The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

EASTERN MYSTERIES. 45
talismanic label for the left arm. The salagram, 5 or
magical black stone, was delivered to him, 6 as an amulet
which would insure to him the protection of Vishnu,
whose multiform shapes he was emblematically said to
and the serpent stone, an amulet similar
have assumed ;
to the anguinum of the Druids, was presented as an
antidote against the bite of serpents, or other venomous
reptiles. 7
He was then instructed in the secret art of composing
8
amulets, for his own personal protection, and incanta-
tions, to procure the torture or destruction of his enemies, 9
and being now fully invested, the candidate was entrusted
with the sublime NAME, which was known only to the
5
Specimens of the Salagram may be seen in the Museum of the
Asiatic Society.
6 7
Maur. Ind. Ant., vol. v., p. 908.
Ibid. vol. iv., p. 660.
8 "A branch of Snuhi (Euphorbia) in a whitened vessel, placed with
a red flag on the house-top, on the fourteenth day of the dark half
in Asiat.
Charted, drives away sin and disease." (Rajamartanda,
Res., vol. iii., p. 279.) A charmed paste, to procure good fortune, is
said, in the Drama of Sacontala, to be "
prepared as follows : I have
filled," says Anusuya, " the shell of a cocoa nut, which you see fixed
on an Amra tree, with the fragrant dust of Nagacesaras ; take it down
and keep it in a fresh lotos leaf, whilst I collect some Gorachana from
the forehead of a sacred cow, some earth from the consecrated ground,
and some fresh Cusa grass, of which I will make a paste, to insure
good fortune." (Sir W. Jones. Works, vol. vi.)
9 This was a most horrible ceremony in a country where the people
were superstitiously addicted to the belief of preternatural acquirements.
We are not informed what was the absolute nature of this
charm; but the following was considered sufficiently efficacious to
destroy an enemy. He who wished to use it, waited patiently for the
ceremony of burning a widow on the funeral pile of her husband ;
from the flames of which he snatched the half-consumed bamboo lever
by which the bodies had been secured, and retreated rapidly to his
hut. Here, in the dead of night, he formed this purified bamboo into
a bow, and having set up a clay image to represent his unconscious
adversary, he aims an arrow at its breast, which is believed to inflict
a similar wound on his enemy, that would, undoubtedly, prove fatal
unless averted by a counter incantation. The Hindoos used charms
on every occurrence in life, and generally had the Lingam suspended
from their neck (Maur. Ind. Ant., vol. v., p. 935); for protection
against serpents and ravenous beasts ; to cure diseases ; to ensure
success in litigated suits ; to appease or destroy an enemy, &c., &c.
The remnant of this ancient superstition is observable amongst the
uneducated rustics in almost every part of Europe ; but in India it
still exists in all its primitive force.
10 The Mahometans, in common with the Jews and idolaters, attach
to the knowledge of this sacred Name the most wonderful powers.