Forlong - Rivers of Life

Tree Worship.
Vishnoo delights in the lotus, which is one of the four emblems he holds in his
fourfold arms. It is Venus’ sacred flower.
The flower is shaped like a boat, is a representation
of divinity, and is shown as springing
from the navel of the great god resting on his
“milky sea.” It always signifies fecundation.
Inman, under the head Nabhi, navel, says, “The
germ is ‘Meroo’ (the highest pinnacle of the earth),
the petals and filaments are the mountains
which encircle Meroo, a type of the Yoni,” and Sanskrit
for mons veneris. Amongst fourteen kinds of
Fig 12
food and flowers which must be presented to “Ananta” (Sanskrit, eternity), the
lotus is the only indispensable one as he (Ananta) is then worshipped in the form of a
mighty serpent with seven heads. For the force of the restriction, see Glossary under
this head.
Hindoo and other writers often tell us that the lotus originated the idea of the
triangle, which is “the first of perfect figures, for two linea are an imperfection;” and
the lotus also gives us a circle on a triangle which is full of cells and seed, and so is
more perfect still. Siva is, as Orientalists know, “the god of the triangle;” and hence,
in his palace in Kailāsa, wc are told the most precious object on “his table of nine
precious stones is the padma (lotus), carrying in its bosom. the triangle, as origin and
source of all things;” and that from “this triangle issues the lingam, the eternal god who
makes in it his eternal dwelling;” which, however, is not quite correct on the part of
M. Guigniant, whom Mr Barlow quotes (p. 11). The lotus is an inverted triangle, and
is therefore the female sign; the pyramid, or triangle on base, is Siva, or the, Ray of Light,
the sun-god. I cannot see what Some authors urge as to pyramid, or pura-mid, or
fire-tower, being a combined lingam and yoni, unless, as often represented, it has a
circle or dot in it. The ordinary idea of its being a. ray of Sol’s fire piercing the
earth seems the more likely one, for Asiatics are very strong on the subject of the sun
being a Darter with piercing rays.
Another reason why the lotus is in all lands so sacred is ita androgynous or
hermaphrodite character, a feature imperative in the case of all the great gods of man,
though this is not very clear if we dive deeply below the surface, either in the case of the
Jewish Elohim or the lotus; however, “Holy Writ” says that this lily is produced without
the aid of male pollen, and a truce at present to that “dry hard light” which always
spoils the stories of our childhood. Brahma., the creator, whilst sitting on the lotus, as
all great gods do, desired, says the “Hindoo Inspired Word,” to create the universe, and
for this purpose, became androgynous, or a Breathing-spirit (Ruach?)—prakriti or
nature; when creation at once commenced and progressed, much as wo have it in the
genesis of most faiths. The details of this mystic plant have much exercised all
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