We had recently had this passage from a work of the Italian writer, Roberto Calasso, thrust against us by somebody attempting to make a theological argument of sorts. This is infuriating. And not least because in the preceding paragraphs, Calasso does indeed write rather well - stylistically, at any rate. His command of content is … Continue reading No, Sacrifice Hasn’t Ended – A Response To A Case Of Insistently Myth-Taken Myth-Interpretation
Sati
Shailaputri for Chaitra Navratri – Daughter of the Mountain
The First Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as Shailaputri - the Daughter of the Mountain. In English, 'Daughter of the Mountain' would be quite a frequent hailing for Devi - 'Girija' [i.e. Giri - Mountain, plus Ja - 'born from'], and even 'Parvati' may be translated in such a manner ['Parvata' - Mountain; … Continue reading Shailaputri for Chaitra Navratri – Daughter of the Mountain
Tuesday – The Day of Mangala (Mars)
Today is TUESDAY - the Day of Mars (Dies Martis in Latin). Therefore, art by the excellent Andrey Yarashevich of Mangala (a term which, intriguingly, may either mean 'Auspicious' - or Mars, a Graha ['Planet'/'Influencer'] often regarded as rather Inauspicious indeed). He is a General of the militant forces of the Gods, and amidst Their … Continue reading Tuesday – The Day of Mangala (Mars)
Of Artemis And Actaeon, The Wolf As Defender Of The Goddess – A Forensic Theology Examination Of A Classical Myth In The Vedas And In The Stars
Many are aware of the broad outlines of the Classical instance of Artemis having Actaeon put to death. Roughly speaking - Actaeon commits an outrage against the Goddess's modesty, and so is turned into a deer and torn to pieces by his own hunting dogs. What few realize is that this particular story is also … Continue reading Of Artemis And Actaeon, The Wolf As Defender Of The Goddess – A Forensic Theology Examination Of A Classical Myth In The Vedas And In The Stars
On The Rudraksha – Tears of Rudra
Worn about my wrist upon many occasions are three things - two are bandhs from a Priest; one from my RudraAbhishek, some five and a half years ago, the other from an occasion where I had assisted that same Pandit in another matter. But the third … they are a Mala [akin to 'prayer-beads'] of … Continue reading On The Rudraksha – Tears of Rudra
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
Hades as Gaurivara, Persephone as Gauri
SHIVA-AS-YAMA, SHIVA-AS-KAAL, bearing a most Gauri bride indeed. Monday Devotional (A)Art(I) Posting! Now, technically speaking, this is actually a depiction of Hades & Persephone by Ulpiano Checa, circa 1888 [the painting, I mean, not when They were depicted]. However, not only do we have reasonable strength of analysis to make a strong linkage between Hades … Continue reading Hades as Gaurivara, Persephone as Gauri
Dhumavati – The Smoke That Clouds, Reveals, Remains
Today, I think, is a Day for Dhumavati. A Mahavidya ['Great Wisdom/Revelation' - you can see the coterminous linguistic particle there with "Vidya", connected to the idea of "seeing", of truths being "revealed"] Aspect of Devi, this form of the Goddess is often regarded as being of somewhat baelful portency. And, with a poignant array … Continue reading Dhumavati – The Smoke That Clouds, Reveals, Remains
MahaGauri – The Eighth Night of NavRatri – Eighth of the NavaDurgas
The Eight Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as MahaGauri - The Great White One. Now, as readers of yesterday's piece - on KaalRatri - will be patently aware, this stands in seemingly stark contrast to the previous Night's Aspect of MataJI, Who is the great(est) Black one. And yet, as it happens, a … Continue reading MahaGauri – The Eighth Night of NavRatri – Eighth of the NavaDurgas
KaalRatri – The Seventh Night of NavRatri; The Seventh of the NavaDurgas
"You often hear it said - "Time is on our side". Well ... This is Time. She is On My Side." The Sixth Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as KaalRatri - the Blackest Night, the Night of Death, The Iron Night, The 'Stillness' of Time - and the 'Destroyer of Darkness', the Annihilator: … Continue reading KaalRatri – The Seventh Night of NavRatri; The Seventh of the NavaDurgas
arya-akasha 