Ishwa helper Reged: 03/03/02 Posts: 553

Re: Concerning vidhyadhari [Re: vinaire] #17692 - 06/21/02 04:13 AM Edit Reply Quote

The literal meaning of Valkyrie is 'chooser (kyrie) of the slain(val). The animal associated with the Valkyrie is the raven, another link with death. The swan maiden motive had fused with the Valkyrie motive. Chief of the Valkyries is Freya (= Love = Priya?). The death function is especially important when she's called Valfreya or "Mistress of the Slain", and she and the Valkyries decide who may enter the Valhalla or the "Hall of the Slain" located in Asgard, the realm of Odhin, the Norse Varuna. Valkyr and Vidyadhara are hardly related etymologicall: v-l-k-r and v-dy-dh-r has a change of 'dy' to 'l', that might be defendable. The change from 'dh' to 'k', however, is not defendable. But it is very interesting to look at similar themes even though the names aren't etymologically the same. A shift in names and fusions with other motives have happened in Inda as well as elsewehere.