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N

Nabatheans +

A sect almost identical in their beliefs with the Nazarenes and Sabeans, who had more reverence for John the Baptist than for Jesus. Maimonides identifies them with the astrolaters. “Respecting the beliefs of the Sabeans”, he says, “the most famous is the book, ''The agriculture of the Nabatheans''”. And we know that the Ebionites, the first of whom were the friends and relatives of Jesus, according to tradition, in other words, the earliest and first Christians, “were the direct followers and disciples of the Nazarene sect”, according to Epiphanius and Theodoret (See the ''Contra Ebionites ''of Epiphanius, and also “Galileans” and “Nazarenes”) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Madhyamikas +

A sect mentioned in the ''Vishnu Purâna''. Agreeably to the Orientalists, a “Buddhist sect, which is an anachronism. It was probably at first a sect of Hindu atheists. A later school of that name, teaching a system of sophistic nihilism, that reduces every proposition into a thesis and its antithesis, and then denies both, has been started in Tibet and China. It adopts a few principles of Nâgârjuna, who was one of the founders of the esoteric Mahayâna systems, not their ''exoteric ''travesties. The allegory that regarded Nâgârjuna’s “Paramartha” as a gift from the ''Nâgas ''(Serpents) shows that he received his teachings from the secret school of adepts, and that the real tenets are therefore kept secret [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Collyridians +

A sect of Gnostics who, in the ear]y centuries of Christianity, transferred their worship and reverence from Astoreth to Mary, as Queen of Heaven and Virgin. Regarding the two as identical, they offered to the latter as they had done to the former, buns and cakes on certain days, with sexual symbols represented on them [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Manichaeans +

A sect of the third century which believed in ''two ''eternal principles of good and evil; the former furnishing mankind with souls, and the latter with bodies. This sect was founded by a certain half‐Christian mystic named Mani, who gave himself out as the expected “Comforter”, the Messiah and Christ. Many centuries later, after the sect was dead, a Brotherhood arose, calling itself the “Manichees”, of a masonic character with several degrees of initiation. Their ideas were Kabalistic, but were misunderstood [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Koinobi +

A sect which lived in Egypt in the early part of the first Christian century; usually confounded with the ''Therapeutæ''. They passed for magicians [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

F

Fargard +

A section or chapter of verses in the ''Vendidad ''of the Parsis [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Anjana +

A serpent, a son of Kasyapa Rishi [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Ahi +

A serpent. A name of Vritra, the Vedic demon of drought. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Linga +

A sign or a symbol of abstract creation. Force becomes the organ of procreation only on this earth. In India there are 12 great Lingams of Siva, some of which are on mountains and rocks, and also in temples. Such is the ''Kedâresa ''in the Himalaya, a huge and shapeless mass of rock. In its origin the Lingam had never the gross meaning connected with the phallus, an idea which is altogether of a later date. The symbol in India has the same meaning which it had in Egypt, which is simply that the creative or procreative Force is divine. It also denotes who was the dual Creator—male and female, Siva and his Sakti. The gross and immodest idea connected with the phallus is not Indian but Greek and pre‐eminently Jewish. The Biblical ''Bethels ''were real priapic stones, the “ Beth‐el” (phallus) wherein God dwells. The same symbol was concealed within the ark of the Covenant, the “Holy of Holies”. Therefore the “Lingam” even as a phallus is not “a symbol of Siva” only, but that of every “Creator” or creative god in every nation, including the Israelites and their “God of Abraham and Jacob” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Abhimanyu +

A son of Arjuna. He killed Lakshmana,in the great battle of the Mahâbhârata on its second day, but was himself killed on the thirteenth. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Abhaya +

A son of Dharma; and also a religious life of duty. As an adjective, “Fearless,” Abhaya is an epithet given to every [[Buddha]]. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Ben +

A son; a common prefix in proper names to denote the son of so‐and‐so, e.g., Ben Solomon, Ben Ishmael, etc. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Brahmarandhra +

A spot on the crown of the head connected by ''Sushumna, ''a cord in the spinal column, with the heart. A mystic term having its significance only in mysticism [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hallucination +

A state produced sometimes by the Astral Light; but while the drunkard, the madman, and the untrained medium, or one suffering from brain‐ fever, see, because they cannot help it, and evoke the jumbled visions unconsciously to themselves, the Adept and the trained Seer have the choice and the control of such visions. They know where to fix their gaze, how to steady the scenes they want to observe, and how to see beyond the upper outward layers of the Astral Light. With the former such glimpses into the waves are hallucinations: with the latter they become the faithful reproduction of what actually has been, is, or will be, taking place. The glimpses at random caught by the medium, and his flickering visions in the deceptive light, are transformed under the guiding will of the Adept and Seer into steady pictures, the truthful representations of that which he wills to come within the focus of his perception [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Avitchi +

A state: not necessarily after death only or between two births, for it can take place on earth as well. '''Lit.''', “uninterrupted hell”. The last of the eight hells, we are told, “where the culprits ''die and are reborn without interruption''—yet not without hope of final redemption. This is because Avitchi is another name for Myalba (our earth) and also a state to which some soulless men are condemned on this physical plane [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Idol +

A statue or a picture of a heathen god; or a statue or picture of a Romish Saint, or a fetish of uncivilized tribes [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

O

Odem +

A stone (the cornelian) on the breast‐plate of the Jewish High Priest. It is of red colour and possesses a great medicinal power [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Aura +

A subtle invisible essence or fluid that emanates from human and animal bodies and even things. It is a psychic effluvium, partaking of both the mind and the body, as it is the electro‐vital, and at the same time an electro‐mental aura; called in Theosophy the âkâsic or magnetic aura [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Guardian Wall +

A suggestive name given to the host of translated adepts (Narjols) or the Saints collectively, who are supposed to watch over, help and protect Humanity. This is the so‐called “Nirmanâkâya” doctrine in Northern mystic Buddhism. (See ''Voice of the Silence'', Part III.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Key +

A symbol of universal importance, the emblem of silence among the ancient nations. Represented on the threshold of the Adytum, a key had a double meaning: it reminded the candidates of the obligations of silence, and promised the unlocking of many a hitherto impenetrable mystery to the profane. In the “Œdipus Coloneus” of Sophocles, the chorus speaks of “the golden key which had come upon the tongue of the ministering Hierophant in the mysteries of Eleusis”, (1051). “The priestess of Ceres, according to Callimachus, bore a key as her ensign of office, and the key was, in the Mysteries of Isis, symbolical of the opening or disclosing of the heart and conscience before the forty‐two assessors of the dead”. (''R.''''M. Cyc1opædia'') [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hotris +

A symbolical name for the ''seven ''senses called, in the ''Anugita ''“the Seven Priests”. “The senses supply the fire of mind (i.e., desire) with the oblations of external pleasures.” An occult term used metaphysically [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Iacchos +

A synonym of Bacchus. Mythology mentions three persons so named: they were Greek ideals adopted later by the Romans. The word Iacchos is stated to be of Phœnician origin, and to mean “an infant at the breast ”. Many ancient monuments represent Ceres or Demeter with Bacchus in her arms. One Iacchos was called Theban and Conqueror, son of Jupiter and Semele; his mother died before his birth and he was preserved for some time in the thigh of his father; he was killed by the Titans. Another was son of Jupiter, as a Dragon, and Persephone ; this one was named Zagræmus. A third was Iacchos of Eleusis, son of Ceres: he is of importance because he appeared on the sixth day of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Some see an analogy between Bacchus and Noah, both cultivators of the Vine, and patrons of alcoholic excess. [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Doppelganger +

A synonym of the “Double” and of the “Astral body” in occult parlance [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Gonpa +

A temple or monastery; a ''Lamasery.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lhakang +

A temple; a crypt, especially a subterranean temple for mystic ceremonies [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Lower Face +

A term applied to Microprosopus, as that of ”Higher Face” is to Macroprosopus. The two are identical with ''Long Face ''and ''Short Face'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Be‐ness +

A term coined by Theosophists to render more accurately the essential meaning of the untranslatable word Sat. The latter word does not mean “Being” for it presupposes a sentient feeling or some consciousness of existence. But, as the term Sat is applied solely to the absolute Principle, the universal, unknown, and ever unknowable Presence, which philosophical Pantheism postulates in Kosmos, calling it the basic root of Kosmos. and Kosmos itself— “Being” was no fit word to express it. Indeed, the latter is not even, as translated by some Orientalists, “the incomprehensible Entity”; for it is no more an Entity than a non‐Entity, but both. It is, as said, absolute ''Be‐ness'', not ''Being, ''the one secondless, undivided, and indivisible All—the root of all Nature visible and invisible, objective and subjective, to be sensed by the highest spiritual intuition, but’ never to be fully comprehended [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dwellers +

A term invented by Bulwer Lytton in ''Zanoni''; but in Occultism the word “Dweller” is an occult term used by students for long ages past, and refers to certain maleficent astral Doubles of defunct persons [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Ablanathanalba +

A term similar to “Abracadabra”. It is said by C. W. King to have meant “thou art a father to us”; it reads the same from either end and was used as a charm in Egypt. (See “[[Abracadabra]]”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Limbus Major +

A term used by Paracelsus to denote primordial (alchemical) matter; “Adam’s earth” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

F

Fohat +

A term used to represent the active (male) potency of the Sakti (female reproductive power) in nature. The essence of cosmic electricity. An occult Tibetan term for ''Daiviprakriti ''primordial light: and in the universe of manifestation the ever‐present electrical energy and ceaseless destructive and formative power. Esoterically, it is the same, Fohat being the universal propelling Vital Force, at once the propeller and the resultant [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hell +

A term with the Anglo‐Saxons, evidently derived from the name of the goddess '''''Hela '''''(''q.v''.), and by the Sclavonians from the Greek Hades: hell being in Russian and other Sclavonian tongues—''ad, ''the only difference between the Scandinavian cold hell and the hot hell of the Christians, being found in their respective temperatures. But even the idea of those overheated regions is not original with the Europeans, many peoples having entertained the conception of an underworld climate; as well may we if we localise our Hell in the centre of the earth. All exoteric religions—the creeds of the Brahmans, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Mahommedans, Jews, and the rest, make their hells hot and dark, though many are more attractive than frightful. The idea of a hot hell is an afterthought, the distortion of an astronomical allegory. With the Egyptians, Hell became a place of punishment by fire not earlier than the seventeenth or eighteenth dynasty, when Typhon was transformed from a god into a devil. But at whatever time this dread superstition was implanted in the minds of the poor ignorant masses, the scheme of a burning hell and souls tormented therein is purely Egyptian. Ra (the Sun) became the Lord of the Furnace in Karr, the hell of the Pharaohs, and the sinner was threatened with misery “in the heat of infernal fires”. “A lion was there” says Dr. Birch “and was called the roaring monster”. Another describes the place as “the bottomless pit and lake of fire, into which the victims are thrown” (compare ''Revelation''). The Hebrew word ''gaї‐ hinnom ''(Gehenna) never really had the significance given to it in Christian orthodoxy [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Aisvarikas +

A theistic school of Nepaul, which sets up Âdi Buddha as a supreme god ( Îsvara ), instead of seeing in the name that of a principle, an abstract philosophical symbol. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lotus, Lord of the +

A title applied to the various creative gods, as also to the Lords of the Universe of which this plant is the symbol. (“See Lotus”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

P

Padma Yoni +

A title of Brahmâ (also called ''Abjayoni''), or the “lotus‐born” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dorjeshang +

A title of Buddha in his highest aspect; a name of the supreme Buddha; also ''Dorje'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Gharma +

A title of Karttikeya, the Indian god of war and the Kumâra born of Siva’s drop of sweat that fell into the Ganges [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hari +

A title of Vishnu, but used also for other gods [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bhagavat +

A title of the Buddha and of Krishna. “The Lord” literally [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lady of the Sycamore +

A title of the Egyptian goddess Neїth, who is often represented as appearing in a tree and handing therefrom the fruit of the Tree of Life, as also the Water of Life, to her worshippers [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hara +

A title of the god Siva [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Nidhi +

A treasure. Nine treasures belonging to the god Kuvera—the Vedic Satan—each treasure being under the guardianship of a demon; these are personified, and are the objects of worship of the Tantrikas [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Isiac table +

A true monument of Egyptian art. It represents the goddess Isis under many of her aspects. The Jesuit Kircher describes it as a table of copper overlaid with black enamel and silver incrustations. It was in the possession of Cardinal Bembo, and therefore called ''“Tabula Bembina sive Mensa Isiaca ''”. Under this title it is described by W. Wynn Westcott, M.B., who gives its “History and Occult Significance” in an extremely interesting and learned volume (with photographs and illustrations). The tablet was believed to have been a votive offering to Isis in one of her numerous temples. At the sack of Rome in 1525, it came into the possession of a soldier who sold it to Cardinal Bembo. Then it passed to the Duke of Mantua in 1630, when it was lost [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Desatir +

A very ancient Persian work called the ''Book of Shet''. It speaks of the ''thirteen ''Zoroasters, and is very mystical [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Agruerus +

A very ancient Phœnician god. The same as Saturn. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Devasarman +

A very ancient author who died about a century after Gautama Buddha. He wrote two famous works, in which he denied the existence of both Ego and non‐Ego, the one as successfully as the other [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Carnac +

A very ancient site in Brittany (France) of a temple of cyclopean structure, sacred to the Sun and the Dragon; and of the same kind as Karnac, in ancient Egypt, and Stonehenge in England. (See the “Origin of the Satanic Myth” in ''Archaic Symbolism''.) It was built by the prehistoric hierophant‐priests of the Solar Dragon, or symbolized Wisdom (the Solar ''Kumâras ''who incarnated being the highest). Each of the stones was personally placed there by the successive priest‐adepts in power, and commemorated in symbolic language the degree of power, status, and knowledge of each. (See further ''Secret Doctrine ''II. 381, ''et seq''., and also “ Karnac”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Araritha +

A very famous seven‐lettered Kabbalistic wonder‐word ; its numeration is 813 ; its letters are collected by Notaricon from the sentence “one principle of his unity, one beginning of his individuality, his change is unity”. [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dharmasmriti Upasthana +

A very long compound word containing a very mystical warning. “Remember, the constituents (of human nature) originate ''according to the Nidânas, and are‐not ''originally the Self”, which means—that, which the Esoteric Schools teach, and not the ecclesiastical interpretation [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Cock +

A very occult bird, much appreciated in ancient augury and symbolism. According to the ''Zohar, ''the cock crows three times before the death of a person; and in Russia and all Slavonian countries whenever a person is ill on the premises where a cock is kept, its crowing is held to be a sign of inevitable death, unless the bird crows at the hour of midnight, or immediately afterwards, when its crowing is considered natural. As the cock was sacred to Æsculapius, and a the latter was called the ''Soter ''(Saviour) who raised the dead to life, the Socratic exclamation “We owe a cock to Æculapius”, just before the Sage’s death, is very suggestive. As the cock Was always connected in symbology with the Sun (or solar gods), Death and Resurrection, it has found its appropriate place in the four Gospels in the prophecy about Peter repudiating his Master before the cock crowed thrice. The cock is the most magnetic and sensitive of all birds, hence its Greek name ''alectruon'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dalada +

A very precious relic of Gautama the Buddha; viz., his supposed left canine tooth preserved at the great temple at Kandy, Ceylon. Unfortunately, the relic shown is not genuine. The latter has been securely secreted for several hundred years, ever since the shameful and bigoted attempt by the Portuguese (the then ruling power in Ceylon) to steal and make away with the real relic. That which is shown in the place of the real thing is the monstrous tooth of some animal [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

E

Eye of Horus +

A very sacred symbol in ancient Egypt. It was called the ''outa ''the right eye represented the sun, the left, the moon. Says Macrobius : “ The ''outo ''(or ''uta'') is it not the emblem of the sun, king of the world, who from his elevated throne sees all the Universe below him”? [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kumara +

A virgin boy, or young celibate. The first Kumâras are the seven sons of Brahmâ born out of the limbs of the god, in the so‐called ninth creation. It is stated that the name was given to them owing to their formal refusal to “procreate their species”, and so they “remained Yogis”, as the legend says [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Kanya +

A virgin or maiden. ''Kanya Kumârî ''“the virgin‐ maiden” is a title of Durga‐Kali, worshipped by the Thugs and Tantrikas [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Kol +

A voice, in Hebrew letters QUL. The Voice of the divine. (See “Bath Kol” and “Vâch”.) [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

F

Fylfot +

A weapon of Thor, like the Swastika, or the Jaina, the four‐footed cross ; generally called “Thor’s Hammer” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

S

Spiritual Scientist +

A weekly journal devoted to the science, history, philosophy and teachings of spiritualism, edited by E. Gerry Brown. H.P. Blavatsky and H.S. Olcott for a time took the journal under their protection (lending E.G. Brown money, contributing as authors and looking for other authors) and used it to announce the revolution effected in spiritualism by occultism. The journal was the first devoted to occultism. (IAPSOP). +

C

Chakra +

A wheel, a disk, or the circle of Vishnu generally. Used also of a cycle of time, and with other meanings [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mimir +

A wise giant in the ''Eddas''. One of the Jotuns or Titans. He had a well which he watched over (Mimir’s well), which contained the waters of Primeval Wisdom, by drinking of which Odin acquired the knowledge of all past, present, and future events [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Apollonius of Tyana +

A wonderful philosopher born in Cappadocia about the beginning of the first century; an ardent Pythagorean, who studied the Phœnician sciences under Euthydemus; and Pythagorean philosophy and other studies under Euxenus of Heraclea. According to the tenets of this school he remained a vegetarian the whole of his long life, fed only on fruit and herbs, drank no wine, wore vestments made only of plant‐fibres, walked barefooted, and let his hair grow to its full length, as all the Initiates before and after him. He was initiated by the priests of the temple of Æsculapius (Asciepios) at Ægae, and learnt many of the “miracles” for healing the sick wrought by the god of medicine. Having prepared himself for a higher initiation by a silence of five years, and by travel, visiting Antioch, Ephesus, Pamphylia and other parts, he journeyed via Babylon to India, all his intimate disciples having abandoned him, as they feared to go to the “land of enchantments”. A casual disciple, Damis, however, whom he met on his way, accompanied him in his travels. At Babylon he was initiated by the Chaldees and Magi, according to Damis, whose narrative was copied by one named Philostratus a hundred years later. After his return from India, he showed himself a true Initiate, in that the pestilences and earthquakes, deaths of kings and other events, which he prophesied duly happened. At Lesbos, the priests of Orpheus, being jealous of him, refused to initiate him into their peculiar mysteries, though they did so several years later. He preached to the people of Athens and other cities the purest and noblest ethics, and the phenomena he produced were as wonderful as they were numerous and well attested. “How is it”, enquires Justin Martyr in dismay—” how is it that the talismans (''telesmata'') of Apollonius have power, for they prevent, as we see, the fury of the waves and the violence of the winds, and the attacks of the wild beasts; and ''whilst our Lord’s miracles are preserved by tradition alone, ''those of Apollonius ''are most numerous and actually manifested in present facts?''”. (Quaest, XXIV.). But an answer is easily found to this in the fact that after crossing the Hindu Kush, Apollonius had been directed by a king to the ''abode of the Sages'', whose abode it may be to this day, by whom he was taught unsurpassed knowledge. His dialogues with the Corinthian Menippus indeed give us the esoteric catechism and disclose (when understood) many an important mystery of nature. Apollonius was the friend, correspondent and guest of kings and queens, and no marvellous or “magic” powers are better attested than his. At the end of his long and wonderful life he opened an esoteric school at Ephesus, and died aged almost one hundred years [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG).

B

Benoo +

A word applied to two symbols, both taken The only English work on the Isiac Tablet is by Dr. W. Wynn Westcott, who gives a photogravure in addition to its history, description, and occult significance [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Agnostic +

A word claimed by Mr. Huxley to have been coined by him to indicate one who believes nothing which can not be demonstrated by the senses. The later schools of Agnosticism give more philosophical definitions of the term. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mensambulism +

A word coined by some French Kabalists to denote the phenomenon of “table turning” from the Latin ''mensa, ''a table [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Asherah +

A word, which occurs in the Old Testament, and is commonly translated “groves” referring to idolatrous worship, but it is probable that it really referred to ceremonies of sexual depravity; it is a feminine noun. [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

F

Fons Yitae +

A work of Ibn Gehirol, the Arabian Jewish philosopher of the Xlth century, who called it ''Me‐ gôr Hayyûn ''or the “Fountain of Life” (''De Materia Universali and Fons Vitæ''). The Western Kabbalists have proclaimed it a really Kabbalistic work. Several MSS.,Latin and Hebrew, of this wonderful production have been discovered by scholars in public libraries; among others one by Munk, in 1802. The Latin name of Ibn Gebirol was Avicebron, a name well‐known to all Oriental scholars [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

J

Jhana Bhaskara +

A work on Asuramâya, the Atlantean astronomer and magician, and other prehistoric legends [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

E

Ekasloka Shastra +

A work on the ''Shastras ''(Scriptures) by Nagarjuna; a mystic work translated into Chinese [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Chaldean Book of Numbers +

A work which contains all that is found in the ''Zohar ''of Simeon Ben‐Jochai, and much more. It must be the older by many centuries, and in one sense its original, as it contains all the fundamental principles taught in the Jewish Kabbalistic works, but none of their blinds. It is very rare indeed, there being perhaps only two or three copies extant, and these in private hands [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Charaka +

A writer on Medicine who lived in Vedic times. He is believed to have been an incarnation (''Avatara) ''of the Serpent ''Sesha'', i.e., an embodiment of divine Wisdom, since Sesha‐Naga, the King of the “Serpent” race, is synonymous with Ananta, the seven‐ headed Serpent, on which Vishnu sleeps during the ''pralayas. Ananta ''is the “endless” and the symbol of eternity, and as such, one with Space, while Sesha is only periodical in his manifestations. Hence while Vishnu is identified with ''Ananta, ''Charaka is only the Avatar of Sesha. (See “Ananta” and “Sesha”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Agni‐ratha +

A “Fiery Vehicle” literally. A kind of flying machine. Spoken of in ancient works of magic in India and in the epic poems. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Ikhir Bonga +

A “Spirit of the Deep” of the Kolarian tribes [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Achit +

Absolute non‐intelligence; as ''Chit ''is—in contrast— absolute intelligence. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

F

Fravasham +

Absolute spirit [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Chit +

Abstract Consciousness [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Horchia +

According to Berosus, the same as Vesta, goddess of the Hearth [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Ka +

According to Max Muller, the interrogative pronoun “who?”—raised to the dignity of a deity without cause or reason. Still it has its esoteric significance and is a name of Brahmâ in his phallic character as generator or Prajâpati (''q.v.'') [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dodecahedron +

According to Plato, the Universe is built by “the first begotten” on the geometrical figure of the Dodecahedron. (See ''Timaeus'') [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Gabriel +

According to the Gnostics, the “Spirit” or Christos, the “messenger of life”, and Gabriel are one. The former “is called some‐times the Angel Gabriel Hebrew ‘the mighty one of God’,” and took with the Gnostics the place of the Logos, while the Holy Spirit was considered Every student of Occultism will understand this, and also that Gabriel—or “the mighty one of God”—is one with the Higher Ego. (See ''Isis Unveiled''.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Habal de Garmin +

According to the Kabbalah this is the Resurrection Body: a ''tzelem ''image or ''demooth ''similitude to the deceased man; an inner fundamental spiritual type remaining after death. It is the “Spirit of the Bones ” mentioned in Daniel and Isaiah and the Psalms, and is referred to in the Vision of Ezekiel about the clothing of the dry bones with life: consult C, de Leiningen on the Kabbalah, T.P.S. Pamphlet, Vol. II., No. 18. [ w. w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Demons +

According to the Kabbalah, the demons dwell in the world of Assiah, the world of matter and of the “shells”’ of the dead. They are the Klippoth. There are Seven Hells, whose demon dwellers represent the vices personified. Their prince is Samael, his female companion is Isheth Zenunim—the woman of prostitution: united in aspect, they are named “The Beast”, Chiva. [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Death, Kiss of +

According to the Kabbalah, the earnest follower does not die by the power of the Evil Spirit, Yetzer ha Rah, but by a kiss from the mouth of Jehovah Tetragrammaton, meeting him in the Haikal Ahabah or Palace of Love. [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Cherubim +

According to the Kabbalists, a group of angels, which they specially associated with the Sephira Jesod. in Christian teaching, an order of angels who are “watchers”. ''Genesi''s places Cherubim to guard the lost Eden, and the O.T. frequently refers to them as guardians of the divine glory. Two winged representations in gold were placed over the Ark of the Covenant; colossal figures of the same were also placed in the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple of Solomon. Ezekiel describes them in poetic language. Each Cherub appears to have been a compound figure with four faces—of a man, eagle, lion, and ox, and was certainly winged. Parkhurst, ''in voc. Cherub, ''suggests that the derivation of the word is from '''K''', a particle of similitude, and RB or RUB, greatness, master, majesty, and so an image of godhead. Many other nations have displayed similar figures as symbols of deity; e.g., the Egyptians in their figures of Serapis. as Macrohius describes in his ''Saturnalia''; the Greeks had their triple‐headed Hecate, and the Latins had three‐faced images of Diana, as Ovid tells us, ''ecce procul ternis Hecate variata figuris''. Virgil also describes her in the fourth Book of the Æneid. Porphyry and Eusebius write the same of Proserpine. The Vandals had a many‐headed deity they called Triglaf. The ancient German races had an idol Rodigast with human body and heads of the ox, eagle, and man. The Persians have some figures of Mithras with a man’s body, lion’s head, and four wings. Add to these the Chimæra Sphinx of Egypt, Moloch, Astarte of the Syrians, and some figures of Isis with Bull’s horns and feathers of a bird on the head. [ w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Nirvana +

According to the Orientalists, the entire “blowing out”, like the flame of a candle, the utter extinction of existence. But in the esoteric explanations it is the state of absolute existence and absolute consciousness, into which the Ego of a man who has reached the highest degree of perfection and holiness during life goes, after the body dies, and occasionally, as in the case of Gautama Buddha and others, during life. (See “Nirvânî”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mahabharatian period +

According to the best Hindu Commentators and Swami Dayanand Saraswati, 5,000 years B.C. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Batria +

According to tradition, the wife of the Pharaoh and the teacher of Moses [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Illa‐ah, Adam +

Adam Illa‐ah is the celestial, superior Adam, in the ''Zohar'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Keherpas +

Aerial form [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Danavas +

Almost the same as ''Daityas''; giants and demons, the opponents of the ritualistic gods [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Dana +

Almsgiving to mendicants, lit., “charity”, the first of the six Paramitas in Buddhism [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kneph +

Also ''Cneph ''and ''Nef'', endowed with the same attributes as Khem. One of the gods of creative Force, for he is connected with the Mundane Egg. He is called by Porphyry “the creator of the world”; by Plutarch the “unmade and eternal deity”; by Eusebius he is identified with the ''Logos; ''and Jamblichus goes so far as almost to identify him with Brahmâ since he says of him that “this god is intellect itself, intellectually perceiving itself, and consecrating intellections to itself; and ''is to be worshipped in silence''”. One form of him, adds Mr. Bonwick “was '''''Av '''''meaning ''flesh''. He was criocephalus, with a solar disk on his head, and standing on the serpent Mehen. In his left hand was a viper, and a cross was in his right. He was actively engaged in the underworld upon a mission of creation.” Deveria writes: “His journey to the lower hemisphere appears to symbolise the evolutions of substances which are born to die and to be reborn”. Thousands of years before Kardec, Swedenborg, and Darwin appeared, the old Egyptians entertained their several philosophies. (''Eg. Belief and Mod. Thought''.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Gan‐Eden +

Also ''Ganduniyas. ''(See “Eden”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Induvansa +

Also ''Somavansa ''or the lunar race (dynasty), from '''''Indu''''', the Moon. (“See “[[Suryavansa]]”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mendaeans +

Also called ''Sabians, ''and St. John Christians. The latter is absurd, since, according to all accounts, and even their own, they have nothing at all to do with Christianity, ''which they abominate''. The modern sect of the Mendæans is widely scattered over Asia Minor and elsewhere, and is rightly believed by several Orientalists to be a direct surviving relic of the Gnostics. For as explained in the ''Dictionnaire des Apocryphes ''by the Abbé Migrie (art. “Le Code Nazaréan” vulgaire‐ment appele “''Livre d’Adam''”), the Mendæans (written in French ''Mandaїtes'', which name they pronounce as ''Mandai'') “properly signifies science, knowledge or Gnosis. Thus it is the equivalent of Gnostics” (''loc. cit''. note p. 3). As the above cited work shows, although many travellers have spoken of a sect whose followers are variously named Sabians, St. John’s Christians and Mendæans, and who are scattered around ''Schat‐Etarab ''at the junction of the Tigris and Euphrates (principally at Bassorah, Hoveїza, Korna, etc.), it was Norberg who was the first to point out a tribe belonging to the same sect established in Syria. And they are the most interesting of all. This tribe, some 14,000 or 15,000 in number, lives at a day’s march east of Mount Lebanon, principally at Elmerkah, (Lata‐Kieh). They call themselves indifferently Nazarenes and Galileans, as they originally come to Syria from Galilee. They claim that their religion is the same as that of St. John the Baptist, and that it has not changed one bit since his day. On festival days they clothe them selves in camel’s skins, sleep on camel’s skins, and eat locusts and honey as did their “Father, St. John the Baptist”. Yet they call Jesus Christ an ''impostor, a false Messiah, ''and Nebso (or the planet Mercury in its evil side), and show him as a production of the Spirit of the “seven badly‐ disposed stellars” (or planets). See ''Codex Nazaræus, ''which is their Scripture [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG).

B

Bhagats +

Also called ''Sokha ''and ''Sivnath ''by the Hindus; one who exorcises evil spirits [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Magnetic Masonry +

Also called “Iatric” masonry. It is described as a Brotherhood of Healers (from ''iatrikê ''a Greek word meaning “the art of healing”), and is greatly used by the “Brothers of Light ”as Kenneth Mackenzie states in the ''Royal Masonic Cyclopedia''. There appears to be a tradition in some secret Masonic works—so says Ragon at any rate, the great Masonic authority—to the effect that there was a Masonic degree called the Oracle of Cos, “instituted in the eighteenth century B.c., from the fact that Cos was the birthplace of Hippocrates”. The ''iatrikê ''was a distinct characteristic of the priests who took charge of the patients in the ancient ''Asclepia'', the temples where the god Asclepios (Æsculapius) was said to heal the sick and the lame [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Arahat +

Also pronounced and written Arhat, Arhan, Rahat, &c., “the worthy one”, lit., “deserving divine honours”. This was the name first given to the Jain and subsequently to the Buddhist holy men initiated into the esoteric mysteries. The Arhat is one who has entered the best and highest path, and is thus emancipated from rebirth [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kayanim +

Also written Cunim; the name of certain mystic cakes offered to ''Ishtar'', the Babylonian Venus. Jeremiah speaks of these Cunim offered to the “Queen of Heaven”, vii. 18. Nowadays we do not offer the buns, but eat them at Easter. [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Church, Frederick Stuart +

American artist. +

A

Amesha Spentas +

Amshaspends. The six angels or divine Forces personified as gods who attend upon Ahura Mazda, of which he is the synthesis and the seventh. They are one of the prototypes of the Roman Catholic “Seven Spirits” or Angels with Michael as chief, or the “Celestial Host”; the “ Seven Angels of the Presence”. They are the Builders, Cosmocratores, of the Gnostics and identical with the Seven Prajâpatis, the Sephiroth, etc. (q.v.). [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Nirukta +

An ''anga ''or limb, a division of the ''Vedas''; a glossarial comment [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Gaffarillus +

An Alchemist and philosopher who lived in the middle of the seventeenth century. He is the first philosopher known to maintain that every natural object (e.g., plants, living creatures, etc.), when burned, retained its form in its ashes and that it could be raised again from them. This claim was justified by the eminent chemist Du Chesne, and after him Kircher, Digby and Vallemont have assured themselves of the fact, by demonstrating that the astral forms of burned plants could be raised from their ashes. A receipt for raising such astral phantoms of flowers is given in a work of Oetinger, ''Thoughts on the Birth and Generation of Things.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Aristobulus +

An Alexandrian writer, and an obscure philosopher. A Jew who tried to prove that Aristotle explained the esoteric thoughts of Moses [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Collemann, Jean +

An Alsatian, born at Orleans, according to K. Mackenzie; other accounts say he was a Jew, who found favour owing to his astrological studies, with both Charles VII. and Louis XI., and that he had a bad influence on the latter [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Nagarjuna +

An Arhat, a hermit (a native of Western India) converted to Buddhism by Kapimala and the fourteenth Patriarch, and now regarded as a Bodhisattva‐ Nirmanakaya. He was famous for his dialectical subtlety in metaphysical arguments; and was the first teacher of the Amitâbha doctrine and a representative of the Mahayâna School. Viewed as the greatest philosopher of the Buddhists, he was referred to as “one of the four suns which illumine the world”. He was born 223 B.C, and going to China after his conversion converted in his turn the whole country to Buddhism [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dhruva +

An Aryan Sage, now the Pole Star. A ''Kshatriya ''(one of the warrior caste) who became through religious austerities a ''Rishi, ''and was, for this reason, raised by Vishnu to this eminence in the skies. Also called ''Grah‐Âdhâr ''or “the pivot of the planets” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Khepra +

An Egyptian god presiding over rebirth and transmigration. He is represented with a scarabæus instead of a head [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Iachus +

An Egyptian physician, whose memory, according to Ælian, was venerated for long centuries on account of his wonderful occult knowledge. Iachus is credited with having stopped epidemics simply by ''certain fumigations'', and cured diseases by making his patients inhale herbs [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Number Nip +

An Elf, the mighty King of the Riesengebirge, the most powerful of the genii in Scandinavian and German folk‐lore [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Butler +

An English name assumed by an adept, a disciple of some Eastern Sages, of whom many fanciful stories are current. It is said for instance, that Butler was captured during his travels in 1629, and sold into captivity. He became the slave of an Arabian philosopher, a great alchemist, and finally escaped, robbing his Master of a large quantity of red powder. According to more trustworthy records, only the last portion of this story is true. Adepts who can be robbed without knowing it would be unworthy of the name. Butler or rather the person who assumed this name, ''robbed ''his “Master” (whose free disciple he was) ''of the secret of transmutation, ''and abused of his knowledge—i.e., sought to turn it to his personal profit, but was speedily punished for it. After performing many wonderful cures by means of his “stone (i.e., the occult knowledge of an initiated adept), and producing extraordinary phenomena, to some of which Val Helmont, the famous Occultist and Rosicrucian, was witness, not for the benefit of men but his own vain glory, Butler was imprisoned in the Castle of Viloord, in Flanders, and passed almost the whole of his life in confinement. He lost his powers and died miserable and unknown. Such is the fate of every Occultist who abuses his power or desecrates the sacred science [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

E

Epoptes +

An Initiate. One who has passed his last degree of initiation [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Chabrat Zereh Aur Bokher +

An Order of the Rosicrucian stock, whose members study the Kabbalah and Hermetic sciences; it admits both sexes, and has many grades of instruction. The members meet in private, and the very existence of the Order is generally unknown. [ w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Apsaras +

An Undine or Water‐Nymph, from the Paradise or Heaven of Indra. The Apsarases are in popular belief the “wives of the gods” and called ''Surânganâs'', and by a less honourable term, ''Sumad‐âtmajâs ''or the “daughters of pleasure”, for it is fabled of them that when they appeared at the churning of the Ocean neither Gods (Suras) nor Demons (Asuras) would take them for legitimate wives. Urvasi and several others of them are mentioned in the ''Vedas''. In Occultism they are certain “sleep‐producing” aquatic plants, and inferior forces of nature [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

E

Eurasians +

An abbreviation of “European‐Asians”. The mixed coloured races: the children of the white fathers and the dark mothers of India, or ''vice versa.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

J

Jivanmukta +

An adept or yogi who has reached the ultimate state of holiness, and separated himself from matter; a Mahatma, or ''Nirvânee'', a “dweller in bliss” and emancipation. Virtually one who has reached Nirvâna during life [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lully, Raymond +

An alchemist, adept and philosopher, born in the 13th century, on the island of Majorca. It is claimed for him that, in a moment of need, he made for King Edward III. of England several millions of gold “rose nobles”, and thus helped him to carry on war victoriously. He founded several colleges for the study of Oriental languages, and Cardinal Ximenes was one of his patrons and held him in great esteem, as also Pope John XXI. He died in 1314, at a good old age. Literature has preserved many wild stories about Raymond Lully, which would form a most extraordinary romance. He was the elder son of the Seneshal of Majorca and inherited great wealth from his father [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Boodhasp +

An alleged Chaldean; but in esoteric teaching a Buddhist (a Bodhisattva), from the East, who was the founder of the esoteric school of Neo‐Sabeism, and whose secret rite of baptism passed bodily into the Christian rite of the same name. For almost three centuries before our era, Buddhist monks overran the whole country of Syria, made their way into the Mesopotamian valley and visited even Ireland. The name ''Ferho ''and ''Faho ''of the Codex Nazaraeus is but a corruption of Fho, Fo and Pho, the name which the Chinese, Tibetans and even Nepaulese often give to Buddha [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kamea +

An amulet, generally a magic square [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Book of the Dead +

An ancient Egyptian ritualistic and occult work attributed to Thot‐Hermes. Found in the coffins of ancient mummies [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Marcionites +

An ancient Gnostic Sect founded by Marcion who was a devout Christian as long as no dogma of human creation came to mar the purely transcendental, and metaphysical concepts, and the ''original ''beliefs of the early Christians. Such primitive beliefs were those of Marcion. He denied the ''historical ''facts (as now found in the Gospels) of Christ’s birth, incarnation and passion, and also the resurrection of the body of Jesus, maintaining that such statements were simply the ''carnalization ''of metaphysical allegories and symbolism, and a degradation of the true spiritual idea. Along with all the other Gnostics, Marcion accused the “Church Fathers”, as Irenæus himself complains, of “framing their (Christian) doctrine according to the capacity of their hearers, fabling blind things for the blind, according to their blindness; for the dull, according to their dulness: for those in error, according to their errors.” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hermas +

An ancient Greek writer of whose works only a few fragments are now extant [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mitra +

An ancient Iranian deity, a sun‐ god, as evidenced by his being lion‐headed. The name exists also in India and means a form of the sun. The Persian Mithra, he who drove out of heaven Ahriman, is a kind of Messiah who is expected to return as the judge of men, and is a sin‐bearing god who atones for the iniquities of mankind. As such, however, he is directly connected with the highest Occultism, the tenets of which were expounded during the Mithraic Mysteries which thus bore his name [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Book of the Keys +

An ancient Kabbalistic work [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Aurnavabha +

An ancient Sanskrit commentator [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Cutha +

An ancient city in Babylonia after which a tablet giving an account of “creation” is named. The “Cutha tablet” speaks of a temple of Sittam”, in the sanctuary of Nergal, the “giant king of war, lord of the city of Cutha”, and is purely esoteric, it has to be read symbolically, if at all [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dodona +

An ancient city in Thessaly, famous for its Temple of Jupiter and its oracles. According to ancient legends, the town was founded by a '''''dove''''' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Magadha +

An ancient country in India, under Buddhist Kings [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

E

Elu +

An ancient dialect used in Ceylon [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Avastan +

An ancient name for Arabia [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bhargavas +

An ancient race in India; from the name of Bhrigu, the Rishi [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

O

Ogygia +

An ancient submerged island known as the isle of Calypso, and identified by some with Atlantis. This is in a certain sense correct. But then what portion of Atlantis, since the latter was a continent rather than an “enormous” island! [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Abaddon +

An angel of Hell, corresponding to the Greek Apollyon. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lararium +

An apartment in the house of ancient Romans where the ''Lares ''or household gods were preserved, with other family relics [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Koorgan +

An artificial mound, generally an old tomb. Traditions of a supernatural or magical character are often attached to such mounds [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Agni Bahu +

An ascetic son of Manu Swâyambhuva, the “Self‐born”. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Cardan Jerome +

An astrologer, alchemist, kabbalist and mystic, well known in literature. He was born at Pavia in 1501, and died at Rome in 1576 [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kioo‐tche +

An astronomical work [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Cremer, John +

An eminent scholar who for over thirty years studied Hermetic philosophy in pursuance of its practical secrets, while he was at the same time Abbot of Westminster While on a voyage to Italy, he met the famous Raymond Lully whom he induced to return with him to England. Lully divulged to Cremer the secrets of the stone, for which service the monastery offered daily prayers for him. Cremer, says the ''Royal Masonic Cyclopedia'', “having obtained a profound knowledge of the secrets of Alchemy, became a most celebrated and learned adept in occult philosophy . . . lived to a good old age, and died in the reign of King Edward III.” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kumarabudhi +

An epithet given to the human “Ego” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Murari +

An epithet of Krishna or Vishnu; lit., the enemy of ''Mura''—an Asura [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Avaivartika +

An epithet of every Buddha: lit., one who turns no more back; who goes straight to Nirvâna [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Magnes +

An expression used by Paracelsus and the mediæval Theosophists. It is the spirit of light, or ''Akâsa''. A word much used by the mediæval Alchemists [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Maya Moha +

An illusive form assumed by Vishnu in order to deceive ascetic Daityas who were becoming too holy through austerities and hence too dangerous in power, as says the ''Vishnu Purâna.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Chutuktu +

An incarnation of Buddha or of some Bodhisattva, as believed in Tibet, where there are generally five manifesting and two ''secret ''Chutuktus among the high Lamas [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Idaeic Finger +

An iron finger strongly magnetized and used in the temples for healing purposes. It produced wonders in that direction, and therefore was said to possess magical powers [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dwipa +

An island or a continent. The Hindus have seven ''(Sapta dwipa )''; the Buddhists only four. This is owing to a misunderstood reference of the Lord Buddha who, using the term metaphorically, applied the word ''dwipa ''to the races of men. The four Root‐races which preceded our fifth, were compared by Siddhârtha to four continents or isles which studded the ocean of birth and death''—Samsâra.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Inner Man +

An occult term, used to designate the true and immortal Entity in us, not the outward and mortal form of clay that we call our body. The term applies, strictly speaking, only to the Higher Ego, the “astral man” being the appellation of the Double and of Kâma Rupa (''q.v.'') or the surviving ''eidolon'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bunda‐hish +

An old Eastern work in which among other things anthropology is treated in an allegorical fashion [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Matari Svan +

An ærial being shown in ''Rig‐Veda ''bringing down ''agni ''or fire to the ''Bhrigus''; who are called “The Consumers”, and are described by the Orientalists as “a class of mythical beings who belonged to the middle or ærial class of gods”. In Occultism the Bhrigus are simply the “Salamanders” of the Rosicrucians and Kabalists [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Gaya +

Ancient city of Magadha, a little north‐west of the modern Gayah. It is at the former that Sakyamuni reached his Buddha‐ ship, under the famous Bodhi‐tree, ''Bodhidruma'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Androgyne Goat +

Androgyne Goat of Mendes. See "[[Baphomet]]" [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Anunnaki +

Angels or Spirits of the Earth; terrestrial Elementals also [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dwesa +

Anger. One of the three principal states of mind (of which 63 are enumerated), which are ''Râga''— pride or evil desire, ''Dwesa''—anger, of which hatred is a part, and Moha—the ignorance of truth. These three are to be steadily avoided [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Nephesh Chia +

Animal or living Soul [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Akta +

Anointed: a title of Twashtri or Visvakarman, the highest “Creator” and Logos in the ''Rig ‐Veda. ''He is called the “Father of the Gods” and “Father of the sacred Fire” (''See note page 101, Vol. II., Sec.Doct.).'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kasi +

Another and more ancient name of the holy city of Benares [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Gedulah +

Another name for the Sephira ''Chesed'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Anupadaka +

Anupapâdaka, also Aupapâduka; means parentless”, “self‐existing”, born without any parents or progenitors. A term applied to certain self‐ created gods, and the Dhyâni Buddhas [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Adam Kadmon +

Archetypal Man; Humanity. The “Heavenly Man” not fallen into sin; Kabalists refer it to the Ten Sephiroth on the plane of human perception. [w.w.w.] In the ''Kabalah ''Adam Kadmon is the manifested Logos corresponding to our ''Third ''Logos; the Unmanifested being the first paradigmic ideal Man, and symbolizing the Universe in ''abscondito'', or in its “privation” in the Aristotelean sense. The First Logos is the “Light of the World”, the Second and the Third—its gradually deepening shadows. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kadmon +

Archetypal man. See.“Adam Kadmon” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

E

Eridanus +

Ardan, ''the Greek name for the river Jordan [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Aswins +

Are the most mysterious and occult deities of all; who have “puzzled the oldest commentators”. Literally, they are the “Horsemen”, the “divine charioteers”, as they ride in a ''golden car ''drawn by horses or birds or animals, and “''are possessed of many forms”''. They are two Vedic deities, the twin sons of the sun and the sky, which becomes the nymph Aswini. In mythological symbolism they are “the bright harbingers of Ushas, the dawn”, who are “ever young and handsome, bright, agile, swift as falcons”, who “prepare the way for the brilliant dawn to those who have patiently awaited through the night”. They are also called time “physicians of Swarga” (or Devachan), inasmuch as they heal every pain and suffering, and cure all diseases. Astronomically, they are asterisms. They were enthusiastically worshipped, as their epithets show. They are the “Ocean‐born” (i.e., '''''space '''''born) or ''Abdhijau, ''“crowned with lotuses” or '''''Pushhara‐srajam, '''''etc., etc. Yâska, the commentator in the ''Nirukta, ''thinks that “the Aswins represent the transition from darkness to light ”— cosmically, and we may add, metaphysically, also. But Muir and Goldstücker are inclined to see in them ancient “horsemen of great renown”, because, forsooth, of the legend “that the gods refused the Aswins admittance to a sacrifice on the ground that ''they had been on too familiar terms with men”''. Just so, because as explained by the same Yâska “they are identified with heaven and earth”, only for quite a different reason. Truly they are like the ''Ribhus, ''“originally renowned mortals (but also non‐renowned occasionally) who in the course of time are translated into the companionship of gods”; and they show a negative character, “the result of the‐ alliance of light with darkness”, simply because these ''twins ''are, in the esoteric philosophy, the '''''Kumâra‐Egos, '''''the reincarnating “Principles” in this Manvantara [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG).

N

Neros +

As shown by the late E. V. Kenealy this “Naronic Cycle” was a ''mystery'', a true “secret of god”, to disclose which during the prevalence of the religious mysteries and the authority of the priests, meant death. The learned author seemed to take it for granted that the Neros was of 600 years duration, but he was mistaken. (See “Natos”.) Nor were the establishment of the Mysteries and the rites of Initiation due merely the necessity of perpetuating the knowledge of the true meaning of the Naros and keeping this cycle secret from the profane; for the Mysteries are as old as the present human race, and there were far more important secrets to veil than the figures of any cycle. (See “Neophyte” and “I. H. S.”, also “Naros”.) The mystery of 666, “the number of the great heart” so called, is far better represented by the ''Tau ''and the ''Resh ''than 600 [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Aster’t +

Astarte, the Syrian goddess the consort of Adon, or Adonai [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dido +

Astarte; the Virgin of the Sea—who crushes the Dragon under her foot; The patroness of the Phoænician mariners. A Queen of Carthage who fell in love with Æneas according to Virgil [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

J

Jyotisha +

Astronomy and Astrology; one of the Vedângas [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Chaldeans +

At first a tribe, then a caste of learned Kabbalists. They were the ''savants, ''the magians of Babylonia, astrologers and diviners. The famous Hillel, the precursor of Jesus in philosophy and in ethics, was a Chaldean. Franck in his ''Kabbala ''points to the close resemblance of the “secret doctrine” found in the ''Avesta ''and the religious metaphysics of the Chaldees [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Ark of Isis +

At the great Egyptian annual ceremony, which took place in the month of Athyr, the boat of Isis was borne in procession by the priests, and ''Collyrian ''cakes or buns, marked with the sign of the cross (Tat), were eaten. This was in commemoration of the weeping of Isis for the loss of Osiris, the Athyr festival being very impressive. “Plato refers to the melodies on the occasion as being very ancient,” writes Mr. Bonwick (''Eg. Belief and Mod. Thought''). “ The ''Miserere ''in Rome has been said to be similar to its melancholy cadence, and to be derived from it Weeping, veiled virgins followed the ark. The ''Nornes'', or veiled virgins, wept also for the loss of our Saxon forefathers’ god, the ill‐fated but good Baldur.” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Nastika +

Atheist, or rather he who does not worship or recognize the gods and idols [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Nirupadhi +

Attributeless; the negation of attributes [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Baal +

Baal or Adon (Adonai) was a phallic god. “Who shall ascend unto the hill (the high place) of the Lord; who shall stand in the place of his ''Kadushu ''(q.v.) ? ” (''Psalms ''XX1V. 3.) The “circle dance” performed by King David round the ark, was the dance prescribed by the Amazons in the Mysteries, the dance of the daughters of Shiloh (''Judges ''xxi., ''et seq.'') and the same as the leaping of the prophets of Baal (I. ''Kings ''xviii). He was named ''Baal‐Tzephon, ''or god of the crypt (Exodus) and ''Seth'', or the ''pillar ''(''phallus''), because he was the same as Ammon (or Baal‐Hammon) of Egypt, called “the hidden god”. Typhon, called Set, who was a great god in Egypt during the early dynasties, is an aspect of Baal and Ammon as also of Siva, Jehovah and other gods. Baal is the all devouring Sun, in one sense, the fiery Moloch [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Bread and Wine +

Baptism and the Eucharist have their direct origin in pagan Egypt. There the “waters of purification” were used (the Mithraic font for baptism being borrowed by the Persians from the Egyptians) and so were bread and wine. “Wine in the Dionysiak cult, a in the Christian religion, represents that blood which in different senses is the life of the world” (Brown, in the ''Dionysiak Myth''). Justin Martyr says, “In imitation of which the devil did the like in the Mysteries of Mithras, for you either know or may ''know that they also take bread and a cup of water ''in the sacrifices of those that are initiated and ''pronounce certain words over it”''. (See “Holy Water”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Adhishtanam +

Basis; a principle in which some other principle inheres. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bhava +

Being, or state of being; the world, a birth, and also a name of Siva [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Birs Nimrud +

Believed by the Orientalists to be the site of the Tower of Babel. The great pile of Birs Nimrud is near Babylon. Sir H. Rawlinson and several Assyriologists examined the excavated ruins and found that the tower consisted of seven stages of brick‐work, each stage of a different colour, which shows that the temple was devoted to the seven planets. Even with its three higher stages or floors in ruins, it still rises now 154 feet above the level of the plain. (”See Borsippa”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mahabhautic +

Belonging to the Macrocosmic principles [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Manes +

Benevolent “gods”, i.e., “spooks” of the lower world ''(Kâmaloka)''; the deified shades of the dead—of the ancient profane, and the “materialized”''ghosts ''of the modern Spiritualists, believed to be the souls of the departed, whereas, in truth, they are only their empty ''shells'', or images [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Ananda +

Bliss, joy, felicity, happiness. A name of the favourite disciple of Gautama, the Lord Buddha [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Guff +

Body; physical form; also written Gof [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bandha +

Bondage; life on this earth; from the same root as Baddha [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Collanges, Gabriel de +

Born in 1524. The best astrologer in the XVlth century and a still better Kabbalist. He spent a fortune in the unravelling of its mysteries. It was rumoured that he died through poison administered to him by a Jewish Rabbin‐Kabbalist [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Adah +

Borrowed by the Hebrews for the name of their Adah, father of Jubal, etc. But Adah meaning the first, the one, is universal property. There are reasons to think that ''Ak‐ad'', means the ''first''‐born or Son of ''Ad''. ''Adon ''was the first “Lord” of Syria. (See ''Isis Unv. ''II., pp. 452, 453.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

D +

Both in the English and Hebrew alphabets the fourth letter, whose numerical value is four. The symbolical signification in the ''Kabbala ''of the ''Daleth ''is “door”. It is the Greek ''delta ''D, through which the world (whose symbol is the ''tetrad ''or number four,) issued, producing the divine seven. The name of the Tetrad was Harmony with the Pythagoreans, “because it is a diatessaron in sesquitertia”. With the Kabbalists, the divine name associated with Daleth was Daghoul [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Baddha +

Bound, conditioned; as is every mortal who has not made himself free through Nirvâna [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mantra Shastra +

Brahmanical writings on the occult science of incantations [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

N

Nephesh +

Breath of life. ''Anima, Mens, Vita, ''Appetites. This term is used very loosely in the Bible. It generally means ''prana ''“life”; in the Kabbalah it is the animal passions and the animal Soul. [w.w.w.] Therefore, as maintained in theosophical teachings, ''Nephesh ''is the synonym of the Prâna‐Kâmic Principle, or the vital animal Soul in man. [H. P. B.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Buddhism +

Buddhism is now split into two distinct Churches : the Southern and the Northern Church. The former is said to be the purer form, as having preserved more religiously the original teachings of the Lord Buddha. It is the religion of Ceylon, Siam, Burmah and other places, while Northern Buddhism is confined to Tibet, China and Nepaul. Such a distinction, however, is incorrect. If the Southern Church is nearer, in that it has not departed, except perhaps in some trifling dogmas due to the many councils held after the death of the Master, from the public or ''exoteric ''teachings of Sâkyamuni—the Northern Church is the outcome of Siddhârta Buddha’s esoteric teachings which he confined to his elect Bhikshus and Arhats. In fact, Buddhism in the present age, cannot he justly judged either by one or the other of its exoteric popular forms. Real Buddhism can be appreciated only by blending the philosophy of the Southern Church and the metaphysics of the Northern Schools. If one seems too iconoclastic and stero:, and the other too metaphysical and transcendental, even to being overgrown with the weeds of Indian exotericism—many of the gods of its Pantheon having been transplanted under new names to Tibetan soil—it is entirely due to the popular expression of Buddhism in both Churches. Correspondentially they stand in their relation to each other as Protestantism to Roman Catholicism. Both err by an excess of zeal and erroneous interpretations, though neither the Southern nor the Northern Buddhist clergy have ever departed from truth consciously, still less have they acted under the dictates of ''priestocracy'', ambition, or with an eye to personal gain and power, as the two Christian Churches have [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Augoeides +

Bulwer Lytton calls it the “Luminous Self ”, or our Higher Ego. But Occultism makes of it something distinct from this. It is a mystery. The ''Augocides ''is the luminous divine radiation of the EGO which, when incarnated, is but its shadow—pure as it is yet. This is explained in the ''Amshaspends ''and their ''Ferouers.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lilith +

By Jewish tradition a demon who was the first wife of Adam, before Eve was created: she is supposed to have a fatal influence on mothers and newly‐ born infants. LIL is night, and LILITH is also the owl: and in mediæval works is a synonym of Lamia or female demon. [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mash‐Mak +

By tradition an Atlantean word of the fourth Race, to denote a mysterious Cosmic fire, or rather Force, which was said to be able to pulverize in a second whole cities and disintegrate the world [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kukkuta Padagiri +

Called also ''Gurupadagiri'', the “teacher’s mountain”. It is situated about seven miles from Gaya, and is famous owing to a persistent report that Arhat Mahâkâsyapa even to this day dwells in its caves [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Kamadhatu +

Called also Kamâvatchara, a region including Kâmalôka. In exoteric ideas it is the first of the Trailâkya—or three regions (applied also to celestial beings) or seven planes or degrees, each broadly represented by one of the three chief characteristics; namely, ''Kama, Rupa ''and ''Arupa, ''or those of desire, form and formlessness. The first of the Trailokyas, '''''Kamadhâtu, '''''is thus composed of the earth and the six inferior Devalokas, the earth being followed by ''Kamaloka ''(q.v.). These taken together constitute the seven degrees of the material world of form and sensuous gratification. The second of the Trailôkya (or Trilôkya) is called Rupadhâtu or “material form” and is also composed of seven Lokas (or localities). The third is Arupadhâtu or “immaterial lokas”. “Locality”, however, is an incorrect word to use in translating the term dhâtu, which does not mean in some of its special applications a “place” at all. For instance, ''Arupadhâtu ''is a purely subjective world, a “state” rather than a place. But as the European tongues have no adequate metaphysical terms to express certain ideas, we can only point out the difficulty [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Diakka +

Called by Occultists and Theosophists “spooks” and “shells”, i.e., phantoms from ''Kâma Loka''. A word invented by the great American Seer, Andrew Jackson Davis, to denote what he considers untrustworthy “Spirits”. In his own words: “A ''Diakka ''(from the Summerland) is one who takes insane delight in ''playing parts, ''in juggling tricks, in ''personating ''opposite characters; to whom prayer and profane utterances are of equi‐value; surcharged with a passion for lyrical narrations; . . . morally deficient, he is without the active feelings of justice, philanthropy, or tender affection. He knows nothing of what men call the sentiment of gratitude; the ends of hate and love are the same to him; his motto is often fearful and terrible to others—SELF is the whole of private living, and exalted annihilation ''the end of all private life. ''Only yesterday, one said to a lady medium, signing himself ''Swedenborg'', this: ‘Whatsoever is, has been, will be, or may be, that I AM.; and private life is but the aggregative phantasms of thinking throb‐ lets, rushing in their rising onward to the central heart of eternal death’ (''The Diakka and their Victims''; “an explanation of the False and Repulsive in Spiritualism.”) These “Diakka” are then simply the communicating and materializing so‐called “Spirits” of Mediums and Spiritualists [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

P

P and Cross +

Called generally the Labarum of Constantine. It was, however, one of the oldest emblems in Etruria before the Roman Empire. It was also the sign of Osiris. Both the long Latin and the Greek pectoral crosses are Egyptian, the former being very often seen in the hand of Horus. “The cross and Calvary so common in Europe, occurs on the breasts of mummies” (Bonwick) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lunar Gods +

Called in India the Fathers, “Pitris” or the lunar ancestors. They are subdivided, like the rest, into seven classes or Hierarchies, In Egypt although the moon received less worship than in Chaldea or India, still Isis stands as the representative of Luna‐Lunus, “the celestial Hermaphrodite”. Strange enough while the modern connect the moon only with lunacy and generation, the ancient nations, who knew better, have, individually and collectively, connected their “wisdom gods” with it. Thus in Egypt the lunar gods are Thoth‐Hermes and Chons; in India it is Budha, the Son of ''Soma, ''the moon; in Chaldea Nebo is the lunar god of Secret Wisdom, etc., etc. The wife of Thoth, ''Sifix, ''the lunar goddess, holds a pole with five rays or the five‐pointed star, symbol of man, the Microcosm, in distinction from the Septenary Macrocosm. As in all theogonies a goddess precedes a god, on the principle most likely that the chick can hardly precede its egg, in Chaldea the moon was held as older and more venerable than the Sun, because, as they said, darkness precedes light at every periodical rebirth (or “creation”) of the universe. Osiris although connected with the Sun and a Solar god is, nevertheless, born on Mount ''Sinai'', because ''Sin ''is the Chaldeo‐Assyrian word for the moon; so was Dio‐Nysos, god of Nyssi or ''Nisi, ''which latter appelation was that of Sinai in Egypt, where it was called Mount Nissa. The ''crescent ''is not—as proven by many writers—an ensign of the Turks, but was adopted by Christians for their symbol before the Mahommedans. For ages the crescent was the emblem of the Chaldean Astarte, the Egyptian Isis, and the Greek Diana, all of them Queens of Heaven, and finally became the emblem of Mary the Virgin. “The Greek Christian Empire of Constantinople held it as their palladium. Upon the conquest by the Turks, the Sultan adopted it . . . and since that, the crescent has been made to oppose the idea of the ''cross''”. (''Eg. Belief.'') [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG).

A

Ar‐Abu Nasr‐al‐Farabi +

Called in Latin Alpharabius, a Persian, and the greatest Aristotelian philosopher of the age. He was born in 950 A.D., and is reported to have been murdered in 1047. He was an Hermetic philosopher and possessed the power of hypnotizing through music, making those who heard him play the lute laugh, weep, dance and do what he liked. Some of his works on Hermetic philosophy may be found in the Library of Leyden [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Gebirol, Solomon Ben Jehudah +

Called in literature Avicebron. An Israelite by birth, a philosopher, poet and Kabbalist, a voluminous writer and a mystic. He was born in the eleventh Century at Malaga (1021), educated at Saragossa, and died at Valencia in 1070, murdered by a Mahommedan. His fellow‐religionists called him Salomon the Sephardi, or the Spaniard, and the Arabs, Abu Ayyub Suleiman ben ya’hya Ibn Dgebirol; whilst the scholastics named him Avicebron. (See Myer’s ''Qabbalah.'') Ibn Gebirol was certainly one of the greatest philosophers and scholars of his age. He wrote much in Arabic and most of his MSS. have been preserved. His greatest work appears to be the ''Megôr Hayyîm'', i.e., the ''Fountain of Life'', “one of the earliest exposures of the secrets of the Speculative Kabbalah”, as his biographer informs us. (See “Fons Vitæ”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mudra +

Called the mystic seal. A system of occult signs made with the fingers. These signs imitate ancient Sanskrit characters of magic efficacy. First used in the Northern Buddhist Yogâcharya School, they were adopted later by the Hindu Tantrikas, but often misused by them for black magic purposes [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Adamic Earth +

Called the “true oil of gold” or the “primal element” in Alchemy. It is but one remove from the pure homogeneous element. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lanigan, George Thomas +

Canadian journalist and poet. +

K

Karana +

Cause (metaphysically) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

I

Igaga +

Celestial angels, the same as Archangels [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Cerberus +

Cerberus, the three‐headed canine monster, which was supposed to watch at the threshold of Hades, came to the Greeks and Romans from Egypt. It was the monster, half‐dog and half‐hippopotamus, that guarded the gates of Amenti. The mother of Cerberus was Echidna—a being, half‐woman, half‐serpent, much honoured in Etruria. Both the Egyptian and the Greek Cerberus are symbols of Kâmaloka and its uncouth monsters, the cast‐off shells of mortals [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Darasta +

Ceremonial magic practised by the central Indian tribes, especially among the Kolarians [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Ashen and Langhan +

Certain ceremonies for casting out evil spirits, akin to those of exorcism with the Christians, in use with the Kolarian tribes in India [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mystica Vannus Iacchi +

Commonly translated the mystic Fan: but in an ancient terra‐cotta in the British Museum the fan is a Basket such as the Ancients’ Mysteries displayed with mystic contents: Inman says with emblematic ''testes. ''[w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bal +

Commonly translated “Lord”, but also Bel, the Chaldean god, and Baal, an ʺidolʺ [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

G

Guhya +

Concealed, secret [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kadosh +

Consecrated, holy; also written '''''Kodesh'''''. Something set apart for temple worship. But between the etymological meaning of the word, and its subsequent significance in application to the ''Kadeshim ''(the “priests” set apart for certain temple rites)—there is an abyss. The words ''Kadosh ''and ''Kadeshim ''are used in II. Kings as rather an opprobrious name, for the ''Kadeshuth ''of the Bible were identical in their office and duties with the Nautch girls of some Hindu temples. They were Galli, the mutilated priests of the lascivious rites of Venus Astarte, who lived “by the house of the Lord”. Curiously enough the terms ''Kadosh, ''etc., were appropriated and used‐ by several degrees of Masonic knighthood [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

S

Sinclair, Marie +

Countess of Caithness and Duchess de Pomar. She was communicating with V. P. Zhelikhovsky, sister of H. P. Blavatsky. +

L

Lobha +

Covetousness: cupidity, a son sprung from Brahmâ in an evil hour [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Deva Sarga +

Creation: the origin of the principles, said to be Intelligence born of the qualities or the attributes of nature [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Dabar +

D (a) B (a) R (im), meaning the “Word”, and the “Words” in the Chaldean Kabbala, ''Dabar ''and ''Logoi. ''(See ''Sec.Doct. ''I. p. 350, and “Logos”, or “Word”.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Almeh +

Dancing girls; the same as the Indian ''nautchies, ''the temple and public dancers. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bath +

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

I

Ila +

Daughter of Vaivaswata Manu; wife of Buddha, the son of Soma; one month a woman and the other a man by the decree of Saraswati; an allusion to the androgynous second race. Ila is also Vâch in another aspect [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bath Kol +

Daughter of the Voice: the Divine afflatus, or inspiration, by which the prophets of Israel were inspired as by a voice from Heaven and the Mercy‐ Seat. In Latin ''Filia Vocis''. An analogous ideal is found in Hindu exoteric theology named Vâch, the voice, the female essence, an aspect of Aditi, the mother of the gods and primæval Light; a mystery. [ w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

J

Jyotsna +

Dawn; one of the bodies assumed by Brahmâ the morning twilight [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Aize +

De Lapide Philosophico. An alchemic treatise by an unknown German author; dated 1677. It is to be found reprinted in the Hermetic Museum; in it is the well known design of a man with legs extended and his body hidden by a seven pointed star. Eliphaz Lévi has copied it. [ w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kabiri +

Deities and very mysterious gods with the ancient nations, including the Israelites, some of whom—as Terah, Abram’s father— worshipped them under the name of ''Teraphim''. With the Christians, however, they are now devils, although the modern Archangels are the direct transformation of these same Kabiri. In Hebrew the latter name means “the mighty ones”, Gibborim. At one time all the deities connected with fire—whether they were divine, infernal or volcanic—were called Kabirian [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Cabeiri +

Deities, held in the highest veneration at Thebes, in Lemnos, Phrygia, Macedonia, and especially at Samothrace. They were mystery gods, no profane having the right to name or speak of them. Herodotus makes of them Fire‐gods and points to Vulcan as their father. The Kabiri presided over the Mysteries, and their real number has never been revealed, their occult meaning being very sacred [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Mumukshatwa +

Desire for liberation (from reincarnation and thraldom of matter) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Alectromancy +

Divination by means of a cock, or other bird; a circle was drawn and divided into spaces, each one allotted to a letter; corn was spread over these places and note was taken of the successive lettered divisions from which the bird took grains of corn. [w.w.w.] [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Avatara +

Divine incarnation. The descent of a god or some exalted Being, who has progressed beyond the necessity of Rebirths, into the body of a simple mortal. Krishna was an avatar of Vishnu. The Dalai Lama is regarded as an avatar of Avalokiteswara, and the Teschu Lama as one of Tson‐kha‐pa, or Amitâbha. There are two kinds of avatars: those born from woman, and the parentless, the ''anupapâdaka.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

H

Hermaphrodite +

Dual‐sexed; a male and female Being, whether man or animal [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

M

Manticism +

During this state was developed the gift of prophecy. The two words are nearly synonymous. One was as honoured as the other. Pythagoras and Plato held it in high esteem, and Socrates advised his disciples to study Manticism. The Church Fathers, who condemned so severely the ''mantic frenzy ''in Pagan priests and Pythiæ, were not above applying it to their own uses. The Montanists, who took their name from Montanus, a bishop of Phrygia, who was considered divinely inspired, contended with the '''mavnteiz '''(manteis) or prophets. “Tertullian, Augustine, and the martyrs of Carthage, were of the number”, says the author of ''Prophecy, Ancient and Modern. ''“The Montanists seem to have resembled the ''Bacchantes ''in the wild enthusiasm that characterized their orgies,” he adds. There is a diversity of opinion as to the origin of the word ''Manticism''. There was the famous Mantis the Seer, in the days of Melampus and Prœtus King of Argos; and there was Manto, the daughter of the prophet of Thebes, herself a prophetess. Cicero describes prophecy and mantic frenzy, by saying, that “in the inner recesses of the mind is divine prophecy hidden and confined, a divine impulse, which when it burns more vividly is called furor”, frenzy. (''Isis Unveiled''.) [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

E

Edom +

Edomite Kings. A deeply concealed mystery is to he found in the allegory of the seven Kings of Edorn, who “reigned in the land of Edom before there reigned any King over the children of Israel”. ''(Gen. xxxvi''. 31.) The Kabbala teaches that this Kingdom was one of “unbalanced forces’ and necessarily of unstable character. The world of Israel is a type of the condition of the worlds which came into existence subsequently to the later period when the equilibrium had become established. [w.w. w.] On the other hand the Eastern Esoteric philosophy teaches that the seven Kings of Edom are not the type of perished worlds or unbalanced forces, but the symbol of the seven human Root‐races, four of which have passed away, the fifth is passing, and two are still to come. Though in the language of esoteric ''blinds, ''the hint in St. John’s ''Revelation ''is clear enough when it states in chapter xvii , 10: “And there are seven Kings; five are fallen, and one (the fifth, still) is, and the other (the sixth Root‐ race) is not yet come Had all the seven Kings of Edom perished as worlds of “unbalanced forces”, how could the fifth still be, and the other or others “not yet come” ? In The ''Kabbalah Unveiled, ''we read on page 48, “ The seven Kings had died and their possessions had been broken up”, and a footnote emphasizes the statement by saying, “these seven Kings are the Edomite Kings” [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Eggs +

Eggs were symbolical from an early time. There was the “Mundane Egg”, in which Brahmâ gestated, with the Hindus the ''Hiranya‐Gharba'', and the Mundane Egg of the Egyptians, which proceeds from the mouth of the “unmade and eternal deity”, Kneph, and which is the emblem of generative power. Then the Egg of Babylon, which hatched Ishtar, and was said to have fallen from heaven into the Euphrates. Therefore coloured eggs were used yearly during spring in almost every country, and in Egypt were exchanged as sacred symbols in the spring‐time, which was, is, and ever will be, the emblem of birth or rebirth, cosmic and human, celestial and terrestrial. They were hung up in Egyptian temples and are so suspended to this day in Mahometan mosques [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Labyrinth +

Egypt had the “celestial labyrinth” whereinto the souls of the departed plunged, and also its type on earth, the famous Labyrinth, a subterranean series of halls and passages with the most extraordinary windings. Herodotus describes it as consisting of 3,000 chambers, half below and half above ground. Even in his day strangers were not allowed into the subterranean portions of it as they contained the sepulchres of the kings who built it and other mysteries. The “Father of History” found the Labyrinth already almost in ruins, yet regarded it even in its state of dilapidation as far more marvellous than the pyramids [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bhuta‐sarga +

Elemental or incipient Creation, i.e., when matter was several degrees less material than it is now [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

L

Lhamayin +

Elemental sprites of the lower terrestrial plane. Popular fancy makes of them demons and devils [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Djin +

Elementals ; Nature Sprites; Genii. The ''Djins'' or ''Jins ''are much dreaded in Egypt, Persia and elsewhere [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Asiras +

Elementals without heads; lit., “headless” ; used also of the first two human races [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bhutadi +

Elementary substances, the origin and the germinal essence of the elements [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

E

Egregores +

Eliphas Lévi calls them “the chiefs of the souls who are the spirits of energy and action” ; whatever that may or may not mean. The Oriental Occultists describe the ''Egregores ''as Beings whose bodies and essence is a tissue of the so‐called ''astral light''. They are the shadows of the higher Planetary Spirits whose bodies are of the essence of the higher divine light [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Apavarga +

Emancipation from repeated births [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Kshetrajna +

Embodied spirit, the Conscious Ego in its highest manifestations; the reincarnating Principle; the “Lord” in us [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Amenti +

Esoterically and literally, the dwelling of the God Amen, or Amoun, or the “hidden”, secret god. Exoterically the kingdom of Osiris divided into fourteen parts, each of which was set aside for some purpose connected with the after state of the defunct. Among other things, in one of these was the Hall of Judgment. It was the “Land of the West”, the “Secret Dwelling”, the ''dark ''land, and the “doorless house”. But it was also ''Ker‐ noter'', the “abode of the gods”, and the “land of ghosts” like the “ Hades” of the Greeks (q.v.). It was also the “Good Father’s House” (in which there are “many mansions”). The fourteen divisions comprised, among many others, ''Aanroo ''(q.v.), the hall of the Two Truths, the Land of Bliss, ''Neter‐xev ''“the funeral (or burial) place” ''Otamer‐xev'', the “Silence‐loving Fields”, and also many other mystical halls and dwellings, one like the Sheol of the Hebrews, another like the Devachan of the Occultists, etc., etc. Out of the fifteen gates of the abode of Osiris, there were two chief ones, the “gate of entrance” or ''Rustu'', and the “gate of exit” (reincarnation) ''Amh''. But there was no room in Amenti to represent the orthodox Christian Hell. The worst of all was the Hall of the eternal Sleep and Darkness. As Lepsius has it, the defunct “sleep (therein) in ''incorruptible ''forms, they wake not to see their brethren, they recognize no longer father and mother, their hearts feel nought toward their wife and children. This is the dwelling of the god All‐Dead. . . . Each trembles to pray to him, for he hears not. Nobody can praise him, for he regards not those who adore him. Neither does he notice any offering brought to him.” This god is ''Karmic ''Decree; the land of Silence—the abode of those who die absolute disbelievers, those dead from accident before their allotted time, and finally the dead on the threshold of ''Avitchi'', which is never in Amenti or any other subjective state, save in one case, but on this land of forced re‐birth. These tarried not very long even in their state of heavy sleep, of oblivion and darkness, but, were carried more or less speedily toward ''Amh ''the “exit gate”. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG).

K

Kings of Edom +

Esoterically, the early, tentative, malformed races of men. Some Kabalists interpret them as “sparks”, worlds in formation disappearing as soon as formed [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

C

Cosmic ideation +

Eternal thought, impressed on substance or spirit‐matter, in the eternity ; thought which becomes active at the beginning of every new life‐cycle [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Ark of the Covenant +

Every ark‐shrine, whether with the Egyptians, Hindus, Chaldeans or Mexicans, was a phallic shrine, the symbol of the ''yoni ''or womb of nature. The ''seket ''of the Egyptians, the ark, or sacred chest, stood on the ''ara''—its pedestal. The ark of Osiris, with the sacred relics of the god, was “of the same size as the Jewish ark”, staves passed through its rings in sacred procession, as the ark round which danced David, the King of Israel. Mexican gods also had their arks. Diana, Ceres, and other goddesses as well as gods had theirs. The ark was a boat—a vehicle in every case. “Thebes had a sacred ark 300 cubits long,” and “the word ''Thebes ''is said to mean ark in Hebrew,” which is but a natural recognition of the place to which the chosen people are indebted for their ark. Moreover, as Bauer writes, “the Cherub was not first used by Moses.” The winged Isis was the cherub or ''Arieh ''in Egypt, centuries before the arrival there of even Abram or Sarai. “The external likeness of some of the Egyptian arks, surmounted by their two winged human figures, to the ark of the covenant, has often been noticed.” (''Bible Educator''.) And not only the “external” but the ''internal ''“likeness” and sameness are now known to all. The arks, whether of the covenant, or of honest, straightforward, Pagan symbolism, had originally and now have one and the same meaning. The chosen people appropriated the idea and forgot to acknowledge its source. It is the same as in the case of the “Urim” and “Thummin” (q.v.). In Egypt, as shown by many Egyptologists, the two objects were the emblems of the ''Two Truths. ''“Two figures of Re and Thmei were worn on the breast‐plate of the Egyptian High Priest. ''Thmé'', plural ''thmin, ''meant truth in Hebrew. Wilkinson says the figure of Truth had closed eyes. Rosellini speaks of the ''Thmei ''being worn as a necklace. Diodorus gives such a necklace of gold and stones to the High Priest when delivering judgment. The Septuagint translates Thummin as ''Truth”''. (Bonwick’s ''Egyp. Belief.'') [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG).

K

Kama +

Evil desire, lust, volition; the cleaving to existence. Kama is generally identified with ''Mara ''the tempter [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Khado +

Evil female demons in popular folk‐lore. In the Esoteric Philosophy occult and evil Forces of nature. Elementals known in Sanskrit as '''''Dakini''''' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Aheie +

Existence. He who exists; corresponds to Kether and Macroprosopus. [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

B

Bacchus +

Exoterically and superficially the god of wine and the vintage, and of licentiousness and joy; but the esoteric meaning of this personification is more abstruse and philosophical. He is the Osiris of Egypt, and his life and significance belong to the same group as the other solar deities, all “sin‐bearing,” killed and resurrected; e.g., as Dionysos or Atys of Phrygia (Adonis, or the Syrian Tammuz), as Ausonius, Baldur (q.v.), &c., &c. All these were put to death, mourned for, and restored to life. The rejoicings for Atys took place at the ''Hilaria ''on the “pagan” Easter, March 15. Ausonius, a form of Bacchus, was slain “at the vernal equinox, March 21st, and rose in three days”. Tammuz, the double of Adonis and Atys, was mourned by the women at the “grove” of his name “over Bethlehem, where the infant Jesus cried”, says St. Jerome. Bacchus is murdered and his mother collects the fragments of his lacerated body as Isis does those of Osiris, and so on. Dionysos Iacchus, torn to shreds by the Titans, Osiris, Krishna, all descended into Hades and returned again. Astronomically, they all represent the Sun ; psychically they are all emblems of the ever‐resurrecting “ Soul” (the Ego in its re‐incarnation) ; spiritually, all the innocent scape‐goats, atoning for the sins of mortals, their own earthly envelopes, and in truth, the poeticized image of DIVINE MAN, the form of clay informed by its God [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Asuras +

Exoterically, elementals and evil, gods— considered maleficent; demons, and '''''no '''''gods. But esoterically—the reverse. For in the most ancient portions of the ''Rig Veda, ''the term is used for the Supreme Spirit, and therefore the Asuras are spiritual and divine It is only in the last book of the ''Rig Veda'', its latest part, and in the ''Atharva Veda, ''and the ''Brâhmanas, ''that the epithet, which had been given to Agni, the greatest Vedic Deity, to Indra and Varuna, has come to signify the reverse of gods. ''Asu ''means breath, and it is with his breath that Prajâpati (Brahmâ) creates the Asuras. When ritualism and dogma got the better of the Wisdom religion, the initial letter '''a '''was adopted as a negative prefix, and the term ended by signifying “not a god”, and Sura only a deity. But in the Vedas the Suras have ever been connected with ''Surya, ''the sun, and regarded as ''inferior ''deities, devas [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

E

Ephesus +

Famous for its great metaphysical College where Occultism (Gnosis) and Platonic philosophy were taught in the days of the Apostle Paul. A city regarded as the focus of secret sciences, and that Gnôsis. or Wisdom, which is the antagonist of the perversion of Christo‐ Esotericism to this day. It was at Ephesus where was the great College of the Essenes and all the lore the Tanaim had brought from the ''Chaldees'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

O

Orlog +

Fate, destiny, whose agents were the three Norns, the Norse ''Parcæ'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

D

Dakini +

Female demons, vampires and blood‐ drinkers ''(asra‐pas''). In the ''Purânas ''they attend upon the goddess Kâli and feed on human flesh. A species of evil “Elementals” (''q.v.'') [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

K

Khanda Kala +

Finite or conditioned time in contradistinction to infinite time, or eternity—''Kala.'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

A

Angaraka +

Fire Star; the planet Mars; in Tibetan, ''Mig‐mar'' [[Category: Theosophical Glossary (CTD terms)]] (TG). +

Property:CTD term description

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