Property:CTD term description

This property has type Text.

Usage1784

FilterThe <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Property_page/Filter">search filter</a> allows the inclusion of <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Query_expressions">query expressions</a> such as <code>~</code> or <code>!</code>. The selected <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Query_engine">query engine</a> might also support case insensitive matching or other short expressions like:<ul><li><code>in:</code> result should include the term, e.g. '<code>in:Foo</code>'</li></ul><ul><li><code>not:</code> result should to not include the term, e.g. '<code>not:Bar</code>'</li></ul>

Showing 100 pages using this property.

A

Abhutarajasas +

A class of gods or ''Devas'', during the period of the fifth Manvantara. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kanishthas +

A class of gods which will manifest in the fourteenth or last manvantara of our world— according to the Hindus [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Barhishad +

A class of the “lunar” Pitris or “Ancestors”, Fathers, who are believed in popular superstition to have kept up in their past incarnations the household sacred flame and made fire‐offerings. Esoterically the Pitris who evolved their shadows or ''chhayas ''to make there‐with the first man. (See ''Secret Doctrine, ''Vol. II.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

College of Rabbis +

A college at Babylon; most famous during the early centuries of Christianity. Its glory, however, was greatly darkened by the appearance in Alexandria of Hellenic teachers, such as Philo Judæus, Josephus, Aristobulus and others. The former avenged themselves on their successful rivals by speaking of the Alexandrians as theurgists and unclean prophets. But the Alexandrian believers in thaumaturgy were not regarded as sinners or impostors when orthodox Jews were at the head of such schools of ''“hazim”''. These were colleges for teaching prophecy and occult sciences. Samuel was the chief of such a college at Ramah; Elisha at Jericho. Hillel had a regular academy for prophets and seers; and it is Hillel, a pupil of the Babylonian College, who was the founder of the Sect of the Pharisees and the great orthodox Rabbis [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bhashya +

A commentary [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kalluka Bhatta +

A commentator of the Hindu ''Manu Smriti ''Scriptures; a well‐known writer and historian [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Aditi‐Gaea +

A compound term, Sanskrit and Latin, meaning dual, nature in theosophical writings—spiritual and physical, as Gæa is the goddess of the earth and of objective nature. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Luxor +

A compound word from ''lux ''(light) and ''aur'' (fire), thus meaning the “Light of (divine) Fire.” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bhutan +

A country of heretical Buddhists and Lamaists beyond Sikkhim, where rules the Dharma Raja, a nominal vassal of the Dalaї Lama [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Honir +

A creative god who furnished the first man with intellect and understanding after man had been created by him jointly with Odin and Lodur from an ash tree [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Diktamnon +

A curious plant possessing very occult and mystical properties and well‐ known from ancient times. It was sacred to the Moon‐ Goddesses. Luna, Astarte, Diana. The Cretan name of Diana was ''Diktynna'', and as such the goddess wore a wreath made of this magic plant. The ''Dihtamnon ''is an evergreen shrub whose contact, as claimed in Occultism, develops and at the same time cures somnambulism. Mixed with Verbena it will produce clairvoyance and ecstasy. Pharmacy attributes to the ''Dihtamnon ''strongly sedative and quieting properties. It grows in abundance on Mount Dicte, in Crete, and enters into many ''magical ''performances resorted to by the ''Cretans ''even to this day [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Naros +

A cycle, which the Orientalists describe as consisting of 600 years. But what years? There were three kinds of Neros : the greater, the middle and the less. It is the latter cycle only which was of 600 years. (See “Neros”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Harshana +

A deity presiding over offerings to the dead, or ''Srâddha'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Anaitia +

A derivation from Anâ ''(q.v.)'', a goddess identical with the Hindu ''Annapurna, ''one of the names of Kâlî—the female aspect of Siva—at her best [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Chavigny +

A disciple of the world‐famous Nostradamus, an astrologer and an alchemist of the sixteenth century. He died in the year 1604. His life was a very quiet one and he was almost unknown to his contemporaries; but he left a precious manuscript on the pre‐natal and post‐natal influence of the stars on certain marked individuals, a secret revealed to him by Nostradamus. This treatise was last in the possession of the Emperor Alexander of Russia [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Chela +

A disciple, the pupil of a Guru or Sage, the follower of some adept of a school of philosophy ''(lit.'', child) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lanoo +

A disciple, the same as “chela” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Gematria +

A division of the practical Kabbalah. It shows the numerical value of Hebrew words by summing up the values of the letters composing them and further, it shows by this means, analogies between words and phrases. [w.w.w.] One of the methods (arithmetical) for extracting the hidden meaning from letters, words and sentences [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Notaricon +

A division of the practical Kabbalah; treats of the formation of words from the initials or finals of the words in every sentence; or conversely it forms a sentence of words whose initials or finals are those of some word [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hakim +

A doctor, in all the Eastern countries, from Asia Minor to India [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Cagliostro +

A famous Adept, whose real name is claimed (by his enemies) to have been Joseph Balsamo. He was a native of Palermo, and studied under some mysterious foreigner of whom little has been ascertained. His accepted history is too well known to need repetition, and his real history has never been told. His fate was that of every human being who proves that he knows more than do his fellow‐ creatures; he was “stoned to death” by persecutions, lies, and infamous accusations, and yet he was the friend and adviser of the highest and mightiest of every land he visited. He was finally tried and sentenced in Rome as a heretic, and was said to have died during his confinement in a State prison. (See “ Mesmer”.) Yet his end was not utterly undeserved, as he had been untrue to his vows in some respects, had fallen from his state of chastity and yielded to ambition and selfishness [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Anaxagoras +

A famous Ionian philosopher who lived 500 B.C., studied philosophy under Anaximenes of Miletus, and settled in the days of Pericles at Athens. Socrates, Euripides, Archelaus and other distinguished men and philosophers were among his disciples and pupils. He was a most learned astronomer and was one of the first to explain openly that which was taught by Pythagoras secretly, namely, the movements of the planets, the eclipses of the sun and moon, etc. It was he who taught the theory of Chaos, on the principle that “nothing comes from nothing”; and of atoms, as the underlying essence and substance of all bodies, “of the same nature as the bodies which they formed”. These atoms, he taught, were primarily put in motion by Nous (Universal Intelligence, the Mahat of the Hindus), which Nous is an immaterial, eternal, spiritual entity; by this combination the world was formed, the material gross bodies sinking down, and the ethereal atoms (or fiery ether) rising and spreading in the upper celestial regions. Antedating modern science by over 2000 years, he taught that the stars were of the same material as our earth, and the sun a glowing mass; that the moon was a dark, uninhabitable body, receiving its light from the sun; the comets, wandering stars or bodies ; and over and above the said science, he confessed himself thoroughly convinced that the real existence of things, perceived by our senses, could not be demonstrably proved. He died in exile at Lampsacus at the age of seventy‐two [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Khunrath, Henry +

A famous Kabalist, chemist and physician born in 1502, initiated into Theosophy (Rosicrucian) in 1544. He left some excellent Kabalistic works, the best of which is the “Amphitheatre of Eternal Wisdom” (1598) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Coeur, Jacques +

A famous Treasurer of France, born in 1408, who obtained the office by black magic. He was reputed as a great alchemist and his wealth became fabulous; but he was soon banished from the country, and retiring to the Island of Cyprus, died there in 1460, leaving behind enormous wealth, endless legends and a bad reputation [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Heabani +

A famous astrologer at the Court of Izdubar, frequently mentioned in the fragments of the Assyrian tablets in reference to a dream of Izdubar, the great Babylonian King, or Nimrod, the “mighty hunter before the Lord ”. After his death, his soul being unable to rest underground, the ghost of Heabani was raised by Merodach, the god, his body restored to life and then transferred alive, like Elijah, to the regions of the Blessed [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

E

Ecbatana +

A famous city in Media worthy of a place among the seven wonders of the world. It is thus described by Draper in his ''Conflict between Religion and Science'', chap. i, . . “ The cool summer retreat of the Persian Kings, was defended by seven encircling walls of hewn and polished blocks, the interior ones in succession of increasing height, and of different colours, in astrological accordance with the seven planets. The palace was roofed with silver tiles; its beams were plated with gold. At midnight in its halls, the sun was rivalled by many a row of naphta cressets. A paradise, that luxury of the monarchs of the East, was planted in the midst of the city. The Persian Empire was truly the garden of the world.” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Briareus +

A famous giant in the Theogony of Hesiod. The son of Cœlus and Terra, a monster with 50 heads and 100 arms. He is conspicuous in the wars and battles between the gods [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hippocrates +

A famous physician of Cos, one of the Cyclades, who flourished at Athens during the invasion of Artaxerxes, and delivered that town from a dreadful pestilence. He was called “the father of Medicine “. Having studied his art from the votive tablets offered by the cured patients at the temples of Æsculapius, he became an Initiate and the most proficient healer of his day, so much so that he was almost deified. His learning and knowledge were enormous. Galen says of his writings that they are truly the voice of an oracle. He died in his 100th year, 361 B.c. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Atalanta Fugiens +

A famous treatise by the eminent Rosicrucian Michael Maier; it has many beautiful engravings of Alchemic symbolism: here is to be found the original of the picture of a man and woman within a circle, a triangle around it, then a square: the inscription is, “From the first '''''ens '''''proceed two contraries, thence come the three principles, and from them the four elementary states ; if you separate the pure from the impure you will have the stone of the Philosophers”. [ w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Caesar +

A far‐famed astrologer and “professor of magic,” i.e., an Occultist, during the reign of Henry IV of France. “He was reputed to have been strangled by the devil in 1611,” as Brother Kenneth Mackenzie tells us [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

F

Fire +

A figure of speech to denote deity, the “One” life. A theurgic term, used later by the Rosicrucians. The symbol of the ''living fire ''is the sun, ''certain of whose rays develope the fire of life in a diseased body,'' ''impart the knowledge of the future ''to the sluggish mind, and stimulate to active function a certain psychic and generally dormant faculty in man. The meaning is very occult [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kravyad +

A flesh‐eater; a carnivorous man or animal [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Arian +

A follower of Arius, a presbyter of the Church in Alexandria in the fourth century. One who holds that Christ is a created and human being, inferior to God the Father, though a grand and noble man, a true adept versed in all the divine mysteries [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Adwaitin +

A follower of the said school. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Daksha +

A form of Brahmâ and his son in the Purânas But the ''Rig Veda ''states that “Daksha sprang from Aditi, and Aditi from Daksha”, which proves him to be a personified correlating Creative Force acting on ''all the planes. ''The Orientalists seem very much perplexed what to make of him; but Roth is nearer the truth than any, when saying that Daksha is the spiritual power, and at the same time the male energy that generates the gods in eternity, which is represented by Aditi. The Purânas as a matter of course, anthropomorphize the idea, and show Daksha instituting “sexual intercourse on this earth”, after trying every other means of procreation. The generative Force, spiritual at the commencement, becomes of course at the most material end of its evolution a procreative Force on the physical plane ; and so far the Purânic allegory is correct, as the Secret Science teaches that our present mode of procreation began towards the end of the third Root‐Race [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Anouki +

A form of Isis; the goddess of life, from which name the Hebrew ''Ank'', life. (See “Anuki.”) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Murti +

A form, or a sign, or again a face, e.g., “Trimûrti”, the “three Faces” or Images [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Artufas +

A generic name in South America and the islands for temples of ''nagalism ''or serpent worship [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

E

Empusa +

A ghoul, a vampire, an evil demon taking various forms [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Muspel +

A giant in the ''Edda'', the Fire‐god, and the father of the Flames. It was these evil sons of the good Muspel Who after threatening evil in Glowheim (Muspelheim) finally gathered into a formidable army, and fought the “Last Battle” on the field of Wigred. Muspel is rendered as “World (or Mundane) Fire”. The conception Dark Surtur (black smoke) out of which flash tongues of flame, connects Muspel with the Hindu Agni [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

F

Farbauti +

A giant in the ''Edda''; lit., “the oarsman”; the father of Loki, whose mother was the giantess Laufey (leafy isle); a genealogy which makes W. S. W. Anson remark in ''Asgard and the Gods ''that probably the oarsman or Farbauti “was the giant who saved himself from the flood in a boat, and the latter (Laufey) the island to which he rowed”—which is an additional variation of the Deluge [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Garuda +

A gigantic bird in the ''Ramâyana'', the steed of Vishnu. Esoterically—the symbol of the great Cycle [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Deva +

A god, a “resplendent” deity. Deva‐Deus, from the root ''div ''“to shine”. A Deva is a celestial being— whether good, bad, or indifferent. Devas inhabit “the three worlds”, which are the ''three planes ''above us. There are 33 groups or 330 millions of them [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Nirriti +

A goddess of Death and Decay [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hillel +

A great Babylonian Rabbi of the century preceding the Christian era. He was the founder of the sect of the Pharisees, a learned and a sainted man [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Chhanmuka +

A great Bodhisattva with the Northern Buddhists, famous for his ardent love of Humanity; regarded in the esoteric schools as a ''Nirmanakâya.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Chuang +

A great Chinese philosopher [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hiouen Thsang +

A great Chinese writer and philosopher who travelled in India in the sixth century, in order to learn more about Buddhism, to which he was devoted [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Artephius +

A great Hermetic philosopher, whose true name was never known and whose works are without dates, though it is known that he wrote his ''Secret Book ''in the XIIth century. Legend has it that he was one thousand years old at that time. There is a book on dreams by him in the possession of an Alchemist, now in Bagdad, in which he gives out the secret of seeing the past, the present, and the future, in sleep, and of remembering the things seen. There are but two copies of this manuscript extant. The book on ''Dreams ''by the Jew Solomon Almulus, published in Hebrew at Amsterdam in 1642, has a few reminiscences from the former work of Artephius [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Iamblichus +

A great Theurgist, mystic, and writer of the third and fourth centuries, a Neo‐Platonist and philosopher, born at Chalcis in Cœle‐Syria. Correct biographies of him have never existed because of the hatred of the Christians; but that which has been gathered of his life in isolated fragments from works by impartial pagan and independent writers shows how excellent and holy was his moral character, and how great his learning. He may be called the founder of theurgic magic among the Neo‐Platonists and the reviver of the practical mysteries outside of temple or fane. His school was at first distinct from that of Plotinus and Porphyry, who were strongly against ceremonial magic and practical theurgy as dangerous, though later he convinced Porphyry of its. advisability on some occasions, and both master and pupil firmly believed in theurgy and magic, of which the former is principally the highest and most efficient mode of communication with one’s Higher Ego, through the medium of one’s astral body. Theurgic is benevolent magic, and it becomes goetic, or dark and evil, only when it is used for necromancy or selfish purposes; but such dark magic has never been practised by any theurgist or philosopher, whose name has descended to us unspotted by any evil deed. So much was Porphyry (who became the teacher of Iamblichus in Neo‐Platonic philosophy) convinced of this, that though he himself never practised theurgy, yet he gave instructions for the acquirement of this sacred science. Thus he says in one of his writings, “Whosoever is acquainted with the nature of ''divinely luminous appearances '''''''fasmata '''''( knows also on what account it is requisite to abstain from all birds (and animal food) and especially for him who hastens to be liberated from terrestrial concerns and to be established with the celestial gods”. (''See Select Works ''by T. Taylor, p. 159.) Moreover, the same Porphyry mentions in his Life of Plotinus a priest of Egypt, who, “at the request of a certain friend of Plotinus, exhibited to him, in the temple of Isis at Rome, the familiar ''daimon ''of that philosopher “. In other words, he produced the theurgic invocation (see “Theurgist”) by which Egyptian Hierophant or Indian Mahâtma, of old, could clothe their own or any other person’s astral ''double ''with the appearance of its Higher EGO, or what Bulwer Lytton terms the “ Luminous Self”, the ''Augoeides, ''and confabulate with It. This it is which Iamblichus and many others, including the mediæval Rosicrucans, meant by ''union with Deity''. Iamblichus wrote many books but only a few of his works are extant, such as his “Egyptian Mysteries” and a treatise “On Dæmons”, in which he speaks very severely against any intercourse with them. He was a biographer of Pythagoras and deeply versed in the system of the latter, and was also learned in the Chaldean Mysteries. He taught that the One, or universal MONAD, was the principle of all unity as well as diversity, or of Homogeneity and Heterogeneity; that the Duad, or two (“ Principles”), was the intellect, or that which we call Buddhi‐Manas; three, was the Soul (the lower Manas), etc. etc. There is much of the theosophical in his teachings, and his works on the various kinds of dæmons (Elementals) are a well of esoteric knowledge for the student. His austerities, purity of life and earnestness were great. Iamblichus is credited with having been once levitated ten cubits high from the ground, as are some of the modern Yogis, and even great mediums [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG).

C

Charnook Thomas +

A great alchemist of the sixteenth century; a surgeon who lived and practiced near Salisbury, studying the art in some neighbouring cloisters with a priest. It is said that he was initiated into the final secret of transmutation by the famous mystic William Bird, who “had been a prior of Bath and defrayed the expense of repairing the Abbey Church from the gold which he made by the red and white elixirs” (''Royal Mas. Cyc.''). Charnock wrote his ''Breviary of Philosophy ''in the year 1557 and the ''Enigma of Alchemy'', in 1574 [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Ammonius Saccas +

A great and good philosopher who lived in Alexandria between the second and third centuries of our era, and who was the founder of the Neo‐ Platonic School of Philaletheians or “lovers of truth”. He was of poor birth and born of Christian parents, but endowed with such prominent, almost divine, goodness as to he called ''Theodidaktos, ''the “god‐taught”. He honoured that which was good in Christianity, but broke with it and the churches very early, being unable to find in it any superiority over the older religions [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Karam +

A great festival in honour of the Sun‐Spirit with the Kolarian tribes [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Boehme +

A great mystic philosopher, one of the most prominent Theosophists of the mediæval ages. He was born about 1575 at Old Seidenburg, some two miles from Görlitz (Silesia), and died in 1624, at nearly fifty years of age. In his boyhood he was a common shepherd, and, after learning to read and write in a village school, became an apprentice to a poor shoemaker at Görlitz. He was a natural clairvoyant of most wonderful powers. With no education or acquaintance with science he wrote works which are now proved to be full of scientific truths; but then, as he says himself, what he wrote upon, he “saw it as in a great Deep in the Eternal”. He had “a thorough view of the universe, as in a chaos”, which yet “opened itself in him, from time to time, as in a young plant”. He was a thorough born Mystic, and evidently of a constitution which is most rare one of those fine natures whose material envelope impedes in no way the direct, even if only occasional, intercommunion between the intellectual and the spiritual Ego. It is this Ego which Jacob Boehme, like so many other untrained mystics, mistook for God; “Man must acknowledge,” he writes, “that his knowledge is not his own, but from God, who manifests the Ideas of Wisdom to the Soul of Man, in what measure he pleases.” Had this great Theosophist mastered Eastern Occultism he might have expressed it otherwise. He would have known then that the “god” who spoke through his poor uncultured and untrained brain, was his own divine Ego, the omniscient Deity within himself, and that what that Deity gave out was not in “what measure pleased,” but in the measure of the capacities of the mortal and temporary dwelling IT informed [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

J

Jaimini +

A great sage, a disciple of Vyâsa the transmitter and teacher of the Sama Veda which as claimed he received from his Guru. He is also the famous founder and writer of the Pûrva Mimânsâ philosophy [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kapila Rishi +

A great sage, a great adept of antiquity; the author of the Sankhya philosophy [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lao‐tze +

A great sage, saint and philosopher who preceded Confucius [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dravidians +

A group of tribes inhabiting Southern India; the aborigines [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

E

Essenes +

A hellenized word, from the Hebrew ''Asa, ''a “healer”. A mysterious sect of Jews said by Pliny to have lived near the Dead Sea '''''per millia sæculorum'''''—for thousands of ages. “ Some have supposed them to be extreme Pharisees, and others—which may be the true theory—the descendants of the ''Benim‐nabim ''of the ''Bible, ''and think that they were ‘Kenites and ''Nazarites''. They had many Buddhistic ideas and practices; and it is noteworthy that the priests of the ''Great Mother ''at Ephesus, Diana‐ Bhavani with many breasts, were also so denominated. Eusebius, and after him De Quincey, declared them to be the same as the early Christians, which is more than probable. The title ‘ brother’, used in the early Church, was Essenean ; they were a fraternity, or a koinobion or community like the early converts.” (''Isis Unveiled''.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kandu +

A holy sage of the second root‐race, a yogi, whom Pramlôcha, a “nymph” sent by Indra for that purpose, beguiled, and lived with for several centuries. Finally, the Sage returning to his senses, repudiated and chased her away. Whereupon she gave birth to a daughter, Mârishâ. The story is in an allegorical fable from the ''Purânas'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

P

Paean +

A hymn of rejoicing and praise in honour of the sun‐god Apollo or Helios [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hypocephalus +

A kind of a pillow for the head of the mummy. They are of various kinds, ''e.g.'', of stone, wood, etc., and very often of circular disks of linen covered with cement, and inscribed with magic figures and letters. They are called “rest for the dead” in the ''Ritual'', and every mummy‐coffin has one [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Agni Dhatu Samadhi +

A kind of contemplation in Yoga practice, when Kundalini is raised to the extreme and the infinitude appears as one sheet of fire. An ecstatic condition. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bihar Gyalpo +

A king deified by the Dugpas. A patron over all their religious buildings [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Manava +

A land of ancient India; a Kalpa or Cycle. The name of a weapon used by Râma; meaning of “Manu” as,― [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

J

Jainas +

A large religious body in India closely resembling Buddhism, but who preceded it by long centuries. They claim that Gautama, the Buddha, was a disciple of one of their Tirtankaras, or Saints. They deny the authority of the Vedas and the existence of any ''personal ''supreme god, but believe in the eternity of matter, the periodicity of the universe and the immortality of men’s minds (''Manas'') as also of that of the animals. An extremely mystic sect [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Druzes +

A large sect, numbering about 100,000 adherents, living on Mount Lebanon in Syria. Their rites are very mysterious, and no traveller, who has written anything about them, knows for a certainty the whole truth. They are the ''Sufis ''of Syria. They resent being called Druzes as an insult, but call themselves the “disciples of Hamsa”, their Messiah, who came to them in the ninth century from the “Land of the Word of God”, which land and word they kept religiously secret. The Messiah to come will be the same Hamsa, but called ''Hakem''—the “All‐ Healer”. (See ''Isis Unveiled, ''II 308, ''et seq.'') [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

KasiKhanda +

A long poem, which forms a part of the ''Skanda Purâna ''and contains another version of the legend of Daksha’s head. Having lost it in an affray, the gods replaced it with the head of a ram ''Mekha Shivas'', whereas the other versions describe it as the head of a goat, a substitution which changes the allegory considerably [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Cheru +

A magic sword, a weapon of the “sword god” Heru. In the ''Edda'', the Saga describes it as destroying its possessor, should he be unworthy of wielding it. It brings victory and fame only in the hand of a virtuous hero [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Ha +

A magic syllable used in sacred formulæ it represents the power of ''Akâsa Sakti''. Its efficacy lies in the expirational accent and the sound produced [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Assassins +

A masonic and mystic order founded by Hassan Sabah in Persia, in the eleventh century. The word is a European perversion of “Hassan”, which forms the chief part of the name. They were simply ''Sufis ''and addicted, according to the tradition, to ''hascheesl‐eating, ''in order to bring about celestial visions. As shown by our late brother, Kenneth Mackenzie, “they were teachers of the secret doctrines of Islamism; they encouraged mathematics and philosophy, and produced many valuable works. The chief of the Order was called Sheik‐ el‐Jebel, translated the ‘''Old Man of the Mountains’'', and, as their Grand Master, he possessed power of life and death.’ [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kala +

A measure of time; four hours, a period of thirty Kashthas. Time, fate; a cycle and a proper name, or title given to Yama, King of the nether world and Judge of the Dead [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lemuria +

A modern term first used by some naturalists, and now adopted by Theosophists, to indicate a continent that, according to the ''Secret Doctrine ''of the East, preceded Atlantis. Its Eastern name would not reveal much to European ears [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Lotus +

A most occult plant, sacred in Egypt, India and else where; called “the child of the Universe bearing the likeness of its mother in its bosom”. There was a time “when the world was a golden lotus” (''padma'') says the allegory. A great variety of these plants, from the majestic Indian lotus, down to the marsh‐lotus (bird’s foot trefoil) and the Grecian “Dioscoridis”, is eaten at Crete and other islands. It is a species of nymphala, first introduced from India to Egypt to which it was‐not indigenous. See the text of ''Archaic Symbolism ''in the Appendix Viii. “The Lotus, as a Universal Symbol” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Gayatri +

A most sacred verse, addressed to the Sun, in the Rig ‐Veda, which the Brahmans have to repeat mentally every morn and eve during their devotions [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

O

Olympus +

A mount in Greece, the abode of the gods according to Homer and Hesiod [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Ossa +

A mount, the tomb of the giants (allegorical) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Gandhara +

A musical note of great occult power in the Hindu gamut—the third of the diatonic scale [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Apam Napat +

A mysterious being, corresponding to the Fohat of the Occultists. It is both a Vedic and an Avestian name. Literally, the name means the “Son of the Waters” (of space, i.e., Ether), for in the ''Avesta ''Apâm Napât stands between the ''fire‐yazatas ''and the ''water‐ yazatas ''.(See ''Secret Doctrine, ''Vol. II., p. 400, note) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

O

Ogham +

A mystery language belonging to the early Celtic races, and used by the Druids. One form of this language consisted in the association of the leaves of certain trees with the letters, this was called ''Beth‐luis‐nion Ogham'', and to form words and sentences the leaves were strung on a cord in the proper order. Godfrey Higgins suggests that to complete the mystification certain other leaves which meant nothing were interspersed. [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kasina +

A mystic Yoga rite used to free the mind from all agitation and bring the ''Kamic ''element to a dead stand‐still [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bhur‐Bhuva +

A mystic incantation, as ''Om, Bhur, Bhuva, Swar'', meaning “Om, earth, sky, heaven, This is the exoteric explanation [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Abhamsi +

A mystic name of the “four orders of beings” which are, Gods, Demons, Pitris and Men. Orientalists somehow connect the name with “waters”, but esoteric philosophy connects its symbolism with ''Akâsa''—the ethereal “waters of space”, since it is on the bosom and on the seven planes of “space” that the “four orders of (lower) beings” and the three higher Orders of Spiritual Beings are born. (See ''Secret Doctrine ''I. p. 458, and “Ambhâmsi”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Abiegnus Mons +

A mystic name, from whence as from a certain mountain, Rosicrucian documents are often found to be issued— “Monte Abiegno”. There is a connection with Mount Meru, and other sacred hills. [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hangsa +

A mystic syllable standing for evolution, and meaning in its literal sense “I am he”, or ''Ahamsa'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

O

Om +

A mystic syllable, the most solemn of all words in India. It is “an invocation, a benediction, an affirmation and a promise and it is so sacred, as to be indeed ''the word at low breath ''of occult, ''primitive ''masonry. No one must be near when the syllable is pronounced for a purpose. This word is usually placed at the beginning of sacred Scriptures, and is prefixed to prayers. It is a compound of three letters a,u,m, which, in the popular belief, are typical of the three Vedas, also of three gods— '''A '''(Agni) '''V '''(Varuna) and '''M '''(Maruts) or Fire, Water and Air. In esoteric philosophy these are the three sacred fires, or the “triple fire”in the Universe and Man, besides many other things. Occultly, this “triple fire” represents the highest ''Tetraktys ''also, as it is typified by the Agni named Abhimânin and his transformation into his three sons, Pâvana, Pavamâna and Suchi, “who drinks up water”, i.e., destroys material desires. This monosyllable is called Udgîtta, and is sacred with both Brahmins and Buddhists [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kalahansa +

A mystic title given to Brahma (or Parabrahman); means “the swan '''''in '''''and '''''out '''''of time”. Brahmâ (male) is called Hansa‐Vahan, the vehicle of the “Swan” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

J

Japa +

A mystical practice of certain Yogis. It consists in the repetition of various magical formulæ and mantras [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Digambara +

A naked mendicant. Lit., “clothed with Space”. A name of Siva in his character of Rudra, the Yogi [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Afrits +

A name for native spirits regarded as devils by Mussulmen. Elementals much dreaded in Egypt. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Genii +

A name for Æons, or angels, with the Gnostics. The names of their hierarchies and classes are simply legion [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hypnotism +

A name given by Dr. Braid to various processes by which one person of strong will‐power plunges another of weaker mind into a kind of trance; once in such a state the latter will do anything ''suggested ''to him by the hypnotiser. Unless produced for beneficial purposes, Occultists would call it ''black magic ''or Sorcery. It is the most dangerous of practices, morally and physically, as it interferes with the nerve fluid and the nerves controlling the circulation in the capillary blood‐ vessels [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

F

Flagae +

A name given by Paracelsus to a particular kind of guardian angels or genii [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Khamism +

A name given by the Egyptologists to the ancient language of Egypt. '''''Khami''''', also [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Brothers of the Shadow +

A name given by the Occultists to Sorcerers, and especially to the Tibetan ''Dugpas, ''of whom there are many in the Bhon sect of the ''Red Caps (Dugpa''). The word is applied to all practitioners of black or ''left hand ''magic [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hagadah +

A name given to parts of the Talmud which are legendary. [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Halachah +

A name given to parts of the Talmud, which are arguments on points of doctrine; the word means “rule” [ w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Briseus +

A name given to the god Bacchus from his nurse, Briso. He had also a temple at Brisa, a promontory of the isle of Lesbos [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

J

Jahnavi +

A name of ''Ganga, ''or the river Ganges [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Jigten Gonpo +

A name of Avalokitêswara, or ''Chenres‐Padma‐pani, ''the “Protector against Evil” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Property:CTD term description

Navigation menu

Search