DRUIDISM AND VEDISM COMPARED

by Michel-Gérald Boutet, autumn, 2000

ABSTRACT

Many have heard about druidism but few have a true picture of what

druidism was, and is in truth. The many misconceptions entertained by the

general public have blurred the picture to the point where it is

unrecognisable as a western brand of Vedism. Most people confuse it with

witchcraft and wizardry. This is mainly due to the fact that it was

denigrated and fakirised by the dominating faith introduced into Europe by

the Romans around the third century of the Common Era. Christianism,

not unlike the other monolithic monotheistic religions does not tolerate

competition. The following are my views gained from inside the tradition.

What it is not

· Druidism isn't a form of shamanism.

· It isn't wizardry either; although the name drui (magician) came to be

taken for such in modern Irish.

· It is in no way connected with witchcraft or other forms of modern occult

lores.

· It isn't an offshoot of Freemasonry, although many associations

proclaiming to be Neo-druidical are Masonic lodges.

· It isn't an isolated cult practised only by the Celts of the Celtic fringe

(Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Brittany).

What it is

The ministry of the Druids was called Druidiaxto in the ancient sacred

language (Celtica). "The Druids were the Brahmans of the West", more

than an aphorism this is a statement of fact. First, the etymology; Druid

stems from the Celtic root Dru-Uides (pl. of Dru-Uis) for "firm knowers".

Same as Celtic Uidta||Uidtu = Science, Knowledge, a cognate of the

Sanskrit Veda.

A cognate of the theonym Visnu is also found in Celtic as Uisunos/-a/-on

= 'worthy', 'dignified'. Visnu is said to derive ultimately from "Vi-", with a

general meaning of separation or of distance.

This is expanded into Visnu, which means "all-pervading". The Celtic

cognate Uisunos relates to a Vedic Sanskrit word, Visune. Druuos, "the

firm" also has a Sanskrit cognate in the name Dhruva, the Pole Star.

Druides were the keepers and maintainers of the Dru-Uidiia (Dhru-Vidyà

in Skt form), a body of lore which has unfortunately disappeared with the

last Druids around the Vth c. CE, but which was revived, in part, during

the Medieval Ages until it was restored in 1717 CE. Therefore, Dru-Uidiia

(Firm Knowledge) was comparable to Trayi-Vidyà with its three main

Vedas: Rigveda, Sàmaveda, and Yajurveda. Here we find the same

propensity for word-play, çlesha, on Trii-Uidiia and Dru-Uidiia. Good for

the etymology. How about the theological content?

Druidism, like Vedism was articulated on the concepts of Monism and

Relativism, of Monism and Dualism, that is, of Impersonalism and

Personalism. Same dialectic as with Advaita-vedanta (Nondualistic) and

Suddha-dvaita (Pure dualism). With the Druids these two philosophies

were incorporated into a unified concept that individual souls partook of

the same nature as the Uxellimon, the Brahman, but were also different in

that they were endowed with individual personalities and therefore

different but similar (Relativism).

The Original teachings of the Druids emanated from the Seven Sages or

Sextendiriones, the Stars of Ursa Major also called Eburoi, the Boars.

They were the mind sons of the God Dagodeuos called Uesos (Knower),

Uocomarcos (Research), Sulacsus (Wisdom), Uirionos (Truth), Ueros

(True), Andiatis (Superior), and Uindonos (Whitely).

These teachings in relation to Uidiia were then given to the ancient Druid

Master Tundos, the Salmon of Knowledge keeper of the fountainhead,

who lived before the First Age, Aes Nemeti (Krita Yuga), Age of the

Holy. His lineage was revived by Tundos Carrillos in the second Age.

Along with the lineage of Tundos in the second Age (Aes Uironi, the Age

of Truth or Treta Yuga) was that of Uindonos another great avatar whose

line was carried into the Christian era.

First and foremost were the prime Druids of the Prime Age, Uesos, the

Knower, Uocomarcos, the Research, and Sulacsus, the Wisdom, who

initiated the Four Masters' lineage. The Four Masters were the ever

youthful mind-born sons of Dits Ater (or Brannos /Dagodeuos, the Celtic

Brahma) identical to the Four Kumaras.

These included:

Arios, the Noble, or Uisciatis (Waterlord) North;

Semiatis, the Subtle, if not Uoros (Underly), East;

Marouesos, of Great Knowledge, if not Andiatis (Superior) or Morios, (the

Sea) South;

and Uros (the Pure/Fire), if not Uindonos or Esdratis, the Lord who has

the Way, West.

Other ancient seers were Matugenos, son of the Bear, Meneuos, of the

three Mantric sounds, Tasgos, a Druid of Nodons, Dallanos, a great

theologian-seer in the Aes Danuos (Dvàpara Yuga) or Age of Boons.

Amarogenos, "of Sorrow", a prime Druid of the Aes Miletonens (Age of

Havoc) at the start of this Age of Kali, and, Catubatuos, the Fighter of

Death, Magus Retas, Servant of the Wheel, a great theologian and

politician.

Amarogenos, who in later traditions was hailed as the first Druid, seer to

have set foot in the western land (Ireland via Iberia) cried out an

extraordinary incantation resounding with the same intensity as those of

the Bhagavad Gita.

It is remarkable that both poetic boasts be separated more by space than by

time! Compare for yourselves :

On the druidic side:

The Song of Amarogenos the Druid

I am a wind on the sea

I am a wave of the ocean

I am the roar of the sea,

I am a powerful ox,

I am a hawk on a cliff,

I am a dewdrop in the sunshine,

I am a boar for valor,

I am a salmon in pools,

I am a lake in a plain,

I am the strength of art,

I am a spear with spoils that wages battle,

I am a man that shapes fire for a head.

Who clears the stone-place of the mountain?

What the place in which the setting of the sun lies?

Who has sought peace without fear seven times?

Who names the waterfalls?

Who brings his cattle from the house of Tethra?

What person, what god Forms weapons in a fort?

In a fort that nourishes satirists,

Chants a petition, divides the Ogam letters,

Separates a fleet, has sung praises?

A wise satirist.

He sang afterwards to increase fish in the creeks:

Fishful sea-

Fertile land-

Burst of fish-

Fish under wave-

With courses of birds--

Rough Sea-

A white wall--

With hundreds of salmon-

Broad Whale-

A port song-

A burst of fish.

And on the Vedic side:

Knowledge of the Absolute O son of Kunti, I am the taste of water,

the light of the sun and the moon,

the syllable ôm in the Vedic mantras;

I am the sound in ether and ability in man.

I am the original fragrance of the earth,

and I am the heat in fire.

I am the life of all that lives,

and I am the penances of all ascetics.

O son of Prthà, know that

I am the original seed

of all existences,

the intelligence of the intelligent,

and prowess of all powerful men.

I am the strength of the strong,

devoid of passion and desire.

I am kàma-ràga which is not contrary to dharma,

O lord of the Bhàratas (Arjuna).

Know that all states of being

be they of goodness,

passion or ignorance

are manifested by my energy.

Iam, in one sense,

everything, but

I am independent.

I am not under the modes of material nature,

for they, on the contrary, are within Me.

Deluded by the three modes,

the whole world does not know Me,

who am above the modes

and exaustible.

(BG chapt. 10. v. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)

The Yoga of the Supreme Person

I am the fire of digestion in the bodies of all living entities,

and I join with the air of life, out going and incoming,

to digest the four kinds of foodstuff.

I am seated in everyone's heart,

and from Me come remembrance,

knowledge and forgetfulness.

By all the Vedas,

I am to be known.

Indeed,

I am the compiler of Vedànta,

and I am the Knower of Vedas.

(BG chapt 15; v.14, 15)

Then again, the similarities in liturgical vocabulary are much too alike to

be coincidental. Here are just a few examples:

Sanskrit: angiras (messenger, a great sage); Celtic agetos (messenger,

godly messenger, angel/cf. Greek: aggelos) Sanskrit arya (freeman), -

Celtic :arios (nobleman) Sanskrit artha (living); Celtic: uritus (profit,

gain) Sanskrit: avidya (ignorance); Celtic: anuidiia (ignorance) Sanskrit:

Buddhi (planet Mercury); Celtic: Boudios (planet Mercury) Sanskrit:

deva (god); Celtic deuos (god) Sanscrit: dharma (ritual law); Celtic :

dedma (ritual law) Sanskrit: dhruva (firm, Pole Star); Celtic druuos (firm,

Pole Star) Sanskrit gunas (literally rope, a yoke); Celtic: ganna || ganno

(contenance, fatality, as a yoke) Sanskrit: manu (man , mankind); Celtic:

manos (man, human/cf. manus: Germanic) Sanskrit: namas (bow ,

obeisance , reverential salutation , adoration); Celtic namos||nemos (sky

vault, heaven, ether) Sanskrit kàma, the mode of kâma (goodness); Celtic:

coima (softness, lovingness) Sanskrit - raja (king); Celtic rixs (king),

Sanskrit: Surya (Sun); Celtic: Sauelios (Sun) Sanskrit: veda (science

knowledge, insight, vision); Celtic: uidta || uidtu (science knowledge,

insight, vision. Sanskrit: Vidya (science, knowledge, conception); Uidia ||

Uidiia (science, knowledge, conception).

The Celtic divinity Esus, word which expresses lordship, deity, and

goodness (from Aesus||Aisus = "Breath", "Deity", and punning with Uesos

= "Knowing", "Good by excellence") is identical to the etruccan Ais (SIA)

"an idea of divinity" and Hittite Ishas (+àsu > asura by coalescing).

It finds its parallels in the Germanic Asar (+ ansuz by coalescing), and is

similar to the Avestic ahu > ahura and Vedic Asa > Ash. The Celtic

goddesses Ana and Danua are analogues of the Vedic goddesses Anahita

and Danu. Maya also finds her counterpart in the Celtic Maiia and Italic

Maea, goddess of Homes.

The Celtic Adido is close to the Vedic Aditi, and Ander could be the true

name of Lugus, the Celtic Indra. Following the Trimurti deities, Rudra

finds his match in the Celtic Roudios, while Ogmios can be compared to

Vohumanah.

It is still debated as to whether Medros or Meduris is to be closened to

Mitra, but nevertheless, both participate of the same respective divine

order in that Medros is Mitraesque. Varuna is Ueranos (when not To-

Ueranos > Taranos), comparable to the Greek Ouranos and Latin Uranus.

Interestingly, the Celtic Taranos seems to be the product of the same

semantic shift as the Sanskrit Taranih. Likewise, there are Italic, Hellenic

or Germanic deities comparable to the Vedic ones but not found with

Celtic cognates. For example: Idaspâti for Nrayan corresponds to Poseidon

in Greek, Fosites in Germanic while he is called Nectanos (Washed) in

Celtic. As for Narayan, he is Nereus in Greek, Nereius in Latin, and Lero

(Flow) in Celtic (J. Monard 2001).

Conversely, the sunrise divinity Ushas finds its cognates in the Celtic

Uasris and Uara, while it is Aurora in Latin or Eos in Greek. Other

interesting matches are the gods Uisuna||Uesuna and Uisunos (Dignified,

Worthy) and Vishnu.

The other parallels are much too great to enumerate in such a short notice

so we will just give some of the examples that first come to mind:

TABLE OF COMPARISONS

VEDIC / DRU-UIDIC

1. The term Vedic derives from the Sanskrit Vidya meaning knowledge,

science, learning, scholarship, and philosophy.

The term Druidic derives from Uidiia (cf. Uidia) meaning knowledge,

science, learning, scholarship, and philosophy with Dru- (same as Sanskrit

dhru-) as an adjectival prefix meaning firm, and hard; thus firm knowledge

or science. In Vedic terms, it is Dhru-Vidya.

2. There are four classifications in the Vedas: Rig Veda, Sama Veda,

Atharva Veda, and Yajur Veda.

There are four classifications in the canonical druidic texts: Marocastus,

the Great Story, Barna Nemeti, the Judgements of Nemetos, Uidtu

Garmianom the Science of Invocations (Garman), and Uidto Cantlonos the

Science of Song (Cano),the fourth. "Cantalones" is the name of that

division,

3. The gods of the Vedas are referred to as deva, meaning "shining one."

The gods of the Celts are called deuoi, meaning "shining ones."

4. The soul in the Vedas is atman.

The Celtic word for soul is anamu punning with anatia, the Celtic term for

breath.

5. The early Vedic pantheon included deities of fire, solar, atmospheric

and nature forces, ritual stimulants, speech, crafts, arts, harvests, medicine,

justice, ethical/ecological order, war, battles of malevolent beings. River

Goddesses represented sovereignty, arts and fertility. Gods often had

overlapping functions.

Celtic deities included Gods who actualised nature forces, promulgated

ethics, justice, knowledge, speech, arts, crafts, medicine, and harvests,

gave war courage and battled forces of darkness, also including Goddesses

of rivers, land, sovereignty, arts, fertility and motherhood. Gods were

often polyvalent and tri-functioned.

6. Vedic God of rain and thunder was Indra who carried thunderbolts.

Vedic God of fire is Agni, meaning fire. The solar Being is Surya.

Celtic God of thunder was Taranus who carried thunderbolts. God of fire

is Aedus, also meaning fire. The sun Deity is Grannos, Oinogustios or

Belenos when not simply Sauelios.

7. The Goddess Danu appears in the Vedic story "The Churning of the

Oceans," a story with parallels Celtic mythology. Danu in Sanskrit means

"divine waters" and "moisture."

The Celtic stories of the goddess Danua (< Danu) and the Danube

(Danubia) is a parallel to that of Ganga and the Ganges. Danua in Celtic

means "high rushing waters" and impetuous".

Celtic cosmology is an exact parallel of Vedic cosmology:

8. Vedic cosmology describes cosmic creation as the sacrifice of Purusha,

the Primal Being. The Vedic word for breath is Prana.

Celtic cosmology conceived of cosmic creation as the dismembering of

Bitus (World), the Cosmic Giant, when not Ancu = "Fatality"; or Ailm,

the primal sound) as primal sacrifice victim. The Celtic word for breath is

Aesus.

9. The universe existence span-called kalpa-ends in a

repeatingcreation/destruction cycle through fire and water, symbolic of

primal light and sound. The Brahmins count four Ages: Krta or Satya

Yuga (Golden Age, "the Age of Truth"), Treta Yuga (Third Age), Dvàpara

Yuga (Second Age), and Kali Yuga (Dark Age)

The Druids taught that the universe is destroyed in the disbalance of

elements and is re-constructed through fire and water in a repeating cycle

called Aeiiôn. The Reconstruction termed Areudengto (> Erdathe gdl)

initiates the new cycle.The Druids counted four Ages: Aiuestu Nemeti

(Age of Holy/Golden Age), Aiuestu Uirionas (Age of Truth/Silver Age),

Aiuestu Danuion (Age of Boons/Bronze Age), and Aiuestu Miletonion

(Age of Havoc/Iron Age)

10. Vedic cosmology perceives three interrelating worlds-a physical

world, an astral world of the ancestors, the souls of the dead and demi-

gods, and a causal universe of deities, of Supreme Being and primal

energy; plus a fourth netherworld.

Druidic cosmology also perceives three interrelating worlds: an

underworld called uodumnon, an earthly realm called bitu or dumnon, a

heavenly realm of dead heroes and gods called rigosedon; and a white

realm of supreme deities and energy source of stars called uindobitu. Plus

a forth netherworld termed andumnon.

11. The Vedic macrocosm is divided into four lands and cities occupied by

celestial beings and spirit entities of similar character. On these planes

called lokas, time is abnormally expanded.

The druidic three or four worlds are in turn described as planes (Magoi)

called fields of existence, occupied by spirit beings and similar

disincarnate souls. Time is also expanded in the Magoi.

12. In Vedic thought, departed souls dwelled in refined or otherworldly

places until their next reincarnation in human or animal form.

In druidic thought, souls of the deceased continue existence in subtle or

underworldly realms called Sidoi until entry into the next human or animal

body.

13. The Vedic earth world is called bhu for "relm of the living".

The Celtic earth world is called bitu also for "relm of the living".

14. The Vedic calendar is based on 12 lunar months with an embolismic

month added every 3-year and 5-years to harmonise with solar cycles.

The Druidical calendar is based on 12 lunar months with an embolismic

month added every 3 and 5-years to harmonise with solar cycles. The

Coligny calendar was based on 62 lunar months (5 years +) intercalated to

a 3-year solar cycle for solstice correction.

15. In the Vedic calendar, the sixth day of the moon called Mahatithi

(Great Day) was held in great reverence.

As reported by Pliny the Elder, the Druids held the sixth day of the moon

as highly sacred. This sixth day, Nemetolatis, marks the eve of the novena

called Noiolates in Celtic. Likewise, in the Roman calendar, the sixth day

called Pridie Nonas marks the end of Kalendae days initiating the month

while Nonae, the seventh day, initiates the novena (nine days).

16. Brahmans studied the stars and made astronomical calculations,

speculated on their movements and measured their distances. Vedic

astronomy was applied to astrology, and the Brahmin astrologers closely

observed the skies.

Likewise Druids studied the stars, stellar motion, as applied to navigation

and speculated on the size and nature of the universe. Druidic astronomy

was applied to astrology, and the druid astrologers closely observed the

skies.

17. Vedic astrologers use a system called nakshatras in Sanskrit..

Ancient Celtic astrologers used a similar system based on twenty-seven

lunar mansions called Lettoi Luxnas. Like the Hindu Soma, the god

Alpillis, husband of Medua "drunkenness", had a circular palace

constructed with twenty-seven windows through which he could gaze on

his twenty-seven "star wives."

18. One fascinating parallel is that the ancient Irish and Hindus used the

name Budh for the planet Mercury. The stem budh appears in all the Celtic

languages, as it does in Sanskrit, as meaning "all victorious," "gift of

teaching," "accomplished," "enlightened," "exalted" and so on. Boudios

was the Celtic name for Mercury!

19. The Vedic priestly caste was that of the Brahmans.

The Druids were not simply a priesthood. They were the intellectual caste

of ancient Celtic society, incorporating all the professions: judges,

lawyers, medical doctors, ambassadors, historians and so forth, just as

does the Brahman caste.

20. The Sanskrit term for invocation is hotar and the oblation carrier was

called a Brahman.

The Celtic word for invocation is gutuater and the oblation carrier was

called a Beromen.

21. Celtic priests, as did the Vedic priests, taught that human souls were

indestructible, but that the universe ends and returns through fire and

water in a repeating cycle.

22. The central Vedic ritual was the fire sacrifice, performed in geometric

pits with offerings of ghee, spices, rice-conducted by hymn-and-mantra-

chanting Brahmins.

The central Celtic ritual was the fire sacrifice, conducted in geometric pits

with offerings of clarified butter (embmen), herbs, and mead and flour

cakes, conducted by chanting druids.

23. The Vedic priesthood-the brahmins-memorised the scriptural and

societal law knowledge of the Hindus, passing it on orally, forbidding

writing. Brahmins formed several divisions associated with the fire ritual

duties. Enlightened Brahmins became rishi seers. Others advised kings

and some specialised in medicine and astronomy/astrology.

Enlightened Celtic seers were called druuides, meaning "Firm knowers."

and were part of a class of priests called nemetes (from nemetos =

"sacred" and nemos "sky", "ether». They memorised the entire knowledge

of the Celts and passed it on orally, forbidding written transmission. They

were divided into several classes: seers, judges, royal advisors, hymn

chanters, poet bards, and sacrificers. They were also astronomers, healers

and magicians.

24. Brahmins studied for 12 years in a gurukulam to master oral, ritual,

mathematical, astronomical knowledge.

Druids studied for 20 years in strict discipleship to master their oral, ritual,

law, science and psychic arts.

25. Poet seers of the Vedic literature memorised lengthy poetic sagas

conveying spiritual knowledge and dharmic duty. The poetic metre was a

fixed syllable line, free form, with 3-part cadence at end.

Poet seers of Celtic literature memorised extremely lengthy poetic sagas

that communicated spiritual metaphysics and civic laws. The poetic metre

was a fixed syllable line, free form, with 3-part cadence at end.

In ancient Celtic society as in ancient Vedic society, there was a class of

poets who acted as charioteers to the warriors they were also their

intimates and friends. In Vedic and Celtic sagas these charioteers extolled

the prowess of the warriors.

26. Vedic ascetics practised Yoga a breathing technique of postures and

meditation skills in a spiritual process called tapas (heat), generating high

body heat.

Druid ascetics practised Iugon a breathing technique of postures and

meditation techniques that gave degrees of ecstasy, often accompanied by

Aedon intense heat in the body.

27. Vedic society divided into four hierarchical castes: priests, warriors,

merchants, workers. Brahmins counselled warrior-kings (rajas). Upward

mobility was sanctioned in Vedas, but later frozen in societal law books.

Celtic society was divided into three or four hierarchical stratas of life:

priests, warriors, producers and craftsmen (including merchants), and

captives. Druids advised warrior-kings known as rixs. The dharmic classes

were never frozen into a caste system.

28. Vedic society prized the supernatural power of truth-saying, piety and

honour, and eloquence in gatherings.

Celts prized the magical power of telling truth, honour/piety among men

and eloquence in conversation and oration.

29. Vedic Hindus prized womanly virtues, and by law sonless fathers

could bequeath property to daughters or arrange her marriage to relatives

for male heirs. Female seers were countenanced, and female ascetics

tended Goddess rites.

Celts honoured women, guarded their virtue, and allowed by law

daughters of sonless fathers to inherit property or to marry kinsmen to bear

male heirs to the father. Pythonesses were sanctioned, and priestesses for

Goddesses favoured.

30. Vedic Hindus followed 8 forms of marriage from arranged to love to

abduction. The groom paid a bride price.

Celts recognised 8 forms of marriage from arranged to love to abduction.

A bride gift was given by the groom.

31. Vedic society taught four ashrama stages of life: studentship (7-21);

family life (21-49); elder advisor (50-57/60); vanaprasha, the person

becomes a religious seaker 57/60+), in which the individual seeks

enlightenment. The Vedic ideal of a fulfilled life was to live 100 autumns.

The Vedas defined the maturing of the physical self in cycles of seven

years.

Celts defined life stages, "Columns of Age": infancy (0-7), boyhood starts

at 7 («Age of Reason"), adolescence at 14 (2x7), majority at 21 (7x3), plus

two others, to finally come to the mature age of 63 (9x7), in which

enlightening inspiration is sought. The Celtic ideal measure for a man's

life was 81 years ("Thrice the age of a horse (27) is the age of a man (81),

a short existence").

32. The ancient Hindu family unit is four generations from a great-

grandfather.

The Celtic family unit was a group of four generations from a great-

grandfather.

33. By Hindu law, a creditor could fast at the door of the past due debtor,

who then was obligated to protect the health of the creditor and pay the

debt.

By Celtic law a man owed money could fast at the door of the debtor-who

must join the fast-forcing the debtor to pay or enter an arbitration.

On Druids and Brahmans

Many were the scholars who were struck by the great similarities of the Celtic Druids and

Vedic Brahmans. Despite all the similarities, a cognate of the name Brahman is not found

in the neo-Celtic languages. However, it is found in the sister languages of Gaulish, Latin

in particular. The linguist Julius Porkony was the first to propose a common etymon for

the Latin Flamen and Sanskrit Brahman. The Old Aryan language, qualified as proto-

Indo-european by modern linguistic standards had *Blagmen as the root word of both

Flamen and Brahman.

Porkorny saw in it a primitive meaning of 'Opferhandlung', which means the handling of

offerings, that is, 'treatment of offerings' in sacrificial liturgy.

And the Tibetan Buddhist term Lama, from the root Blama, is probably from the Sanskrit

Brahma. Blama had the meaning of 'master', 'teacher', and has nothing to do with the

humble monk. The Blama was more like a spiritual guide, of exceptional merits. In light

of this, the Slavic derived term blago-, connotes 'salutary bringing'. From the Russian

language we have Blago, 'the Good', 'the Salvation'; Blagoj, 'good', 'salutary'. This

bringing us closer to the Brahmanic concepts of 'sacrifice/offering/salvation' held as an

indispensable trio for world preservation and balance.

For it to be operative, it had to be ensured by the Brahman through his ministers the

Brahmana. The Brahmans were not unknown to Ancient Europe, the Greeks transcribed

the name as Braxmanis, and the Romans, as Brachmanus.

In medieval Europe, the name evolved into Bragman from the Late Latin Bragmannus of

the XIIIth century CE.

In this situation, Pokorny had no trouble comparing the Vedic Brâhman with the

Messapian Blamin and Latin Flamen: these two words transcribed as jlamin in Old

Greek. Please bear in mind that Messapian was an Illyric idiom from the Adriatic side of

southern Italy. The Celtic equivalent of this term was Beromen for 'Offering-bearer. Why

it was dropped for the terms Nemetos (Holyman), Druuis (True-seer), no one can tell. We

are just lost in conjectures. One thing sure, at a certain stage in the evolution of Northern

Aryan (Uttara Kuru) thought, Offering-bearers became called True Seers. This probably

because the Uidiia (Vidya) were the structuring hymns of the Proto-Cimmerian priestly

class.

In time, through separation, each Aryan culture developed its own class of ministers. The

Celts had synonymous terms for their Dru-Uides and Su-Uides for "very knowledged"

and "well knowledged" (from uidtu = knowing/knowledge - same family as the Sanskrit

word Veda).

These two names indicate bodies of lore comparable to the Four Vedas of the Indo-

Aryans. The Druids could have maintained two sets of hymns referred to as the Dru

Uidiia (similar to the Rig Vedas) and the Su Uidiia. One of the duties of the class of

Brahmans was the maintenance of the Vedas. So it would come as no surprise if the

Druuis Suuis was a high level priest responsible for the maintenance of the Uidiia.

The Order: - First specialisation, the Bardoi:

the bards, who practised as minstrel musicians.

1. Bardouassoi, junior bards;

2. Suarioi Bardoi, free bards;

3. Bardoi, full bards who practised as Toutiobardoi (tribal or city bards), Duarioibardoi

(service bards working for high-ranking officials or Tigernobardoi (in service to lords)

and Rigobardoi (in service to kings).

- Second specialisation, the Uates: Clerics with many functions: cultural (teachers and tutors), arts (fine craftsman, Deuoi

cerdoi), administrators (Clerks, scribes, notaries); Druid substitutes: annalists (Uacies), in

religious duties as assistants in liturgy and ritual; in court duties as cupbearers

(Dedgobarai) and ushers, doorkeepers, announcers or attendants (Duorocustoi or

Duorosaiiadoi); in medical duties as first degree doctors (Uates Leagioi); and finally, in

parapsychological duties as auguries vaticinators (Coiliacoi), and incantators (Cantlioi).

- Third specialisation, the Ueletes: Superior Vates: acting as Ueledos, "the vate who sees (F. Le Roux)". The vates are

practical and the veletes are clear sighted. The Ueledoi are qualified in the areas of:

Culture: in various teaching duties as in Druidical Celtic (Druuidica Celtica), art of

poetry, and professional training. Training: as story-tellers and narrators (Scetlouacies);

as poets composing works to be recited by the bards; as traditionalists (Senacaticoi),

knowers of the ancient arts; in politics as ambassadors sent on missions; in medicine as

formulators (Leagioi), paramedics, toxicologists, herbalists and physicians; in legal work

as arbitrators (Edrinioi) in formation; and, in parapsychological acts as seers (Ueletes

proper).

-other specialisations: the Bretimones, "noble judges" issued from Nobility and Gutuatres

"invocators":

It is not known how these officials were ranked. Whether they were high ranking Ueletes,

Druids proper, or in a class of their own. From what we know, or at least perceive about

the antique Druidical thought, there is some evidence of a lack of monolithic dogmatism.

There was a dialectical common trunk based on a monist and relativist concept, but no

frozen dogma. The Druidical mind was oriented toward self-improvement through

individual quest. This is the reason why within a same collegial community there could

take place several options. This is indicated by some allusions in antique Greek and Latin

quotations. The main split was probably the belief, or non belief, in polytheistic deities

and as an intermediate compromise in the notion of "hypostases" of the "Un-named",

"Supreme" One: Uxellimon (neutral periphrasis = "the supreme highest). A key definition

was "Druids, the ones to whom it was given to know about the deities and heavenly

powers, and those to whom it was given to ignore them".

1) Common thought: A cosmic supreme deity - yes, most certainly; 2) Area for free

thinking: Subordinate deities, "Hypostases" as expansions of the higher cosmic being;

options: yes, maybe, or not sure.

- Final degree, the Druuides: After having completed the three previous specialisations,

the Ueles (or Ueledoi/Ueletes) entered the final studies curricula in which any or many of

the previous studies were intensified and specialised. Druid training was versatile and

multi-purposed.

The Druid's versatility gave him access to many duties in matters of: Culture:

philosophy, ethics, sciences, (medicine, astronomy, and mathematics when not sacred

geometry), and maintenance of social order and Celtic identity; Politics: the high council,

major arbitrations, futurology; Justice: setting-up of laws, legislation, training of judges,

court of appeal; Religion: theology, presiding over major cults and ceremonies;

Teaching: control over teaching activities since the pedagogical arts and sciences

constituted their major field of activity. Also members of the craft were the: Deiuiciacoi:

"men of the elite" who acted primarily as philosophers and advisor-administrators.

The Lineages, trends within Druidry:

Much as we would argue on the homogeniousness of Druidry, we can also speculate on

the various options within Celtic society, a common belief in a supreme deity and an area

for free speculation in Hypostases of a cosmic being. Oriental influences were certainly

frequent in as much as trade communications were maintained with the Greek colonies of

Massalia (now Marseilles) or in the Celtic colonies in the Balkans and Galatia in Asia

Minor. Not unlike the Brahmans, it seems that the Druids distinguished three superior

qualities in the Godhead. These were: Brennos or Dagodeuos, Brahma "the Creator";

Iuocatus or Esus (Sucellos = "good striker"), Vishnu "the preserver", and Taranis, Dits

Ater, or Roudios Rouesos, RudraïïShiva "the destroyer". The Druids speculated much on

which of these three was most worthy of worship. But then, these three aspects were but

one of the personalities of Dagodeuos. An exegesis of the texts by Le Roux and

Guyonvarc'h shows that the Celts were by far much more conservative than the Indians.

In short, they maintained the ancient Aryanic conception with Lugus as Indra, the

Dagodeuos (Dagda) as Mitra (Law, order and contract) and Ogmios (Ogma) as Varuna,

who later in the Vedic system was replaced by Vishnu and Shiva (Binding, Magic, and

Transcendence). The Sanskrit term Mûrti hints on two notions: one, the ²face², the

²aspect² and two, of ²manifestation² as divine manifestation. Hence the concept of

Trimûrti as the trinity. Celtic terminology yields Ambiluceto (Ambiluc-/Ambilug-) for

²manifestation² without the notion of subordination, and, Lunos for ²aspect² or

TRILUNos/-a/-on as ²triple aspect² for trimûrti. There is also of course, the notion of

subordinate manifestation in the druidic theologoligical jargon as Uostos which has the

meaning of expansion of the Deity. Hence the Gaulish theonym Uasso = ²The

Hypostasis² with the notion of Subordinate, Servant.

"The Gauls claim, on the authority of the Druids, that their whole race is descended from

Dis, lord of the underworld." Ceasar, De Bello Gallico, Book VI)

Ceasar's ranking: Masculine Deities: Mercury (Lugus), Apollo (Belenus), Mars

(Ogmios), Jupiter (Brannos/Dagodeuos), and Feminine Deity: Minerva

(Belisama/Brigantia).

Monism is a theological concept found in the speculations of both Vedic and Classical

commentators. And this, pre-dates by far anything Christian. Monism is from the Greek

monismus, a view that there is only one kind of ultimate substance, or that reality is one

unitary organic whole with no independent parts. The debate between the tenants of pure

monism and relative monism went on during centuries in the pre-Christian world and it is

still going on in India. Around the Vth century B.C.E., Sankarara's interpretation of

Vedic literature is known as advaita-vedànta, that is, monistic Vedism, also called non-

dualist. Advaita maintains that the jiva (eternally fragmentary souls) is identical with the

Godhead. Sankara taught that the jivas were themselves the Absolute Truth, the

Parabrahman, and that there were ultimately no individual variants or personality in

spiritual being. This is what is known as the monist non-personalist school of Vedic

theology. The opposing school is the visitàdvaita, or nondualist school, expounded by the

sage Ramanuja. Ramanuja taught that there is a difference between Parabrahman

(Supreme Brahman) and the jivas. Through an exegesis of everything pertaining to Dru-

uidical theology, it seemed that the Druids maintained relative monism in that both the

Supreme Being (Godhead) and individual souls partook of the same nature but were

different in personality.

The Goddess:

DEVI, is the essential Vedic goddess, that is the essential form of Maya, Draupati,

Sarasvati, Aditi, Durga, Parvati, Uma, Gauri, etc.

The Goddess (Maya||Morigena) is the essential Fate Goddess in that she represents

materiality, material reality, called illusion. The Brahmanic or Druidic student must

become transcendentally situated in the distinction between matter (Jada||Damniio) and

spirit (Brahman||Menmen), and the nature both of illusion or appearance

(Maya||Touerouia) and the supreme Controller-master (Isuara||Aesus).

The main characteristic of the Great Celtic Feminine Deity is that she is UNIQUE in

regard of the four main Masculine Deities. The opposition is the same as with the Vedic

Pandavas who share the same Goddess, Draupati. This is the reason why the Celts did not

keep the godly equivalents of the Classical Juno, Diana and Venus.

Brigit (Sarasvati||Brigantia), the Celtic Minerva, is the spouse, mother and daughter of

Dagda the Dis all at once, and this for the other masculine deities also. This divine

genealogy, transposed or translated into accessible terms is evidently absurd. Bear in

mind that godly being is subjected to other laws existence than those of the living. Being

immortal, this genealogy only helps to situate them in their relationships and interactions.

In this light, the Goddess is the Mater of Matter, the Mother of materiality, the Fate

Goddess. She is interiority, UNIQUE and SOVEREIGN.

THE MAIN *NÂSTEITORATONES - DISCIPLIC LINEAGES OR

SAMPRADAYAS

I- ACA UECO-UINDION, The Sacred Lineage of The Whitely, also called Fege-Finn

or Fionn's Circle:

1) The Yogic practice known in India as the Shaivist Rudra-Sampradaya. The

practitioners of this cult were much involved in yogic practice, astrology and asceticism.

Or...

2) Uigion Uindi (Fionn's divine Circle), The White Cult, not specifically Druidical but

mostly tribal devotion. Was constituted of the main body of devotees within Celtic faith.

These were known as the Toutai Deuas Danonos, the Tuatha Dé Danann or "people of

the Goddess AnuïïDanu". This term should not be confused with Wicca. In Celtic, the

words Uica (sturdiness) or Ueco (to compel folding), whence Uigô (to braid, to weave),

punned with Feige Fionn (Uica/Uigos Uindi = Fionn's circle/braid), a euphemism for the

World Tree and Tree constellations (Prinnioi). This cult was therefore Shivaist-like in

worship. Accent on Dagodeuos and his brother MedrosïïMidir (both "Mitra" aspects) and

Brigantia/Brigindo (Devi).

II- ACA TOUTAI DEUAS DANUNAS, Lineage of the People of the Goddess Danua,

was similar to the Shakti lineage of India. Many of the fertility rites of prosperity and

well-being were carried on for the Goddess and her consort Dagodeuos by her priests and

priestesses. The main focus was on Matrona, Boenda or Sequana as Mother and dispenser

or wealth and health.

III- ACA COUALA-CELTI, The Plenary Lineage of the highly; also called Aca

Petruesues, the Order of the Four Masters:

1) Known in India as Vaisnavas, especially as the Sanat-Kumara Sampradaya. From

around the sixth century BCE was an order of Celtic mystics and philosophers who went

along the same lines as the Brahmanic orders of the Kumara lineage (Vaishnavism). This

tradition seems to have imposed itself over most of the ancient disciplic affiliations of

ancient celticity. Their philosophy was based on beliefs comparable to those found in the

Vedas. These were the four prime Druid-poets, the ever eternal sons of the Dagodeuos

who were responsible for enlightening humankind. The prime gods of this disciplic

affiliation were: Brennos Dagodeuos (Jupiter/Brahma), Nodons (Mars/Varuna), Lugus

(Mercury/Indra), Brigantia (Venus/Devi), with the devotional accent on Dagodeuos as

Aesus Aecuos (Mitra) with Ogmios, an aspect of Nodons (Varuna = Vishnu + Shiva). At

the Old Celtic level, for Sampradaya (= affiliation/allegiance), allegiance to a traditional

custom, we have the terms torato = obedience, and nâsta = custom; thus the coined word

*Nâsteitorato. For Parampara = supreme distance, we have: Uxisamon toadmalnon,

and/or Uxellima exsamia. Another coined word analogous to the Sanskrit Acarya =

founder punning with Ahàra = fosterer, is *Seraltrauos.

2) Suuidiacto, the Apollonians: The Greek cult of Apollo seems to have been borrowed

from the earliest Celts. The Celts had a strong devotion for this God (of light, poetry,

music, healing, love and prophecy) who was called Belenos, or by many other names

such as Maponos, Grannos, Oinogustios, Ogios Mapos and many others when not just

plainly Sonnos or Sauelios the Sun. The practice focused on the devotional mode

(Vaishnavist) for Belenos, who was the god of love and healing, was an expansion of

Belios, the Brilliant. The followers of Apollonios of Thyana, the philosopher with

paranormal know how of Greek Antiquity, and the Krishnaite vaishnavas of Medieval

India, were good examples of this mode of worship. Accent on Ogmios (an aspect of

Varuna).

3) Croba Lugduion (the Bough of the Lugians)/Argantocroba; the Lugouatic cult or

Silver Branch: The Lougouatic cult resumes and combines all the other cults. In Gaul, the

mercurial cults were far more important than any other. In fact, Lugh's power was

believed to contain and exceed all other godly powers. He had all qualities in one, he was

of all classes and assumed all functions. As Manauionos/Manauitanos, he was at the

centre of all activities and as Lugus, he was the "multiple artisan". In this light, Lugus

had not only Odinic qualities and mercurial qualities, but Krishnaic Indra qualities as

well, in that he transcended the entire pantheon. Accent on Lugus (Indra).

III- CROCNOCROBA or ROUDIO CROBA, The Red Bough: This was the warrior's

cult as separate from the cults of the first holy class. Special attention was given to

Setantios Cu-Culantios (< Setanta Cu Chulaind) and other demi-god avataras of Esus.

Accent on Ogmios (Heraklès/Mars/Varuna) and other aspects of the deity as Camulos

and Cocidios Toutatis.

IIII- GREEK LINEAGES:

1) Pythagoreans:

From around 500 BCE, a fellowship following the teachings of Pythagoras a Greek

ascetic, philosopher and scientist-mathematician, revisionist and revivalist, found much

favour with the Druids of Gaul whom he visited in Massilia. It is also maintained that he

had been an auditor of the Druids (Gaul and Galatia), Magi (Persia), Brahmans (India)

and Shamans (Bactria). The Druids belonging to this order were most likely of monistic

philosophy, focusing on the aspects of belief rather than on the charismatic

thaumaturgical Apollonian aspects (Guyonvarc'h and Le Roux 1986).

2) Ptolemaists: From around 300 BCE, was a syncretism of Egyptian and Greek

astrological lore? Ptolemy I or Ptolemy Soter was a general of Alexander the Great who

obtained Egypt after Alexander's death and who founded the Ptolemaic dynasty. His

capital Alexandria became the cultural capital of the Hellenic world. The Irish

manuscripts refer to a Partholon (Bar Ptolemy) who was Ptolemy the II, "son of

Ptolemy". Another Ptolemy, Claudus Ptolemaeus, was a romanised Greek astronomer of

the second century CE and who was responsible for the Ptolemaic system, a theory of

planetary motion developed from the hypotheses of earlier philosophers. An astrological

sect within Aegiptiacto (Egyptian cult) developed around the Greek Ptolemaists of Iberia

and Southern Gaul (Robert Turcan 1989).

CONCLUSION

In light of the many parallels given here, it would be too easy to conclude that Druidism

was a form of Vedism exported from out of India into Europe during the Bronze Age or

vice-versa. If both traditions seem to have a mythic Nordic origin, far from us the notion

of it being taken from Europe by some legendary seer called Ram into India either. From

what we can infer by comparing both traditions, it becomes clear that they evolved from a

common source (Lokamanya Bâl Gangâdhar Tilak), or common sources, stratified in

time and in space over vast periods and distances. What we discover is a very ancient

coherent system of beliefs from the Indus to the Danube. This says much about the power

and radiance of these ancient peoples, who, from the end of the last Ice Age spread

aryanic civilisation from the foot of the Himalayas to the foot of the Alps. Indeed as Dr.

David Frawley likes to remind us, Vedism, as "Dhru-Vedism", was maintained by

priestly wandering sages and seers who knew no boundaries and no limits to their

inquisitive science in the quest for Truth!

Acknowledgements to Joseph Monard, Alain LeGoff, Mark DeFilo and

David Frawley.

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