AN INDO-EUROPEAN GUIDE-BOOK OF THE DEAD – Part Two: Paramevyoman to Patalaloka – ‘Outer Heaven’ to ‘Under World’

Often, when we are thinking about the afterlife, and the Realm of the Dead, our thoughts quite understandably go downhill. That's what a "Katabasis" means, after all - "Going Under". Because we are anticipating that we are heading for some form of "Underworld". Which is not entirely inaccurate, and nor should it be dismissed as … Continue reading AN INDO-EUROPEAN GUIDE-BOOK OF THE DEAD – Part Two: Paramevyoman to Patalaloka – ‘Outer Heaven’ to ‘Under World’

RAGNAROK AND THE NIGHT LORD

Consider the Sanskrit terms राजन् and रजनी - Rajan and Rajani. They look similar, no? In fact, you'd be forgiven, even notwithstanding that the former's got a longer 'a' sound ['Raajan' - like Raja, which derives directly therefrom], for thinking that they are perhaps related forms of the same word. Maybe a masculine and feminine … Continue reading RAGNAROK AND THE NIGHT LORD