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Showing 100 pages using this property.

A

Ah‐hi +

'''Ahi '''(''Sk''.), or Serpents. Dhyân Chohans. “Wise Serpents” or Dragons of Wisdom. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Aja +

'''Aja '''(''Sk''.). “Unborn”, uncreated; an epithet belonging to many of the primordial gods, but especially to the first ''Logos''—a radiation of the Absolute on the plane of illusion. Performance, and it had its own appointed Hotri (priest) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Ama +

'''Amia''', (''Chald.''). Mother. A title of Sephira Binah, whose “divine name is Jehovah” and who is called “Supernal Mother”. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Anyamsam Aniyasam +

''A no‐ranîyânsam ''(in ''Bhagavad'' ''gîtâ''). Lit., “the most atomic of the atomic; smallest of the small ”. Applied to the universal deity, whose essence is everywhere [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Ad +

''Ad, ''“the Father”. In Aramean ''ad ''means one, and ''ad‐ad ''“the only one”. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Adept +

''Adeptus'', “He who has obtained.” In Occultism one who has reached the stage of Initiation, and become a Master in the science of Esoteric philosophy. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Anagamin +

''Anagam. ''One who is no longer to be reborn into the world of desire. One stage before becoming Arhat and ready for Nirvâna. The ''third ''of the four grades of holiness on the way to final Initiation [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bhuts +

''Bhûta.'': Ghosts, phantoms. To call them “demons”, as do the Orientalists, is incorrect. For, if on the one hand, a Bhûta is “a malignant spirit which haunts cemeteries, lurks in trees, animates dead bodies, and deludes and devours human beings”, in popular fancy, in India in Tibet and China, by Bhûtas are also meant “heretics” who besmear their bodies with ashes, or Shaiva ascetics (Siva being held in India for the King of Bhûtas) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Chichhakti +

''Chih‐Sakti''; the power which generates thought [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Chitanuth our +

''Chitons'', a priestly garb; the coats of skin given by ''Java Aleim ''to Adam and Eve after their fall [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Aparoksha +

''Direct perception.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Ilda Baoth +

''Lit''., “the child from the Egg”, a Gnostic term. He is the creator of our physical globe (the earth) according to the Gnostic teaching in the ''Codex Nazaræus ''(the Evangel of the Nazarenes and the Ebionites). The latter identifies him with Jehovah the God of the Jews. Ildabaoth is “the Son of Darkness” in a bad sense and the father of the six terrestrial “ Stellar”, dark spirits, the antithesis of the bright Stellar spirits. Their respective abodes are the seven spheres, the upper of which begins in the “middle space”, the region of their mother Sophia Achamôth, and the lower ending on this earth—the seventh region (See ''Isis Unveiled, ''Vol. II., 183.) Ilda‐Baoth is the genius of Saturn, the planet; or rather the evil spirit of its ruler [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Abba Amona +

''Lit.'', “Father‐Mother”; the occult names of the two higher Sephiroth, ''Chokmah ''and ''Binah'', of the upper triad, the apex of which is Sephira or Kether. From this triad issues the lower septenary of the Sephirothal Tree. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mahoraga +

''Mahâ uraga'', “great serpent”——Sesha or any others [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Neith +

''Neithes''. The Queen of Heaven; the moon‐ goddess in Egypt. She is variously called ''Nout'', ''Nepte, Nur''. (For symbolism, see “Nout”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Chnouphis +

''Nouf ''in Egyptian. Another aspect of Ammon, and the personification of his generative power ''in actu'', as Kneph is of the same in ''potentia''. He is also ram‐ headed. If in his aspect as Kneph he is the Holy Spirit with the creative ideation brooding in him, as Chnouphis, he is the angel who “comes in” into the Virgin soil and flesh. A prayer on a papyrus, translated by the French Egyptologist Chabas, says; ‘ O Sepui, Cause of being, who hast formed thine own body! O only Lord, proceeding from Noum ! O divine substance, created from itself! O God, who hast made the substance which is in him! O God, who has made his own father and impregnated his own mother.” This shows the origin of the Christian doctrines of the Trinity and immaculate conception. He is seen on a monument seated near a potter’s wheel, and forming men out of clay. The fig‐leaf is sacred to him, which is alone sufficient to prove him a phallic god—an idea which is carried out by the inscription: “he who made that which is, the creator of beings, the first existing, he who made to exist all that exists.” Some see in him the incarnation of Ammon‐Ra, but he is the latter himself in his phallic aspect, for, like Ammon, he is “ his mother’s husband”, i.e., the male or impregnating side of Nature. His names vary, as Cnouphis, Noum, Khem, and Khnum or Chnoumis. As he represents the Demiurgos (or Logos) from the material, lower aspect of the Soul of the World, he is the Agathodæmon, symbolized sometimes by a Serpent ; and his wife Athor or Maut (Môt mother), or Sate, “the daughter of the Sun”, carrying an arrow on a sunbeam (the ray of conception), stretches “mistress over the lower portions of the atmosphere”. below the constellations, as Neїth expands over the starry heavens. (See “Chaos”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG).

Crescent +

''Sin ''was the Assyrian name for the moon, and ''Sin‐ai ''the Mount, the birth‐place of Osiris, of Dionysos, Bacchus and several other gods. According to Rawlinson, the moon was held in higher esteem than the sun at Babylon, ''because darkness preceded light. ''The crescent was, therefore, a sacred symbol with almost every nation, before it became the ‘standard of the Turks. Says the author of ''Egyptian Belief, ''“ The crescent is not essentially a Mahometan ensign. On the contrary, it was a Christian one, derived through Asia from the Babylonian Astarte, Queen of Heaven, or from the Egyptian Isis . . . . whose emblem was the crescent. The Greek Christian Empire of Constantinople held it as their palladium. Upon the conquest of the Turks, the Mahometan Sultan adopted it for the symbol of his power. Since that time the ''crescent ''has been made to oppose the idea of the cross.” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Ibn Gebirol +

''Solomon Ben Yehudah'': a great philosopher and scholar, a Jew by birth, who lived in the eleventh century in Spain. The same as Avicenna (''q.v''.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Davkina +

''The wife of Hea, “the goddess of the lower regions, the consort of the Deep”, the mother of Merodach, the Bel of later times, and mother to many river‐gods, Hea being the god of the lower regions, the “lord of the Sea or abyss”, and also the lord of Wisdom [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Madhava +

(1) A name of Vishnu or Krishna; (2) The month of April ; (3) A title of Lakshmi when written ''Madhavi.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Nishada +

(1) One of the seven qualities of sound— the one and sole attribute of Akâsa; (2) the ''seventh ''note of the Hindu musical scale; (3) an outcast offspring of a Brahman and a Sudra mother; (4) a range of mountains south of Meru—north of the Himalayas [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Magic, Black +

(Vide ''Supra''.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Nimitta +

1. An interior illumination developed by the practice of meditation. 2. The efficient spiritual cause, as contrasted with Upadana, the material cause, in Vedânta philosophy. See also ''Pradhâna ''in Sankhya philosophy [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Ayuta +

100 Kôti, or a sum equal to 1,000,000,000 [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lakh +

100,000 of units, either in specie or anything else [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Chhandoga +

A ''Samhitâ ''collection of Sama Veda; also a priest, a chanter of the Sama Veda [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Maha Rajikas +

A ''gana ''or class of gods 236 in number. Certain ''Forces ''in esoteric teachings [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Brahmachari +

A Brahman ascetic; one vowed to celibacy, a monk, virtually, or a religious student [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mahavanso +

A Buddhist historical work written by Bhikshu Mohânâma, the uncle of King Dhatusma. An authority on the history of Buddhism and its spread in the island of Ceylon [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bhadrasena +

A Buddhist king of Magadha [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dammapadan +

A Buddhist work containing moral precepts [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Campanella Tomaso +

A Calabrese, born in 1568, who, from his childhood exhibited strange powers, and gave himself up during his whole life to the Occult Arts. The story which shows him initiated in his boyhood into the secrets of alchemy and thoroughly instructed in the secret science by a Rabbi‐Kabbalist in a ''fortnight ''by means of ''notavicon, ''is a cock and bull invention. Occult knowledge, even when a heirloom from the preceding birth, does not come back into a new personality within fifteen days. He became an opponent of the Aristotelian materialistic philosophy when at Naples and was obliged to fly for his life. Later, the Inquisition sought to try and condemn him for the practice of magic arts, but its efforts were defeated. During his lifetime he wrote an enormous quantity of magical, astrological and alchemical works, most of which are no longer extant. He is reported to have died in the convent of the Jacobins at Paris on May the 21st, 1639 [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Chiffilet +

A Canon‐Kabbalist of the XVIIth century, reputed to have learned a key to the Gnostic works from Coptic Initiates; he wrote a work on Abraxas in two portions, the esoteric portion of which was burnt by the Church [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

F

Fahian +

A Chinese traveller and writer in the early centuries of Christianity, who wrote on Buddhism [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Fa‐Hwa‐King +

A Chinese work on Cosmogony [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

J

Jacobites +

A Christian sect in Syria of the VIth cent. (550) which held that Christ had only one nature and that confession was not of divine origin. They had secret signs, passwords and a solemn initiation with mysteries [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Clemens Alexandrinus +

A Church Father and a voluminous writer, who had been a Neo‐Platonist and a disciple of Ammonius Saccas. He lived between the second and the third centuries of our era, at Alexandria [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lactantius +

A Church Father, who declared the heliocentric system a heretical doctrine, and that of the antipodes as a “fallacy invented by the devil” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Ichthus +

A Fish: the symbol of the Fish has been frequently referred to Jesus, the Christ of the New Testament, partly because the five letters forming the word are the initials of the Greek phrase, ''Iesous ''Christos ''Theou Uios Soter, ''Jesus Christ the Saviour, Son of God. Hence his followers in the early Christian centuries were often called ''fishes, ''and drawings of fish are found in the Catacombs. Compare also the narrative that some of his early disciples were fishermen, and the assertion of Jesus― “I will make you fishers of men”. Note also the Vesica Piscis, a conventional shape for fish in general, is frequently found enclosing a picture of a Christ, holy virgin, or saint; it is a long oval with pointed ends, the space marked out by the intersection of two equal circles, when less than half the area of one. Compare the Christian female recluse, a Nun—this word is the Chaldee name for fish, and fish is connected with the worship of Venus, a goddess, and the Roman Catholics still eat fish on the Dies Veneris or Friday. [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Magnetism +

A Force in nature and in man. When it is the former, it is an agent which gives rise to the various phenomena of attraction, of polarity, etc. When the latter, it becomes “animal” magnetism, in contradistinction to cosmic, and terrestrial magnetism [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Chastanier +

A French mason who established in London in 1767 a Lodge called “The Illuminated Theosophists” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Demrusch +

A Giant in the mythology of ancient Iran [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

O

Ophites +

A Gnostic Fraternity in Egypt, and one of the earliest sects of Gnosticism, or ''Gnosis ''(Wisdom, Knowledge), known as the “Brotherhood of the Serpent”. It flourished early in the second century, and while holding some of the principles of Valentinus had its own occult rites and symbology. A living serpent, representing the Christos‐principle (i.e., the divine reincarnating Monad, not Jesus the man), was displayed in their mysteries and reverenced as a symbol of wisdom, Sophia, the type of the all‐good and all‐wise. The Gnostics were not a Christian sect, in the common acceptation of this term, as the ''Christos ''of pre‐Christian thought and the Gnosis was ''not ''the “god‐man” Christ, but the divine EGO, made one with Buddhi. Their Christos was the “Eternal Initiate”, the Pilgrim, typified by hundreds of Ophidian symbols for several thousands of years before the “ Christian” era, so‐ called. One can see it on the “Belzoni tomb” from Egypt, ''as a winged serpent with three heads ''(Atma‐Buddhi‐Manas), and ''four ''human legs, typifying its androgynous character; on the walls of the descent to the sepulchral chambers of Rameses V., it is found as a snake with vulture’s wings—the vulture and hawk being solar symbols. “The heavens are scribbled over with interminable snakes ‘ writes Herschel of the Egyptian chart of stars. “The ''Meissi ''(Messiah?) meaning the ''Sacred Word, ''was a good serpent”, writes Bonwick in his ''Egyptian Belief. ''“This serpent of goodness, with its head crowned, was mounted upon a cross and formed a sacred standard of Egypt.” The Jews ''borrowed ''it in their “brazen serpent of Moses”. It is to this “Healer” and “Saviour”, therefore, that the Ophites referred, and not to Jesus or his words, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so it behoves the Son of Man to be lifted up”— when explaining the meaning of their ''ophis. ''Tertullian, whether wittingly or unwittingly, mixed up the two. The four‐winged serpent is the god Chnuphis. The good serpent bore the cross of life around its neck, or suspended from its mouth. The winged serpents become the Seraphim (Seraph, ''Saraph) ''of the Jews. In the 87th chapter of the ''Ritual ''(the Book of the Dead) the human soul transformed into ''Bata'', the omniscient serpents says:—“ I am the serpent '''Ba‐ta, '''of long years, Soul of the Soul, laid out and born daily; I am the Soul that descends on the earth”, i.e., the Ego [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG).

B

Bythos +

A Gnostic term meaning “Depth” or the “great Deep”, Chaos. It is equivalent to space, before anything had formed itself in it from the primordial atoms that exist eternally in its spatial depths, according to the teachings of Occultism [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Iurbo Adunai +

A Gnostic term, or the compound name for Iao Jehovah, whom the Ophites regarded as an emanation of their Ilda‐Baoth, the Son of Sophia Achamoth—the proud, ambitious and jealous god, and impure Spirit, whom many of the Gnostic sects regarded as the god of Moses. “Iurbo is called by the Abortions (the Jews) Adunai” says the ''Codex Nazaræus ''(vol. iii., p.13 The “Abortions” and ''Abortives ''was the nickname given to the Jews by their opponents the Gnostics [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Burham‐i‐Kati +

A Hermetic Eastern work [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Busardier +

A Hermetic philosopher born in Bohemia who is credited with having made a genuine powder of projection. He left the bulk of his ''red ''powder to a friend named Richthausen, an adept and alchemist of Vienna. Some years after Busardier’s death, in 1637, Richthausen introduced himself to the Emperor Ferdinand III, who is known to have been ardently devoted to alchemy, and together they are said to have converted three pounds of mercury into the finest gold with one single grain of Busardier’s powder. In 1658 the Elector of Mayence also was permitted to test the powder, and the gold produced with it was declared by the Master of the Mint to be such, that he had never seen finer. Such are the claims vouchsafed by the city records and chronicles [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Macroprosopus +

A Kabalistic term, made of a compound Greek word: meaning the Vast or Great Countenance (See “Kabalistic Faces”); a title of Kether, the Crown, the highest Sephira. It is the name of the Universe, called ''Arikh‐Anpin'', the totality of that of which Microprosopus or ''Zauir‐Anpin ''“the lesser countenance”, is the part and antithesis. In its high or abstract metaphysical sense, Microprosopus is Adam Kadmon, the ''vehicle of Ain‐Suph'', and the crown of the Sephirothal Tree, though since Sephira and Adam Kadmon are in fact one under two aspects, it comes to the same thing. Interpretations are many, and they differ [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

F

Falk +

A Kabbalistic Jew, reputed to have worked “miracles”. Kenneth Mackenzie quotes in regard to him from the German annalist Archenoiz’ work on England (1788) :—“ There exists in London an extraordinary man who for thirty years has been celebrated in Kabbalistic records. He is named Caїn Chenul Falk. A certain Count de Rautzow, lately dead in the service of France, with the rank of Field‐Marshal, certifies that he has seen this Falk in Brunswick, and that evocations of spirits took place in the presence of credible witnesses.” These “spirits” were Elementals, whom Falk brought into view by the conjurations used by every Kabbalist. His son, Johann Friedrich Falk, likewise a Jew, was also a Kabbalist of repute, and was once the head of a Kabbalistic college in London. His occupation was that of a jeweller and appraiser of diamonds, and he was a wealthy man. To this day the mystic writings and rare Kabbalistic works bequeathed by him to a trustee may be perused in a certain half‐public library in London, by every genuine student of Occultism. Falk’s own writings are all still in MS., and some in cypher [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Demon est Deus inversus +

A Kabbalistic axiom; lit., “the devil is god reversed”; which means that there is neither evil nor good, but that the forces which create the one create the other, according to the nature of the materials they find to work upon [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Geburah +

A Kabbalistic term ; the fifth Sephira, a female and passive potency, meaning severity and power; from it is named the Pillar of Severity. [ w. w w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Black Fire +

A Kabbalistic term for Absolute Light and Wisdom; “black” because it is incomprehensible to our finite intellects [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Beth Elohim +

A Kabbalistic treatise treating of the angels, souls of men, and demons. The name means “House of the Godsʺ [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hiranyakasipu +

A King of the Daityas, whom Vishnu—in his ''avatar ''of the “man.lion”—puts to death [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kanishka +

A King of the Tochari, who flourished when the third Buddhist Synod met in Kashmir, i.e., about the middle of the last century B.C., a great patron of Buddhism, he built the finest ''stûpas ''or dagobas in Northern India and Kabulistan [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Nath +

A Lord: used of gods and men; a title added to the first name of men and things as ''Badrinath ''(lord of mountains), a famous place of pilgrimage; ''Gopinath ''(lord of the shepherdesses), used of Krishna [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Marabut +

A Mahometan pilgrim who has been to Mekka, a saint. After his death his body is placed in an open sepulchre built above ground, like other buildings, but in the middle of the streets and public places of populated cities. Placed inside the small and only room of the tomb (and several such public sarcophagi of brick and mortar may be seen to this day in the streets and squares of Cairo), the devotion of the way farers keeps a lamp ever burning at his head. The tombs of some of these marabuts are very famous for the miracles they are alleged to perform [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Cabletow +

A Masonic term for a certain object used in the Lodges. Its origin lies in the thread of the Brahman ascetics, a thread which is also used for magical purposes in Tibet [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Masben +

A Masonic term meaning “the Sun in putrefaction”. Has a direct reference—perhaps forgotten by the Masons—to their “Word at Low Breath” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

F

Fakir +

A Mussulman ascetic in India, a Mahometan “Yogi”. The name is often applied, though erroneously. to Hindu ascetics; for strictly speaking only [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dervish +

A Mussulman—Turkish or Persian—ascetic. A nomadic and wandering monk. Dervishes, however, sometimes live in communities. They are often called the “whirling charmers”. Apart from his austerities of life, prayer and contemplation, the Turkish, Egyptian, or Arabic devotee presents but little similarity with the Hindu fakir, who is also a Mussulman. The latter may become a saint and holy mendicant the former will never reach beyond his second class of occult manifestations. The dervish may also be a strong mesmerizer, but he will never voluntarily submit to the abominable and almost incredible self‐punishment which the fakir invents for himself with an ever‐increasing avidity, until nature succumbs and he dies in slow and excruciating tortures. The most dreadful operations, such as flaying the limbs alive; cutting off the toes, feet, and legs ; tearing out the eyes and causing one’s self to be buried alive up to the chin in the earth, and passing whole months in this posture, seem child’s play to them. The Dervish must not be confused with the Hindu ''sanyâsi or yogi. ''(See “Fakir”) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Athenagoras +

A Platonic philosopher of Athens, who wrote a Greek Apology for the Christians in A.D. 177, addressed to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, to prove that the accusations brought against them, namely that they were incestuous and ate murdered children, were untrue [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Nous +

A Platonic term for the Higher Mind or Soul. It means Spirit as distinct from animal Soul—''psyche''; divine consciousness or mind in man: ''Nous ''was the designation given to the Supreme deity (third ''logos'') by Anaxagoras. Taken from Egypt where it was called ''Nout'', it was adopted by the Gnostics for their first conscious Æon which, with the Occultists, is the third ''logos'', cosmically, and the third “principle” (from above) or ''manas, ''in man. (See “Nout”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

O

Okhema +

A Platonic term meaning “vehicle” or body [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Al‐Chazari +

A Prince‐Philosopher and Occultist. (See Book ''Al‐Chazari.'') [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Ansumat +

A Purânic personage, the “nephew of 60,000 uncles” King Sagara’s sons, who were reduced to ashes by a single glance from Kapila Rishi’s “Eye” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bona‐Oma +

A Roman goddess, the patroness of female Initiates and Occultists. Called also Fauna after her father Faunus. She was worshipped as a prophetic and chaste divinity, and her cult was confined solely to women, men not being allowed to even pronounce her name. She revealed her oracles only to women, and the ceremonies of her Sanctuary (a grotto in the Aventine) were conducted by the Vestals, every 1st of May. Her aversion to men was so great that no male person was permitted to approach the house of the consuls where her festival was sometimes held, and even the portraits and the busts of men were carried out for the time from the building. Clodius, who once profaned such a sacred festival by entering the house of Caesar where it was held, in a female disguise, brought grief upon himself. Flowers and foliage decorated her temple and women made libations from a vessel (mellarium) full of milk. It is not true that the mellarium contained wine, as asserted by some writers, who being men thus tried to revenge themselves [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Labro +

A Roman saint, solemnly beatified a few years ago. His great holiness consisted in sitting at one of the gates of Rome night and day for forty years, and remaining unwashed through the whole of that time. He was eaten by vermin to his bones [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Narjol +

A Saint; a glorified Adept [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Devapi +

A Sanskrit Sage of the race of Kuru, who, together with another Sage (Moru), is supposed to live throughout the four ages and until the coming of ''Maitreya Buddha, ''or ''Kalki ''(the last Avatar of Vishnu) ; who, like all the Saviours of the World in their last appearance, like Sosiosh of the Zoroastrians and the ''Rider ''of St. Johns ''Revelation, ''will appear seated on a ''White Horse''. The two, Devapi and Moru, are supposed to live in a Himalayan retreat called ''Kalapa ''or ''Katapa''. This is a Purânic allegory [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kiratarjuniya +

A Sanskrit epic, celebrating the strife and prowess of Arjuna with the god Siva disguised as a forester [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Ganinnanse +

A Singhalese priest who has not yet been ordained—from ''gana'', an assemblage or brotherhood. The higher ordained priests “are called ''terunnânse ''from the Pali ''théro'', an elder”(Hardy) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Martinists +

A Society in France, founded by a great mystic called the Marquis de St. Martin, a disciple of Martinez Pasqualis. It was first established at Lyons as a kind of occult Masonic Society, its members believing in the possibility of communicating with Planetary Spirits and minor Gods and genii of the ultramundane Spheres. Louis Claude de St. Martin, born in 1743, had commenced life as a brilliant officer in the army, but left it to devote himself to study and the ''belles lettres'', ending his career by becoming an ardent Theosophist and a disciple of Jacob Boehmen. He tried to bring back Masonry to its primeval character of Occultism and Theurgy, but failed. He first made his “Rectified Rite” to consist of ten degrees, but these were brought down owing to the study of the original Masonic orders—to seven. Masons complain that he introduced certain ideas and adopted rites “at variance with the archæological history of Masonry”; but so did Cagliostro and St Germain before him, as all those who knew well the origin of Free masonry [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

J

Jadoogar +

A Sorcerer, or Wizard [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bardesanes +

A Syrian Gnostic, erroneously regarded as a Christian theologian, born at Edessa (''Edessene Chronicle'') in 155 of our era (Assemani ''Bibl.. Orient. ''i. 389). He was a great astrologer following the Eastern Occult System. According to Porphyry (who calls him the Babylonian, probably on account of his ''Chaldeeism ''or astrology), “Bardesanes . . . . held intercourse with the Indians that had been sent to the Cæsar with Damadamis at their head” (''De Abst. ''iv. 17), and had his information from the Indian gymnosophists. The fact is that most of his teachings, however much they may have been altered by his numerous Gnostic followers, can be traced to Indian philosophy, and still more to the Occult teachings of the Secret System. Thus in his Hymns he speaks of the creative Deity as “Father‐ Mother”, and elsewhere of “Astral Destiny” (Karma) of “Minds of Fire” (the ''Agni‐Devas'') &c. He connected the Soul (the personal Manas) with the Seven Stars, ''deriving its origin ''from the Higher Beings (the divine Ego); and therefore “admitted spiritual resurrection but denied the resurrection of the body”, as charged with by the Church Fathers. Ephraim shows him preaching the signs of the Zodiac, the importance of the birth‐hours and “proclaiming the seven”. Calling the Sun the “Father of Life” and the Moon the “Mother of Life”, he shows the latter “laying aside her garment of light (principles) for the renewal of the Earth”. Photius cannot understand how, while accepting “the Soul free from the power of genesis (destiny of birth)” and possessing free will, he still placed the body under the rule of birth (genesis). For “they (the Bardesanists) say, that wealth and poverty and sickness and health and death and all things not within our control are works of destiny” (''Bibl. Cod. ''223, p.221— f). This is Karma, most evidently, which does not preclude at all free‐will. Hippolytus makes him a representative of the Eastern School. Speaking of Baptism, Bardesanes is made to say (''loc. cit''. pp. 985‐ff “It is not however the Bath alone which makes us free, but the Knowledge of who we are, what we are become, where we were before, whither we are hastening, whence we are redeemed; what is generation (birth), what is re‐ generation (re.birth)”. This points plainly to the doctrine of re‐incarnation. His conversation (''Dialogue'') with Awida and Barjamina on Destiny and Free Will shows it. “What is called Destiny, is an order of outflow given to the Rulers (Gods) and the Elements, according to which order the Intelligences (Spirit‐Egos) are changed by their descent into the Soul, and the Soul by its descent into the body”. (See Treatise, found in its Syriac original, and published with English translation in 1855 by Dr. Cureton, ''Spicileg. Syriac''. in British Museum.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG).

Bagavadam +

A Tamil Scripture on Astronomy and other matters [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Manomaya Kosha +

A Vedantic term, meaning the ''Sheath ''(''Kosha'') of the ''Manomaya'', an equivalent for fourth and fifth “principles” in man. In esoteric philosophy this “Kosha” corresponds to the dual ''Manas.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Annamaya Kosha +

A Vedantic term. The same as ''Sthûla Sharîra ''or the physical body. It is the first “sheath” of the ''five ''sheaths accepted by the Vedantins, a sheath being the same as that which is called “principle” in Theosophy [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kasyapa +

A Vedic Sage; in the words of ''Atharva Veda'', “The self‐born who sprang from Time”. Besides being the father of the Adityas headed by Indra, Kasyapa is also the progenitor of serpents, reptiles, birds and other walking, flying and creeping beings [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dayus +

A Vedic term. The unrevealed Deity, or that which reveals Itself only as light and the bright day—metaphorically [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Adwaita +

A Vedânta sect. The non‐dualistic (A‐ dwaita) school of Vedântic philosophy founded by Sankarâchârya, the greatest of the historical Brahmin sages. The two other schools are the Dwaita (dualistic) and the Visishtadwaita; all the three call themselves Vedântic. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hebrew Leader⁩⁩, The +

A Weekly Journal in English published in New York in the 19th Century, "devoted to Jewish & General Lierature, Masonic and other Fraternities, Art, Politics, Commerce, News, all topics of current interest". +

Hiram Abiff +

A biblical personage; a skilful builder and a “Widow’s Son”, whom King Solomon procured from Tyre, for the purpose of super‐intending the works of the Temple, and who became later a masonic character, the hero on whom hangs all the drama, or rather play, of the Masonic Third Initiation. The Kabbala makes a great deal of Hiram Abiff [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bifrost +

A bridge built by the gods to protect Asgard. On it “the third Sword‐god, known as Heimdal or Riger”, stands night and day girded with his sword, for he is the watchman selected to protect Asgard, the abode of gods. Heimdal is the Scandinavian Cherubim with the flaming sword, “which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Gandapada +

A celebrated Brahman teacher, the author of the Commentaries on the ''Sankhya Karika, Mandukya Upanishad'', and other works [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Asoka +

A celebrated Indian king of the Môrya dynasty which reigned at Magadha. There were two Asokas in reality, according to the chronicles of Northern Buddhism, though the first Asoka—the grand father of the second, named by Prof. Max Muller the “Constantine of India”, was better known by his name of Chandragupta. It is the former who was called, ''Piadasi ''(Pali) “the beautiful”, and ''Devânam‐piya ''“the beloved of the gods”, and also ''Kâlâsoka; ''while the name of his grandson was ''Dharmâsôká''—the Asoka of the good law‐— on account of his devotion to Buddhism. Moreover, according to the same source, the second Asoka had never followed the Brahmanical faith, but was a Buddhist born. It was his grandsire who had been first converted to the new faith, after which he had a number of edicts inscribed on pillars and rocks, a custom followed also by his grandson. But it was the second Asoka who was the most zealous supporter of Buddhism; he, who maintained in his palace from 60 to 70,000 monks and priests, who erected 84,000 ''totes ''and ''stupas ''throughout India, reigned 36 years, and sent missions to Ceylon, and throughout the world. The inscriptions of various edicts published by him display most noble ethical sentiments, especially the edict at Allahahad, on the so‐called “Asoka’s column ”, in the Fort. The sentiments are lofty and poetical, breathing tenderness for animals as well as men, and a lofty view of a king’s mission with regard to his people, that might be followed with great success in the present age of cruel wars and barbarous vivisection [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lalita Vistara +

A celebrated biography of Sakya Muni, the Lord Buddha, by Dharmarakcha, A.D. 308 [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Noom +

A celestial sculptor, in the Egyptian legends, who creates a beautiful girl whom he sends like another Pandora to ''Batoo ''(or “man”), whose happiness is thereafter destroyed. The “sculptor” or artist is the same as Jehovah, the architect of the world, and the girl is “Eve” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bhao +

A ceremony of divination among the Kolarian tribes of Central India [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Luxor, Brotherhood of +

A certain Brotherhood of mystics. Its name had far better never have been divulged, as it led a great number of well‐meaning people into being deceived, and relieved of their money by a certain bogus Mystic Society speculators, born in Europe, only to be exposed and fly to America. The name is derived from the ancient ''Lookshur ''in Beloochistan, lying between Bela and Kedjee. The order is very ancient and the most secret of all. It is useless to repeat that its members disclaim all connection with the “H.B. of L.”, and the ''tutti quanti ''of commercial mystics, whether from Glasgow or Boston [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Ganadevas +

A certain class of celestial Beings who are said to inhabit ''Maharloka. ''They are the rulers of our Kalpa (Cycle) and therefore termed Kalpâdhikârins, or Lord of the Kalpas. They last only “One Day” of Brahmâ [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Asakrit Samadhi +

A certain degree of ecstatic contemplation. A stage in ''Samâdhi.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mercavah +

A chariot: the Kabalists say that the Supreme after he had established the Ten Sephiroth used them as a chariot or throne of glory on which to descend upon the souls of men [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

O

Ogir +

A chief of the giants in the ''Edda ''and the ally of the gods. The highest of the Water‐gods, and the same as the Greek Okeanos [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mandala +

A circle; also the ten divisions of the Vedas [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Assur +

A city in Assyria ; the ancient seat of a library from which George Smith excavated the earliest known tablets, to which he assigns a date about 1500 B.C., called ''Assur Kileh Shergat.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bubaste +

A city in Egypt which was sacred to the cats, and where was their principal shrine. Many hundreds of thousands of cats were embalmed and buried in the grottoes of Beni‐Hassan‐el Amar. The cat being a symbol of the moon was sacred to Isis, her goddess. It sees in the dark and its eyes have a phosphorescent lustre which frightens the night‐birds of evil omen. The cat was also sacred to Bast, and thence called “the destroyer of the Sun’s (Osiris’) enemies” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Agnishwattas +

A class of Pitris, the creators of the first ethereal race of men. Our solar ancestors as contrasted with the ''Barhishads, ''the “lunar” Pitris or ancestors, though otherwise explained in the ''Purânas.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Atri +

A class of Pitris, the “ancestors of man”, or the so‐called Prâjapâti, “progenitors”; one of the seven Rishis who form the constellation of the Great Bear [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Melhas +

A class of fire‐gods or Salamanders [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Property:CTD term description

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