Lady of the Warm Heart (Inana C)

The lady of the warm heart, the lady of unrivalled power, is the pride of the gods and is exalted amongst the Princes of Heaven. The enthralling lady who wields the sword of Justice and sits upon the thrones of Heaven and Earth is the mightiest of the gods, and they may act only with her blessing.

The great gods of Sumer prostrate themselves before her judgement and they dare not speak against her will. She transforms divinity into perfection, shackling the great gods to the mountains of Zagros. They tremble at her cry, and scatter before her wrath.

Without the will of Lady Inana, great An may make no judgements, and Enlil may decree no destinies. Who dares oppose the mistress of the mountains, who reigns supreme over Heaven and Earth? Wherever she casts her judgement, cities crumble before her will, and those against whom her wrath is turned shall be stricken by a legion of demons.

Against those who oppose her will, she brings chaos and disaster, raising up the floods of the Euphrates against her enemies. Hers is the domain of battle, and she casts furious storms upon her foes. The Lady Inana rides into battle, saddled upon a harnessed lion, cutting down he who fails to show respect to the Lady Inana and her own.

She is the leopard of the hills and the bull of the mountains, and none dare turn against her. She sets traps to capture evil and ensnares the hostile with her venom. The Lady Inana despises evil and turns her wrath against the perpetrators of evil, as a fierce eagle. She is the falcon who preys upon the great gods. When she looks upon a city in anger, know that its temples shall be debased, its houses razed, its fields set ablaze.

In the turmoil of the battlefield, the Lady Inana sings her ancient song, calling her foes to dine with her. The one who eats of her feast of death shall surely perish as her joyful heart performs the song of death. The warriors of evil have only vitriol in their hearts and the Lady Inana is pleased to wash their weapons in their own blood and gore.

The Lady Inana scatters the mountains as though they were piles of rubble, bringing down the walls of the great gods upon the heads of the evildoers. She holds up the sword of Justice that its radiance may dazzle the land. With ease she traps the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, and none may read her will, for she writes the divine plans of Heaven and Earth.

The Leopard of the Heavens is a proud mistress, wielding the rod of authority over her people, but she has a merciful heart, and does not have the will to see her children in struggle. The Lady Inana receives the adolescent in her chamber, and bears the charms of her heart, saying:

"Beloved one, you have lived in a girl's dwelling place, and from there you have been cast out into the shadows. You have wandered the streets derided by your peers, who say - girl, girl, you are not welcome in this place. You are my child, and I, as Queen of Heaven, decree that this punishment be lifted from your body."

The Lady Inana places her hand upon the boy's brow, saying: "By my will do I invoke my blessings upon you. Give me your spear that I may break it, and I shall give you the weapon of a man."

Having done so, the Lady Inana takes the boy to the House of Wisdom and beseeches him uphold the ancient rites, whenceupon the transformed boy is engulfed in ecstasy and song. Upon those who cast her children into the shadows, the Lady Inana brings the full force of her punishment, and they exhaust themselves in weeping and grief.

Lady Inana, the ferocity of the storm of Iškur may not come close to matching your fury. Your victory strikes fear into the very heart of the great gods. As you ride into the hall of the heavens on the back of seven fearsome beasts, even great An cannot stand against your will. He bade you sit by his right hand, promising you a thousand divine powers and yet more.

The great gods, in their fear, prostrate themselves before you. All the lands of the Earth bow down before you, but the haughty Mount Ebih refused to bow down; in your righteous fury, you reduced that mountain to rubble, you wiped it from the face of the Earth. Lady Inana, by the will of An and Enlil you are raised to preeminence among the great gods.

Holy Inana, you quiet the storm, you pacify the winds. You raise up cities, you scour them from the earth. Holy Inana, you provide a peaceful journey on the roads of the land, you provide a companion for the weak. Holy Inana, you build up the land, you tear out its heart.

Holy Inana, you possess the power to turn a man into a woman, and a woman into a man. Yours is the dominion over arousal, passion, and lust. Holy Inana, you bestow riches beyond comparison, and you lead the unworthy into ruin. You receive the finest offerings in the heavens and upon the Earth. Holy Inana, you bestow guardians and protectors upon your people.

Holy Inana, you possess untold mercy and pity. You cause the heart to tremble, you bring healing to the sick. Holy Inana, yours is to take a wife, yours is to love a man. You raise up your people who prostrate themselves before you. Holy Inana, you raise up the weak and powerless, you debase the powerful and wealthy. Yours are the crown and scepter to bestow upon your chosen.

Holy Inana, you grant abundance and plenty to your people. You bring your wrath upon the enemy, you humble their pride, you bring them disaster and ruin. You agitate the beasts of the earth against your enemy, you bring terror and fear upon them, you pursue them like a ferocious leopard. You cast illness upon them, you bring them sleeplessness and restlessness, you submit your enemy before you. In the midst of the evil storm, the chaos and turmoil of the battlefield, you stand alone. Like a venomous snake, you strike fear into the enemy, and in your righteous hatred, you subdue the invaders. Holy Inana, you gather your people, dispersed among the nations, and restore them to their homes.

Your fury leads those who can hear to envy the deaf; your fury blots out the midday sun with darkness. In your fury the entire world trembles before you, and with a thought you destroy the place which dares stand against you. Who may stand against you, Lady of Heaven and Earth? Nothing compares to you, and the praise of your name resounds around the mountain - even great An may not compare.

You alone are revered amongst the great gods. You alone shine in your magnificence. You alone stand foremost among the multitudes of the great gods of heaven and earth, and they await your command - they dare not speak against you. The great gods supplicate themselves to you at your dwelling place, they bring you the offerings of their first fruits, they stand in awe at your glory - may their praise never cease!

Your song is a song of lamentation. Your will does not change, and your anger destroys all before you. What you have created may never be destroyed, and even mighty An may never diminish your divine powers. In unison, the great gods, under the command of An and Enlil, give the land over into your hands; they dare not speak out against your command.

When your word is given, An may not stand against it. When you have given your command before the assembly of the great gods, An and Enlil are powerless to prevent your will being done. When you have rendered your verdict, no force in the heavens or on the earth may alter it. Any place marked by you for destruction will truly be destroyed, but any place that meets with your approval will endure forever.

Your light outshines that of Nanna and Utu. You bring a light brighter than the day into the darkest corners - truly, none may stand against you. You are the lady of all the divine powers, and none may hope to take them from you. You are the Queen of Heaven and Earth, and in your hands the glories of the Universe are placed. Your glories stand before the entire world, and none may stand higher than you. You have gathered together all the divine powers of heaven and earth, as none before you. Holy Inana, your name is praised, your splendour is blinding!

Holy Inana, may your heart be soothed towards your people. May you display mercy, compassion, and understanding. May you receive the righteous offerings which are given to you. Yours are the punishments of sorrow, grief, and separation, but yours are the blessings of compassion, lenience, and mercy.

Holy Inana, may your glories be proclaimed to the entire earth. May the whole world bear testament to your greatness, and know that none may stand before you. May you reign for ever in your magnificent dwelling place in the heavens, at the right hand of mighty An.

Holy Inana, may all the great gods ever proclaim your majesty. May the position of glory that An and Enlil have prepared for you endure for all eternity. May your magnificence increase forever, and may you always determine the destinies of your people.

Your deeds stand for ever, your praise resounds forever! Holy Inana, your praise is sweet!

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