The Third Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as Chandraghanta - which we might directly translate as 'Moon Bell', although this does not *quite* capture the true sense of the latter term's meaning. Now a Ghanta, for us, is a bell. Particularly of the sort rung during religious purposes. The sense is not merely … Continue reading Chandraghanta for Chaitra Navratri – Radiancy of the Foe-Destroying Splendorous Moon
Shakta
Brahmacharini for Chaitra Navratri – Seeker of the Absolute
The Second Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as Brahmacharini - the Seeker of the Absolute. Now as we will recall - 'Brahman' is from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ-. This term in PIE refers to something that is 'high', 'exalted' - and also produces, unsurprisingly, terms for 'mountain' (like the Germanic 'Berg'). It would perhaps be improper … Continue reading Brahmacharini for Chaitra Navratri – Seeker of the Absolute
The Goddess-Given Empowerment Of The Indo-European Hero – As Beautifully Illustrated Via Athena In The Iliad And Vak Devi
It is FRIDAY - Devi's Day ! And therefore, art by HC for a broad Indo-European mythic typology which I have long had trouble finding illustrated anywhere else. Now, in essence, what we have observed is a standard situation wherein the Goddess bestows empowerment to Her Chosen. This is found at several prominent points in … Continue reading The Goddess-Given Empowerment Of The Indo-European Hero – As Beautifully Illustrated Via Athena In The Iliad And Vak Devi
A Brief Rant About A Curious Academic Omission
RARGH! I'm writing two [abstracts for] academic conference papers atm that are about, effectively, the continuity of some pretty important stuff from the Vedic era to the current day. Namely, i) Goddess elements (and Shakta theology specifically); and ii) one of Rudra's retinues that's pointedly all-female, very well armed, and metaphysically powerful. And, like, I … Continue reading A Brief Rant About A Curious Academic Omission
Kali As Fire Of Time – Glorious Modern Hindu Art For Devi’s Day
JAI MATA DI !Further art from Ravi Zupa We also note, with regard to the lower portion of the text, the Vedic mention of 'KaalAgniRudra' - quite directly, the (Black) Fire of Time, and with the specific Rudra involvement (rendered in the relevant text as 'KaalAgniRudraya', because it is in the Sri Rudram of the … Continue reading Kali As Fire Of Time – Glorious Modern Hindu Art For Devi’s Day
For A Sword
Much of today has been Svati - The Sword (although several other meanings/etymologies are noted - and as for which one is correct .. the answer is 'Yes'). And so, therefore we have beautiful art of Kali wielding a fine Ramdao - the famously distinctive curved and eyed blade utilized in the practice of Bali, … Continue reading For A Sword
On Hera In The Orphic Canon – The Sovereign Queen & Sky Father’s Equal
It is occasionally alleged that our belief in a Goddess Who is, we may say, not only the "Radiant Queen of the Heavens" - but also an Imperial Sovereign over existence, and an 'Equal' (rather than a 'Chattel') to Her Husband, the Sky Father … is some form of curiously specific Hindu enthusiasm that we … Continue reading On Hera In The Orphic Canon – The Sovereign Queen & Sky Father’s Equal
Hestia & Vak – The Voice In The Flame Of The Goddess At The Center Of Indo-European Faith !
Over and over again, we are told that prominent Goddess figures are somehow 'foreign' to the Indo-European world - that these 'have' to have been picked up from various non-IE groups, and in any case 'must' be merely peripheral to the actual Indo-European religions, much less the archaic Proto-Indo-European belief from which it all descends. … Continue reading Hestia & Vak – The Voice In The Flame Of The Goddess At The Center Of Indo-European Faith !
Varahi, Freyja, Saraswati – The Boar of Battle and the Goddess
Art from the work-in-progress stage of a large SaptaMatrika piece by sivaneskumar0303 It is a well-known fact that within the realms of the Indo-European conceptual syllabary, the Boar has a prominent place as a martial signifier. It stands for a place of honour - of formidable potency upon the field of war. We find particular … Continue reading Varahi, Freyja, Saraswati – The Boar of Battle and the Goddess
Toward The ‘Western Shakta’ Approach – A Preliminary Outlining For Goddess Engagement And Esoteric Empowerment In The European Indo-European Spheres
Something I have been thinking about over the past few hours is what we might term 'Western Shakta' conceptry. Now, to explicate what I mean by this … if we consider several of the major strands of Western Indo-European religious belief, we find that these are co-expressive of significant strands found amidst the Hindusphere. This … Continue reading Toward The ‘Western Shakta’ Approach – A Preliminary Outlining For Goddess Engagement And Esoteric Empowerment In The European Indo-European Spheres