Comments by "" (@bjornekdahl721) on "Norse Magic and Beliefs"
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@norsemagicandbeliefs8134 Spontaneously; It is a late concept, and it's a devotee/sectarian (Bhakti) concept. And most importantly, it has to do with the heroic ideal that was the fundament of all IndoEuropean culture. If we go all the way back, the IndoEuropeans had their 'Otherworld' – depicted as peaceful meadows (vangr/enger!), a place bordered by rivers where you forgot about the carnal and got spiritual insight when crossing them, guarded by someone (later on either Odin or Freja) and a waiting room for being reborn. It was all about samsara, and never 'a nice place where you stay forever' (that's a very late concept). I mean, the earliest peoples de facto put the dead in the ground cause they had seen plants grow up from seeds if you put them in the soil. The only mentioning about such a place in the Vedic texts is 'the world of the fathers', but that too is about a place where the soul waits to take another shape (hamr).
Several things tell me that both Folkvangr and Valhall are late concepts and also sectarian (with that I mean that the later in time, the more people had 'chosen' gods), not the least the fact that you 'stay' there. Rudolf Simek claims that folkvangr can't be older than e.g. Grimnismál (10th century). And just like in India layer after layer has been put on the concept of the afterlife during thousands of years. The Germanic society was built upon different classes (varna), and both Valhall and Folkvangr were connected to the late Warrior caste (Kshatriya). Everything indicates that there must've been different 'teams' – belonging to either Freja or Odin. Areas and tribes that were close to Freja developed a devotion to her and 'ended up' in Folkvangr, and those linked to Odin had Valhall. If we look at the descriptions of the two places the only practical thing separating them is who chooses (Valfreja!) and allows you in. Folkvangr was also a way to show that there was a way for women too to suffer a noble death. For example, In Egil's saga Thorgerd's father is on some kind of hunger strike, and Thorgerd sympathizes and says she'd rather starve and 'meet Freja' (i.e. die a noble death) than to eat. Even death is seen as a sacrifice to the gods, a sacrifice of the material to reach God-realization. Very common in the Bhakti movement. And the love and devotion to Freja was very strong! Also, interestingly scholars say that Suebi Germanics knew of and venerated the Egyptian death goddess Isis, and that has a direct link to Freja.
Summa summarum: The fact that IE and Vedic sources talk about death as peaceful meadows and rivers you cross before the next life, while Valhall and Folkvangr are depicted as violent 'forever homes' where you're chosen by a god, tells me that this is a Bhakti layer added on many thousand years later. It basically fitted in with the old 'Guardians' of the Otherworld. Not making it less true and probable though. I mean, the most common belief in India today is that you end up at the feet of Vishnu, and if you do you should be very happy. Freja is my Ishta Devata, someone I have a very strong love for, so I understand our ancestors.
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@janosch1097 I'd gladly discuss this further, but YT comments isn't the right place. My short answer is 'You're wrong'. It's not important at all for me to be right, but if you look at ALL the historic sources, all the texts, all the Greek and Roman books and dramas, all the poetry, if you look at Indo European sources etc they're all FULL of prayer to the gods. Yes, it's all about establishing a relationship, and there was always offerings, but there's prayer wherever you look. The word 'puja' (itself a way of worship) means 'flower', i.e. 'I come to you with a flower' and the gods answer 'If you come to me with a flower I'll accept it'. There are written hundreds of books on pagan prayer. At the Greek mysteries there was always prayer. The sole fact that all IE peoples have always had altars in one way or another is another proof of prayer. Or read Homer.
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