Talk:Ashvamedha and Witchblade: Difference between pages
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[[Image:W25.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Cover for Witchblade #25 by [[Michael Turner (artist)|Michael Turner]]]] |
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'''''Witchblade''''' is a [[comic book]] series published by [[Top Cow Productions]], an [[imprint]] of [[Image Comics]], since 1995. The title was very popular during the [[1990s]], but lost many readers when [[penciller]] and co-creator [[Michael Turner (artist)|Michael Turner]] left the title. |
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==.== |
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The "queen copulating with the dead horse" is in the YV. The Ashvamedha is ''not'' described in the RV (in 5.27 a person named Ashvamedha is referred to, that's it). I don't know about SP/R/MB, but the "copulating" bit is almost certainly not there. You make it sound like it's in all these texts. It should rather be treated as the exceptional custom that it was, even in Vedic culture. (and compared to Purushamedha, and to archaeological (Kurgan,...) finds). [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ'''</small>)]] 23:16, 9 Jan 2005 (UTC) |
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In ''Witchblade'', [[New York City Police Department|NYPD]] [[homicide]] [[detective]] [[Sara Pezzini]] comes into possession of the '''Witchblade''', a [[fiction]]al, mysterious, supernatural [[Artifact (fantasy)|artifact]] with awesome powers, and struggles to master its powers. Sara was born in 1971. After her father was killed in the line of duty, she was kidnapped by her child psychologist. Her attacker was a perverted female. Sara was 13. She went on to graduate from police academy in 1993, started at New York precinct #18, which was her father’s precinct, promoted to Detective in 1995. It is later revealed that she gets a kick from bacchanal parties, and from dangerous situations. She is a big fan of Michael Madsen. Her partner, Michael Yee is killed in #01. Befriended by Lara Croft and The Magdalene. Transferred to precinct 1 issue #87. Sara is a slob, living on beer and takeaways. Her fridge contents, in her words, would “embarrass a frat boy”. Every once in a while, when the universe isn’t needing her to hold it together, she feels a nagging feeling that she should have a boyfriend, and reaches out to whomever is closest at the time, but this is always only a fleeting moment, as she has no time for any commitments. |
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How does a woman "copulate" with a ''dead'' horse???? I've heard of it being done with live horses, but never with dead ones. |
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::<s>the sources are silent on this. Allegedly, a hanged man ejaculates before death, so maybe there is a similar effect in a horse? Or maybe they just pretended to copulate? Nobody can tell now. [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 14:36, 24 November 2005 (UTC)</s> |
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There have been many [[spin-off]] titles, which place the Witchblade in other times or settings and in the hands of other heroines, ranging from a [[pirate]] woman to [[Joan of Arc]]. |
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== |
==The Witchblade== |
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please don't remove information about the Vedic sacrifice. There is a separate section about contemporary Hinduism, and you may expand that if you want to cite Hindu opinions that the whole thing is to be taken symbolically (a statement that has been in the article all the time, incidentially). Furthermore, I don't know if B. R. Ambedkar read about the sacrifice in an English translation, or in the original Sanskrit, and I don't really see why it matters. If you have a source specifying which particular translation Ambdekar used, feel free to cite it. The present discussion of the sacrifice is based on Griffith, which I'll add now to stall accusation of unsourced statements. Feel free to add further sources. [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 17:10, 22 November 2005 (UTC) |
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One of Thirteen, an intelligent, ancient, conscious weapon, and is extra-terrestrial. The offspring of the universe’s opposing aspects, The Darkness and The Angelus, (the dark and the light). A male aspect created to act as a balance, it must have a female for a host. Found in Greece by Kenneth Irons, it has had many wielders. When not in use, can look like an ornate, jewel encrusted, right handed gauntlet. When wielded by an unworthy wielder, that person will lose their arm. Forms a symbiotic relationship with host, whom can hear the Witchblade. The gauntlet can appear as an ornate looking bracelet, when wielded it expands across the body of the wielder, shredding clothes, covering the body like armour. The armour seems subjective as to the level of threat. Faced against mortals, it will usually generate less armour than when faced against a demon of hell. This armour can form swords, or stabbing weapons, shields and wings, enabling the wielder to fly. May be temperamental in it’s choice of when to be wielded. When wielded, it can shoot energy blasts from the hand or sword, also can fire projectile darts, and whip-like grapples to wound or for climbing. The Witchblade is also an excellent lock pick, can heal the wielder of wounds, even mortal ones and the wielder can heal others. The Witchblade can re-animate the dead, can empathetically show the wielder scenes of great trauma, and also relive experiences from wielders of the past in dream like experiences. |
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== Some comments == |
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==Top Cow's world== |
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There is a gap of at least a 1000 years between the early Vedic age, and the Gupta empire. Apparently, at some point of time a shift occured in how Ashvamedha was performed. Is there any reference saying that Samudragupta followed the procedure as described in Griffith's translation? |
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The Top Cow universe is populated by demons, dimensional gates, ghosts and magic. Supers are generally enhanced humans from government, or private entrepreneurial projects. Both the mafia and the Yakuza are prominent forces. Sara’s precinct, 18, or “one eight” is in the roughest part of New York. There are a lot of murders. There is a reference to a time that no homicides are reported for two days running, and all the cops think this is a sign that the apocalypse is coming. Religious followers of God and Satan are prolific, with agents of both sides frequently showing up with their minions to do battle. |
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''Brihadaranyaka Upanishad'' (from the Vedic period) speaks of the sacrificial horse as the very form of the world: |
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==Television series== |
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:''Aum, the dawn, verily, is the head of the sacrificial horse, the sun the eye, the wind the breath, the open mouth the Vaisvanara [universally worshipped] fire; the year is the body of the sacrificial horse, the sky is the back, the atmosphere is the belly, the earth the hoof [or, the earth is his footing], the quarters the sides, the intermediate quarters the ribs, the seasons the limbs, the months and the half-months the joints, days and nights the feet, the stars the bones, the clouds the flesh; the food in the stomach is the sand, the rivers are the blood-vessels, the liver and the lungs are the mountains, the herbs and the trees are the hair. The rising (sun) is the forepart, the setting (sun) the hind part, when he yawns then it lightens, when he shakes himself, it thunders, when he urinates then it rains; voice, indeed, is his voice.'' |
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{{main|Witchblade (TV series)}} |
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Following a pilot film in [[August 2000]], the [[cable television|cable]] network [[Turner Network Television|TNT]] premiered a [[television series]] based on the comic book series in [[2001 in televison|2001]]. The series was directed by [[Ralph Hemecker]] and written by [[Marc Silvestri]] (who also wrote the comic book) and [[J.D. Zeik]]. [[Yancy Butler]] starred as Sara Pezzini. Although critically acclaimed and popular with audiences, it was cancelled in [[September 2002]] after Butler was ordered to enter rehab for [[alcoholism]]. |
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''Witchblade'' ran for two seasons on TNT, each featuring 12 episodes. The first episode aired on [[June 12]], [[2001 in television|2001]], and the last episode aired on [[August 26]], [[2002 in television|2002]].A movie version is said to be released in 2007 and is in production.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494292/ |
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The last anuvaka of the last Kanda (7.5.25) of ''Taittiriya Samhita'' (Krishna Yajur Veda) begins with the sentence, “he who knows the summit of the intelligence (medhya) of the horse (ashva) becomes illumined and fit for the sacrifice''. |
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==Anime series== |
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''yo va ashvasya medhyasya shiro veda shirshnavan medhyo bhavatu''. |
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In [[2004]] [[Japan]]ese [[animation]] studio [[GONZO]] announced an [[anime]] version of ''Witchblade'', with a subsequent [[manga]] adaptation to be published by [[Kodansha]]. The anime version is considered controversial by some due to the fact that GONZO has announced that the main [[fictional character|character]] of the anime is of Japanese ethnicity but is not [[Itagaki]], one of the previous bearers of the Witchblade. Instead it is a new character named Masane. This has caused some fans to cry out against what they see as a [[Nipponisation]] of the franchise. |
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The anime series will begin broadcast during April 2006 and will run for 26 episodes (a standard series run). The lead character (and new blade wielder) is the kind-hearted Masane who, despite her good intentions, is fairly clumsy and not good around the house. After the events of an earthquake that struck her home 6 years before the series "year zero", Masane has no recollection of her past previous to this date. When she comes into contact with the Witchblade, Masane also finds herself under the watchful eye of an organisation called the NSWF (National Scientific Welfare Foundation). |
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The rest of this anuvaka TS (7.5.25) till the end is mostly identical to the Br.U. (1.1.1) and (1.1.2) quoted earlier and develops the cosmic form of the horse. The end of TS (7.5.25) is same as that Br.U. (1.1.2), ending with the phrase ''samudra evasya bhandhuh samudro yonih''. (The sea (samudra) was his brother and sea his birthplace (yoni).) [[User:Deeptrivia|deeptrivia]] 20:27, 26 November 2005 (UTC) |
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==Characters== |
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:I don't think we have enough information to say what form Samudragupta's sacrifice took. However I think we can be certain that he did not use Griffith's translation! I'm not sure what you intend by including the quotations from the ''Brihadaranyaka Upanishad'' about the symbolic significance of the horse. Are you suggesting that this passage is evidence that a real horse would not have been used? [[User:Paul Barlow|Paul B]] 10:26, 28 November 2005 (UTC) |
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*[[Ian Nottingham]] |
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:Griffith's translation is maybe not perfect, but it is fair. If you disagree with a particular passage, we can always go back to the original text of the Yajurveda. And yes, the Upanishad texts belong in the "Vedanta" section, of course, and describe a pov ''after'' the reinterpretation of Vedic religion. [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 10:55, 28 November 2005 (UTC) |
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::Well, the article gives the impression that Samudragupta's ashvamedha was performed in exactly the same way as described in a book written a thousand years ago, while between the time of Yajurveda and Samudragupta, we have literature showing that symbolic interpretation had already begun. Could we make this more clear in the article? Also, do we have any particular instances of Ashvamedha being performed the Yajurveda (Griffith) way recorded in history preceding Samudragupta? [[User:deeptrivia|deeptrivia]] ([[User talk:deeptrivia|talk]]) 14:09, 28 November 2005 (UTC) |
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English, formally a captain for special air services for MI5. Underwent behavioural modifications so he could get deep undercover. Forgot his past, and became bodyguard for Kenneth Irons. Can catch bullets. Kills Sara’s partner in #01. Has ties to Yakuza. Body and soul built to absorb mass quantities of energy. Temporarily hosts both Witchblade and Darkness powers. Wields Excalibur, the Witchblade’s twin. |
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::::Why do you keep adding Griffith's name, as though the account is dependent on his translation? Unless we can find evidence concerning the specific form that Samudragupta's ceremony took, I doubt there is anything else to say about it. The Br.U. passage elaborates on the symbolic significance ascribed to the sacrifice. It does not appear to say that the sacrifice itself is purely "symbolic" - in the sense that no actual horse would be killed. [[User:Paul Barlow|Paul B]] 15:37, 28 November 2005 (UTC) |
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*[[Kenneth Irons]] |
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:::: [[User:Paul Barlow|Paul B]], what you said makes perfect sense, and I agree to it. I somehow missed this piece of logic earlier. However, we do know that at some point of time in that period, it did become purely symbolic. It is inevitable that some things are "lost in translation", and others are "found in translation", especially in texts like these, so I think it's necessary to mention whose translation we are using. [[User:deeptrivia|deeptrivia]] ([[User talk:deeptrivia|talk]]) 16:12, 28 November 2005 (UTC) |
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Rich entrepreneur. Discovered Witchblade in Greece. Three times Nottingham’s age. Lost his hand and sacrificed his wife to gain control of the Witchblade. Wife became Ms.Boucher. Son is Microwave killer. Takes over First Church of Prosperity. Killed by Joe Siry #75. |
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Yes, we need some source for Samudragupta's sacrifice, and maybe need to do a special section about it. [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 14:53, 28 November 2005 (UTC) |
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*Joe Siry |
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== Nonsense == |
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Sara’s captain 18 precinct, partner to her dead father, Detective Vincent Pezzini. Married to Dalia. Hidden agenda with Irons, forced to kill Vincent Pezzini to save Sara’s life. |
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*Jake McCarthy |
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I have a Hindi Version of White Yajur Veda with Sanskrit mantras (Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, 2004, Sanskrit Sansthan, Bareli). And no nonsense is written about Queen copulating with dead horse and ritual obscenities. Hindi versions are much more authentic translations than English versions by foeigners. Thus, I am going to re-revert it to my own version. |
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Sara’s best friend, cop. Madly in love with Sara and it is un-requited. |
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[[User:Magicalsaumy|Cygnus_hansa]] 16:16, 28 November 2005 (UTC) |
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*Lisa |
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"Hindi versions are much more authentic translations than English versions by foeigners" -- oh yeah? Any particular reason for this assertion? Why not stick to the original Vedic Sanskrit version? It is freely available, and I assure you, Griffith didn't make this up. If Hindus are so scandalized by the content of this text, I can imagine very good reasons why a Hindi translation would ''not'' mention these particulars, on the other hand. You do realize, of course, that Griffith himself does ''not'' translate the verses about the copulation? He gives them in the original. [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 16:20, 28 November 2005 (UTC) |
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Mother Maria, deceased. Sara promised to keep an eye on her. 16 years old, (in issue #10), friend, model. |
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*Julie Pezzini |
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:[[User:Magicalsaumy|Cygnus_hansa]], it would make more sense if you cite the verses and their translation according to your source, and settle your issues here instead of reverting the article again. [[User:Dbachmann|dab]], could you point him out the exact verses relevant to the discussion. Also, do we have any information about how many versions of Yajurveda existed by the 19th century, and which one did Griffith use for his translation? As far as I know, in most Hindu texts as we know them today, insertions were made till as late as 17th century. I know this is not the right place at all for this kind of debate (on whether Griffith's translation is acceptable or not), but we can discuss whether it is the only translation worthy of being mentioned. [[User:deeptrivia|deeptrivia]] ([[User talk:deeptrivia|talk]]) 16:37, 28 November 2005 (UTC) |
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Sara’s sister. Romantically involved with Jake. |
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*[[The Darkness (comics)|Jackie Estacado]] |
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==the "untranslatable"== |
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The Darkness, mafia hitman. |
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Albrecht Weber,The Vajasaneyi-Samhita in the Madhyandina and the Kanva-Shakha with the Commentary of Mahidhara, Berlin 1849, reprint Varanasi 1972 |
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*[[Tora No Shi]] |
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VS.23.20.a: taa/ ubha/u catu/ra.h pada/.h sampra/ saarayaava svarge/ loke/ pro/r.nuvaathaa.m v.r/.saa vaajii/ retodhaa/ re/to dadhaatu \\ |
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Yakuza assassin who is introduced in issue 15. Works for the Yakuza in the Family Ties storyline and gets beat by Jackie. Reappears in issue 54. Fights Ian Nottingham, then attepts to assassinate Kenneth Irons at Caulty Towers. Ian shows up and beats Tora. After that Irons takes Tora as his new bodyguard/tool and begins a series of chemical rituals on him (Story can be shown in the Blood Relations TPB). In the Deathpool storyline Tora is one of the characters voted to be killed by the fans. He is promptly killed by Ian in issue 75. |
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VS.23.21.a: u/tsakthyaa a/va guda/.m dhehi sa/m a~nji/.m caarayaa v.r.san \ |
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VS.23.21.b: ya/ strii.naa/.m jiivabho/jana.h \\ |
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VS.23.22.a: yakaa/saka/u shakuntikaa/ha/lag i/ti va/~ncati \ |
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VS.23.22.b: aa/ hanti gabhe/ pa/so ni/galgaliiti dhaa/rakaa \\ |
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VS.23.23.a: yako/ saka/u shakuntaka/ aaha/lag i/ti va/~ncati \ |
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VS.23.23.b: vi/vak.sata iva te mu/kham a/dhvaryo maa/ nas tva/m abhi/ bhaa.sathaa.h \\ |
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VS.23.24.a: maataa/ ca te pitaa/ ca te/ gra.m v.rk.sa/sya rohata.h \ |
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VS.23.24.b: pra/tilaamii/ti te pitaa/ gabhe/ mu.s.ti/m ata.Msayat \\ |
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VS.23.25.a: maataa/ ca te pitaa/ ca te/ gre v.rk.sa/sya krii.data.h \ |
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VS.23.25.b: vi/vak.sata iva te mu/kha.m bra/hman maa/ nas tva/.m vado bahu/ \\ |
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VS.23.26.a: uurdhva/m enaam u/c chraapaya gira/u bhaara/.M ha/rann iva \ |
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VS.23.26.b: a/thaasyai ma/dhyam edhataa.M shiite/ vaa/te puna/nn iva \\ |
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VS.23.27.a: uurdhva/m enam u/c chraapaya gira/u bhaara/.M ha/rann iva \ |
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VS.23.27.b: a/thaasya ma/dhyam ejatu shiite/ vaa/te puna/nn iva \\ |
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VS.23.28.a: ya/d asyaa a.Mhu/bhe/dyaa.h k.rdhu/ sthuula/m upaa/tasat \ |
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VS.23.28.b: mu.skaa/v asyaa ejato goshaphe/ shakulaa/v iva \\ |
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VS.23.29.a: ya/d devaa/so lalaa/magu.m pra/ vi.s.tiimi/nam aa/vi.su.h \ |
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VS.23.29.b: sakthnaa/ dedishyate naa/rii satya/syaak.sibhu/vo ya/thaa \\ |
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VS.23.30.a: ya/d dhari.no/ ya/vam a/tti na/ pu.s.ta/.m pashu/ ma/nyate \ |
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VS.23.30.b: shuudraa/ ya/d a/ryajaaraa na/ po/.saaya dhanaayati \\ |
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VS.23.31.a: ya/d dhari.no/ ya/vam a/tti na/ pu.s.ta/.m bahu/ ma/nyate \ |
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VS.23.31.b: shuudro/ ya/d a/ryaayai jaaro/ na/ po/.sam a/nu manyate \\ |
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[[Image:Witchblade Obakemono 01.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Witchblade Obakemono [[Tan, Gorder, Firchow(artist)|Tan, Gorder, Firchow]]]] |
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Griffith omits these verses and summarizes |
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:"The three Queens walk nine times around the horse, reciting the formulas. The Chief Queen then begins the performance of the revolting ceremony" |
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[[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 16:52, 28 November 2005 (UTC) |
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==Blade wielders== |
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I'll attempt a translation of the first verse: |
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In reverse chronological order: |
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:taa/ ubha/u catu/ra.h pada/.h sampra/ saarayaava svarge/ loke/ pro/r.nuvaathaa.m v.r/.saa vaajii/ retodhaa/ re/to dadhaatu \\ |
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* [[Sara Pezzini]] (fictitious) |
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:then they both on four feet are spread out in the heavenly world, veiled [http://flaez.ch/cgi-bin/mw.pl?query=prorNu], the potent [http://flaez.ch/cgi-bin/mw.pl?query=vRSa] stallion [http://flaez.ch/cgi-bin/mw.pl?query=VAja], the semen-giver shall give semen [http://flaez.ch/cgi-bin/mw.pl?query=retas]. |
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* [[Ian Nottingham]] (fictitious) |
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* [[Elizabeth Brontë]] (fictitious) |
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* [[Marie Curie]] |
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* [[Florence Nightingale]] |
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* [[Anne Bonny]] |
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* [[Isabella of Castile|Queen Isabella]] |
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* [[Joan of Arc]] |
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* [[Itagaki]] |
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* [[Zenobia|Septima Zenobia]] |
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* [[Cathain]] |
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* [[Boudica]] |
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* [[Cleopatra VII of Egypt|Cleopatra]] |
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* [[Artemisia]] |
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* [[Myrine]] |
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===Pretenders=== |
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This is off the top of my head, so don't quote me on it. Hindu editions circumlocute the "the sperm giver shall give sperm" with things like "the possessor of strength and prowess lends courage to his subjects" :) but of course this is the interpretation to be given in the "modern Hinduism" section. We clearly cannot begin to haggle about the translation and semantic field of individual Sanskrit terms, and it won't do to translate the verses ourselves. This is merely intended as an example to give you an idea ''how'' the interpretation takes place. I'll try if I can get a published translation (as opposed to a pious and chaste circumlocution) of the passage in question. It is important to note that the passage is completely censored in almost all literature in India, and that most Hindus honestly have no idea about its content. But then most Hindus don't have an inkling about any of the content of the Vedas, this is just really the prime example where things come to a point. [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 17:12, 28 November 2005 (UTC) |
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In reverse chronological order: |
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* Fiona(fictitious) |
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:[[User:Magicalsaumy|Cygnus hamsa]] if you have any other '''literal''' translation of these verses, or any questions about the authenticity of these verses, please share with us. [[User:deeptrivia|deeptrivia]] ([[User talk:deeptrivia|talk]]) 00:29, 29 November 2005 (UTC) |
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* John Sansmain (fictitious) |
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* Dominique Boucher (fictitious) |
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* [[Kenneth Irons]] (fictitious) |
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* [[Abigail Williams]] |
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* [[Elizabeth Paris]] |
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* Marie d'Estrada (fictitious) |
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* Mirabella Avila (fictitious) |
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==Issue events breakdown (Contains Spoilers)== |
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It is not very proper to discard the opposing views as "modern Hinduism". It is possible that the acts described in the verse could be metaphorical as is very common in vedic literature. However, I do beleive that the above verse in its entire translation and context could certainly reveal what is being told. [[User:Sriwiki|Sriwiki]] |
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---- |
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== Age of the horse == |
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:The horse to be sacrificed must be a stallion, more than 24, but less than 100 years old. |
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01 Irons introduced, holding a tournament to find a wielder for the Witchblade. Sara Pezzini undercover against drug dealers. Drexler the dealer snitches about the tournament. Sara and Yee investigate. Ian Nottingham introduced. Murders by microwave killer announced. Witchblade introduced. Incorrect wielder loses arm. Yee is discovered, Sara leaps in front as he is shot by Nottingham, knocks Witchblade from pedestal and is shot too. Mortally wounded, she reaches out and the Witchblade crawls onto her hand, healing her. Witchblade kills everyone, Yee dies. |
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I have no idea about Indikan religions, but horses don't even live 100 years, and 24-year old horse would be a very old one. Are you sure it's supposed to be "years" and not "months" ? [[User:Taw|Taw]] 13:10, 23 March 2006 (UTC) |
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:I thought the same thing; this is just quoted after Griffith, we'd have to look at the original text to see what is there, and after all, it's just a text: we are not saying they used actual centenarian horses, we are just saying that this is what the texts as preserved proscribe. [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 12:54, 4 May 2006 (UTC) |
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02 Sara removes Witchblade, passes out, wakes in hospital. Witchblade taken into evidence by Jake. Nottingham saves Irons by catching a bullet, uses sword to kill assassins. Lisa introduced. Sara re-animated Yee while trying to heal his dead body. Yee dies again. |
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==Issues with the translation== |
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apart from notability issues (as a "layman's translation"), there are |
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*copyright issues |
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*it is too long, this is not wikisource |
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*the verse numbering should be aligned with the discussion above, it will not do to use two different verse counts without explanation |
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[[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 07:48, 4 May 2006 (UTC) |
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03 Sara casts Witchblade away, thinks it is evil. Kenneth Irons contacts Sara. Sara kidnapped by a mob trying to understand importance of Witchblade, is mortally wounded and given Witchblade. Sara wields Witchblade and escapes. Nottingham attacks Sara. |
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:I'm trying to clarify some of these issues with the editor who added it. It's not clear whether or not this is his own English translation via a Telegu version, or whether it's lifted direct from an Indian publication. If possible I think it's useful to have it - maybe shortened - to counter the repeated assertions that "Western" versions are all designed to undermine Hinduism. [[User:Paul Barlow|Paul B]] 07:53, 4 May 2006 (UTC) |
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::I was thinking the same thing; if it is fair to translate a Telugu text into English ourselves, why shouldn't it be fair to translate the Sanskrit directly? Meaning, we could do our own translation, pointing to and discussing the original terms in cases of disputes (along the lines, is [[Samudra]] just the ocean, or may it also be a large lake). Anyway, I have no doubt that there are also published English translations of the passage, but as you say, likely done by westerners. In any case, only the passage omitted by Griffith is of interest enough to be given in full; for the remaining part, we have Griffith's translation to base our discussion on. [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 11:57, 4 May 2006 (UTC) |
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04 Nottingham’s attack is against Irons’ wishes. Sara saved by Irons. |
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fwiiw, here is the original TS text: |
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05 Witchblade turns into ornate looking bracelet. Ms.Boucher introduced. Sara has a peek around Irons’ office, flees when he sees her. Nottingham has erotic dream about Sara. |
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4.19.1.1: =a | a/mbe a/mbaaly a/mbike |
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4.19.1.2: =b | na/ maa nayati ka/sh cana/ / sasa/sty ashvaka/.h // |
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4.19.1.3: =c | su/bhage kaa/mpiilavaasini suvarge/ loke/ sa/m pro/r.nvaathaam / |
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4.19.1.4: =d | aa/ha/m ajaani garbhadha/m aa/ tva/m ajaasi garbhadha/m / |
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4.19.1.5: =e | ta/u saha/ catu/ra.h pada/.h sa/m pra/ saarayaavahai / |
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4.19.1.6: =f | v.r/.saa vaa^? retodhaa/ re/to dadhaatu \ |
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4.19.1.7: =g | u/t sakthyo\r g.rda/.m dhehy a~nji/m u/da~njimm a/nv aja / ya/ strii.naa/.m jiivabho/jano ya/ aasaam // |
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06 Irons and Sara have coffee. Julie Pezzini introduced. Irons explains Witchblade was found by himself in Greece, was wielded by Joan of Arc, by a member of Alexander the Great’s army, and in Ancient Egypt. Sara leaves knowing Irons has offered to remove Witchblade from her. Attacked by Nottingham at Yee’s graveside. Witchblade refuses to help. |
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4.19.2.1: biladhaa/vana.h / priya/ strii.naa/m apiicya\.h / ya/ aasaa.m k.r.s.ne/ la/k.sma.ni sa/rdig.rdim paraa/vadhiit // |
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4.19.2.2: =h | a/mbe a/mbaaly a/mbike na/ maa yabhati ka/sh cana/ / sasa/sty ashvaka/.h // |
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4.19.2.3: =i | uurdhvaa/m enaam u/c chrayataad ve.nubhaara/.m giraa/v iva / a/thaasyaa ma/dhyam edhataa^? shiite/ vaa/te pu/nann iva // |
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4.19.2.4: =k | a/mbe a/mbaaly a/mbike na/ maa yabhati ka/sh cana/ / sasa/sty ashvaka/.h // |
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4.19.2.5: =l | ya/d dhari.nii/ ya/vam a/tti na/ // |
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07 Nottingham leaves Sara after explaining his dream. Sara guest of Irons at party at his house. Meets Michael Madsen. Jake crashes party, Irons and Sara go to his high rise office block. Irons yells at Sara, and Witchblade makes her bleed. Nottingham told to kill Sara. |
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4.19.3.1: pu.s.ta/m pashu/ manyate / shuudraa/ ya/d a/ryajaaraa na/ po/.saaya dhanaayati // |
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4.19.3.2: =m | a/mbe a/mbaaly a/mbike na/ maa yabhati ka/sh cana/ / sasa/sty ashvaka/.h // |
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4.19.3.3: =n | iya/.m yakaa/ shakuntikaa/ha/lam i/ti sa/rpati / aa/hata.m gabhe/ pa/so ni/ jalguliiti dhaa/.nikaa // |
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4.19.3.4: =o | a/mbe a/mbaaly a/mbike na/ maa yabhati ka/sh cana/ / sasa/sty ashvaka/.h // |
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4.19.3.5: =p | maataa/ ca te pitaa/ ca te/ 'gra.m v.rk.sa/sya rohata.h // |
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08 Internal Affairs agent Selzer reveals to Jake that Irons is his boss. Nottingham betrays Irons. Irons reveals he is three time older than Nottingham. Nottingham thrown off building. Irons reveals he lost his hand to the Witchblade. Irons takes some of Witchblade from Sara, can barely control it. Jake is attacked by Irons. Sara retains a small portion of the Witchblade, which she wields to save herself being thrown from building. She defeats Irons who throws himself from building after Sara takes Witchblade from him. |
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4.19.4.1: pra/ sulaamii/ti te pitaa/ gabhe/ mu.s.ti/m ata^?sayat // |
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4.19.4.2: =q | dadhikraa/v.no akaari.sa.m ji.s.no/r a/shvasya vaaji/na.h / surabhi/ no mu/khaa karat pra/ .na aa/yuu^?.si taari.sat / |
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4.19.4.3: =r | aa/po hi/ .s.thaa/ mayobhu/vas taa/ na uurje/ dadhaatana / mahe/ ra/.naaya ca/k.sase // |
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4.19.4.4: =s | yo/ va.h shiva/tamo ra/sas ta/sya bhaajayateha/ na.h / ushatii/r iva maata/ra.h // |
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4.19.4.5: =t | ta/smaa a/ra.m gamaama vo ya/sya k.sa/yaaya ji/nvatha / aa/po jana/yathaa ca na.h // |
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09 Sara has waking dream about another wielder from 1736, Anne Bonny. |
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I only have the mantra part of TS. from what I can see, the translation we have, while not inhibited, is also not very literal and adds a lot of commentary and interpretation. the repeated ''ambe ambaaly ambike, na maa yabhati kash cana / sasasty ashvakah'' (7.4.19k,m,o) literally translates to "mother, o mum, o mummy, nobody is fucking me, the little horsie is asleep". This is the queen taunting the dead horse for being, well, passive; our translation of Shastri's Telugu has "no [other] man has slept with me" and "good-for-nothing horse", both without any basis. [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 12:39, 4 May 2006 (UTC) |
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[[User:Dbachmann|dab]] |
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::we cannot give "laymen's translations" on Wikipedia, particularly for texts as sensitive as this, that's original research. What we ''can'' give are ''literal'' translations, with justifications of the translating terms chosen on the basis of published dictionaries. [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 10:28, 5 May 2006 (UTC) |
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10 Julie tells Sara Lisa is with Ms.Boucher. Sara attacked by demons. |
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Dab, you suddenly seem to have developed cold feet. No doubt it is a sensitive text. I would hate that my child would fumble on to this page to see what went on in the name of Asvamedha. But more essential than that are issues like how come Draupadi had to go through Asvamedha but Sita escapes that ordeal.The text is of immense value and highly explosive in current times.The dispute is between those who have read and those who have not read the references either in their original Sanskrit or secondary sources like in Hindi,Telugu any other for that matter. In Kerala, where I live now, a large majority of literate Malayalam -speaking Hindu peolple are aware of only one version of Ramayana.In Andhra Pradesh, the telugu'speaking have not less than a hundred (I guess I am not exaggerating)versions- both modern and ancient.Thirty years ago,Muppala Ranganayakkamma wrote 'Ramayana Vishavriksham'(Ramayana- the poisonous tree). Published in three volumes, it has been reprinted regularly. Several versions of ramayana were written by 'pious' people after that.Last forty years may have seen over ten major versions of Ramayana in Telugu. |
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Layman's translation is also original and contemporary. Literal translations are for the scholars.Commentaries are for the commoners.All along, the ancient texts were conveyed through commentaries by bards to the commoners.The literal-text was available through 'shruti' to practioners of the trade like, who later added a title (Somayaji,one who performed a Soma yagna)as pre-fix or suffix to their names. And they were obviously from the Brahmin-caste. |
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Your insistence on Copyright-related issues, 'Literal Translations'- sound ironical and unfortunate. The Hindu sacred texts were kept out of the reach of commoners all through history.Manu said that molten lead be poured into the ears of those Shudras who listen to the Vedas.Given a chance, there are is a large section in India which is ready to pour molten lead into your and my ears for trespassing into sacred territories, in the name of research.Godspeed. |
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:I fail to see how insisting on quality and no original research is "developing cold feet". I also fail to see how this text is "highly explosive in current times". Nobody alleges that such practices are ongoing in current Hinduism. Why would it matter today if some kings performed some rather weird rites 2000 years ago? The interest of the text is as an extraordinary document of religious history, but I think it is very stupid to try to make it into a political tool. That would be a bit like accusing the Swedish of the 10th century human sacrifices of the Volga Vikings. Be that as it may, I insist that we need a published translation, or a literal one. At the moment, we have a home-brewn translation that is only verifiable by people who do not need a translation anyway. [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 10:53, 7 May 2006 (UTC) |
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11 Sara confronts Ms.Boucher. |
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:We need to use as accurate a translation as possible, to avoid accusations of bias. But it would be most desirable, I think, to contrasting published translations of relevant passages. Harappa, are you saying that South Indian discussion of Ashvamedha has been affected by Dravidianist and Dalit movements? This would certainly be interesting - if Dravidianist writers were using the Ashvamedha as part of anti-Brahmincal polemics, as they have regularly done with the Ramayana. We could include discussion of this is you have details. [[User:Paul Barlow|Paul B]] 13:24, 7 May 2006 (UTC) |
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12 Siry flashback to when he was partnered with Vincent Pezzini, investigating microwave murders. Tells Sara her father killed by microwave killer. |
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Dab and Paul, you two are doing a wonderful job. To illustrate why rituals like Asvamedha are sensitive and even explosive in contemporary India, todays the Hindu (www.thehinduonnet.com) carried a news item on the last page. sachin Tendulkar (Ace Indian Cricketer ) performs 'Sarpa Samskara' rituals involving Aslesha Bali and Naga Prathiste.He is accompanied by his wife ,who is ,what we call 'english' doctor(i.e.MBBS). He performed the puja to ensure smooth recovery from the surgery he had undergone abroad for elbow(?)injury.Another celebrity Amitabh Bachchan was supposed to have also joined the rituals.(He too fell sick recently resulting in Huge Losses to his Film producers).See my point.There is bigg money and celebrities chasing rituals .That spells doom to wild life, women and people from lower castes.Dab, these rituals 'are ongoing -money spinning rackets' in contemporary India.If the priest says he needs an owl and a black buck , and the yajaman has resources , they will procure the same and proceed with the rituals.For the full story on Sachin Tendulkar offering prayers read the link below: |
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http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/08/stories/2006050802992000.htm |
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:I'm afraid I do not see your point. I have no idea how you could argue that a cricket player performing a puja has anything at all to do with the Ashvamedha. Even if he brought his wife, surely no equine exploits were involved? [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 12:10, 8 May 2006 (UTC) |
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Dab, We ll stick to Y.S.I just pulled out Rangacharya out of my collection of books.He carries most of what you have summerised including the pins and needles part.There is an interesting passage about slaughtering a (10-month) pregnant Cow, and offering the fetus as oblation. A goat is offered to Saraswati. |
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Godspeed. |
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Paul, it was neither dalits nor dravidianists who launched the 'anti-Brahminical 'polemics.At least, In Andhra Pradesh it was the Progressive writers Group and then the Revolutionary writers group behind the debate.90 percent of them were Brahmins or from the upper castes themselves.They were the Nationalist -liberals,Communists and feminists.But as I already said, the debate is between the violent-irrational-superstitious groups and the Non-violent traditions in India that dates back to the Vedas and Buddha.Other labels and tags are transitionary. |
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:Are there also people in India who are able to discuss history and religion without the all the gritted teeth and all the paranoia? Of course there should be articles on Indian sociology and politics, it's just not something I am terribly interested in, but if we had a good suite of articles on that, maybe our other articles wouldn't be burdened with so much fundamentalist cruft (I am thinking of [[Aryan Invasion Theory]], [[Bias in South Asian Studies]], [[Rajputs]] and all that, topics that are almost impossible to edit because of the never-ending stream of anonymous immature rants). [[User:Dbachmann|dab]] <small>[[User_talk:Dbachmann|('''ᛏ''')]]</small> 12:52, 9 May 2006 (UTC) |
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Rangacharya narrates a curious story behind the split between Shukla and Krishna Y.S: |
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'The actual name of this 'Shukla Yajurveda Samhita' is 'Vaajasaneyi- Maadhyandhina Shukla Y.S.' |
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Mahidhara explains the reason why it is called so:"Tatraadau Brahma Paramparayaa Praptam Vedam..." |
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Veda emanated from Brahma. Veda -Vyasa contemplated about how to make the vedas available to the slow-witted.He then divided the Vedas into four: Rg,Yajur,Sama and Atharvana.He then thaught them gradually to his disciples:Paila, Vaishampayana,Jaimini and Sumantha .They in turn taught the Four vedas to their disciples. |
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Yagnavalkya was a student of Vaishampayana.Once, in a fit of anger , Vaishampayan expelled Yagnavalkya form his ashram. At which time, Yagnavalkya vomitted out all the Yajurveda that he had just learnt from his teacher. |
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13 Jake and Sara attacked by mob. Witchblade kills them all. Microwave killer revealed. |
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His other disciples , at the behest of their teacher, turned themselves into Francoline patridges( Francoline Vulgaris (lat.) Tittiri ( sanskrit) and swallowed the vomit. Obviously , the vomit (yajus) was soiled . Hence it is called the Krishna yujuss. The Black Yajurveda Samhita! |
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Yagnavalkya felt sorry at the turn of events.He prayed to the Sun and received Shukla Yajus -The White Yajurveda Samhita. He taught the Shukla YS to Jaabaali, Baudheya,Kaanva,Maadhyandinaadi...etc a total of 15 disciples. |
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14 Danette Boucher revealed to be Irons’ wife, whom he sacrificed trying to get Witchblade to work. Traces of Witchblade remained, re-animating Boucher as a killer. Sara kills Boucher. Microwave killer is Irons and Boucher’s son. |
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Yagnavalkya was the son of Vajasani.Hence, his Shukla YS is also called Vaajasaneyi...Shukla YS. Similarly, Maadhyandina's version became the 'Maadhyandina Shukla YS. Over a time the Shukla YS came to be known as |
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Vaajasaneyi- Maadhyandhina Shukla Y.S. |
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15 Sara and Jake fired, offered job by Justice Department. [[Tora No Shi]] introduced. Sara goes to Rio. |
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By the same logic, what we now see on this wikipedia may be called the 'Dan-Paul Y.S in Black and White'? |
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16 Sara drugged, taken to government weapons laboratory interested in Witchblade. Devin released. Sara attacked by those she rescued. |
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17 Sara saved by Nottingham. Jackie Estacado introduced. |
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18 Family ties pt.1. Nottingham reveals ties with Yakuza. Witchblade goes wild near Estacado. |
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19 Family ties pt.4. Nottingham takes both Darkness and Witchblade. |
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20 Sara gives up the Witchblade to Nottingham. Gavin Taylor, and First Church of Prosperity introduced. Sara seeks out Nottingham. |
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21 Nottingham and Sara rescue Setsuke. Sara visits mother. Taylor recruits Nottigham. |
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22 Sara and Jake back at work. Jake’s ex-girlfriend slaughtered. Jake and Julie get close. |
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23 Nottingham struggles for control. Witchblade awakes inside Sara. |
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24 Sara finds photo of her father with Taylor and Irons. Nottingham does hit for Taylor against Jake. |
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25 Sara confronts Siry, manifests Witchblade. Irons returns, taking over Church from Taylor. Nottingham attacks Jake, Sara attacks Nottingham. Witchblade loses a stone, Sara calls Witchblade back. |
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26 Eric Sketh introduced as new partner. Julie tells Sara about Irons and Taylor. Irons visits Siry. |
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27 Sara heals Jake. Setsuke attacks Taylor. Sketh has interest in antiques. See similar artefacts to Witchblade at museum. |
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28 Siry’s past revealed. Blackmailed into dropping investigation of ancient artefact. Payback attacks Sara. Nottingham rescues Setsuke. |
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29 Sara attacks mafia. |
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30 Jackie Estacado attacks Sara. Nottingham beds Setsuke. |
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31 Nottingham kills Setsuke. Siry confesses shooting Sara’s father to protect Sara from Irons. |
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32 Witchblade has a new stone. Taylor revealed to be a monster. Sara attacked by Shine. |
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33 Lisa living with Drexler, who used to be Sara’s snitch. Sara has lunch with Irons and Nottingham. Has troubles controlling Witchblade. |
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34 Sketh offers Sara help with the Witchblade. |
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35 Sketh reveals he has a twin weapon. Julie tells Jake that Sara was kidnapped at the age of 13 by her perverted, female, child psychologist. |
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36 Witchblade, Darkness. Sara reveals she was into perverted danger, and she has to fight those urges. There are four Noble Ones, Sara and The Darkness are two of these. Jake and Julie are a couple. Leads to Witchblade Darkness mini series. |
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37 Sara attacked by a monster. Tsin-Sen introduced. Attacked by demons. |
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38 Sketh attacks Jake. Jake kills Sketh. |
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39 Sara protects Lisa. |
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40 New era. New partner, fire marshall Blake. Pyro introduced. |
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41 Blake and Pyro killed. Pyro states Witchblade is extra-terrestrial in origin. |
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42 Pez killer introduced. Sara has frequent nightmares. |
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43 Sara uses internet blogs to investigate bizarre and strange occurrences. Sara transferred to special unit. Sara witnesses a body possessed. |
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44 Pez killer revealed. |
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45 Sara dreams of killing demons in ages past. Jake is shot and mortally wounded. |
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46 Sara given a choice by the Witchblade, to sacrifice an innocent man to be blamed as the Pez killer to save Jake’s life. She accepts. Pez killer triumphant. |
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47 Suicide investigation. Witchblade has empathetic link with scenes of trauma. |
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48 Pyro returns. Sara meets Adrian Smith. |
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49 Sara kills Pyro. Sees herself as an angel of mercy. |
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50 Sara and Ian join forces. Nottingham origin revealed. Programmed by MI5 to be deep cover, but forgot his identity when he joined with Irons. Wields Excalibur, the Witchblade’s twin. End of Days. |
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51 Nottingham revealed to have shot Sara’s father. |
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52 Smith killed. Sara and Nottingham attacked by monster. |
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53 Nottingham uses the L word. Nottingham crawls back to Irons. |
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54 Yakuza and mafia war. Lord Sonatine introduced. Tora No-Shi returns. |
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55 Nottingham vs Tora No-Shi. |
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56 Kim Lee introduced. Nottingham vs Tora No-Shi round 2. |
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57 Nottingham, Sara and Jake go after Sonatine. |
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58 Irons enslaves Tora No-Shi. Lisa reveals Drexler is back on drugs. |
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59 Weave introduced. Leads into Tomb Raider #25. |
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60 Sara attacks Weave possessed Lara Croft. Continued in E.V.O. #1. |
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61 Killed Lara Croft, her best friend. Evo come to visit. Sara kisses Lee. |
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62 Magdalena introduced. |
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63 Girls go clubbing, get attacked by monsters. |
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64 Sara gets a dog. Magdelena attacked by Solites. |
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[[Image:Witchblade_82_cover.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Cover for Witchblade #82 by [[Greg Land(artist)|Land, Leisten, Ponser]]]] |
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65 Witchblade fires projectile spikes against Solites. |
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66 Sara fights Bogeyman. Disgustingly bad artwork. |
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67 Sara fights cannibals. Terrible art as well. |
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68 Better artwork. Sara shot by hitcher’s psycho family. |
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69 Tree of life. Sara kills psychos. |
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70 Shine returns. Sara attacks Shine. |
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71 Jake uses the L word. Nottingham flies. Sara dates Lee briefly. |
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72 Sara attacked by cyborgs. Flies using the Witchblade. |
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73 Sara uncovers Windows of the World, a project Irons is involved in, monitoring and |
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developing Supers. |
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74 Kim Lee is investigating Nottingham, knows Sara is mixed up. Julie is dealing for Drexler. Nottingham and Sara combine Witchblades to form huge destructive dragon. Sara pulls out scared. |
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75 Nottingham makes Irons mortal, Lee attacked by Nottingham, Sara defends Lee. Jake arrests Julie. Siry kills Irons. |
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76 Celestine introduced. Sara uses Witchblade as grappling iron to climb high and fast. Celestine beats Sara. |
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77 Sara kills Celestine. |
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78 Lachryma introduced. |
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79 Sara attacked by demons. Jake attacks Julie, loses his job. |
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80 Patrick Gleason introduced. Sara in a coma after visiting her church. Curator introduced. |
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Witchblade is One of Thirteen. |
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81 Sara uses Witchblade as a lock pick. Visit curator’s shop, attacked by demons. |
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82 Magdelena warns Sara to back off investigation. |
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83 Sara attacked in her church. Learns of conspiracy of catholic priests. Jake mortally |
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wounded. |
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84 Curator gives Gleason a totem. Sara and Gleason attack catholic gathering, attacked by demonic dog. Priests summon god demon. |
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85 Sara kills god demon, and dies. Gleason revives her with totem. |
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86 Sara defeats Kurosawa, a samurai ghost manifested by ancient sword. Sara gives sword to curator. |
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87 Sara transferred to one-p-p, (one police plaza), gains a funny, foul mouthed office parrot. Sara meets ghosts Nieuw Amsterdam and Quiet Tom. |
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88 Partnered with Gleason, investigate friend’s missing grandchild. |
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89 Feds show up to grisly murder. Michael, an American Super Soldier blamed, breaks Gleason’s arm. |
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90 Gleason refuses Witchblade healing. Feds show up after Witchblade and Super Soldier. Feds are Supers too. |
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91 Michael kills feds, Gleason accepts healing. Samantha Argent introduced. |
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92 Witchblade origin revealed. Stunning artwork. The curator helps Sara travel through time, |
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reliving all the wielder’s experiences from the past. Stalingrad 1942, Paris 1898 where Irons |
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is sniffing around, Anne Bonny in 1718, as in issue #09, where The Darkness wielder Miguel Estacado resides. Japan 1632 with Shiori-Sama as seen in Witchblade Obakemono. Africa 1509, Yucatán Peninsula 1288, dragon slaying Katarina in Bavaria in 1176, Samantha the Roman gladiator from 229. The first wielder, a cave woman and her sabre toothed tiger found the Witchblade after it fell from the stars. Sara is granted a vision of creation from Dawn, the Witchblade’s midwife. Offspring of The Darkness and The Angelus, the Witchblade acts as a universal balance between dark and light, a male, it requires a female host. Sara in trance for 3 days. |
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93 Sara’s life is analyzed, and her role as universal guardian is accepted. |
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94 Gleason’s ability to find the lousiest, nastiest cup of coffee is discovered. Curator asks Sara to recover an artefact as a test. |
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95 Sara defeats artifact. Captain Peyroux offers permanent partnership between Sara and Gleason. |
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96 Sara interogates a man for the murder of a young girl in issue 88. Sara and Gleason go out on a date which is broken up by.... |
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==External links== |
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*[http://topcow.com/comics/31/current Top Cow Witchblade page] |
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*Gallery of [http://abcovers.free.fr/ Witchblade covers] by Michael Turner |
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*[http://www.bladetv.com/ Unofficial Witchblade television site] |
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*[http://www.geocities.com/karenbd20/Witchblade.html Witchblade television fan website] |
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*[http://www.witchblade.jp/ GONZO Witchblade anime site] ([[Japanese language|Japanese]]) |
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*[http://epguides.com/Witchblade/ Air dates and episode guide] |
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*[http://www.comicbookbabes.angelcities.com/sara_pezzini.htm Collected artworks] |
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*[http://www.geocities.com/sarapezzinifan/ Sara's Precinct] |
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[[Category:Top Cow titles]] |
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[[Category:Comic book titles]] |
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[[Category:2000s TV shows in the United States]] |
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[[Category:Fictional police officers]] |
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[[Category:TV shows produced/distributed by Warner Brothers]] |
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[[de:Witchblade]] |
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[[fr:Witchblade]] |
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[[it:Witchblade]] |
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[[ja:ウィッチブレイド]] |
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Revision as of 02:45, 13 May 2006
You must add a |reason= parameter to this Cleanup template – replace it with {{Cleanup|May 2006|reason=<Fill reason here>}}, or remove the Cleanup template.
Witchblade is a comic book series published by Top Cow Productions, an imprint of Image Comics, since 1995. The title was very popular during the 1990s, but lost many readers when penciller and co-creator Michael Turner left the title.
In Witchblade, NYPD homicide detective Sara Pezzini comes into possession of the Witchblade, a fictional, mysterious, supernatural artifact with awesome powers, and struggles to master its powers. Sara was born in 1971. After her father was killed in the line of duty, she was kidnapped by her child psychologist. Her attacker was a perverted female. Sara was 13. She went on to graduate from police academy in 1993, started at New York precinct #18, which was her father’s precinct, promoted to Detective in 1995. It is later revealed that she gets a kick from bacchanal parties, and from dangerous situations. She is a big fan of Michael Madsen. Her partner, Michael Yee is killed in #01. Befriended by Lara Croft and The Magdalene. Transferred to precinct 1 issue #87. Sara is a slob, living on beer and takeaways. Her fridge contents, in her words, would “embarrass a frat boy”. Every once in a while, when the universe isn’t needing her to hold it together, she feels a nagging feeling that she should have a boyfriend, and reaches out to whomever is closest at the time, but this is always only a fleeting moment, as she has no time for any commitments.
There have been many spin-off titles, which place the Witchblade in other times or settings and in the hands of other heroines, ranging from a pirate woman to Joan of Arc.
The Witchblade
One of Thirteen, an intelligent, ancient, conscious weapon, and is extra-terrestrial. The offspring of the universe’s opposing aspects, The Darkness and The Angelus, (the dark and the light). A male aspect created to act as a balance, it must have a female for a host. Found in Greece by Kenneth Irons, it has had many wielders. When not in use, can look like an ornate, jewel encrusted, right handed gauntlet. When wielded by an unworthy wielder, that person will lose their arm. Forms a symbiotic relationship with host, whom can hear the Witchblade. The gauntlet can appear as an ornate looking bracelet, when wielded it expands across the body of the wielder, shredding clothes, covering the body like armour. The armour seems subjective as to the level of threat. Faced against mortals, it will usually generate less armour than when faced against a demon of hell. This armour can form swords, or stabbing weapons, shields and wings, enabling the wielder to fly. May be temperamental in it’s choice of when to be wielded. When wielded, it can shoot energy blasts from the hand or sword, also can fire projectile darts, and whip-like grapples to wound or for climbing. The Witchblade is also an excellent lock pick, can heal the wielder of wounds, even mortal ones and the wielder can heal others. The Witchblade can re-animate the dead, can empathetically show the wielder scenes of great trauma, and also relive experiences from wielders of the past in dream like experiences.
Top Cow's world
The Top Cow universe is populated by demons, dimensional gates, ghosts and magic. Supers are generally enhanced humans from government, or private entrepreneurial projects. Both the mafia and the Yakuza are prominent forces. Sara’s precinct, 18, or “one eight” is in the roughest part of New York. There are a lot of murders. There is a reference to a time that no homicides are reported for two days running, and all the cops think this is a sign that the apocalypse is coming. Religious followers of God and Satan are prolific, with agents of both sides frequently showing up with their minions to do battle.
Television series
Following a pilot film in August 2000, the cable network TNT premiered a television series based on the comic book series in 2001. The series was directed by Ralph Hemecker and written by Marc Silvestri (who also wrote the comic book) and J.D. Zeik. Yancy Butler starred as Sara Pezzini. Although critically acclaimed and popular with audiences, it was cancelled in September 2002 after Butler was ordered to enter rehab for alcoholism.
Witchblade ran for two seasons on TNT, each featuring 12 episodes. The first episode aired on June 12, 2001, and the last episode aired on August 26, 2002.A movie version is said to be released in 2007 and is in production.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494292/
Anime series
In 2004 Japanese animation studio GONZO announced an anime version of Witchblade, with a subsequent manga adaptation to be published by Kodansha. The anime version is considered controversial by some due to the fact that GONZO has announced that the main character of the anime is of Japanese ethnicity but is not Itagaki, one of the previous bearers of the Witchblade. Instead it is a new character named Masane. This has caused some fans to cry out against what they see as a Nipponisation of the franchise.
The anime series will begin broadcast during April 2006 and will run for 26 episodes (a standard series run). The lead character (and new blade wielder) is the kind-hearted Masane who, despite her good intentions, is fairly clumsy and not good around the house. After the events of an earthquake that struck her home 6 years before the series "year zero", Masane has no recollection of her past previous to this date. When she comes into contact with the Witchblade, Masane also finds herself under the watchful eye of an organisation called the NSWF (National Scientific Welfare Foundation).
Characters
English, formally a captain for special air services for MI5. Underwent behavioural modifications so he could get deep undercover. Forgot his past, and became bodyguard for Kenneth Irons. Can catch bullets. Kills Sara’s partner in #01. Has ties to Yakuza. Body and soul built to absorb mass quantities of energy. Temporarily hosts both Witchblade and Darkness powers. Wields Excalibur, the Witchblade’s twin.
Rich entrepreneur. Discovered Witchblade in Greece. Three times Nottingham’s age. Lost his hand and sacrificed his wife to gain control of the Witchblade. Wife became Ms.Boucher. Son is Microwave killer. Takes over First Church of Prosperity. Killed by Joe Siry #75.
- Joe Siry
Sara’s captain 18 precinct, partner to her dead father, Detective Vincent Pezzini. Married to Dalia. Hidden agenda with Irons, forced to kill Vincent Pezzini to save Sara’s life.
- Jake McCarthy
Sara’s best friend, cop. Madly in love with Sara and it is un-requited.
- Lisa
Mother Maria, deceased. Sara promised to keep an eye on her. 16 years old, (in issue #10), friend, model.
- Julie Pezzini
Sara’s sister. Romantically involved with Jake.
The Darkness, mafia hitman.
Yakuza assassin who is introduced in issue 15. Works for the Yakuza in the Family Ties storyline and gets beat by Jackie. Reappears in issue 54. Fights Ian Nottingham, then attepts to assassinate Kenneth Irons at Caulty Towers. Ian shows up and beats Tora. After that Irons takes Tora as his new bodyguard/tool and begins a series of chemical rituals on him (Story can be shown in the Blood Relations TPB). In the Deathpool storyline Tora is one of the characters voted to be killed by the fans. He is promptly killed by Ian in issue 75.
Blade wielders
In reverse chronological order:
- Sara Pezzini (fictitious)
- Ian Nottingham (fictitious)
- Elizabeth Brontë (fictitious)
- Marie Curie
- Florence Nightingale
- Anne Bonny
- Queen Isabella
- Joan of Arc
- Itagaki
- Septima Zenobia
- Cathain
- Boudica
- Cleopatra
- Artemisia
- Myrine
Pretenders
In reverse chronological order:
- Fiona(fictitious)
- John Sansmain (fictitious)
- Dominique Boucher (fictitious)
- Kenneth Irons (fictitious)
- Abigail Williams
- Elizabeth Paris
- Marie d'Estrada (fictitious)
- Mirabella Avila (fictitious)
Issue events breakdown (Contains Spoilers)
01 Irons introduced, holding a tournament to find a wielder for the Witchblade. Sara Pezzini undercover against drug dealers. Drexler the dealer snitches about the tournament. Sara and Yee investigate. Ian Nottingham introduced. Murders by microwave killer announced. Witchblade introduced. Incorrect wielder loses arm. Yee is discovered, Sara leaps in front as he is shot by Nottingham, knocks Witchblade from pedestal and is shot too. Mortally wounded, she reaches out and the Witchblade crawls onto her hand, healing her. Witchblade kills everyone, Yee dies.
02 Sara removes Witchblade, passes out, wakes in hospital. Witchblade taken into evidence by Jake. Nottingham saves Irons by catching a bullet, uses sword to kill assassins. Lisa introduced. Sara re-animated Yee while trying to heal his dead body. Yee dies again.
03 Sara casts Witchblade away, thinks it is evil. Kenneth Irons contacts Sara. Sara kidnapped by a mob trying to understand importance of Witchblade, is mortally wounded and given Witchblade. Sara wields Witchblade and escapes. Nottingham attacks Sara.
04 Nottingham’s attack is against Irons’ wishes. Sara saved by Irons.
05 Witchblade turns into ornate looking bracelet. Ms.Boucher introduced. Sara has a peek around Irons’ office, flees when he sees her. Nottingham has erotic dream about Sara.
06 Irons and Sara have coffee. Julie Pezzini introduced. Irons explains Witchblade was found by himself in Greece, was wielded by Joan of Arc, by a member of Alexander the Great’s army, and in Ancient Egypt. Sara leaves knowing Irons has offered to remove Witchblade from her. Attacked by Nottingham at Yee’s graveside. Witchblade refuses to help.
07 Nottingham leaves Sara after explaining his dream. Sara guest of Irons at party at his house. Meets Michael Madsen. Jake crashes party, Irons and Sara go to his high rise office block. Irons yells at Sara, and Witchblade makes her bleed. Nottingham told to kill Sara.
08 Internal Affairs agent Selzer reveals to Jake that Irons is his boss. Nottingham betrays Irons. Irons reveals he is three time older than Nottingham. Nottingham thrown off building. Irons reveals he lost his hand to the Witchblade. Irons takes some of Witchblade from Sara, can barely control it. Jake is attacked by Irons. Sara retains a small portion of the Witchblade, which she wields to save herself being thrown from building. She defeats Irons who throws himself from building after Sara takes Witchblade from him.
09 Sara has waking dream about another wielder from 1736, Anne Bonny.
10 Julie tells Sara Lisa is with Ms.Boucher. Sara attacked by demons.
11 Sara confronts Ms.Boucher.
12 Siry flashback to when he was partnered with Vincent Pezzini, investigating microwave murders. Tells Sara her father killed by microwave killer.
13 Jake and Sara attacked by mob. Witchblade kills them all. Microwave killer revealed.
14 Danette Boucher revealed to be Irons’ wife, whom he sacrificed trying to get Witchblade to work. Traces of Witchblade remained, re-animating Boucher as a killer. Sara kills Boucher. Microwave killer is Irons and Boucher’s son.
15 Sara and Jake fired, offered job by Justice Department. Tora No Shi introduced. Sara goes to Rio.
16 Sara drugged, taken to government weapons laboratory interested in Witchblade. Devin released. Sara attacked by those she rescued.
17 Sara saved by Nottingham. Jackie Estacado introduced.
18 Family ties pt.1. Nottingham reveals ties with Yakuza. Witchblade goes wild near Estacado.
19 Family ties pt.4. Nottingham takes both Darkness and Witchblade.
20 Sara gives up the Witchblade to Nottingham. Gavin Taylor, and First Church of Prosperity introduced. Sara seeks out Nottingham.
21 Nottingham and Sara rescue Setsuke. Sara visits mother. Taylor recruits Nottigham.
22 Sara and Jake back at work. Jake’s ex-girlfriend slaughtered. Jake and Julie get close.
23 Nottingham struggles for control. Witchblade awakes inside Sara.
24 Sara finds photo of her father with Taylor and Irons. Nottingham does hit for Taylor against Jake.
25 Sara confronts Siry, manifests Witchblade. Irons returns, taking over Church from Taylor. Nottingham attacks Jake, Sara attacks Nottingham. Witchblade loses a stone, Sara calls Witchblade back.
26 Eric Sketh introduced as new partner. Julie tells Sara about Irons and Taylor. Irons visits Siry.
27 Sara heals Jake. Setsuke attacks Taylor. Sketh has interest in antiques. See similar artefacts to Witchblade at museum.
28 Siry’s past revealed. Blackmailed into dropping investigation of ancient artefact. Payback attacks Sara. Nottingham rescues Setsuke.
29 Sara attacks mafia.
30 Jackie Estacado attacks Sara. Nottingham beds Setsuke.
31 Nottingham kills Setsuke. Siry confesses shooting Sara’s father to protect Sara from Irons.
32 Witchblade has a new stone. Taylor revealed to be a monster. Sara attacked by Shine.
33 Lisa living with Drexler, who used to be Sara’s snitch. Sara has lunch with Irons and Nottingham. Has troubles controlling Witchblade.
34 Sketh offers Sara help with the Witchblade.
35 Sketh reveals he has a twin weapon. Julie tells Jake that Sara was kidnapped at the age of 13 by her perverted, female, child psychologist.
36 Witchblade, Darkness. Sara reveals she was into perverted danger, and she has to fight those urges. There are four Noble Ones, Sara and The Darkness are two of these. Jake and Julie are a couple. Leads to Witchblade Darkness mini series.
37 Sara attacked by a monster. Tsin-Sen introduced. Attacked by demons.
38 Sketh attacks Jake. Jake kills Sketh.
39 Sara protects Lisa.
40 New era. New partner, fire marshall Blake. Pyro introduced.
41 Blake and Pyro killed. Pyro states Witchblade is extra-terrestrial in origin.
42 Pez killer introduced. Sara has frequent nightmares.
43 Sara uses internet blogs to investigate bizarre and strange occurrences. Sara transferred to special unit. Sara witnesses a body possessed.
44 Pez killer revealed.
45 Sara dreams of killing demons in ages past. Jake is shot and mortally wounded.
46 Sara given a choice by the Witchblade, to sacrifice an innocent man to be blamed as the Pez killer to save Jake’s life. She accepts. Pez killer triumphant.
47 Suicide investigation. Witchblade has empathetic link with scenes of trauma.
48 Pyro returns. Sara meets Adrian Smith.
49 Sara kills Pyro. Sees herself as an angel of mercy.
50 Sara and Ian join forces. Nottingham origin revealed. Programmed by MI5 to be deep cover, but forgot his identity when he joined with Irons. Wields Excalibur, the Witchblade’s twin. End of Days.
51 Nottingham revealed to have shot Sara’s father.
52 Smith killed. Sara and Nottingham attacked by monster.
53 Nottingham uses the L word. Nottingham crawls back to Irons.
54 Yakuza and mafia war. Lord Sonatine introduced. Tora No-Shi returns.
55 Nottingham vs Tora No-Shi.
56 Kim Lee introduced. Nottingham vs Tora No-Shi round 2.
57 Nottingham, Sara and Jake go after Sonatine.
58 Irons enslaves Tora No-Shi. Lisa reveals Drexler is back on drugs.
59 Weave introduced. Leads into Tomb Raider #25.
60 Sara attacks Weave possessed Lara Croft. Continued in E.V.O. #1.
61 Killed Lara Croft, her best friend. Evo come to visit. Sara kisses Lee.
62 Magdalena introduced.
63 Girls go clubbing, get attacked by monsters.
64 Sara gets a dog. Magdelena attacked by Solites.
65 Witchblade fires projectile spikes against Solites.
66 Sara fights Bogeyman. Disgustingly bad artwork.
67 Sara fights cannibals. Terrible art as well.
68 Better artwork. Sara shot by hitcher’s psycho family.
69 Tree of life. Sara kills psychos.
70 Shine returns. Sara attacks Shine.
71 Jake uses the L word. Nottingham flies. Sara dates Lee briefly.
72 Sara attacked by cyborgs. Flies using the Witchblade.
73 Sara uncovers Windows of the World, a project Irons is involved in, monitoring and developing Supers.
74 Kim Lee is investigating Nottingham, knows Sara is mixed up. Julie is dealing for Drexler. Nottingham and Sara combine Witchblades to form huge destructive dragon. Sara pulls out scared.
75 Nottingham makes Irons mortal, Lee attacked by Nottingham, Sara defends Lee. Jake arrests Julie. Siry kills Irons.
76 Celestine introduced. Sara uses Witchblade as grappling iron to climb high and fast. Celestine beats Sara.
77 Sara kills Celestine.
78 Lachryma introduced.
79 Sara attacked by demons. Jake attacks Julie, loses his job.
80 Patrick Gleason introduced. Sara in a coma after visiting her church. Curator introduced. Witchblade is One of Thirteen.
81 Sara uses Witchblade as a lock pick. Visit curator’s shop, attacked by demons.
82 Magdelena warns Sara to back off investigation.
83 Sara attacked in her church. Learns of conspiracy of catholic priests. Jake mortally wounded.
84 Curator gives Gleason a totem. Sara and Gleason attack catholic gathering, attacked by demonic dog. Priests summon god demon.
85 Sara kills god demon, and dies. Gleason revives her with totem.
86 Sara defeats Kurosawa, a samurai ghost manifested by ancient sword. Sara gives sword to curator.
87 Sara transferred to one-p-p, (one police plaza), gains a funny, foul mouthed office parrot. Sara meets ghosts Nieuw Amsterdam and Quiet Tom.
88 Partnered with Gleason, investigate friend’s missing grandchild.
89 Feds show up to grisly murder. Michael, an American Super Soldier blamed, breaks Gleason’s arm.
90 Gleason refuses Witchblade healing. Feds show up after Witchblade and Super Soldier. Feds are Supers too.
91 Michael kills feds, Gleason accepts healing. Samantha Argent introduced.
92 Witchblade origin revealed. Stunning artwork. The curator helps Sara travel through time, reliving all the wielder’s experiences from the past. Stalingrad 1942, Paris 1898 where Irons is sniffing around, Anne Bonny in 1718, as in issue #09, where The Darkness wielder Miguel Estacado resides. Japan 1632 with Shiori-Sama as seen in Witchblade Obakemono. Africa 1509, Yucatán Peninsula 1288, dragon slaying Katarina in Bavaria in 1176, Samantha the Roman gladiator from 229. The first wielder, a cave woman and her sabre toothed tiger found the Witchblade after it fell from the stars. Sara is granted a vision of creation from Dawn, the Witchblade’s midwife. Offspring of The Darkness and The Angelus, the Witchblade acts as a universal balance between dark and light, a male, it requires a female host. Sara in trance for 3 days.
93 Sara’s life is analyzed, and her role as universal guardian is accepted.
94 Gleason’s ability to find the lousiest, nastiest cup of coffee is discovered. Curator asks Sara to recover an artefact as a test.
95 Sara defeats artifact. Captain Peyroux offers permanent partnership between Sara and Gleason.
96 Sara interogates a man for the murder of a young girl in issue 88. Sara and Gleason go out on a date which is broken up by....