The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

44
LECTURE III.
PHILOSOPHY OF THE EASTERN MYSTERIES.
THE fatigue attending the protracted ceremonies described
in the preceding lecture exhausted the aspirant ;
and therefore to renovate his spirits, he was made to
drink a fermented liquor out of a human skull. And
now being fully regenerate, a new name was given him,
expressive of his recently attained purity, and he was
introduced to the chief Brahmin, in the midst of the
august assembly, who received him as a brother and
associate, invested him with a white robe and tiara,
seated him in an elevated situation, and solemnly delivered
the signs, tokens, and lectures of the Order. His
forehead was marked with a cross, 1 which was explained
as symbolical of the four cardinal points of the compass.
An inverted level was inscribed on his breast, 2 to express
his recently acquired dignity, by which he was advanced
to an equality with the superior order of the priests. He
was invested with the sacred sash or belt, 3 the consecrated
chaplet, the Kowsteke-Men, or Kowstoobh, 4 and the
*
1 The sectarial mark on the forehead is called Tiluka. (Valmic.
Ramayuna, p. 2.) Mr. Maurice (Ind. Ant., vol. v., p. 849) says he
has no doubt but this mark was the hermetic cross.
2
Or, in other words, the tau cross which was considered ;
equally
as a badge of innocence, and a symbol of eternal life.
3 Mr. Maurice is very particular in his description of this sacred
the Brahmin alone can
cord. It can be woven by no profane hand ;
twine the hallowed threads that compose it, and it is done by him
with the utmost solemnity, and with the addition of many mystic
rites. Three threads, each measuring ninety-six hands, are first
twisted together then ; they are folded into three and twisted again,
making it consist of nine, i. e., three times three threads this is folded
;
again into three, but without any more twisting, and each end is then
fastened with a knot. Such is the zennar, which being put on the
left shoulder, passes to the right side, and hangs down as low as the
fingers can reach. (Ind. Ant., vol. iv., p. 740.)
4 Vid. Signs and Symbols, Lect. 10.