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]
Shakta
The Divine Empress And The Fire God – Beautiful Newari Art And The Durga Suktam
Very, very cool ! On the left, is Maheshvari (Devi) - on the right, Agni. Now, it might at first seem a little curious - we are used to thinking of Agni as a 'two-faced' figure in the iconography. Yet in a way … These depictions are, quite literally, two sides of the same artwork. … Continue reading The Divine Empress And The Fire God – Beautiful Newari Art And The Durga Suktam
Operation VaishvaDevi – A Show of Force
Navratri, the famed Nine Nights of the Goddess, is soon to begin. We propose to have a broad Indo-European 'Show of Force' (Shakti) for the occasion. What do we mean by this? Navratri is, of course, a Hindu observance. Yet the Goddess is broader than 'just' the Hindusphere. She has also been worshipped amidst all … Continue reading Operation VaishvaDevi – A Show of Force
Artemis Agrotera And Devi – Queen Of The Wilds, Ruler Of Animals, And Huntress Supreme
I find this very adorable. Devi as - as we would say in the Western IE sphere (well, in Ancient Greek, at any rate) - a 'Potnia Theron'. Now this term is generally applied to Artemis. And we have explored in great depth elsewhere how Artemis concords with our Devi. It therefore seems adamantly excellent … Continue reading Artemis Agrotera And Devi – Queen Of The Wilds, Ruler Of Animals, And Huntress Supreme
On The Army of Kali
Finger-Snapping Intensifies Kali - and Dakinis , striding forth from the Smashana (Cremation Ground). We would, perhaps, suggest that this is a 'Smashana *krewh₂-' As in a 'Crew' … but using that particular Proto-Indo-European term which stands for 'Cold Blood' (in contrast to *h₁ésh₂r̥ - 'hot-blood', 'alive-blood'). This informs Sanskrit 'Kravya' (क्रव्य - 'raw flesh', … Continue reading On The Army of Kali
A Havan For Hinglaj Mata – Jai Mata Di !
It is Friday - Devi's Day ! And so Therefore - this incredible shot of a Havan underway at the Hinglaj Mata Shakti Peetha … rendered, in its way, all the more incredible when we consider that this is, in fact, taking place in the midst of Pakistan. And, further, that the site itself is … Continue reading A Havan For Hinglaj Mata – Jai Mata Di !
The Crows Of Kali
For Kali Jayanti - a Crow. Now, of course, I am indulging myself here by presenting a Crow as Devotee to Her … yet there is actually a comparatively little-known suite of resonant conceptry for the Corvid in relation to Kali. She is, after all, Kakamukhi - The Crow-Faced One. This is as we should … Continue reading The Crows Of Kali
Three Nights’ Forbearance For The Ides of Hekate
Right, so due to an oversight on my part … we have missed the Hecatean Ides observance of mid-August. We shall endeavour to make up for this with some ground-breaking theology in the directions of Hekate (and Artemis / Diana … and a most pertinent further Indo-European Devinity) very shortly, in a subsequent (A)Arti-cle for … Continue reading Three Nights’ Forbearance For The Ides of Hekate
On The True Meaning Of Kali Standing Above Shiva – The ‘Dark’ Devi Uber Alles
This style of Kali depiction is probably one of the most familiar forms of Hindu deific representation to many of us here in the West. It's remarkably prevalent - and along with it comes a curiously insistent similarly 'pop-culture' perspective as to what's represented there within. To paraphrase the sort of thing I'm referring to … Continue reading On The True Meaning Of Kali Standing Above Shiva – The ‘Dark’ Devi Uber Alles
Kali is Hindu, and Glorious – Opposition To Her In Depiction And Practice, Not So Much
Earlier this week I was reading through some academic articles of a few decades ago speaking about particular forms of Devi - and Tantrik ritual elements. Now, here's the thing … these articles, one in particular, were rather … heavily negative. Saying the most choler-raising things about how these spheres were barbaric and savage, and … Continue reading Kali is Hindu, and Glorious – Opposition To Her In Depiction And Practice, Not So Much
arya-akasha 