Reinterpreting the ancient Celtic religion through the lens of the eastern Vedic religions is important because both spiritual traditions stem from a shared Indo-European ancestral origin. This common ancestry connects the western & eastern Indo-European religions from the Indian subcontinent, giving them numerous overlapping features in their culture, philosophy, and religious practices. Understanding the Indo-European roots of both religious systems allows us to reconnect with a framework that gives us a better understanding of nature, cycles of existence, and cosmic order.
Here’s a list of point of why it’s crucial to interpret ancient Celtic religion through a Vedic lens, rooted in our common ancestral Indo-European heritage:
1. Shared view of Deities:
Both Celtic and Vedic religion recognize the many faces of the divine revealed in the Gods and Goddesses. The Deities in Vedic religion are sometimes depicted as Tripartite ( three faced ) like many Celtic Deities, showing a striking similarity and teaching style. Not only are these Deities similar in depictions such as the Pasupati and Cernunnos, but they also carry similar functions in their respective roles.
2. Nature and Animism:
Both the Celtic and Vedic tradition are deeply rooted in animism, meaning they believe in the divinity and truth within nature, trees and animals alike have spirits of their own. Animals are often paired with Deities and are symbols of the Deity’s presence. The tree is a central part of the Celtic religion as it is in the Vedic one, both representing the pillar of the cosmos and processes of creation. In Vedic religion, natural elements such as rivers (like the Ganges) and mountains are considered divine similar to the river Danube in Europe, named after the Vedic Goddess Danu.
3. Cyclical Time and Rebirth:
A key feature of Celtic and Vedic traditions is their understanding of cyclical time. The Celts believed in the cycles of life, death, and rebirth, as seen in their doctrines of the immortal soul and the cycles of nature, marking the turning of the seasons. Similarly, Vedic religion mentions samsara—the cycle of birth, death, and reincarnation.
4. Goddess worship & cognates:
In both Celtic and Vedic traditions, the sacred feminine holds a prominent place. Celtic goddesses like Brigid, Danu, and Morrígan are revered for their roles in fertility, sovereignty, war, and healing. Similarly, in Hinduism, goddesses such as Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati play central roles in the cosmic order, embodying nurturing, wealth, and knowledge. Mother Goddesses like the Morrigan have shown strong indication of being the cognate to Kali Ma, as Morrígan is the fierce appearance of the Mother Goddesses, like Kali, and is the wife of the Dagda, whom is the creator-destroyer God much like Shiva. Kali is the fierce appearance of Parvati, Shiva’s wife.
5. Linguistic connections:
The language of Goidelc ( Old Irish ) along with many other Indo-European languages, has a evident connection to Sanskrit. Words like Dana, meaning “Gift” in Goidelc is exactly the same in Sanskrit. Another word such as Dia and Deva both meaning God, evidently show a relationship. There are many other words that cannot be fit in to this article!
6. The three tiered system:
Both Celtic and Vedic societies were tiered in their systems placing the religious intellectual class at the top as the leaders of society with the King as an elected official. The Warrior class and Noble classes were next in line much like the Kshatriyas of India. The word Celtic word Rex and Sanskrit word Raj meaning king both come from the same root in etymology. The word for a noble in Sanskrit is Arya, which has its Old Irish cognate in Aire.
7.Common symbols:
Celtic metalwork and other art works have often been decorated with sun crosses, also known as the swastika in Hinduism. This ancient sun symbol can be found everywhere in Europe in abundance especially in warrior grave goods and other items such as a battersea shield.
8. Non-Dualism and Balance:
Both Celtic and Vedic traditions reflect a non-dualistic understanding of the universe, where opposites like life and death, light and dark, are seen as complementary forces. In Celtic cosmology, the balance between these dualities is vital for maintaining harmony. Similarly, in Vedic philosophies like Advaita Vedanta, the ultimate reality is seen as non-dual—a unity beyond all apparent dualities.
Conclusion:
This list is only a brief list of obvious connections between the Celtic and Vedic religion, both on different sides of the planet, yet sharing so much in strikingly in common. Because this connection is so apparent, it is important to understand the Celtic religion through the Vedic perspective in order that we better grasp the thought processes of the Druids and form a more well informed opinion and spiritual practice.