-
Articles/Ads
Article ON THE STUDY OF MASONIC ANTIQUITIES. ← Page 12 of 16 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Study Of Masonic Antiquities.
pies—these eternal houses of worship , contemplating with religious zeal the Lotos on the walls of their temples . "At Visvacarma ' s temple * are seen the large spherical altar , the arched roof , with its stone ribs , emblematical of peace , and the pillars ( like the fabled pillars of the world ) , embracing the orbicular vacuum , with the figure in front of the altar , evidently in prayer , as if meditating on the globe behind , and the vaulted heavens above , ribbed up with its
stone rafters , and the tree or umbrella spreading over the altar , as the heavens do over our globe . All this is a beautiful illustration of the creation ; for these temples were meant to last for ever , and to commemorate the unspeakable glory ofthe Almighty founder of the universe . " The analogies existing between the ancient systems prevailing in Egypt and India might be readily multiplied . Thus , in the Bull Nundi , the type of Sivaand emblem of Divine justicewe recognise the Apis of
, , Osiris , and , as in Egypt , a white and spotless bull was preferred . The constellation Taurus was the original of both . t The bull represented the principle of light , and the cow was regarded as his mythological consort , and referred to the chaotic waters . The horns of the Urus proceeding in a straight line from a centre to a point , happily represent
rays of lig ht , in the mysterious pictures of India , the cow pours from her mouth the waters of the sacred river Ganges . To this day , in marriage ceremonies , " a cow is one of the actors . " 'Ihe worship of the solar disc ; of the principles of fire and light , with their various personifications ; and many symbols , emblems , and principles , were similar in Egypt and in India . Certain analogies will also be found to exist in the architectural designs of their temples , as well in their ornamental details as in the plan of their construction .
The front of each grand temple at Elora is placed towards the west , so as to catch the last rays oi' the setting sun . Here , in ancient times , the pious devotee , intently gazing on tlie declining glories of the fountain of material light , was wrapt in silent contemplation . At that tranquil hour , so serene and soothing , his mind impressed with the splendour of that irradiance which the sun ' s departing beams diffused over the western skregarded with profound reverence the grand
y , sym bol of " universal beneficence ; " and when the fading glories had ceased to illuminate the front of the temple , he retired to its eastern recess , where the " sacred flame , " as an emblem of the apparent properties and power of the great object of devotion , inspired him with an awful sense of the ever-present Deity , and kindled in his heart the fervour of adoration . !
THE RITES OF INITIATION INTO THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES OF INDIA were divided into four steps , called Char Asherum ; and as they have been fully explained by DR . OLIVER , it will only he necessary for the present purpose to allude to several of the leading points connected with their celebration , and which I have principally selected from the Rev . Brother ' s " History of Initiation /' The first stage of probation might be performed at the early age of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Study Of Masonic Antiquities.
pies—these eternal houses of worship , contemplating with religious zeal the Lotos on the walls of their temples . "At Visvacarma ' s temple * are seen the large spherical altar , the arched roof , with its stone ribs , emblematical of peace , and the pillars ( like the fabled pillars of the world ) , embracing the orbicular vacuum , with the figure in front of the altar , evidently in prayer , as if meditating on the globe behind , and the vaulted heavens above , ribbed up with its
stone rafters , and the tree or umbrella spreading over the altar , as the heavens do over our globe . All this is a beautiful illustration of the creation ; for these temples were meant to last for ever , and to commemorate the unspeakable glory ofthe Almighty founder of the universe . " The analogies existing between the ancient systems prevailing in Egypt and India might be readily multiplied . Thus , in the Bull Nundi , the type of Sivaand emblem of Divine justicewe recognise the Apis of
, , Osiris , and , as in Egypt , a white and spotless bull was preferred . The constellation Taurus was the original of both . t The bull represented the principle of light , and the cow was regarded as his mythological consort , and referred to the chaotic waters . The horns of the Urus proceeding in a straight line from a centre to a point , happily represent
rays of lig ht , in the mysterious pictures of India , the cow pours from her mouth the waters of the sacred river Ganges . To this day , in marriage ceremonies , " a cow is one of the actors . " 'Ihe worship of the solar disc ; of the principles of fire and light , with their various personifications ; and many symbols , emblems , and principles , were similar in Egypt and in India . Certain analogies will also be found to exist in the architectural designs of their temples , as well in their ornamental details as in the plan of their construction .
The front of each grand temple at Elora is placed towards the west , so as to catch the last rays oi' the setting sun . Here , in ancient times , the pious devotee , intently gazing on tlie declining glories of the fountain of material light , was wrapt in silent contemplation . At that tranquil hour , so serene and soothing , his mind impressed with the splendour of that irradiance which the sun ' s departing beams diffused over the western skregarded with profound reverence the grand
y , sym bol of " universal beneficence ; " and when the fading glories had ceased to illuminate the front of the temple , he retired to its eastern recess , where the " sacred flame , " as an emblem of the apparent properties and power of the great object of devotion , inspired him with an awful sense of the ever-present Deity , and kindled in his heart the fervour of adoration . !
THE RITES OF INITIATION INTO THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES OF INDIA were divided into four steps , called Char Asherum ; and as they have been fully explained by DR . OLIVER , it will only he necessary for the present purpose to allude to several of the leading points connected with their celebration , and which I have principally selected from the Rev . Brother ' s " History of Initiation /' The first stage of probation might be performed at the early age of