A ROARING COMES ACROSS THE SKY - FOR IT IS (SRI/MAHA) KALI JAYANTI ; THE KAALASHTAMI NIGHT OF SHRAVAN MONTH JAI MAHAKALI ; KALISMRITI - REMEMBER DEATH So what is this observance of Kali Jayanti? Well, the Sanskrit term "Jayanti" has multiple simultaneous meanings. In one sense, it is an auspicious and religiously important birth-date. … Continue reading Kali Jayanti
Shakti
Devi NationalisMa Above All
"जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी" "Mother & Motherland Are Superior Even To Heaven" A noble sentiment attributed to the Rsi Bharadwaj ; and which is rendered further marvelous - to my mind, anyway - when we consider some of the implications of the Sanskrit word-choices used in its construction. For example, Janani has at its Sanskrit … Continue reading Devi NationalisMa Above All
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
On Stepping Into The Same River Twice – An Indo-European Theory Of Time (Travel)
It has been said, with some justification, that one 'cannot step in the same river twice'. That the inexorable flow of time ineffably means that the past reality of a thing is irrecoverable, in the present nor future. And yet, despite the provenance of this proverb, it is not ... or not entirely accurately, at … Continue reading On Stepping Into The Same River Twice – An Indo-European Theory Of Time (Travel)
‘Time And I Against Any Other Two’ – an Indo-European analysis of a maxim.
There is an aphorism of the great Baltasar Gracian which I have been turning over in my mind a fair bit this week. Not least because, upon closer inspection there's some *strongly* Indo-European [and, although Gracian could not possibly have known it, Shaivite - Shakta] subtext immanent within it. I shall not repeat it in full … Continue reading ‘Time And I Against Any Other Two’ – an Indo-European analysis of a maxim.
Sky-Earth-Thunder – A Brief Comparative Model of the Divine Family
"Instead of posting a multi-thousand word article, I thought I'd try experiment with a shorter-form word-count chart. This time, a) seeking to briefly express how many Indo-European mythologies record a Sky Father - Earth Mother, Striker/Thunderer familial unit; b) show that Greek/Roman mythology did some ... odd things, that lead to at least two 'layers' … Continue reading Sky-Earth-Thunder – A Brief Comparative Model of the Divine Family
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
Piety – A Relationship With The Gods
There are many approaches to piety, and perspectives upon the proper 'relationship' with God or Gods. It has been said that the 'Abrahamic' faiths tend more towards the notion of 'submission' and wonderment towards an ultimately unknowable transcendental ... indeed, outright "ineffable" supreme. And, to be sure, you do also get not entirely dissimilar perspectives … Continue reading Piety – A Relationship With The Gods
Ardhanarishvara ; Valentine’s Day
The Ardhanarishvara dual-aspect of Mahadev & Mata JI. Now, 'Ardhanarishvara', directly translated, means 'Half [Ardha] Woman [Nari] Sovereign [Ishvara]'. And while I can see why misunderstandings have lead to this particular shared form of the Divine Couple being co-opted, appropriated, and flagrantly misrepresented in the modern day by an array of people and clickbait-publishers looking … Continue reading Ardhanarishvara ; Valentine’s Day
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
arya-akasha 