The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

IN HINDOOS TAN. 43
the usual emblems of eternity and uncontrollable power, 90
the circle, 91 and fire. 92
Satarupa perceived his situation, and stepped aside to avoid his
ardent looks. Brahma, being unable to move, but still desirous to
see her, a new face sprang out upon him towards the object of his
desires. Again she shifted her situation, and another face emanated
from the enamoured god. Still she avoided his gaze, until the incarnate
deity, become conspicuous with four faces directed to the four
quarters of the world, beheld her incessantly, to whatever side she
withdrew herself. At length she recovered her self-possession, when
the other half of his body sprang from him, and became Swayambhuva
or Adima. Thus were produced the first man and woman, and
from their embrace were born three sons, in whom the Trimurti
became incarnate."
90 Maur. Ind. Ant., vol. v., p. 852.
91 The Circle or King was received as an expressive symbol of the
Ark all over the world ;
and as the great Father was hidden within its
enclosure during the prevalence of the diluvian waters, many fables
sprang out of this connection. I shall mention only one, the mysterious
Ring of Gyges, which was reputed to render the wearer invisible.
*
Gyges, according to Plato, found a brazen horse in a cavern.
Within the horse was hid the body of a man of gigantic stature,
having a brazen ring on his finger. This ring Gyges took, and
found that it rendered him invisible. The cavern, the ring, and the
giant, show pretty evidently whence this fable originated.
The mare
was a form of Ceres or Hippa, the mystic nurse of the ark-exposed
Bacchus or Noah the ; man, therefore, was the Ark. The dead giant
was the gigantic Buddha, or the great father, during the period of
his death-like slumber while enclosed within the ark. And the
cavern was one of those sacred grottoes, within which the mysteries
were perpetually celebrated ; and from which both he and his initiated
votaries were feigned to be born again." (Fab. Pag. Idol., vol. ii., p.
440, in riota. 1.
93 "
Suddenly a golden temple appeared, containing a chain of
wrought gold. On the summit of the temple Brahma alighted, and
held a canopy over the head of Sacya ;
while Indra, with a fan in his
hand ; Naga, prince of serpents, and the four tutelary deities of the
four corners of the universe, attended to do him reverence and
service."
(Asiat. Res., vol. ii., p. 385.)