Part IV: Romulus And Remus Reconstructed – The Sepulchral Legacy Of The Shadow-King [Section 1]

However, lest I be accused of singling the Zoroastrians out unfairly for their religious deviancy - it is important to note that such practices of 'editing' and 'updating' a foundational myth so that it might better accommodate who its people had become in the days since, was actually a recurrent feature of the Indo-European world. … Continue reading Part IV: Romulus And Remus Reconstructed – The Sepulchral Legacy Of The Shadow-King [Section 1]

The Indo-European Man – Sons of the Sun [Part III]: Zoroastrian Yima – The Death of Manu

Now, heading immediately to the west of Aryavarta, and quite likely some time later - we encounter the first 'degenerated' (or, perhaps more kindly, 'differently-emphatic') iteration of the above mythic typology. Amongst the Zoroastrians, they too have a 'Vivanhat', and a 'Yima'. Although the arrangement of facts is, in a number of particulars quite different. … Continue reading The Indo-European Man – Sons of the Sun [Part III]: Zoroastrian Yima – The Death of Manu

Soma Kvasir – The Eddic-Vedic Myth Of The Meath of Poetry

Every so often, we happen across some element that is clearly the same thing across two (or more) Indo-European cultures; and which, regardless of the otherwise impressive span of distance between them (whether distance of time, or mere geography), even a lay-person can immediately grasp that we are talking about the same concept.  Unfortunately, this … Continue reading Soma Kvasir – The Eddic-Vedic Myth Of The Meath of Poetry

DE-MIST-IFYING PARJANYA – DISTANCING PERKWUNOS

Ours is a complex field. And as with any sphere wherein depth, detail, and nuance swirls like mist - there are certain comfortable, complacent conceptions of things which stubbornly stick around long after they ought otherwise to have been dispensed with. The reasons for this are various - and include that certain of these 'seem' … Continue reading DE-MIST-IFYING PARJANYA – DISTANCING PERKWUNOS

Of Mrityunjaya and Modern Hinduism – The Deathless And Unceasing Glory Of The Three-Eyed One

ॐ त्र्य॑म्बकं यजामहे सु॒गन्धिं॑ पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् ।उ॒र्वा॒रु॒कमि॑व॒ बन्ध॑नान् मृ॒त्योर्मुक्षीय॒ मा ऽमृता॑त् । Something which keeps coming up in various circles proximate to the ones we move in, is this idea that contemporary Hinduism, (post-)Puranic Hinduism, is somehow largely if not entirely distinct from Vedic Hinduism. There are various reasons why people occasionally suggest to assert this … Continue reading Of Mrityunjaya and Modern Hinduism – The Deathless And Unceasing Glory Of The Three-Eyed One

MahaShivRatri And The Mytholinguistics Of War [Part 3] – The Mind, The Mania, The Manyu

[Author's Note: It is said that some efforts take on a 'mind of their own'. While this was initially intended as the third part to our MythoLinguistics of War series, with a focus more narrowly upon the strong saliency of Indo-European concepts of "Mind" and 'Spirit' with those of Warfare - as the writing progressed, … Continue reading MahaShivRatri And The Mytholinguistics Of War [Part 3] – The Mind, The Mania, The Manyu

On Indo-European Gods Playing Dice With The Universe

Einstein: “God does not play dice with the universe” Now, it's worth contextualizing that Einstein's aphorism was a one-sentence metaphorical rejection of the notion of randomness and quantum uncertainty. Hence, after some decades of further development in the relevant area ... Hawking: "Thus it seems Einstein was doubly wrong when he said, God does not … Continue reading On Indo-European Gods Playing Dice With The Universe

Beating Disease Over The Head With The Serpent-Staff Of The Storm Wind – Rudra, Odin, Shiva, Hermes, Mercury, Maruts As Healers

It is WEDNESDAY - Wodan's Day, Mercredi - Dies Mercurii - The Day of बुध, The Wise One! And for this, we shall do something a little different. Earlier today, I was at hospital for some tests, and the (Indian) tech happened to notice my Aum pendant so we had struck up a conversation about … Continue reading Beating Disease Over The Head With The Serpent-Staff Of The Storm Wind – Rudra, Odin, Shiva, Hermes, Mercury, Maruts As Healers

Saraswati Puja – The Power Of The Smiter Of Foes

Yesterday (by now) marked Saraswati Puja ; and as has become my custom, I present some brief thoughts and enlightenment via way of tribute. Seems the appropriate thing to do, given the nature of the Devi in question, and customary associations of Same. And speaking of just those customary associations - it seems to me … Continue reading Saraswati Puja – The Power Of The Smiter Of Foes

Glorious Modern Art For An Ancient Hindu Hymnal

Friday Evening Devi-otional (A)Art(I) Posting This is some truly excellent art which helps to illustrate evocatively a rather core series of principles to Shakta theology and cosmogony; which are also extolled in the course of my favourite of the RigVedic Hymnals - the renowned DeviSukta [RV X 125]. Note that it is the Hand of … Continue reading Glorious Modern Art For An Ancient Hindu Hymnal