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Article ON THE STUDY OF MASONIC ANTIQUITIES. ← Page 8 of 16 →
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On The Study Of Masonic Antiquities.
It may be here remarked , that each Hindoo deity is represented as possessing a consort , the two being , in fact , a personification of the union of those principles in their particular essences , observed upon at p . 257 ; the sacti or consort representing the female energy . Thus the wife of Vishnu is Lalcshmi , the goddess of beauty ; the Venus Marina , the sea-born goddess . Seraswatti and Parvati , or Sita , are the consorts of Brahmaand Maha-deoor Siva . These are constantly found under
, , different names , which creates much confusion in the Hindoo mythology . Vishnu is also known as Damodara , Madhava , Parushottama , and by various other denominations , which being confounded , frequently occasions error ; and this is oftentimes increased by the fact , that in his various personifications , Vishnu , the preserver , is sometimes represented as inflicting chastisement . The avatars of Vishnu are so many incarnations or manifestations
of this divinity . According to the Hindoo mythology they are ten in number , of which eight have occurred , one is now in course of manifestation , and the tenth is yet to come , and is looked for by the Hindoos in the same manner as the advent of the Messiah is expected by the Hebrews . In the avatars , Vishnu being regarded as the presiding spirit of the universe , and who has watched over the world and its affairs since it was called into existence , is supposed to have descended into it when his divine interference was required , either in rectifying what was wrong , or to give the world a fresh impulse .
Divested of all the wild imagery by which they are surrounded , these avatars are mere allegorical representations , or , rather , wild corruptions of the true history of our globe . There is also this fact , that , although the early avatars are represented as extending over millions of years , the comparatively recent ones have lasted but a few centuries . The first incarnation , that of the fish , evidently refers to the deluge ; an event recorded in the traditions of all nations . According to the Hindoo traditionthere was a general destruction by wateroccasioned by the
, , depravity of the age ; but Satyavrata ( Noo or Noah ) , a holy king , and a worshipper of Heri ( one of the names of Vishnu ) , was instructed by him to build a spacious ark , and take in it all medicinal herbs , all variety of seeds , and accompanied by seven saints , to continue therein secured from the flood , which , at a stated period , was to overwhelm the world . At the appointed time , the sea , rushing over its shores , deluged the whole earth , and it was soon perceived to be augmented by showers from
immense clouds . Satyavrata and his companions continued in safety in their ark , and when the deluge was abated ^ Vishnu , " rising together with Brahma , slew the demon TIayagriva , and recovered the sacred books ; and Satyavrata , instructed in all divine and human knowledge , was appointed the seventh Menu * Passing over the intermediate avatars , which in like manner refer to particular events , we may notice the eighth , that of Chrishnu or Krishna , by far the most important of all the manifestations of Vishnu . Krishna was the son of Vishnu , and the period of his birth is thus described : — " Before his birth , the planetary bodies moved in brilliant order in the heavens , and the seasons were
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Study Of Masonic Antiquities.
It may be here remarked , that each Hindoo deity is represented as possessing a consort , the two being , in fact , a personification of the union of those principles in their particular essences , observed upon at p . 257 ; the sacti or consort representing the female energy . Thus the wife of Vishnu is Lalcshmi , the goddess of beauty ; the Venus Marina , the sea-born goddess . Seraswatti and Parvati , or Sita , are the consorts of Brahmaand Maha-deoor Siva . These are constantly found under
, , different names , which creates much confusion in the Hindoo mythology . Vishnu is also known as Damodara , Madhava , Parushottama , and by various other denominations , which being confounded , frequently occasions error ; and this is oftentimes increased by the fact , that in his various personifications , Vishnu , the preserver , is sometimes represented as inflicting chastisement . The avatars of Vishnu are so many incarnations or manifestations
of this divinity . According to the Hindoo mythology they are ten in number , of which eight have occurred , one is now in course of manifestation , and the tenth is yet to come , and is looked for by the Hindoos in the same manner as the advent of the Messiah is expected by the Hebrews . In the avatars , Vishnu being regarded as the presiding spirit of the universe , and who has watched over the world and its affairs since it was called into existence , is supposed to have descended into it when his divine interference was required , either in rectifying what was wrong , or to give the world a fresh impulse .
Divested of all the wild imagery by which they are surrounded , these avatars are mere allegorical representations , or , rather , wild corruptions of the true history of our globe . There is also this fact , that , although the early avatars are represented as extending over millions of years , the comparatively recent ones have lasted but a few centuries . The first incarnation , that of the fish , evidently refers to the deluge ; an event recorded in the traditions of all nations . According to the Hindoo traditionthere was a general destruction by wateroccasioned by the
, , depravity of the age ; but Satyavrata ( Noo or Noah ) , a holy king , and a worshipper of Heri ( one of the names of Vishnu ) , was instructed by him to build a spacious ark , and take in it all medicinal herbs , all variety of seeds , and accompanied by seven saints , to continue therein secured from the flood , which , at a stated period , was to overwhelm the world . At the appointed time , the sea , rushing over its shores , deluged the whole earth , and it was soon perceived to be augmented by showers from
immense clouds . Satyavrata and his companions continued in safety in their ark , and when the deluge was abated ^ Vishnu , " rising together with Brahma , slew the demon TIayagriva , and recovered the sacred books ; and Satyavrata , instructed in all divine and human knowledge , was appointed the seventh Menu * Passing over the intermediate avatars , which in like manner refer to particular events , we may notice the eighth , that of Chrishnu or Krishna , by far the most important of all the manifestations of Vishnu . Krishna was the son of Vishnu , and the period of his birth is thus described : — " Before his birth , the planetary bodies moved in brilliant order in the heavens , and the seasons were