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vol. title: Vol Four of The Theosophical Society of The Arya Samaj of Arya-wart vol. period: Sept 1878 – Sept 1879 pages in vol.: 350 |
Oriental Magic
We find that in the article headed “Theosophy and Jugglery” we did Madame Blavatsky the injustice to insinuate that she wished to compete with the Indian jugglers and poach upon their preserves. Had we any idea of the nature of her work called, “Isis Unveiled” at the time we penned that article, it is needless to say that we should have dealt with her in a more generous spirit. “Isis Unveiled:” a master-key to the mysteries of ancient and modern Science and Theology” is, Madame Blavatsky says “the fruit of a somewhat intimate acquaintance with Eastern adepts and study of their science. It is offered to such as are willing to accept truth wherever it may be found, and to defend it, even looking popular prejudice straight in the face. It is an attempt to aid the student to detect the vital principles which underlie the philosophical systems of old.” Our love of truth and justice compels us to say that the work before us shows that the authoress is a person of considerable genius, and must have dived deep into ancient philosophy, for we find compressed therein a fund of knowledge and information which required great labour and research to bring together. We have no intention whatever of entering into a critical examination of its contents, and we only refer to it today to show that Madame Blavatsky is the first to recognise the fact that the nations of the east have explored the arcana of nature more thoroughly than those of the East. The instances cited by us, in support of our position, are also to be found in Madame Blavatsky’s book. In fact, she herself is an enthusiastic admirer of Eastern thaumaturgy. She insists that India is really the cradle of science, and seeing the numerous arts and sciences in which Orientals were thorough proficients long before they were brought in contact with western scientists, we think her contention is well grounded. For the present, however, we may say, that the whole work is replete with information bearing on the subject of Oriental Magic, which will give a rather rude shock to spiritualists in England of the stamp of Home and other mountebanks. Now, we will only just quote two or three instances from the book, which completely throw into the shade the grandest performances of Houdin, Anderson and other European conjurors:—In 1615, a delegation of highly educated and distinguished men from the English East India Company visited the Emperor Jehangire. While on their mission, they witnessed many most wonderful performances, almost causing them to discredit their senses, and far beyond any hint even of solution. A party of Bengalese conjurors and jugglers, showing their art before the Emperor, were desired to produce upon the spot, and from seed, ten mulberry trees. They immediately planted ten seeds, which, in a few minutes, produced as many trees. The ground divided over the spot where a seed was planted, tiny leaves appeared, at once followed by slender shoots, which rapidly gained elevation, putting out leaves and twigs and branches, finally spreading wide in the air, budding, blossoming, and yielding fruit, which matured upon the spot, and was found to be excellent. And this, before the beholder had turned away his eyes. Fig, almond, mango, and walnut trees were at the same time, under like conditions produced, yielding the fruit which belonged to each. Wonder succeeded wonder. The branches were filled with birds of beautiful plumage flitting about among the leaves and singing sweet notes. The leaves turned to russet, fell from their places, branches and twigs withered, and finally the trees sank back into the earth, out of which they had all sprang within the hour. Another had a bow and about fifty steel-pointed arrows. He shot an arrow in the air, when lo! the arrow became fixed in space at a considerable height. Another, and another arrow was sent off, each fixing itself in the shaft of the preceding, until all formed a chain of arrows in the air, excepting the last shot, which striking the chain, brought the whole to the ground in detachments. They set up two common tents facing each other, and about a bowshot apart. These tents were critically examined by the spectators, as are the cabinets of the mediums and pronounced empty. The tents were fastened to the ground all around. The lookers-on were invited to choose what animals or birds they would wish to issue from these tents to engage in a battle. Khaune-Jahaun incredulously asked to see a fight between ostriches. In a few minutes, an ostrich came out from each tent, rushed to combat with deadly earnestness, and from them the blood soon began to stream; but they were so nearly matched that neither could win the victory, and they were at last separated by the conjurors and conveyed within the tents. After this, the varied demands of the spectators, for birds and animals were exactly complied with, always with the same results.
Now, the question is, were these feats the results of an optical delusion? The mango trick as done in the Indian bazaars nowadays is a very common one, the deception practised being palpable to an ordinarily observant person, but how ten trees of various kinds, could be at once called into existence, and made to bear fruit; and birds from the African desert could be conveyed so rapidly are feats of an altogether phenomenal nature and for which we have as yet met with no satisfactory solution. It may be that “the Chaldeans whom Cicero counts among the oldest magicians places the basis of all magic in the inner powers of man’s soul, and by the discernment of magic properties in plants minerals and animals,” but it has yet to be explained, how by the exercise of any latent power in man’s soul, feats, contrary to the laws of nature could be performed. We had hoped that Madame Blavatsky would have placed us in a position to unravel these mysteries, but we have searched in vain throughout her book, for any clue which would enable us to do this.
Colonel Olcott's Address
The address which was delivered by Colonel Olcott, president of the Theosophical Society, New York, on March 23rd, at the Framji Covasji Institute Bombay, is published in a pamphlet form and our thanks are due to the deliverer of the address for a copy of it. The address is a pleasant reading and will repay perusal. It clears up many a surmise that were raised as to the motive of the Theosophical Mission coming to India. It was hinted in public prints and surmised in private conversation, that the avowed object of the Mission appeared to be religion and religious research, but political agitation was likely to be its real motive. There was a Russian lady, an American Military gentleman and an artist who constituted the mission and the idea immediately flashed to the mind that all that appeared was not gold. Some such suspicion seems to have repressed the curiosity and eagerness (particularly in the upper ten thousand) in the citizens of Bombay with which though crowds visited the Mission they would otherwise have beleagured the Mission. This speaks well of the inhabitants of this city. These suspicions however have been most emphatically denounced by Colonel Olcott and his address at the Institute was a sort of protest against the imputation. Colonel Olcott said: “Our existence threatens no Government, feeds no political cabal, attacks no pillar of social order. We do not concern ourselves in the least with affairs of State, nor lay impious hands upon the marriage, filial, or parental relation. We would not admit man or woman who was in rebellion against the existing laws or Government of his country, or engaged in plots and conspiracies against the public peace and safety. Judge for your<... continues on page 8-190 >
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