At the close to our previous installment, our attention had turned briefly towards a particular prominent Hellenic iteration as to the 'myth-in-motion' for the Dual-Goddess(es) - namely, Her flight whilst in Form(s) Dark, Wrathful/Avenging, and Equine from Her Husband, the Sky Father as Stallion ; and with the "Daughter" deific often attested with relation to … Continue reading Diwija Dualis [Part Two: Disappear, Into Darkness]
Saranyu
Further Points Upon The ‘Refraction’ Of The Sky Father – With Particular Emphasis Upon Zeus, Hades, Poseidon
I should clarify that I'm not posting this with an intent of having a go at the gentleman who'd raised the counterclaim (hence, in part, why I've anonymized his comment in the cap below) - but rather, because various of the elements in my reply might be of a broader interest (the situation as to … Continue reading Further Points Upon The ‘Refraction’ Of The Sky Father – With Particular Emphasis Upon Zeus, Hades, Poseidon
On Disregarding The Puranic Era Mythos When Seeking To Make Sense Of The (Proto-)Indo-European
Predictably, this lead to a rant. "Just that it’s not useful to use the Puranic canon for Indo-European reconstruction because they’re centuries separated from the original mythos." This is also significantly incorrect. I suppose I should explain. Consider the situation surrounding the famed progeny of Surya & Saranyu/Chhaya. Indeed, that whole myth all up. It … Continue reading On Disregarding The Puranic Era Mythos When Seeking To Make Sense Of The (Proto-)Indo-European
The Egg Of Nemesis In Etruscan Presentation By Turms / Hermes / Mercury
An Etruscan depiction of the Egg of Nemesis being presented to the King of Sparta, hence the labelling of ' Turms ' ( Hermes / Mercury ), 'Tuntle' (Tyndareos / Tyndareus), and 'Latva' (Leda) This is from the lesser-known 'alternate' explication for the Birth of Helen ['Elinei' / 'Elinai' / 'Elina'] in which it is … Continue reading The Egg Of Nemesis In Etruscan Presentation By Turms / Hermes / Mercury
‘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
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
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
The Vitality of the Universe Entire – On MahaGauri, SiddhiDhatri, and Demeter
The Eighth Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to MahaGauri - The Great Beauty, The 'Great White One' ; The Ninth Night of NavRatri, to Siddhidhatri - the Bestower of Boons, The Giver of Empowerment. Both because I am rather late in my finishing of this piece - but also due to a certain underlying thematic unity ... … Continue reading The Vitality of the Universe Entire – On MahaGauri, SiddhiDhatri, and Demeter
Revanta – A Lord of the Wild Hunt
It is SUNDAY - The Day of the Sun ! And so therefore, we present a rather lesser-known 'Saura' ['Solar'] figure: Revanta, the Huntsman Son of Surya [Sun] - and, fittingly, accompanied by a further Hindu reflex of the Indo-European 'Wild Hunt' ! And we shall look at Them once again in due course - … Continue reading Revanta – A Lord of the Wild Hunt
The Maricis Of Lord Surya – A Solar Warrior Women Typology ?
A carved Surya from Magadha, likely about 21-22 centuries old. Now, I felt this deserved a brief commentary due to the two decidedly female figures either side of Lord Surya in the Solar Chariot. Per the Suprabedhagama and Amsumadbhedagama (manuals of Hindu iconographic depiction, inter alia) - we may find Surya flanked by Prathyusha & … Continue reading The Maricis Of Lord Surya – A Solar Warrior Women Typology ?