Hindu Legend Says
the First
Sapphire Was the
Tear of a God
Helena P.
Blavatsky
000000000000000000000000000000000000000
An Editorial Note:
The sapphire has a
strong presence
in both Eastern
and Western esoteric
traditions. In the
famous vision of
Ezekiel, 1:26,
“there was something that
looked like a
throne made of sapphire”.
A magazine edited
by HPB published
in November 1890
the article “Mystic
Lore of Gems and Crystals”, which says:
“The Sapphire,
sacred to the Sun, and called
the stone of
stones, cured boils, restored weak
sight,
extinguished fires, mended the manners of
its wearers and
made the melancholy cheerful.”[1]
The following text
is reproduced from “Isis
Unveiled”, by
Helena P. Blavatsky, The Theosophy Co.,
LA, 1982, Volume
I, pp. 264-265. It was also published
in the October
2015 edition of “The Aquarian
Theosophist”.
(Carlos Cardoso Aveline)
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
The marked respect
paid by the Buddhists to the sapphire-stone - which was also sacred to Luna, in
every other country - may be found based on something more scientifically exact
than a mere groundless superstition. They ascribed to it a sacred magical
power, which every student of psychological mesmerism will readily understand,
for its polished and deep-blue surface produces extraordinary somnambulic
phenomena.
The varied influence of the prismatic colors on the
growth of vegetation, and especially that of the “blue ray”, has been
recognized but recently. The Academicians quarrelled over the unequal heating
power of the prismatic rays until a series of experimental demonstrations by
General Pleasonton, proved that under the blue ray, the most electric of all,
animal and vegetable growth was increased to a magical proportion. Thus
Amoretti’s investigations of the electric polarity of precious stones show that
the diamond, the garnet [2], the
amethyst, are - E., while the sapphire is + E. [3] Thus, we are enabled to show that the latest experiments of
science only corroborate that which was known to the Hindu sages before any of
the modern academies were founded.
An old Hindu legend says that Brahma-Prajapati, having
fallen in love with his own daughter, Ushas
(Heaven, sometimes the Dawn also), assumed the form of a buck (ris’ya) and Ushas that of a female deer
(rohit) and thus committed the first
sin. [4] Upon seeing such a
desecration, the gods felt so terrified, that uniting their most fearful-looking
bodies - each god possessing as many bodies as he desires - they produced
Bhutavan (the spirit of evil), who was created by them on purpose to destroy
the incarnation of the first sin
committed by the Brahma himself. Upon seeing this, Brahma-Hiranyagarbha [5] repented bitterly and began
repeating the Mantras, or prayers of purification, and, in his grief, dropped
on earth a tear, the hottest that
ever fell from an eye; and from it was formed the first sapphire.
This half-sacred, half-popular legend shows that the
Hindus knew which was the most electric of all the prismatic colors; moreover,
the particular influence of the sapphire-stone was as well defined as that of
all the other minerals. Orpheus teaches how it is possible to affect a whole
audience by means of a lodestone; Pythagoras pays a particular attention to the
color and nature of precious stones; while Apollonius of Tyana imparts to his
disciples the secret virtues of each, and changes his jewelled rings daily, using
a particular stone for every day of the month and according to the laws of
judicial astrology. [6]
The Buddhists assert that the sapphire produces peace
of mind, equanimity, and chases all evil thoughts by establishing a healthy
circulation in man. So does an electric battery, with its well-directed fluid,
say our electricians. “The sapphire”, say the Buddhists, “will open barred
doors and dwellings (for the spirit of man); it produces a desire for prayer,
and brings with it more peace than any other gem; but he who would wear it must
lead a pure and holy life.” [7]
NOTES:
[1] The quotation is taken from
p. 226 of the November 1890 edition of “Lucifer” magazine. “Lucifer” means
“light-bearer”. This ancient and pagan name of Venus, the morning and evening
star, has been distorted by Christian fanatics since the Middle Ages. Helena
Blavatsky founded “Lucifer” in London and edited it until she left physical
life in 1891. (CCA)
[2] Garnets are a group of silicate minerals that have
been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. See Wikipedia. (CCA)
[3] Note by HPB - Kieser:
“Archiv.”, vol. iv, p. 62. In fact, many of the old symbols were mere puns on
names.
[4] Note by HPB
- See “Rig-Vedas”, the Aitareya-Brahmanan.
[5] Note by HPB
- Brahma is also called by the Hindu Brahmans Hiranyagarbha or the unit soul, while Amrita is the supreme soul, the first cause which emanated from
itself the creative Brahma.
[6] The old judicial astrology is presently known as mundane astrology. This is the astrology which studies the
celestial influences over nations, political parties, associations and global
events. (CCA)
[7] Note by HPB
- Marbod: “Liber lapid. ed Beekmann.”
000
