Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism: With an Essay on Baal Worship, on the Assyrian Sacred "Grove," and Other Allied SymbolsInman, Thomas
Religion
Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism: With an Essay on Baal Worship, on the Assyrian Sacred "Grove," and Other Allied Symbols
Inman, Thomas
Christian art and symbolism; Symbolism
Is a copy of an original drawing made by a learned Hindoo pundit for Wm.
Simpson, Esq., of London, whilst he was in India studying its mythology.
It represents Brahma supreme, who in the act of creation made himself
double, i.e. male and female. In the original the central part of the
figure is occupied by the triad and the unit, but far too grossly shown
for reproduction here. They are replaced by the crux ansata. The reader
will notice the triad and the serpent in the male hand, whilst in the
female is to be seen a germinating seed, indicative of the relative
duties of father and mother. The whole stands upon a lotus, the symbol
of androgyneity. The technical word for this incarnation is "Arddha
Nari."
PLATE VIII.
Is Devi, the same as Parvati, or Bhavani. It is copied from Moor's
Pantheon, plate xxx. The goddess represents the feminine element in
the universe. Her forehead is marked by one of the symbols of the four
creators, the triad, and the unit. Her dress is covered with symbolic
spots, and one foot peculiarly placed is marked by a circle having a
dot in the interior. The two bear the same signification as the Egyptian
eye. I am not able to define the symbolic import of the articles held
in the lower hands. Moor considers that they represent scrolls of paper,
but this I doubt. The raised hands bear the unopened lotus flower, and
the goddess sits upon another.
PLATE IX.
Consists of six figures, copied from Maurice's Indian Antiquities, vol.
vi., p. 278, and two from Bryant's Mythology, vol. ii., third edition,
pp. 203 and 409. All are symbolic of the idea of the male triad: a
central figure, erect, and rising above the other two. In one an altar
and fire indicate, mystically, the linga; in another, the same is
pourtrayed as a man, as Madaheva always is; in another, there is a tree
stump and serpent, to indicate the same idea. The two appendages of the
linga are variously described; in two instances as serpents, in other
two as tree and concha, and snake and shell. The two last seem to embody
the idea that the right "egg" of the male germinates boys, whilst the
left produces girls; a theory common amongst ancient physiologists. The
figure of the tree encircled by the serpent, and supported by two stones
resembling "tolmen," is very significant. The whole of these figures
seem to point unmistakably to the origin of the very common belief that
the male Creator is triune. In Assyrian theology the central figure is
Bel, Baal, or Asher; the one on the right Ann, that on the left Hea. See
Ancient Faiths, second edition, Vol. i., pp. 88-85. *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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