Forlong - Rivers of Life
Forlong - Rivers of Life Forlong - Rivers of Life
460 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Man in all Lands. precipice, which, when announced at the temple, was the signal for additional prayers and reading. 1 The festivals of this season had all to take place at Jerusalem, and we have no reason whatever for believing that they were heard of before the days of David or Solomon. The Feast of Tabernacles lasted from the 15th to 22d of TIRSRI, or say the last days of September, after the corn, oil, and wine, were fully received from Ceres; subsequently came the Atsereth or day of “holy convocation” or of prayers and sacrifices, when the booths could be left and all return to their houses. During this fete all carried bunches called Lulabs, composed of twigs of the olive, palm, and myrtle, and sacred water was drawn by the priests in a golden chalice from. the pool of Siloam and carried with a flourish of silver trumpets into the temple where it was poured into a silver cup which stood on the western aide of the altar. Wine was then put into that on the eastem side, when both liquids were permitted to mingle by means of holes, and then run off by a pipe to the brook Kedron, whilst lights were abundantly lit up in the court of the women, where all endeavoured to meet together. Here in the evening two lofty stands, each carrying four great lamps,—probably symbolizing the seasons,—were set up, to which all again repaired, with their Lulabs in one hand, and a citron in the other; amid much festivity and music closed this long phallic fire-fete, of which the Rabbis said, that “he who has never seen the rejoicing at the pouring out of the water of Siloam had never seen rejoicing in h.s life.” In “the branch” we see that budding rod which Bacchus and the Asyrian chief holds in Plate V., p. 104. The citron and water in the women’s court require no explanation. Christians dedicate these last days of their “Ingathering” to a fitting saint– Michael, whom, from abundant coincidences, I identify with Maha-Kāla, a form of Siva; 2 and truly the demeanour of our rural population at this season was fully illustrative of this god’s power, and resulted in May being called “the bastard month.” Amongst ancient Kelts the women used to go about then with very strange-looking long, upright figures, which they called “Rush-bearing,” and to the present day it is the period when we elect our Mayors or great ones of each town or district—our “Maha- Rajas,” as Indians would call them, whose office it was in days not so far back to have first marital rights. In Berkshire, a portion of Michael’s day was called “the lawless hour,” when the town bell rang, and the people pelted each other with cabbage stalks, 3 reminding us of the onion stalks of Rome. OCTOBER October is a month which passaes in comparative quiet. In the middle, the Mahomedan has his Ramadān, the Jew his Hes or Bull month;. the Romans worshipped their holy wells, and Christians follow them here by commorating their churches and other places, whilst the Scoti fast and pray. The sun is now getting low, and the last day of October, though joyous to the Indian as the Ras Jatra, and sometimes with 1 The substance of much here will be found in Smith’s Bible Dictionary. 2 [The name is intelligible Hebrew, meaning “who is like unto El.” — T.S.] 3 Brand’s Pop. Ants., I. 355.
Sun Worship. Northerns sacred to Fire, is nevertheless a time of fear and trembling; for now is ushered in NOVEMBER—the windy Blot-monath, or Bloody month. NOVEMBER Great Taurus is at length fairly struck down, and here we see him being pierced through by the Typhon in the form of a Phrygian, youth, who had so long loved and worshipped him. All the powers of Brumel, the wintry solstice, have combined to emasculate him; the stormy winds of winter are blowing keen and hard; the fruits have fillen from the trees and the torch of life is lowered, whilst Scorpio is trying to destroy the tree itself as he has done the bull. The wintry raven croaks Life’s dirge with hollow cry, but behold! on the adjacent mountain is hope and the sign of Isis, and so the promise of a life yet to come, though many ills must be passed through ere man again arrives at that period. This picture is brimful of story—a perfect ideograph. 1 Fig 176.—THE FALL OF MITHRAS—A PHRYGIAN YOUTH SLAYS THE BULL, AND FERTILE ENERGY IS DESTROYED Christians call the first days of November “Hallow” or holy-tide, sacred to the souls of the dead, and the living; nor do they now forget the wnrship of wells and founts. The Scotch who have had their “fasts or “holy weeks,” which Burns has made of worldwide celebrity. now follow up these, at least among the lower orders, by sundry feastings, in which “black puddings” made of blood must bear a prominent part. Rome, forsaking the fetes of the lesser mysteries, has now banquets in honour of great Jove and Neptune, and counts her riches, or as the Julian Kalendar say, “exhibits her ornaments.” But let us look at some of the quaint rites of the Christians on the 1st and 2d November. The Churches of Rome and England dedicate the 1st to the Souls of their Saints, a very select and ghostly crew, which the general public can have but little concern with, as “many shall be called but few chosen,” and of these few only a very minute fraction 1 [It is more normally thought that the youth in the Phrygian cap represents Mithras. — T.S.] 461
- Page 462 and 463: 410 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 464 and 465: 412 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 466 and 467: 414 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 468 and 469: 416 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 470 and 471: 418 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 472 and 473: 420 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 474 and 475: 422 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 476 and 477: 424 English Months. Phenicians, Koo
- Page 478 and 479: 426 English Months. Phenicians, Koo
- Page 480 and 481: 428 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 482 and 483: 430 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 484 and 485: 432 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 486 and 487: 434 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 488 and 489: 436 Fig 171.—A HINDOO DEVI OFFERI
- Page 490 and 491: 438 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 492 and 493: 440 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 494 and 495: 442 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 496 and 497: 444 Fig 173. THE POLYNESIAN GOD TA-
- Page 498 and 499: 446 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 500 and 501: 448 Fig 175.—THE ANCIENT GERMAN G
- Page 502 and 503: 450 Fig 176.—JACK OR I-AKO IN THE
- Page 504 and 505: 452 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 506 and 507: 454 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 508 and 509: 456 Fig 177.—ST. MICHAEL’S MOUN
- Page 510 and 511: 458 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 514 and 515: 462 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 516 and 517: 464 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 518 and 519: 466 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 520 and 521: 468 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 522 and 523: 470 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 524 and 525: 472 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 526 and 527: 474 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 528 and 529: 476 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 530 and 531: 478 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 532 and 533: 480 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 534 and 535: 482 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 536 and 537: 484 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 538 and 539: 486 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 540 and 541: 488 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 542 and 543: 490 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 544 and 545: 492 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 546 and 547: 494 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 548 and 549: 496 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 550 and 551: 498 T = O = R = S = TORS 400 A = 6
- Page 552 and 553: 500 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 554 and 555: 502 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 556 and 557: 504 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 558 and 559: 506 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
- Page 560 and 561: 508 Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Ma
460<br />
<strong>Rivers</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Life</strong>, or Faiths <strong>of</strong> Man in all Lands.<br />
precipice, which, when announced at the temple, was the signal for additional prayers<br />
and reading. 1<br />
The festivals <strong>of</strong> this season had all to take place at Jerusalem, and we have no<br />
reason whatever for believing that they were heard <strong>of</strong> before the days <strong>of</strong> David<br />
or Solomon. The Feast <strong>of</strong> Tabernacles lasted from the 15th to 22d <strong>of</strong> TIRSRI, or say the<br />
last days <strong>of</strong> September, after the corn, oil, and wine, were fully received from Ceres;<br />
subsequently came the Atsereth or day <strong>of</strong> “holy convocation” or <strong>of</strong> prayers and sacrifices,<br />
when the booths could be left and all return to their houses. During this fete all<br />
carried bunches called Lulabs, composed <strong>of</strong> twigs <strong>of</strong> the olive, palm, and myrtle, and<br />
sacred water was drawn by the priests in a golden chalice from. the pool <strong>of</strong> Siloam and<br />
carried with a flourish <strong>of</strong> silver trumpets into the temple where it was poured into a<br />
silver cup which stood on the western aide <strong>of</strong> the altar. Wine was then put into that<br />
on the eastem side, when both liquids were permitted to mingle by means <strong>of</strong> holes, and<br />
then run <strong>of</strong>f by a pipe to the brook Kedron, whilst lights were abundantly lit up in the<br />
court <strong>of</strong> the women, where all endeavoured to meet together. Here in the evening two<br />
l<strong>of</strong>ty stands, each carrying four great lamps,—probably symbolizing the seasons,—were<br />
set up, to which all again repaired, with their Lulabs in one hand, and a citron in the<br />
other; amid much festivity and music closed this long phallic fire-fete, <strong>of</strong> which<br />
the Rabbis said, that “he who has never seen the rejoicing at the pouring out <strong>of</strong> the water<br />
<strong>of</strong> Siloam had never seen rejoicing in h.s life.” In “the branch” we see that budding<br />
rod which Bacchus and the Asyrian chief holds in Plate V., p. 104. The citron and<br />
water in the women’s court require no explanation.<br />
Christians dedicate these last days <strong>of</strong> their “Ingathering” to a fitting saint–<br />
Michael, whom, from abundant coincidences, I identify with Maha-Kāla, a form <strong>of</strong><br />
Siva; 2 and truly the demeanour <strong>of</strong> our rural population at this season was fully<br />
illustrative <strong>of</strong> this god’s power, and resulted in May being called “the bastard month.”<br />
Amongst ancient Kelts the women used to go about then with very strange-looking<br />
long, upright figures, which they called “Rush-bearing,” and to the present day it is<br />
the period when we elect our Mayors or great ones <strong>of</strong> each town or district—our “Maha-<br />
Rajas,” as Indians would call them, whose <strong>of</strong>fice it was in days not so far back to have<br />
first marital rights. In Berkshire, a portion <strong>of</strong> Michael’s day was called “the lawless<br />
hour,” when the town bell rang, and the people pelted each other with cabbage stalks, 3<br />
reminding us <strong>of</strong> the onion stalks <strong>of</strong> Rome.<br />
OCTOBER<br />
October is a month which passaes in comparative quiet. In the middle, the<br />
Mahomedan has his Ramadān, the Jew his Hes or Bull month;. the Romans worshipped<br />
their holy wells, and Christians follow them here by commorating their churches<br />
and other places, whilst the Scoti fast and pray. The sun is now getting low, and the<br />
last day <strong>of</strong> October, though joyous to the Indian as the Ras Jatra, and sometimes with<br />
1 The substance <strong>of</strong> much here will be found in Smith’s Bible Dictionary.<br />
2 [The name is intelligible Hebrew, meaning “who is like unto El.” — T.S.]<br />
3 Brand’s Pop. Ants., I. 355.