be doing something a little different - a 'Show of Force' [Shakti] A tangible demonstration that Devi (and Her Devotees) can be found not only in the Hindu perspective (or, for that matter, what we often think of as the Hindusphere) … but right across the Indo-European … Continue reading Devi Worship In Puerto Rico For NavRatri [Operation VaishvaDevi]