Journeys into Vedic Thought
Long-form, researched essays on the deities, language, ritual and history of the Rig Veda. All free to read.
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The Twins on the Treaty Tablet: The Aśvins and the Indo-European Divine Horsemen
A clay tablet from northern Syria, written around 1350 BCE, swears an oath by gods named Mitra, Varuṇa, Indra, and the Nāsatya. The last pair are the Aśvins, the Rigveda's horse-riding twin rescuers, and they are also the best surviving witness to a myth Indo-Europeans told before any of these languages existed.
The Wedding Hymn: Surya's Bridal and the Ritual World of RV 10.85
Rigveda 10.85, the oldest surviving wedding liturgy on earth, narrates the cosmic marriage of Surya to Soma and has been recited at Hindu weddings for over three thousand years. A close reading reveals what the hymn tells us about Vedic bridal processions, ritual fire, the bride's public authority, and the enigmatic doctrine of 'three husbands before the human one.