A few months ago, an associate raised with me a curious concept. Namely, the idea that a) the archaic Indo-European divinity of the Fire was Female, with this being attested via b) the Scythian figure of Tabiti identified with Hestia by Herodotus, and therefore indicating that c) the Vedic figure of Agni was an 'innovation' … Continue reading Scythian Tabiti In Her Indo-European Theological Context – [Part One: As To The Claims, An EmPyreical Investigation]
ritual metaphysics
Why We Offer To The Gods [Part One: The Integral Performance]
It is occasionally intriguing how various elements 'turn up'. I had been looking for a particular quotation on an unrelated matter (from G.K. Chesterton, as it happens), and had somehow happened across the following passages from Lucian's "Zeus Tragoedus" (Ζεὺς Τραγῳδός) (often translated somewhat loosely as "Zeus Rants"). And, at just about the same time, … Continue reading Why We Offer To The Gods [Part One: The Integral Performance]
On Ritual Substitution And Traditional Offerings [Part Two: When In Rome…]
Practicing an Indo-European religion amidst the Modern Age is no easy thing. One seems endlessly caught between the twin considerations of 'Authenticity' contrasted with 'Accessibility'. The former correlates to the quite righteous desire to 'do things properly' (and so they actually work) - customarily by seeking to follow reasonably closely within the foot-tracks of one's … Continue reading On Ritual Substitution And Traditional Offerings [Part Two: When In Rome…]
On Ritual Substitution And Traditional Offerings [Part One: Understandings In Essence]
Wherever we encounter people looking to engage with Indo-European religions - seemingly, no matter whether it's 'revivalist', or the still-living since ancient times sort … there's fairly inevitably some kind of brew-up claiming that something somebody's doing is somehow 'inauthentic' - often accompanied by demands that everybody "RETURN TO TRADITION" … … with the "TRADITION" in question … Continue reading On Ritual Substitution And Traditional Offerings [Part One: Understandings In Essence]
Roudran Worship Of Ganesha Afore Winning The Three Worlds
We've written a fair amount in relation to Rudra's mighty deed as Tripurantaka - the Destroyer of the Three Forts (and, implicitly, [Re-]Conqueror of the Three Worlds given what said Three Fortifications are locking up in Demonic usage, per the Aitareya Brahmana's presentation as to the issue viz. the Upasads : the Rites of Siege). … Continue reading Roudran Worship Of Ganesha Afore Winning The Three Worlds
The Divine Rite Of The Covenant – The Underpinning Apex As To The Godly Cosmos In Vedic, Hellenic, & Eddic Mythic Expression [ Part 1 – ‘Presaging The Triple-Arrow Thunder’ : The Imperative Oaths To Rudra Tanūnapāt ]
Odin (And Vili, And Vé) slaying Ymir. Zeus (And The Gods, And Three Ouranian Cyclopes, And Three Hekatoncheries) warring against the Titans, Gigantes, and Kronos (And Typhon). The Glorious (Agni-)Rudra (Dyaus) driving forth in terror and annihilation the Demons (A'Suras) from their three great citadels , winning the Three Worlds via Siege and His most formidable … Continue reading The Divine Rite Of The Covenant – The Underpinning Apex As To The Godly Cosmos In Vedic, Hellenic, & Eddic Mythic Expression [ Part 1 – ‘Presaging The Triple-Arrow Thunder’ : The Imperative Oaths To Rudra Tanūnapāt ]
Shravana , Ganymede , Gayatri , Shyena – And Other Points Of Syzygy Within Vedic And Classical Myth And Star-Lore
With the Shaivite Holy Month of Shravan Maas in full (indeed, double!) swing, it seems apt to detail a potentially remarkable Indo-European concordancy between the Nakshatra (Asterism) of Śravaṇa (aka Śroṇa ) and the Hellenic perception of same. Depicted upon this star-chart (sourced from Manasataramgini) is the constellation of Aquila in Western / Hellenic terms. … Continue reading Shravana , Ganymede , Gayatri , Shyena – And Other Points Of Syzygy Within Vedic And Classical Myth And Star-Lore
For Pratyangira – Roaring Goddess of the Counter-Fire
A murti of the fearsome Goddess[-form], Pratyangira - a theonymic we would be tempted to translate as "Return Fire!" She is regarded as Goddess of the Atharva Veda via Atharvana Bhadrakali - and also linked to Kali through the Narasimhika ('Heroic Lioness' / 'Lion-(Wo)Man') encountered in the Sri Kalika Sahasranama stotram of MahaKalaBhairava : and … Continue reading For Pratyangira – Roaring Goddess of the Counter-Fire
‘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
The War-Stones Of The Altar
I Have Theology For That Now, when I say that, I get the sense that some of you think I'm joking. Or that I just have some abstract concept in my head. No, I literally have theology for that. In fact, not just theology, but astrology, too ! Shatapatha Brahmana II 1 2 : "13 … Continue reading The War-Stones Of The Altar
arya-akasha 