Ours is a complex field. And as with any sphere wherein depth, detail, and nuance swirls like mist - there are certain comfortable, complacent conceptions of things which stubbornly stick around long after they ought otherwise to have been dispensed with. The reasons for this are various - and include that certain of these 'seem' … Continue reading DE-MIST-IFYING PARJANYA – DISTANCING PERKWUNOS
Shiva
The Subtle Play Of Lord Shiva’s Wit
There is a saying, in English - "Man Plans, Fate Laughs"; and it has … somewhat 'darker' counterparts in Old Norse, with tales of the intent of this or that narrative agonist ("protagonist", he may also be - although agonist (the "agon" as "struggle") is probably much more apt, not least due to the less … Continue reading The Subtle Play Of Lord Shiva’s Wit
The Indo-European Horsemen Of The Apocalypse
[Author's Note: We are, of course, aware that the Book of Revelation is not an Indo-European scriptural source. However, as can be seen in this fine art-work - this does not stop it from consciously drawing upon a veer-y Indo-European set of concepts. With that in mind, it seemed appropriate to pen a commentary bringing … Continue reading The Indo-European Horsemen Of The Apocalypse
Ghora – Gorgos – Yggr – The Terrifying Face of Thunder
Ghora - Gorgos - Yggr Three names, Three faces, Three qualities .. That are actually one and the same. The Terrifying Face of the Sky Father; in Sanskrit, Ancient Greek, and Old Norse respectively. But what do they mean in each of their original contexts? And how can we tell that these are, indeed, the … Continue reading Ghora – Gorgos – Yggr – The Terrifying Face of Thunder
Of Mrityunjaya and Modern Hinduism – The Deathless And Unceasing Glory Of The Three-Eyed One
ॐ त्र्य॑म्बकं यजामहे सु॒गन्धिं॑ पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् ।उ॒र्वा॒रु॒कमि॑व॒ बन्ध॑नान् मृ॒त्योर्मुक्षीय॒ मा ऽमृता॑त् । Something which keeps coming up in various circles proximate to the ones we move in, is this idea that contemporary Hinduism, (post-)Puranic Hinduism, is somehow largely if not entirely distinct from Vedic Hinduism. There are various reasons why people occasionally suggest to assert this … Continue reading Of Mrityunjaya and Modern Hinduism – The Deathless And Unceasing Glory Of The Three-Eyed One
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
On Indo-European Gods Playing Dice With The Universe
Einstein: “God does not play dice with the universe” Now, it's worth contextualizing that Einstein's aphorism was a one-sentence metaphorical rejection of the notion of randomness and quantum uncertainty. Hence, after some decades of further development in the relevant area ... Hawking: "Thus it seems Einstein was doubly wrong when he said, God does not … Continue reading On Indo-European Gods Playing Dice With The Universe
Beating Disease Over The Head With The Serpent-Staff Of The Storm Wind – Rudra, Odin, Shiva, Hermes, Mercury, Maruts As Healers
It is WEDNESDAY - Wodan's Day, Mercredi - Dies Mercurii - The Day of बुध, The Wise One! And for this, we shall do something a little different. Earlier today, I was at hospital for some tests, and the (Indian) tech happened to notice my Aum pendant so we had struck up a conversation about … Continue reading Beating Disease Over The Head With The Serpent-Staff Of The Storm Wind – Rudra, Odin, Shiva, Hermes, Mercury, Maruts As Healers
An Immortality Of Stone And Storied Deeds – The Jatayu Colossus of Kerala
I have often maintained that India is a place wherein the past - and here, I mean the folk-memory inherent in Mythic recollections and retellings - is not merely 'remembered', nor 'commemorated' … but actively re-immanentized into the living present. This is one reason why it has still-living, still-vibrant Indo-European mytho-religious tradition. Now, what we … Continue reading An Immortality Of Stone And Storied Deeds – The Jatayu Colossus of Kerala
Glorious Modern Art For An Ancient Hindu Hymnal
Friday Evening Devi-otional (A)Art(I) Posting This is some truly excellent art which helps to illustrate evocatively a rather core series of principles to Shakta theology and cosmogony; which are also extolled in the course of my favourite of the RigVedic Hymnals - the renowned DeviSukta [RV X 125]. Note that it is the Hand of … Continue reading Glorious Modern Art For An Ancient Hindu Hymnal