We had earlier received a question as to the iconography of the Gigantes of Classical myth - more specifically, what was up with the Serpents they so prominently feature instead of legs in an array of renderings. And, because it's a very, very cool illustration for the concept - here's a beautiful 2nd-3rd Century (BC) … Continue reading On The Symbolism Of The Gigantes & Gigantomachy [Part One: He Shall Tread]
Vala
On The Sky Father As Dragon Destroyer
Something we have often had cause to make reference to is the fact that this most prominent of Indo-European mythemes, the Smiting of the Demon-Dragon, is NOT exclusive in commissioning to the Striker/Thunderer deific. But is, rather, a case of 'Like Father - Like Son'. As with, perhaps uncoincidentally, the wielding of Thunder in various … Continue reading On The Sky Father As Dragon Destroyer
A Thunderbolt For The Sky Father – Amidst The Burning Branches Of Demon-Smiting Lightning
It seems the most logical, natural thing in the world - and certainly, we have amply attested acknowledgement for this in and about multiple Indo-European spheres. Yet somehow , the situation of the Thunderbolt has become something of a 'cudgel' with which some have sought to 'beat' deifics such as Odin and Shiva out of … Continue reading A Thunderbolt For The Sky Father – Amidst The Burning Branches Of Demon-Smiting Lightning
For Pratyangira – Roaring Goddess of the Counter-Fire
A murti of the fearsome Goddess[-form], Pratyangira - a theonymic we would be tempted to translate as "Return Fire!" She is regarded as Goddess of the Atharva Veda via Atharvana Bhadrakali - and also linked to Kali through the Narasimhika ('Heroic Lioness' / 'Lion-(Wo)Man') encountered in the Sri Kalika Sahasranama stotram of MahaKalaBhairava : and … Continue reading For Pratyangira – Roaring Goddess of the Counter-Fire
Dyaus Draconis – The Dread Dragon Forms of the Indo-European Sky Father [Excerpt One from ‘Of Grave Wolves And Flashing Eyes : The Odinic Ophidian Observed’ – ‘Flashing, His Eyes, The Young Serpent’s Shone’ – On The Dragon-Gazed Lineage of Odin]
I - 'Flashing, His Eyes, The Young Serpent's Shone' - On The Dragon-Gazed Lineage of Odin The Rigsthula describes one of the characteristics to the infant Jarl (that is to say - the archetypal member of the aristocratic caste amidst the Germanics) thusly: “ötul váru augu sem yrmlingi” What does this mean? "Flaring / Piercing … Continue reading Dyaus Draconis – The Dread Dragon Forms of the Indo-European Sky Father [Excerpt One from ‘Of Grave Wolves And Flashing Eyes : The Odinic Ophidian Observed’ – ‘Flashing, His Eyes, The Young Serpent’s Shone’ – On The Dragon-Gazed Lineage of Odin]
Dyaus Draconis – The Dread Dragon Forms of the Indo-European Sky Father [ Part One – Of Grave Wolves And Flashing Eyes : The Odinic Ophidian Observed ]
Recently, we had marked MahaShivRatri - the Great Night of Shiva. And therefore, as has become our custom, we present a devotional tribute (A)Arti-cle. An effort that is, at once, intended to explore a facet of Him (as the Hindu Shiva) - and yet also cast a broader illumination upon that same dimension in relation … Continue reading Dyaus Draconis – The Dread Dragon Forms of the Indo-European Sky Father [ Part One – Of Grave Wolves And Flashing Eyes : The Odinic Ophidian Observed ]
On The True Origins Of Jormungandr – Illuminated Via The Dread Vedic Sorcery Of Tvastr
The Nordic sphere of Indo-European religion is a paradox. At once it has a fragmentary textual canon that's substantively post-Christianization and by various turns interpolated, euhemerized, cryptic, and occasionally just plain missing. Yet it also manages to preserve quite an array of authentic and archaic elements within its troves. By which I don't (just) mean all … Continue reading On The True Origins Of Jormungandr – Illuminated Via The Dread Vedic Sorcery Of Tvastr
On Indo-European Solar Warfare – The Sura Army of the Sun
Earlier this week we marked the Solstice - Summer, if you're here in the Southern Hemisphere, Winter if you're in the Northern. It therefore seemed an apt occasion to post this exquisite art - illustrating the Army of the Sun God setting a host of demons to flight. Now, the nature of this conflict is … Continue reading On Indo-European Solar Warfare – The Sura Army of the Sun
On Indo-European Solar Warfare – An Over-View
This week just gone marked Diwali (Deepavali) - the rather aptly translated 'Festival of Lights'. Which, as seemingly every once-over-lightly-for-a-Western-audience writeup seeks to swiftly remind us, exalts the 'Victory of Light over Darkness". It's a simple enough concept - and has near-infinite potential saliency (c.f., for instance the Solar Eclipse occurring in Svati immediately the … Continue reading On Indo-European Solar Warfare – An Over-View
On The Meaning Of Dragons – An Indo-European Exploration [Introduction & Part One – The Problem of Perception And The Horrific Hostile Hellenic Herpeton]
Some years ago, I happened across a remark of the great Argentine author, Jorge Luis Borges, on the subject of dragons: "We do not know what the dragon means, just as we do not know the meaning of the universe, but there is something in the image of the dragon that is congenial to man’s imagination and … Continue reading On The Meaning Of Dragons – An Indo-European Exploration [Introduction & Part One – The Problem of Perception And The Horrific Hostile Hellenic Herpeton]
arya-akasha 