COLLATION OF THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARIES

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List of Title Abbreviations (in alphabetical order)


TG We (Scand.). One of the three gods -- Odin, Wili and We -- who kill the giant Ymir (chaotic force), and create the world out of his body, the primordial substance.

MO Ve, Vi [[Norse]] (vay, vee) [awe] Cosmic prototype of Honer


VEDA(S)


The Sacred Vedic Verse

Veda Janani -- The Mother of the Vedas

Aum, -- the light of the Universe, the omniscient and omnipresent; the all containing, in whose womb move all the orbs of heaven; the self-effulgent, from whom the sun and stars borrow their light; whose knowledge is perfect and immutable, whose glory is superlative; who is deathless, the life of life and dearer than life, who gives bliss to those who earnestly desire it, saves from all calamities his genuine devotees, and gives them peace and comfort; the all intelligent, who keeps in order and harmony all and each by permeating all things, on whom is dependent all that exist, the creator and giver of all glory, the illuminator of all souls and giver of every bliss, who is worthy to be embraced; the all-knowledge and all-holiness, -- we contemplate and worship that He may enlighten our intellect and conscience.


Salutation (From the Sanskrit)

Listen to the Salutation of the Dawn.
Look to this Day, for it is Life,
the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the possibilities
and realities of your existence.
The Bliss of Growth --
The Glory of Action --
The Splendor of Beauty --
For yesterday is already a dream and
tomorrow is only a vision:
but today well-lived
makes every yesterday a dream of happiness
and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well therefore to this day.
Such is the Salutation of the dawn.


TG Vedas (Sk.). The "revelation", the scriptures of the Hindus, from the root vid, "to know", or "divine knowledge". They are the most ancient as well as the most sacred of the Sanskrit works.

The Vedas -- on the date and antiquity of which no two Orientalists can agree, are claimed by the Hindus themselves, whose Brahmans and Pundits ought to know best about their own religious works, to have been first taught orally for thousands of years and then compiled on the shores of Lake Manasa-Sarovara (phonetically, Mansarovara) beyond the Himalayas, in Tibet. When was this done? While their religious teachers, such as Swami Dayanand Saraswati, claim for them an antiquity of many decades of ages, our modern Orientalists will grant them no greater antiquity in their present form than about between 1,000 and 2,000 B.C. As compiled in their final form by Veda-Vyasa, however, the Brahmans themselves unanimously assign 3,100 years before the Christian era, the date when Vyasa flourished. Therefore the Vedas must be as old as this date. But their antiquity is sufficiently proven by the fact that they are written in such an ancient form of Sanskrit, so different from the Sanskrit now used, that there is no other work like them in the literature of this eldest sister of all the known languages, as Prof. Max Muller calls it. Only the most learned of the Brahman Pundits can read the Vedas in their original. It is urged that Colebrooke found the date 1400 B.C. corroborated absolutely by a passage which he discovered, and which is based on astronomical data. But if, as shown unanimously by all the Orientalists and the Hindu Pundits also, that (a) the Vedas are not a single work, nor yet any one of the separate Vedas; but that each Veda, and almost every hymn and division of the latter, is the production of various authors; and that (b) these have been written (whether as sruti, "revelation", or not) at various periods of the ethnological evolution of the Indo-Aryan race, then -- what does Mr. Colebrooke's discovery prove? Simply that the Vedas were finally arranged and compiled fourteen centuries before our era; but this interferes in no way with their antiquity. Quite the reverse; for, as an offset to Mr. Colebrooke's passage, there is a learned article, written on purely astronomical data by Krishna Shastri Godbole (of Bombay), which proves as absolutely and on the same evidence that the Vedas must have been taught at least 25,000 years ago. (See Theosophist, Vol. II., p. 238 et seq., Aug., 1881.) This statement is, if not supported, at any rate not contradicted by what Prof. Cowell says in Appendix VII., of Elphinstone's History of India: "There is a difference in age between the various hymns, which are now united in their present form as the Sanhita of the Rig-Veda: but we have no data to determine their relative antiquity, and purely subjective criticism, apart from solid data, has so often failed in other instances, that we can trust but little to any of its inferences in such a recently opened field of research as Sanskrit literature. [Not a fourth part of the Vaidik literature is as yet in print, and very little of it has been translated into English (1866).] The still unsettled controversies about the Homeric poems may well warn us of being too confident in our judgments regarding the yet earlier hymns of the Rig-Veda. . . . When we examine these hymns . . . they are deeply interesting for the history of the human mind, belonging as they do to a much older phase than the poems of Homer or Hesiod." The Vedic writings are all classified in two great divisions, exoteric and esoteric, the former being called Karma-Kanda, "division of actions or works", and the Jnana-Kanda, "division of (divine) knowledge", the Upanishads (q.v.) coming under this last classification. Both departments are regarded as Sruti or revelation. To each hymn of the Rig-Veda, the name of the Seer or Rishi to whom it was revealed is prefixed. It, thus, becomes evident on the authority of these very names (such as Vasishta, Viswamitra, Narada, etc.), all of which belong to men born in various manvantaras and even ages, that centuries, and perhaps millenniums, must have elapsed between the dates of their composition.

FY Vedas, the most authoritative of the Hindu Scriptures. The four oldest sacred books -- Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva -- revealed to the Rishis by Brahma.

WG Vedas, the sacred books of the earlier Hindu religion. Originally there were three Vedas, but a later work called the Atharva-Veda has been added to these and constitutes the fourth Veda. Collectively they are termed Sruti, "revelation," or "utterance" -- the sacred utterance handed down by tradition. Rig-Veda signifies "Veda of verses," from rig, a spoken stanza; Sama-Veda, Veda of chants, from saman, a song or chant; Yajur-Veda, "Veda of sacrificial formulas," from yajus, a sacrificial text. The distinctive quality of the Vedas is the power of invocation. (veda, knowledge, divine knowledge.)

OG Veda(s) -- (Sanskrit) From a verbal root vid signifying "to know." These are the most ancient and the most sacred literary and religious works of the Hindus. Veda as a word may be described as "divine knowledge." The Vedas are four in number: the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda, and the Atharva-Veda, this last being commonly supposed to be of later date than the former three. Manu in his Work on Law always speaks of the three Vedas, which he calls "the ancient triple Brahman" -- sanatanam trayam brahma." Connected with the Vedas is a large body of other works of various kinds, liturgical, ritualistic, exegetical, and mystical, the Veda itself being commonly divided into two great portions, outward and inner: the former called the karma-kanda, the "Section of Works," and the latter called jnana-kanda or "Section of Wisdom." The authorship of the Veda is not unitary, but almost every hymn or division of a Veda is ascribed to a different author or rather to various authors; but they are supposed to have been compiled in their present form by Veda-Vyasa. There is no question in the minds of learned students of theosophy that the Vedas run back in their origins to enormous antiquity, thousands of years before the beginning of what is known in the Occident as the Christian era, whatever Occidental scholars may have to say in objection to this statement. Hindu pandits themselves claim that the Veda was taught orally for thousands of years, and then finally compiled on the shores of the sacred lake Manasa-Sarovara, beyond the Himalayas in a district of what is now Tibet.

GH Vedas The ancient sacred literature of the Hindus. There are four Vedas known as the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda, and the Atharva-Veda. Their origin is ascribed to divine revelation (sruti), and Hindus as well as Theosophical students place their period at many thousands of years before the Christian era. They state that the Vedas were taught orally for thousands of years and then finally were compiled on the shores of the sacred lake Manasa-Sarovara by Veda-Vyasa (about 3100 B.C.). It is quite apparent that the original authorship is not by one person, inasmuch as various hymns are attributed to various Vedic Sages. They are written in a style of Sanskrit different from any other literary works. The Vedas are divided into two main portions: the mantra part (hymns in verse), and the Brahmana part consisting of liturgical, ritualistic and mystic treatises in prose. With the latter are closely connected the Aranyakas and Upanishads. "Between the Vedas and the Puranas there is an abyss of which, both are the poles, like the seventh (atmic) and the first or lowest principle (the physical body) in the Septenary constitution of man. The primitive, purely spiritual language of the Vedas, conceived many decades of millenniums earlier, had found its purely human expression for the purpose of describing events taking place 5,000 years ago, the date of Krishna's death (from which day the Kali Yuga, or Black-Age, began for mankind)." (Secret Doctrine, II, p. 527) (The following word is derived from the verbal root:) vid, to know. Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 15)

SKo Veda, Mantra, Brahmana, Aranyaka, Upanishad Veda literally means 'knowledge,' derived from the verb-root vid -- to know. The Vedas are the most ancient and most sacred Sanskrit writings of the Hindus. Their origin dates back to at least some 20,000 years ago. They are a body of occult writings, some of which are veiled in symbolic form. These Vedas are divided into two main sections -- the Mantra and the Brahmana. The Mantra-portion is composed of poetic hymns, prayers, and incantations, all of which are endowed with occult powers when properly chanted. The word Mantra means 'an instrument of thought,' derived from the verb-root man -- to think. The Brahmana-portion consists of treatises in prose which give the rituals and forms of religious worship and their interpretations, rules for the proper chanting of the sacred Mantras at the sacrificial ceremonies, and the explanations in detail of these sacrifices, as well as legends and stories. Closely connected and often included in the Brahmana-portions are treatises in prose and verse known as Aranyakas and Upanishads. The Aranyakas or writings relating to aranya or the 'forest,' are philosophical and ritualistic works intended especially for religious recluses who have retired from the world. The Upanishads are writings of a mystical and highly theosophical and recondite nature. Their essential purpose is to overcome ignorance and its consequent suffering by revealing the secret spiritual wisdom about man and the Universe. The word Upanishad means 'esoteric doctrine.' It is a compound of upa -- according to, ni -- down, and the verb-root sad -- to sit; implying, therefore, writings that accord with sacred instruction received when sitting down in the Oriental way at the feet of the teacher. H. P. Blavatsky calls the Upanishads "the mirror of the eternal Wisdom."

IN Veda(s) (Skt) "Knowledge," oldest, most sacred collection of Hindu scriptures: Rig-veda, Sama-veda, Yajur-veda, and Atharva-veda, each containing 4 divisions of text -- Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka, and Upanishad.

SP Veda -- literally "knowledge," the oldest, most sacred collections of Hindu scriptures. There are four collections the Rg-veda, Sama-veda, Yajur-veda, and Atharva-veda -- each containing four layers of text, called: Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka, and Upanisad.

SD INDEX Veda(s, ic). See also Atharva-Veda, Rig-Veda, Vedic

Aditi, akasa in II 42n
Ambhamsi synonym of gods in I 457-8n
anticipated modern discoveries I 623
barhishad, agnishvatta in II 77
chanted, rationale of I 94-6
chief gods of II 114
date fr early Aryan history II 714
divided in dvapara age II 146n, 483
dual meaning of I 270n
Eternal Cause or That I 391n; II 80
Europe has text of, (Muller) I xxiiin
fire deities in I 101; II 567
four, & four truths I 42
greatest of all authorities II 616
heavenly gandharvas taught man II 584
of highest antiquity (Muller) I xxxviii
influence on Babylon (Rawlinson) I xxxi
initiates know meaning of I 520
leaves of Hiranyagarbha I 406
Mahadeva divine ego II 548
maruts discussed II 613
meaning of elements hidden in I 520
"Mirror of Eternal wisdom" II 484
Muller & Barth on II 450-1
no idol worship in II 723
not complete I 318
once called modern forgery I xxxviii
Orientalists differ on age of I xxx
primary & secondary creations II 59
Puranas human expression of II 527
Scandinavian cosmogony older (Muller) I 367
secret commentary on I xxxiv
Secret Doctrine antedates I xxxvii
septenary element in II 605-11
seven wise ones, seven paths II 191n
Siva known as Rudra in II 548
six earths born w our Earth II 616
sole property of Brahmans I 271
Sun called loka-chakshuh in I 100-1
tens of thousands of years old II 527
Tvashtri in II 101
universal myths in II 97
Upanishads esoteric glossaries of II 484
Upanishads expound mysticism of I 270
Vach mother of I 430
Vishnu divides, into four II 483
Visvakarma in II 269n
went into every nation II 483

SEE ALSO; RIG-VEDA, RG-VEDA


TG Vedana (Sk.). The second of the five Skandhas (perceptions, senses). The sixth Nidana.

WG Vedana, sensation, knowledge obtained through the senses.

SEE ALSO; NIDANA, SKANDHAS


TG Vedanta (Sk.). A mystic system of philosophy which has developed from the efforts of generations of sages to interpret the secret meaning of the Upanishads (q.v.). It is called in the Shad-Darshanas (six schools or systems of demonstration), Uttara Mimansa, attributed to Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas, who is thus referred to as the founder of the Vedanta. The orthodox Hindus call Vedanta -- a term meaning literally the "end of all (Vedic) knowledge" -- Brahma-jnana, or pure and spiritual knowledge of Brahma. Even if we accept the late dates assigned to various Sanskrit schools and treatises by our Orientalists, the Vedanta must be 3,300 years old, as Vyasa is said to have lived 1,400 years B.C. If, as Elphinstone has it in his History of India, the Brahmanas are the Talmud of the Hindus, and the Vedas the Mosaic books, then the Vedanta may be correctly called the Kabalah of India. But how vastly more grand! Sankaracharya, who was the popularizer of the Vedantic system, and the founder of the Adwaita philosophy, is sometimes called the founder of the modern schools of the Vedanta.

KT Vedanta (Sans.) Meaning literally, the "end of all knowledge." Among the six Darsanas or the schools of philosophy, it is also called Uttaramimansa, or the "later" Mimansa. There are those who, unable to understand its esotericism, consider it atheistical; but this is not so, as Sankaracharya, the great apostle of this school, and its populariser, was one of the greatest mystics and adepts of India.

WG Vedanta, a system of philosophy. (See Purva-Mimansa.)

OG Vedanta -- (Sanskrit) From the Upanishads and from other parts of the wonderful cycle of Vedic literature, the ancient sages of India produced what is called today the Vedanta -- a compound word meaning "the end (or completion) of the Veda" -- that is to say, instruction in the final and most perfect exposition of the meaning of the Vedic tenets. The Vedanta is the highest form that the Brahmanical teachings have taken, and under the name of the Uttara-Mimansa attributed to Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas, the Vedanta is perhaps the noblest of the six Indian schools of philosophy. The Avatara Sankaracharya has been the main popularizer of the Vedantic system of philosophical thought, and the type of Vedantic doctrine taught by him is what is technically called the Advaita-Vedanta or nondualistic. The Vedanta may briefly be described as a system of mystical philosophy derived from the efforts of sages through many generations to interpret the sacred or esoteric meaning of the Upanishads. In its Advaita form the Vedanta is in many, if not all, respects exceedingly close to, if not identical with, some of the mystical forms of Buddhism in central Asia. The Hindus call the Vedanta Brahma-jnana.

GH Vedanta literally 'End of the Veda,' i.e., complete knowledge of the Veda. The name is particularly associated with the Uttara-mimansa school (the third of the six Hindu systems of philosophy), as this school especially studied the latter portion of the Veda. The reputed founder of the Vedanta is Vyasa (q.v.), but its chief exponent was Sankaracharya, who especially taught the Advaita ('non-dual') aspect, hence his followers are called Advaita-Vedantins. In brief: the Advaita system teaches that nothing real exists but the One Self, or Soul of the Universe, called Brahman or Paramatman, and that the Jivatman (individual human soul or monad), and in fact all phenomenal manifestations of nature, are really identical with Paramatman; their apparent separate existence is due to Ajnana (nescience, 'non-wisdom'). A proper understanding of the Vedanta removes this Ajnana. "The Vedas are, and will remain for ever, in the esotericism of the Vedanta and the Upanishads, 'the mirror of the eternal Wisdom.' " (Secret Doctrine, II, p. 484) The nearest exponent of the Esoteric philosophy "is the Vedanta as expounded by the Advaita Vedantists," (Secret Doctrine, I, p. 55). (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 108)

IN Vedanta (Skt) "End or completion of the Vedas"; one of the six main Brahmanical schools.

SP Vedanta literally "end or completion of the Veda," the Upanisads or the philosophy based on them. Advaita-vedanta [adwaita] is the Nondualist school of Vedanta philosophy.

SD INDEX Vedanta (school) I 52n, 59n

Advaita, nearest esoteric I 55
on bodies w negative qualities I 584n
on cause I 55
discord betw three sects of I 451
division of man's principles I 157, 226
doctrine in Hermetic philosophy I 281n
esoteric teaching differs fr I 62
gives but metaphysical cosmogony I 269
Hegelian doctrine & II 449n
last word of human knowledge I 269
nimitta as an efficient cause I 370n
not fr Buddhism I 46-7
occultists & I 8
One Life, Great Breath I 226n
Parabrahm-mulaprakriti I 46
prajna, chinmatra II 597n
quinquepartite division of man in I 226
Spencer approaches I 14-15, 281
sutratman (thread self) I 610 &n; II 513
teachings of I 522, 569-70, 573, 610; II 597n, 598
Vedas are mirror of wisdom II 484
Western philos echo, doctrines I 79n
Western scholars perverted I 295


SD INDEX Vedantasara. See Jacob, G. A.


SD INDEX Vedantins I 8, 10n, 16, 17n, 51, 52n

divided man into five kosas II 603
idealists I 226n
Isvara highest consciousness I 573
Mahat aspect of prakriti w I 62
nirvani of, can never return II 80
not atheists I 7


FY Vedantists, followers of the Vedanta School of Philosophy, which is divided into two branches, monists and dualists.


TG Veda-Vyasa (Sk.). The compiler of the Vedas (q.v.).

SD INDEX Veda-Vyasa

mentions Tchandalas [Chandala] I 313n
Vishnu as, in dvapara age II 146n, 483


TG Veddhas (Sing.). The name of a wild race of men living in the forests of Ceylon. They are very difficult to find.

SD INDEX Veddhas of Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

culture cannot raise II 421n
mixed Lemuro-Atlantean stock II 195-6n
Sinhalese regard, as animals II 286-7
weapons of, Paleolithic II 723


SD INDEX Vedhas. See also Asuras, Sons of Brahma, Suras

agnishvattas II 78-9
eldest, refused to create I 88
Sanandana & other II 78, 173, 176n


FY Vedic, pertaining to the Vedas.

SD INDEX Vedic

calendar, Krittika & II 551
deities I 71n, 90, 112; II 268-9n
hymns (Panchadasa), magic of II 579
influence on Babylon I xxxi; II 130
Narada a, rishi II 47
sage, Kasyapa II 132
treatment of women I 382
Venus a, sage II 30


SD INDEX Vega (expedition) fossils on northern islands II 773 &n


SD INDEX Vega, Garcilaso de la

----- Comentarios Reales . . . de los Incas
on enormous human bones II 337-8
q on cyclopean works II 345


SD INDEX Vegetable (Kingdom). See also Plants, Vegetation

appeared before first race II 290n
astral, & third & fourth rounds II 730
bisexuality of II 133
early minerals &, luminous II 312
energy centers for each, species II 732
evolution of, in Mukhya Creation I 454
evolves thru man I 159
fruits & grains brought to man II 373
human monad passed thru II 185-7, 254, 260
individualization in I 178-9
lower principles of animals & I 267
lunar gods pass thru I 174
man storehouse of seeds for II 289-90
many in, reproduce by budding II 166
monad & I 174, 176, 246, 619; II 42, 180, 185, 635
phase of foetus (Haeckel) II 685n
Schibb (Shibboleth) symbol of II 575
second side of triangle II 575
size of, & giants II 276
third round, astral prototypes II 186-7
Thomson on earliest of II 154
300 million years before man II 68n, 149, 290n


SD INDEX Vegetarians, Atlantes were, (Herodotus) II 761


SD INDEX Vegetation. See also Plants, Vegetable

all, endowed w life (Wilson) I 454
belong to this (fourth) round II 712
born fr bosom of stone II 594
changes w each root-race II 697
consciousness of I 277n
creatures born fr II 183
ethereal before primordial II 713n
has consciousness I 277n
man &, before animals II 112n
nervous ether in I 537
physicalized in Secondary II 713n
300 million years before man II 290n, 308n, 712


WGa Vehicle, a carriage. That through which anything expresses itself. Thus the body is the vehicle of the soul. Same as Vahan.


TG Vehicle of Life (Mystic). The "Septenary" Man among the Pythagoreans, "number seven" among the profane. The former "explained it by saying, that the human body consisted of four principal elements (principles), and that the soul is triple (the higher triad)". (See Isis Unveiled, Vol. II., p. 418, New York, 1877.) It has been often remarked that in the earlier works of the Theosophists no septenary division of man was mentioned. The above quotation is sufficient warrant that, although with every caution, the subject was more than once approached, and is not a new-fangled theory or invention.


SD INDEX Veil of Isis. See Schiller, J. C. F.


TG Vendidad (Pahlavi). The first book (Nosk) in the collection of Zend fragments usually known as the Zend-Avesta. The Vendidad is a corruption of the compound-word "Vidaevo-datem", meaning "the anti-demoniac law", and is full of teachings how to avoid sin and defilement by purification, moral and physical -- each of which teachings is based on Occult laws. It is a pre-eminently occult treatise, full of symbolism and often of meaning quite the reverse of that which is expressed in its dead-letter text. The Vendidad, as claimed by tradition, is the only one of the twenty-one Nosks (works) that has escaped the auto-da-fe at the hands of the drunken Iskander the Rumi, he whom posterity calls Alexander the Great -- though the epithet is justifiable only when applied to the brutality, vices and cruelty of this conqueror. It is through the vandalism of this Greek that literature and knowledge have lost much priceless lore in the Nosks burnt by him. Even the Vendidad has reached us in only a fragmentary state. The first chapters are very mystical, and therefore called "mythical" in the renderings of European Orientalists. The two "creators" of "spirit-matter" or the world of differentiation -- Ahura-Mazda and Angra-Mainyu (Ahriman) -- are introduced in them, and also Yima (the first man, or mankind personified). The work is divided into Fargards or chapters, and a portion of these is devoted to the formation of our globe, or terrestrial evolution. (See Zend-Avesta.)

WGa Vendidad, one of the Nosks (works) of the Zend, the first of the fragments collected together in that which is known as the Zend-Avesta.

SD INDEX Vendidad. See also Zend Avesta

Fravashi (or Ferouer) II 480
karshvar of Earth II 607
volcanism in Central Asia II 356
Yima & first three races discussed II 609-10

SEE ALSO; PRINCIPLES


SD INDEX Venezuela, Canary Islands, Africa, &, once joined II 791


SD INDEX Venice, Campanile of San Marco at II 85


SD INDEX Venoms, living tissues produce I 262n


SD INDEX Ventricles, third eye & II 297


SD INDEX Ventus (Lat) breath or wind, spiritus &, synonymous I 342


SD INDEX Venus (goddess). See also Lucifer

Aditi identified w II 43, 458
Amphitrite early form of II 578
-Aphrodite, Argha & II 461
-Aphrodite personified sea I 458n
associated w Satan II 31-2n, 45n
-Astarte & Kadeshim II 460
Ashtoreth, Jehovah & II 462
bearded I 72n; II 30n, 135
born fr sea wave II 65
celestial Priapus born of II 458
w cow's horns II 31, 418n
described II 29-33
Durga Kali black side of II 579
Hiram built temple to II 541
Ishtar & II 62
Isis or II 30, 43
Jehovah-Binah or I 392
Kama son of II 176
Lakshmi or I 380n; II 76 &n, 77, 578-9
leader of Danavas II 498
Lucifer-, war w Jupiter I 202
origin of mythology of II 30
passive generative power II 418n, 461
six sacred to, (Pythagorean) II 592
star of the sea I 392
Usanas or, aid Soma in war II 498
Usanas-Sukra is, & Lucifer II 45
Virgin took over, worship I 400-1
wife, mother, sister I 396


SD INDEX Venus (planet)

adept's' knowledge of races on II 699
adopted Earth II 32-3
ansated cross symb of II 30, 31n
called little sun II 24
changes along w Earth II 32
described II 29-33, 707
Earth linked w II 30-1
Friday the day of I 652
hostile to human life II 707
inclination of axis of II 32
in last round I 165
less dense than Earth I 593
light-bearer to Earth II 33
looking glass sign of II 546
Lucifer or I 202; II 30, 31-2 &n, 45n, 501, 512, 540
Mars, Mercury &, lower triad II 462
men of, more gross I 602
Mercury more occult than II 28
Moon, water & II 77
Morning Star II 540
no satellites I 155n, 165; II 32
one w Mercury & Sun II 542
Orai genius of I 577; II 538n
parent moon of, dissolved I 155-6n
planetary chain I 164
Principalities gods of I 435
rulers, regents of I 435, 575
Semele presides betw Mars & I 400
sign of, explained I 5; II 29-30
Sophia, Holy Ghost & II 512, 540
superior globes of, invisible I 153
third race under II 24, 29


SD INDEX Venus (third world of Syrians), Principalities rule over I 435


SD INDEX Venus-Lucifer. See also Lucifer, Lucifer-Venus, Morning Star, Venus

descends to pit II 785-6
Moon more influential than I 305
sister, alter ego of Earth I 305


SD INDEX Verbum (Lat) II 542. See also Logos, Word

Avalokitesvara I 428
Christ, Taurus or I 656
daiviprakriti, mother, daughter I 136
dhyani-chohans form manifest I 278
divine Christos, Logos I 130n
dual aspect of II 515
esoteric meaning of II 25, 237
light, sound, ether & I 431-2
Logos or Word I 93-4, 136, 431, 537
Mercury, Logos, or II 25, 541-2
of Parabrahman I 130n, 136
of St John I 657
St Michael & II 479, 481
St Paul confused w II 481
sound of the I 256, 629
of Thought Divine I 72, 74
various names for I 130n, 137
vehicle of unmanifested Logos I 278
vibrates thru mulaprakriti I 629

SEE ALSO; LOGOS, SPEECH, VACH, VOICE, WORD


SD INDEX Verbum Princeps, head of angels (Catholic) II 237


SXa Verbum sat sapienti I 349 (Lat) "A word to the wise is sufficient."


SD INDEX Vermes (Lat) worms II 656


SD INDEX Vernal Equinox. See Equinox


SD INDEX Versunkene Insel Atlantis, Die. See Unger, F.


SD INDEX Vertebrate(s), Vertebrata. See also Animals

blind, early third race man II 299
first, in Devonian II 254
higher II 684 &n
primitive germ of II 731
rudimentary sex organs in II 118, 184
separated before mammals II 184
sevens among II 595
third eye in lower II 295-6, 299


SD INDEX Vesica Piscis (Lat), in Catholic engraving II 38


SD INDEX Vesta (Lat) Earth goddess

burning fire in temple of I 338n
Horchia title of II 144
Vestal, serpent & II 209


SD INDEX Vestiges of the Spirit History of Man.See Dunlap


TG Vetala (Sk.). An elemental, a spook, which haunts burial grounds and animates corpses.


TG Vetala Siddhi (Sk.). A practice of sorcery; means of obtaining power over the living by black magic, incantations, and ceremonies performed over a dead human body, during which process the corpse is desecrated. (See "Vetala".)


SD INDEX Vi, Vili (Norse; We, Willi in tx) Odin & I 427

SEE ALSO; WE, WILLI


SD INDEX Via Straminis (Lat) [Milky Way], tenth world of Syrians I 435-6


TG Vibhavasu (Sk.). A mystic fire connected with the beginning of pralaya, or the dissolution of the universe.

SD INDEX Vibhavasu (Skt) fire, absorbed by air I 372-3


WG Vibhu, pervading all natural things, omnipresent.


TG Vibhutayah (Sk.). The same as Siddhis or magic powers.

SD INDEX Vibhutayah (Skt) [potencies], manus & rishis, of Vishnu I 8n; II 611n


WGa Vibhuti, great power, might, dominion, supremacy, dignity; superhuman power, consisting of the eight faculties of anima, to become minute; laghima, extreme lightness; prapti, power to attain anything; prakamya, irresistible will; mahima, illimitable bulk; isita, supreme dominion; vasita, subjugation by magic; kamavasayita, power to suppress all desire. Also the name given to the ashes with which Siva besmeared himself.


SD INDEX Vibration(s)

atomic, in nature I 455, 633
awaken corresponding powers I 307
commanding forces by means of I 514n
eternal, of matter I 118n, 507-8n
imponderable substances cause I 587
Keely & I 561, 564
last, of seventh eternity I 62
of light & sound I 554
masters perceive causes of I 514
of molecules I 515
music, color, etc II 628
patterns of, in sand on plate I 112n
power of I 563
in Stanzas I 62-3
table of various I 562


SD INDEX Vibratory Theory

correctness of, for Earth I 514, 524-5
Keely's I 556, 558-9, 564


SD INDEX Vicaire, estimates Sun's heat I 484n


GH Vichitravirya The younger son of Santanu (q.v.) and Satyavati who became king of the Kurus when his elder brother Chitrangada (an arrogant and proud man) was killed as a young man in a battle with a Gandharva of the same name. Vichitravirya married Ambika and Ambalika, the two daughters of the king of Kasi but died childless. (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. iii)


SD INDEX Vicinus, M. See Ficino, M.


SD INDEX Vidadhafshu Keshvar (Pers) II 759


MO Vidar [[Norse]] (vee-dahr) A son of Odin, successor of Balder


WGa Vidarsana, the attaining, by reflection, of wisdom that transcends the normal wisdom of the race.


SD INDEX Vidblainn (Norse) globe F, Earth chain II 100


MO Vidofner [[Norse]] (veed-awv-ner) [wide opener] Cock in the crown of the Tree of Life


TG Vidya (Sk.). Knowledge, Occult Science.

KT Vidya (Sans.) Knowledge, or rather "Wisdom Knowledge."

FY Vidya, secret knowledge.

WG Vidya, knowledge, learning science.

OG Vidya -- (Sanskrit) The word (derived from the same verbal root vid from which comes the noun Veda) for "knowledge," "philosophy," "science." This is a term very generally used in theosophical philosophy, having in a general way the three meanings just stated. It is frequently compounded with other words, such as: atma-vidya -- "knowledge of atman" or the essential Self; Brahma-vidya -- "knowledge of Brahman," knowledge of the universe, a term virtually equivalent to theosophy; or, again, guhya-vidya -- signifying the "secret knowledge" or the esoteric wisdom. Using the word in a collective but nevertheless specific sense, vidya is a general term for occult science.

SKo Vidya, Atma-Vidya Vidya is knowledge or science; derived from the verb-root vid -- to know. Atma-Vidya is Self-Knowledge or the science of the Atman or Divine Being within every man. It is verily Universal Wisdom.

IN Vidya (Skt) "Wisdom, knowledge,'' esoteric science.

SP Vidya -- knowledge.

SD INDEX Vidya(s) (Skt) knowledge

atma- I 199
budh & I xviii
esoteric, & Kabbala I 241
four of seven in Puranas I 168-9
right- & left-hand paths of I 192n
sacred science & II 439


TG Vidya-dhara (Sk.). And Vidya-dhari, male and female deities. Lit., "possessors of knowledge". They are also called Nabhas-chara, "moving in the air", flying, and Priyam-vada, "sweet-spoken". They are the Sylphs of the Rosicrucians; interior deities inhabiting the astral sphere between the earth and ether; believed in popular folk-lore to be beneficent, but in reality they are cunning and mischievous, and intelligent Elementals, or "Powers of the air". They are represented in the East, and in the West, as having intercourse with men ("intermarrying", as it is called in Rosicrucian parlance; see Count de Gabalis). In India they are also called Kama-rupins, as they take shapes at will. It is among these creatures that the "spirit-wives" and "spirit-husbands" of certain modern spiritualistic mediums and hysteriacs are recruited. These boast with pride of having such pernicious connextions (e.g., the American "Lily"; the spirit-wife of a well-known head of a now scattered community of Spiritualists, of a great poet and well-known writer), and call them angel-guides, maintaining that they are the spirits of famous disembodied mortals. These "spirit-husbands" and "wives" have not originated with the modern Spiritists and Spiritualists, but have been known in the East for thousands of years, in the Occult philosophy, under the names above given, and among the profane as -- Pishachas.

SD INDEX Vidyadharas (Skt) lower pitris

exoterically demigods, siddhas I 539n
seven classes of pitris I 539n
sound, ladder of life & I 539


SD INDEX Vie de Notre-Seigneur. See Sepp, J. N.


SD INDEX View of the Levant. See Perry, E.


WG Vignana, act of perceiving; worldly knowledge of any kind.


SD INDEX Vignanamaya Kosa. See Vijnanamaya Kosa


SD INDEX Vigrid [Vigridr] (Norse) Battle of Flames & I 202


MO Vigridsslatten [[Norse]] (vee-grids-slett-en) [viga consecrate + slatt plain] The battlefield of life


TG Vihara (Sk.). Any place inhabited by Buddhist priests or ascetics; a Buddhist temple, generally a rock-temple or cave. A monastery, or a nunnery also. One finds in these days Viharas built in the enclosures of monasteries and academies for Buddhist training in towns and cities; but in days of yore they were to be met with only in unfrequented wild jungles, on mountain tops, and the most deserted places.

WG Vihara, a Buddhist or Jaina temple or convent.

SKf Vihara A Buddhist temple, generally a rock-temple or cave; derived from the verb-root hri -- to take, and vi -- apart; hence 'that which is removed' from the busy marts of men.

SD INDEX Vihara(s) (Skt)

Buddhist caves, grottos II 338
Miaotse grottos turned into II 339


TG Viharaswamin (Sk.). The superior (whether male or female) of a monastery or convent, Vihara. Also called Karmadana, as every teacher or guru, having authority, takes upon himself the responsibility of certain actions, good or bad, committed by his pupils or the flock entrusted to him.


FY Vija, the primitive germ which expands into the universe.

SEE ALSO; BIJA


SD INDEX Vijnana (Skt), higher mind I 157


FY Vijnana-maya-kosha, the sheath of knowledge; the fourth sheath of the divine monad; the fifth principle in man (Vedanta).

SD INDEX Vijnanamaya Kosa (Skt)

higher mind I 157-8
jiva &, water, blood I 570n

SEE ALSO; PANCHA KOSA


TG Vijnanam (Sk.). The Vedantic name for the principle which dwells in the Vijnanamaya Kosha (the sheath of intellect) and corresponds to the facilities of the Higher Manas.


WG Vikalpa, distinction; duality; doubt.


GH Vikama One of the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, following the lead of his elder brother, Duryodhana. (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 3)


WG Vikara, (also Vikriti), change, alteration; in Sankhya philosophy, a production, or that which is evolved from a previous pra-kriti or producer.

SD INDEX Vikara(s) (Skt) [deviation, perturbation], buddhi destroys egotism & its I xix


TG Vikarttana (Sk.). Lit., "shorn of his rays"; a name of the Sun, and the type of the initiated neophyte. (See Secret Doctrine, I., p. 322, n.)

SD INDEX Vikartana (Skt) Sun, Surya

Rahu & initiation of II 381
Visvakarman crucifies I 322n


WG Vikshepa, casting asunder; refuting in argument.


WGa Vikshepa-sakti, centrifugal force or power.


MO Vile [[Norse]] (vee-leh) [will] Cosmic prototype of Lodur


SD INDEX Vili. See Vi


SD INDEX Villalpand, Jean-B., Temple de Jerusalem, zodiac & twelve sons of Jacob I 649


SD INDEX Villars, Abbe Nicolas de Montfaucon de, Le Comte de Gabalis, on sylphs, salamanders I 606


SD INDEX Villiers, on venoms, alkaloids I 262n


SD INDEX Vimana(s) (Skt) air vehicles II 427, 428


SD INDEX Vimana-Vidya (Skt) [aeronautics], Aryans learned, fr Atlanteans II 426


TG Vimoksha (Sk.). The same as Nirvana.


TG Vina (Sk.). A kind of large guitar used in India and Tibet, whose invention is attributed variously to Siva, Narada, and others.

VS chant of Vina (I 26) [[p. 10]] Vina is an Indian stringed instrument like a lute.

WG Vina, the Indian lute, a seven-stringed instrument of the guitar kind, said to have been invented by Narada.

SKv Vina The Indian lute (derivation unknown).


SD INDEX Vina-svata, on origin of Jews I 313n


TG Vinata (Sk.). A daughter of Daksha and wife of Kashyapa (one of the "seven orators" of the world). She brought forth the egg from which Garuda the seer was born.

SD INDEX Vinata (Skt) daughter of Daksha

Garuda born fr egg of I 366
wife of Kasyapa I 366


SD INDEX Vinaya (Skt) [decency, modesty], Devaki, mother of, & affection II 528


SXa Vinculum substantiale I 631 (Lat) "Substantial bond."


SD INDEX Vine

I am the true, (John 15:1) I 195n
Isis & Osiris taught use of II 366


MO Vingner, Vingthor [[Norse]] [winged Thor] Epithets for Thor


KT Vinnana (Sans.) One of five Skandhas; meaning literally, "mental powers." (See "Skandhas.")


MO Vior [[Norse]] (vee-or) Thor as vital force in beings


WG Viparaiti-gnana, confounding one thing with another, the effect of imperfect and consequently confused knowledge. (viparaiti, turned around, inverted; gnana, knowing.)


SD INDEX Viper, hatched fr egg of incense I 363-4


TG Viprachitti (Sk.). The chief of the Danavas -- the giants that warred with the gods: the Titans of India.


TG Virabhadra (Sk.). A thousand-headed and thousand-armed monster, "born of the breath" of Siva Rudra, a symbol having reference to the "sweat-born", the second race of mankind (Secret Doctrine, II., p. 182).

SD INDEX Virabhadra (Skt)

destroys Daksha's sacrifice II 182-3
Raumyas born fr pores of II 68, 183
thousand-headed monster II 182


VS Viraga (III 13) [[p. 53]] Viraga is that feeling of absolute indifference to the objective universe, to pleasure and to pain. "Disgust" does not express its meaning, yet it is akin to it.

VS Viraga [[p. 53]] Ibid. [Vide supra the enumeration of the golden keys - Paramitas.]

WG Viraga. (See Vairagya.)

SEE ALSO; PARAMITA


FY Viraj, the material universe.

TG Viraj (Sk.). The Hindu Logos in the Puranas; the male Manu, created in the female portion of Brahma's body (Vach) by that god. Says Manu: "Having divided his body into two parts, the lord (Brahma) became with the one half a male and with the other half a female; and in her he created Viraj". The Rig-Veda makes Viraj spring from Purusha, and Purusha spring from Viraj. The latter is the type of all male beings, and Vach, Sata-rupa (she of the hundred forms), the type of all female forms.

WGa Viraj, the Logos; the male half of Vach.

SD INDEX Viraj, Viraja (Skt) universal sovereignty

born fr Heavenly Man II 606
Brahma & I 9n, 59, 81
Brahma creates, spiritually II 44
Brahma separates into Vach & I 89, 137
created Manu II 308n, 311
is Brahma II 90
male symbol fr Brahma-Vach II 472
Manu & I 449
mortal man born fr II 606
sons of, are all manasa II 89
Vach as female II 143, 472
Vach becomes, to punish gandharvas II 143
Vaisvanara or II 311

SEE ALSO; BRAHMA, VACH


SD INDEX Viraja [Vairaja]-Loka (Skt) II 89 &n


SD INDEX Virasvamin (Skt), father of Medhatithi I 333


GH Virata The raja of Virata (a country in the midland or northwest districts of India -- in about the position of the modern province of Berar). It was at the court of this king that the Pandavas spent the last year of their exile in disguise -- as imposed upon them by Duryodhana. Because of the many services rendered to him by the Pandavas, Virata lent his aid to the sons of Pandu. (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 2)


SD INDEX Virchow, Prof Rudolph

dolmens not built by giants II 753
on flints II 752n
links Basques w Guanches II 740, 792
on spontaneous generation II 719
takes Haeckel to task II 650, 651
witnessed Trojan discoveries II 440


SD INDEX Virey, J. J., re today's lower races of men II 725


SD INDEX Virgil [Vergil]

Sibylline books inspiration of I 658
----- [Aeneid]
Eternal Mind diffused thru all II 594 &n
Mercury evoking souls II 28
mind agitating matter I 451n
----- [Eclogues]
Moon Virgin Queen of Heaven I 401
unequal numbers please gods II 602
----- [Georgics]
confused Nile w Indus II 417
Pater omnipotens Aether I 331


SD INDEX Virgin(s). See also Immaculate Conception, Virgo

Abel, blood & II 388
admitted to be the Moon I 401
-angels or divine rebels II 246
birth discussed I 399-400
celestial I 60, 215, 458n; II 208, 486, 512, 572
celestial, & mother or akasa I 332
Ceres-Venus worship I 400-1
Chinese had their celestial II 486
cold, or hyle I 82
dawn, morning star or II 527-8
divine, -mother or arka II 463n
egg I 64-5
Eve, Mary or I 91, 384, 392, 399, 458n; II 463
fifty, of Prometheus II 418
immaculate I 60-1
Kanya the I 92
kumaras II 249, 281-2
of Light or Uma-Kanya I 91-2
Lion &, (Virgo) II 431, 432-3
marriage of Heavenly Man w II 231
Mother I 65, 88, 400, 403, 460; II 43, 463n
Mout, mother or II 464
Narada & II 140n
rosary of the blessed II 38
shown w child (Dendera) II 433
sidereal, or astral light II 511
son of celestial I 60
sons of god born of I 61
universe mind-born son of I 399
Zeus the beautiful I 72n


SD INDEX Virginal Reproduction, hermaphrodite or II 659


SD INDEX Virgin Ascetic(s)

kumaras I 459
Narada as II 140n


WW Virgin Birth We know (as indeed every educated man knows today) that other dogmas of Christian theology, such as the Virgin Birth, are as old as the former are. The Mother of the Savior, or of the founder or first propagator of a religion or of a political society or of an ethical sodality in ancient times, was not infrequently a virgin. Sometimes it was an immaculate mother, not a virgin, in the sense that the maiden or the woman had indeed a husband, but she was supposed to have brought forth by contact, by impregnation, of a Deity. So the early Christians tried to explain how the Logos incarnated in Mary, the Jewish maiden, by saying that her body was pervious to the divine influence as glass is pervious to light. The idea, at least, if not the simile, is an ancient one. Some of the developments concerning the virgin birth of Jesus and the virginity of his mother are rather extraordinary. There is an Irish tale of how the Virgin brought forth her son Jesus through the crown of her head: "Ri-ro-gena-ir, ni bine, do mulluchnah-inginc -- a king was born, without sin, from the crown of the head of the virgin -- Saltair na Rann, lines 7529-7530. In the Anglo-Saxon Adrian and Rithens, Jesus was born "purh paet swidre breast," or, through her right breast. It seemed to the Christians that if the divine child were born in the ordinary way, it must de facto destroy the virginity of the mother. Some early Christian writers go to great pains to show that the known processes of birth are quite inconsistent with the reverence in which the Virgin Mother of the Christian Savior should be held.

This Virgin Birth, so far as the Christian system is concerned, seems to have had its prototype in the worship of Isis and the child Horus, which during two or three hundred years preceding the accepted beginning of the Christian era had spread very largely all over the ancient world, and later throughout the dominion, which of course, at the time of the Christian era, included almost all of the civilized western world except Parthia and a few outlying countries. In almost every town of importance at the beginning of the Christian era, was a temple of Isis, and she was represented suckling the divine child Horus. Her figure is one of the commonest things to be found in ancient iconography, that is, pictorial representation (from a Greek word eikon ([[greek char]]) meaning a figure or a portrait.) Now Isis was indeed the wife, to use the words according to the popular Egyptian myth, of the god Osiris, but she was also called the Virgin Mother, as later Mary the Christian virgin was called, and is so called today. She was called the Queen of Heaven, which is also a title in the Roman Catholic Church for Mary the Virgin; she was also Queen or Lady of the Sea, which is also a title of Mary, the Christian Virgin. In the little town of La Jolla not far from us there is a church called Our Lady by the Sea.

There is something about this divine femininity (or rather the ascription of femininity to God) which is very attractive to the religious heart; perhaps not to the philosophical mind, but to the religious heart. Theodore Parker, the Christian theologian and rationalist, was right when he spoke of "God the Mother"; it appeals particularly to the feminine element, or rather the unthinking feminine element of humanity. The mother, the child, the tenderness, the sacredness of motherhood, the wonderful mystery of birth -- all these things are involved; and wise were the ancients, and clever indeed the Christians, to have adopted that theory of facts in their faiths.

The Protestants are undoubtedly more accurate and more correct philosophically in their abstracted Deity who stands apart, where the Jewish thinkers put their Jewish Lord, in silent majesty; but the human heart, the religious heart, as the word is popularly used, craves something more tangible, something tenderer, gentler, sweeter. This craving is not altogether a noble one. It is an aspect of that stage of evolution where mankind now stands. Man sees the world through his own mind, and the civilizations of today are the offspring of his mind. The mind of mankind in the past had different civilizations, and the mind of mankind in the future will bring forth still other types of civilization. Indeed sex itself is but a transitory phase of human development, using the word transitory to include vast epochs of time. And it is rather unfortunate that the archaic knowledge is not more generally known today among men because then the sex crazes which afflict mankind, particularly at certain epochs, and of which we seem today to be undergoing the scourge, would have less force, less grip on our hearts and on our ideas.

SEE ALSO; CHRISTIANITY


SD INDEX Virgin Egg, micro-symbol of Virgin Mother I 64-5


SD INDEX Virgin Mary. See also Madonna, Mary

Anna mother of I 91
Church disfigured II 38, 463
discussed I 400-3
Gabriel comes w lilies to I 379n
Magna Mater & I 392-3, 400
Mary or Mare, sea, water I 458n
pagan origin of II 463
seven children of II 527
various terms for II 527-8
water lily & I 384


SD INDEX Virgin Mother

chaos or I 65, 460
gods born fr II 463n, 527
immaculate I 88, 399
keynote to I 91; II 43
overshadowed by universal mystery I 88
prayers to, stay the waves I 468
Thoth-Hermes & I 403


SD INDEX Virgin of The World. See Kingsford, A.


SD INDEX Virgo(s).

Astraea is II 785
descent of, to pit II 785-6
Dinah or I 651
inverted II 785
kali-yuga & position of I 663-5
Kanya, Kanya-Durga & I 92, 292, 657
linked w Leo, Pleiades, Hyades II 785
lion & II 431, 433
-Scorpio androgyne I 413
separated becomes Scorpio II 129, 502n
three, at Dendera II 368, 433, 435-6


SXa Virgo pariet I 399 (Lat) "Virgin brings forth."


SD INDEX Viribus Membrorum, De. See Paracelsus


SD INDEX Virtue(s)

Confucianists love I 440
of God I 437-8
hidden, of stones II 426
Jesuitical use of deceit as I 423
personified attributes of God II 237
seven, of Christians I 310-11; II 641
seven, of Nazarenes I 196

SEE ALSO; ETHICS, MORALS


SD INDEX Virtues (angelic order)

angelic, & four Maharajas I 123
angelic, & teraphim I 394
copy of ancient prototype I 92
rule over fifth world of Syrians I 435

SEE ALSO; SERAPHIM, CHERUBIM, THRONES, DOMINATIONS, POWERS, PRINCIPALITIES, ARCHANGELS, ANGELS, HIERARCHIES


SD INDEX Vis (Skt) [to pervade], Vishnu derived fr I 8n, 112


WG Viseshas, species; the distinctions existent between objects.


SD INDEX Visha (Skt) [poison, evil], latent in chaos I 348


WG Vishada, despondency, distress of mind, despair; stupefaction.


WG Vishaya, an object sense. Five vishayas are enumerated, one for each indriya, or organ of sense, and each corresponds with one of the five elements.


TG Vishnu (Sk.). The second person of the Hindu Trimurti (trinity), composed of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. From the root vish, "to pervade". In the Rig-Veda, Vishnu is no high god, but simply a manifestation of the solar energy, described as "striding through the seven regions of the Universe in three steps and enveloping all things with the dust (of his beams".) Whatever may be the six other occult significances of the statement, this is related to the same class of types as the seven and ten Sephiroth, as the seven and three orifices of the perfect Adam Kadmon, as the seven "principles" and the higher triad in man, etc., etc. Later on this mystic type becomes a great god, the preserver and the renovator, he "of a thousand names -- Sahasranama".

GH Vishnu The second aspect of the Hindu Trimurti (Brahma being the first and Siva the third): the most prominent of deities, especially in his character of Sustainer and Preserver of all manifestation -- equivalent to the Logos. In the Vedas, however, the conception of the Trimurti is not present: Vishnu is mentioned with the other gods as the personification of the sun and light, he is described as striding across the heavens in three paces, explained as the three manifestations of light -- fire, lightning, and the sun. It is in the epic poems and Puranas that Vishnu becomes the most worshiped deity, riding on Garuda (q.v.), or again resting on Ananta (q.v.). Brahma ('the creator') is represented as springing from a lotus arising from Vishnu's navel, while the latter slept on the waters of space; while Siva ('the destroyer') sprang from his forehead. In his character of the preserver, Vishnu manifests in the world in the form of Avataras, ten principal ones being enumerated, the seventh and eighth being Rama and Krishna. (See Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, pp. 30-31) "Vishnu is, as well as Adam Kadmon, the expression of the universe itself; and . . . his incarnations are but concrete and various embodiments of the manifestations of this 'Stupendous Whole."' (Isis Unveiled, II, p. 277) (The following word is derived from the verbal root:) vis, to enter, to pervade. Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 73)

FY Vishnu, the second member of the Hindu trinity; the principle of preservation.

WG Vishnu, the second member of the Hindu trinity. (Literally, "all-pervading.")

SD INDEX Vishnu (Skt). See also Logos, Narayana, Trimurti

abstract divine principle II 313
Achyuta ("not-fallen") avatara I 19
avatara of I 18, 87, 263-4, 369, 394, 653; II 139, 307, 408n, 483, 549
birth of, (universe) I 333-5
both Bhutesa & Visvarupa I 452n
breath of, blows at pralaya I 371
calling forth the kosmos I 348
disk or chakra of I 114; II 546
double-sexed, Lakshmi & II 31
double triangle sign of I 118
emerges fr egg w lotus I 366
enters circle of boundless time II 549
Fohat connected w, I 112, 673
Garuda vehicle of I 366
god of moist principle II 591
gods' supplication to I 420-1
of Hindu Trimurti I 8n, 437n, 459; II 115, 144
ideal cause of potencies I 349, 381n
imparts wisdom in krita age II 483
is all that is II 612n
kala (time) or I 427; II 564
as Kapila imparting wisdom II 572
legend of Rahu, Sun, Moon II 381
lotus (Brahma) fr navel of I 379; II 472
Mahat appears first as I 75
manifests the lotus I 381n
many forms of II 146n
Matsya avatara of I 263-4, 394; II 139, 313
mover on waters I 345, 348
names of II 107
Neptune, Idaspati, Narayana or II 765n
not a high god in Rig-Veda I 112
not direct creator of man I 445
orders ark built II 139
Panchasikha visits I 236
pervades manus, rishis II 611n
the preserver I 459n; II 313
races of men & II 32-3
Rajamsi or three strides of II 621-2 &n
regenerates I 459n
rests on golden lotus (padma) II 578
rests on serpent (Sesha) during pralaya I 344, 379, 381; II 98
role of, in four yugas II 483
as Rudra, the destroyer I 370; II 69n
six-pointed star & I 215
as the Sun I 290n; II 38
svar-loka abode of II 404
symbolized as serpent II 756
three steps of I 112, 113n, 433n; II 38, 622n
time only a form of II 307n
trickery, deceit of, & Jehovah I 421-2
triple hypostasis of I 18, 286-7
two aspects of I 421, 545
Vaikuntha-loka heaven of I 522
visited by seven kumaras II 584
waters of space & navel of II 472
White Island, lived on II 584


FY Vishnuite or Vishuvite, a worshipper of Vishnu, the name of a sect among the Hindus.

SEE ALSO; TRIMURTI


SD INDEX Vishnu Purana

referred to:
events purposely blended in II 310
heliocentrism in II 155
kumaras hardly hinted at in II 577
misunderstood II 320-1
oldest manuscript of II 174n
oldest of Puranas II 58
secret meanings in I 423
tampered w by Brahmans I 423
Wilson & I 255, 257n, 419n, 423n; II 73
quoted:
Adi-bhuta I xix
akasa (ether), sound, color I 205
asexual & other reproduction II 658
asuras fr Brahma's body I 218-19n
beginning of cosmogony I 545
in the beginning there was One I 256
bhutas described II 102n
Brahma as cause of potencies I 55
Brahma creates anew II 58-9
Brahma, three aspects of I 19
Brahma wrathful at Vedhas II 78
Budha born fr Tara & Soma II 45 &n
Chiti (chitti) I 288n
creation of four kinds of beings II 625
Daksha creates progeny II 183, 275n
Daksha reborn every kalpa II 247n
divine dynasties II 369 &n
dvipas listed, expl II 320-3, 404n
Eighth Creation I 448
elements, meaning of I 520-23
elements, properties, creation I 521
eternity, meaning of I 336n
ether material cause of sound I 255
forty-nine fires I 291 &n, 520-1
"fragrance affects the mind" I 451-2n
geography, geodesy, & ethnology II 320-2
gods created & perish I 376
gods' supplication to Vishnu I 419-22
Hari (Vishnu) described I 421
immortality defined I 36n
kali-yuga described I 377-8
kalpas, yugas II 307n
Kandu, Pramlocha (sweat-born) II 171n, 174-5
Kapila's Eye destroys 60,000 I 563
karma of created beings I 456n
kumaras II 173
legend of Pururavas I 523
Mahadeva springs fr Brahma II 548
mahapralaya I 371
Mahat & matter are boundaries I 257
manasa, rajasas II 89
manus, manvantaras, rishis II 614-15n
man was Seventh Creation I 376
many forms of Vishnu & Brahma II 146n
mind-born sons II 625 &n
Mt Meru described II 403-4
mundane egg I 65-6, 360
Narada son of Kasyapa II 47-8
nine creations in I 450-7
nine planets mentioned in II 488-9n
Parasara II 232, 326
potency of every cause I 450
prabhavapyaya defined I 46
pradhana, prakriti I 50, 545
pralaya & prakritis I 257
pralayas (various) I 370-1; II 309-10n
primeval creatures II 162-3
primordial substance, all comes fr I 284-5
Priyavrata & seven dvipas II 319-22, 326
Pushkara II 403-4
rakshasas II 165n
rishis destroy trees (sorcerers) II 495
rotation of Earth II 155
Sagara I 563; II 572
sandhya, sandhyamsa in II 308n
sarpa, Ahi fr Brahma's hair II 181-2n
seven creations I 445-6 &n
seven rishis, fourteen manus II 624
sevens in I 348
Seventh Creation (man) I 445
size of Earth II 616-17n
Sri, various names of II 76n
Sun neither rises nor sets I 290n; II 155
Sun reflection of Vishnu I 290n
Surasa mother of dragons II 381
undying race in II 275 &n
universe one w divine knowledge I 421n
Vishnu creates at play II 126
Vishnu pervades all II 611-12 &nn
Vishnu, triple hypostasis of I 286-7


TG Vishwakarman (Sk.). The "Omnificent". A Vedic god, a personification of the creative Force, described as the One "all-seeing god, . . . . the generator, disposer, who . . . is beyond the comprehension of (uninitiated) mortals". In the two hymns of the Rig-Veda specially devoted to him, he is said "to sacrifice himself to himself". The names of his mother, "the lovely and virtuous Yoga-Siddha" (Puranas), and of his daughter Sanjna (spiritual consciousness), show his mystic character. (See Secret Doctrine, sub voc.) As the artificer of the gods and maker of their weapons, he is called Karu, "workman", Takshaka "carpenter", or "wood-cutter", etc., etc.

WGa Vishwakarman, the artificer and carpenter of the Gods in the Vedas. From this has sprung the idea of Jesus as a carpenter.


TG Vishwatryarchas (Sk.). The fourth solar (mystic) ray of the seven. (See Secret Doctrine, I., p. 515, n.)


VS boundless Vision (II 30) [[p. 39]] Boundless Vision or psychic, superhuman sight. An Arhan is credited with "seeing" and knowing all at a distance as well as on the spot.

SD INDEX Vision(s)

adepts', confirmed by others I 273
Enoch's II 229, 482-3, 533-5
exuberance of nervous fluid II 370 &n
Ezekiel's I 126-7; II 134n, 552-3
inner, awakened (initiation) II 294 &n
of insane persons I 295; II 370n
panoramic, of the soul I 266
St John's I 72n; II 93n, 497
of seers I 633
symbolic, pillars of Christian theol II 497


WG Visishta, separated, set apart by itself; distinguished.


SD INDEX Visishtadvaita (ins) (Skt) qualified non-dualist (Vedanta school)

describing moksha I 132
logic higher than Christianity I 522
Mahat divine mind in action I 451
on Parabrahman I 59n, 233n, 522
pradhana called illusion in I 62
Vaishnavas & I 55


SD INDEX Visishtadvaita Catechism I 132. SeeCatechism of the Visishtadvaita


WG Visva-Devas, a class of deities particularly worshipped at the sraddhas, or funeral ceremonies.


SD INDEX Visvakarma(n) (Skt). See also Logos, Purusha, Tvashtri

architect of world II 269n, 559
carpenter, builder II 101n, 345n, 542-3
crucifies Sun-initiate I 322n; II 543
highest, oldest of gods II 101n
Kronos &, (Breal) II 269n
Logos I 470
made "fiery weapon" II 559
one of mystic rays I 515n
patron of initiates II 615
potencies of space I 9-10n
represents mankind II 607
sacrifices himself to himself I 268; II 559, 606
Sanjna daughter of II 174
Tvashtri synonym of II 615
universal sacrifice or sarvamedha of II 605
Vulcan, Tubal-Kain or II 384n


SD INDEX Visvamitra (Skt) Egypt settled in days of II 746


SD INDEX Visvanara (Skt)

elements spring fr I 621 &n
son of the Sun II 568n


SD INDEX Visvarupa (Skt), title of Vishnu I 452n


GH Visvas (also Visve-devas) A class of deities: according to the Puranas represented as the sons of Visva (the daughter of Daksha), and named: Vasu, Satya, Kratu, Daksha, Kala, Kama, Dhriti Kuru, Pururavas, Madravas, Rochaka (or Lochana), Dhvani. They are particularly worshiped at Sraddhas -- a ceremony of reverential homage unto deceased relatives performed by the offering of water daily (as recommended by The Laws of Manu (Manava-Dharma-Sastra); and supplicated at Pinda services -- balls of rice and meal offered at regular intervals (see Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 7). (Meaning of the word itself: all-pervading. Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 81)


SD INDEX Visvatryarchas (Skt) one of seven principal solar rays I 515n


SD INDEX Vis Viva (Lat) [living force], Ganot & Huxley on I 669-70

SXa Vis viva I 670 (Lat) "Living force."


SD INDEX Vita Apollonii. See Philostratus


SD INDEX Vital. See also Archaeus, Caloric, Life Principle, Nervous Ether

circulating of, solar fluid I 541
fluid of cat curled up II 552n
Fohat is, fluid, solar energy I 111-12
force in man & nature I 538-9 &n
force, never-dying breath II 589
force no objective reality I 296
forces of globe fr Sun II 29
no, principle (science) I 538, 602; II 720
phenomena septenary II 622-3 &n
principle discussed I 603-4
principle not of our matter II 672
principle of solar system I 591; II 311n
principle, pro & con I 634


SD INDEX Vital Electricity

invisible, all-pervading life I 338 &n
Sun's, feeds entire system I 541, 602


SD INDEX Vital Fire(s) II 109

in all, latent in some II 267


SD INDEX Vita Pythagorae. See Porphyry

SD INDEX Vit. Pythag. See Diogenes Laertius


SD INDEX Vitatha (Skt), Kapila son of II 572


SD INDEX Vithoba (Skt, Wittoba in tx) crucified in space I 321n; II 560-1


SD INDEX Vitruvius Pollio, Marcus

an initiate I 209n
----- [De architectura]
laws of proportion esoteric I 208n


GH Vittesa literally 'Lord of wealth,' the name of Kuvera (or Kubera), the god of wealth. In the Vedas, Kuvera is represented as the chief of the evil beings or spirits of darkness (having the name Vaisravana, i.e., the son of Visravas by Idavida). In later times Kuvera is represented as the lord of riches and wealth, the chief of the Yakshas, and the regent of the northern quarter, thus answering to one of the four great Guardians (Maharajas). In the Ramayana, Kuvera was the possessor of Lanka, but he was expelled therefrom by his half-brother, Ravana; whereupon he performed such austerities that he was granted the regency of the domain of wealth, and named guardian of the northern quarter. He is described as a white man greatly deformed in body, having three legs and only eight teeth. (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 73)


TG Vivaswat (Sk.). The "bright One", the Sun.

WG Vivasvat, the sun; the first manifestation of divine wisdom at the season of creation.

GH Vivasvat literally 'The brilliant one' -- a name of the Sun. In epic poetry (and also in the Rig-Veda) regarded as the father of Vaivasvata-Manu (q.v.), the seventh or present Manu. (The following word is derived from the verbal root:) vi-vas, to shine forth. Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 30)

SD INDEX Vivasvat (Skt)

the Sun or Surya II 211
Vaivasvata Manu son of II 211, 253

SEE ALSO; VAIVASVAT(A) and vice versa


WG Viveka, discrimination, good judgment; in Vedanta philosophy, the power of separating the invisible spirit from the visible world, spirit from matter, truth from untruth, reality from illusion. (Literally, "a separating apart.")


SD INDEX Viveka-Chudamani [Crest-Jewel of Wisdom]

on Isvara, atma I 573-4
soul, spirit in I 569-70


SD INDEX Vivien, tempting Merlin, parallel story of II 175n


TG Viwan (Sk.). Some kind "of air-vehicle", like a balloon, mentioned but not described in the old Sanskrit works, which the Atlanteans and the ancient Aryas seem to have known and used.

SD INDEX Viwan. See Vimana


SD INDEX Viwan Vidya. See Vimana-Vidya


SD INDEX Vixanghat [Vivanghat or Vivahant] (Pers) Yima son of II 609


SD INDEX Vodhu (Skt), a kumara II 319


SD INDEX Vogt, Karl C. II 646, 652

ape theory of II 665, 679
brain of apes & aborigines II 193n, 661, 682n
derides vitalist "fallacy" I 540
man fr New World apes II 171
man orig in Asia & America II 679
missing link betw reptile & bird II 183
a molecularist I 637n
opinions not respected by theos II 651
Paleolithic & Neolithic man II 716n
places man among primates II 667
thought is molecular motion I 134n


SD INDEX Vohu-Mano (Pers), good thoughts II 517


SD INDEX Voice. See also Bath-Kol, Logos, Vach, Verbum, Word

Bath-kol & Hebrew divine I 431n; II 107
calls universe out of chaos I 137
described I 94-6
divine, as Kwan-yin I 72, 136, 137, 431n
gandharvas the, of nature I 523n
inner, in man or chit I 288n
of Self within Self II 640
spirit & word, kabbalistic trinity I 337, 447
still small, of consciousness I 280
that speaks to initiate I 431n
Vach, Satarupa or I 94
of the Will (Zohar) I 346
Word or Logos I 99 &n

SEE ALSO; SPEECH


SD INDEX Void, Voidness. See also Abyss

Alaya & I 48
chaos, space, Ain-soph or I 109
container & body of universe I 342-3
darkness & non-ego I 42
full of bodies (Hermes) I 671
Ginnungagap or I 367
no, space in universe I 289
space is a, to science I 587 &n


SD INDEX Volcanic

action destroyed Lemuria II 141n
conflagration & fifth race II 307n
energies & Titan-Kabiri II 363
eruptions in Central Asia II 356


SD INDEX Volcanoes (ism)

destroyed Easter Island II 326
destroy evidence of past II 311
earthquakes, & continents II 776n
fifth continent & II 445-6
Metcalfe's solar caloric & I 524
Moon, planets cause II 699
Plato's Atlantis & II 408
submarine, or ecpyrosis II 784
twice destroyed races II 725-6


SD INDEX Volcanoes of Greece, The. See Pegues, Abbe


SD INDEX Volcker, K. H. W., Mythische Geographie . . ., Hyperborean continent II 7


SD INDEX Volga River, Io crosses, in wanderings II 416


SD INDEX Volger, on age of strata II 154


SD INDEX Volney, Constantin Franccois Chasseboeuf, Comte de, The Ruins . . . of Empires, age of Greek zodiac I 658; II 436n


MO Volsungar [[Norse]] (veul-s-ungar) [volsi phallus + ungr children] Early bisexual humanity


SD INDEX Voltaire [Franccois-Marie Arouet] II 702

attracted to Indian Brahmans II 742
believed Hesiod factual II 777
did not know Secret Doctrine II 742n
"Ezour Veda" a precious gift II 442
what produces our thoughts II 88-9


MO Volund [[Norse]] (veu-lund) Name of a mythic smith and skillful artisan. The soul of the fourth humanity


TG Voluspa (Scand.). A poem called "The Song of the Prophetess", or "Song of Wala".

MO Voluspa [[Norse]] (veu-luss-paw) [vala sibyl + spa to prophesy] Principal lay of the elder Edda

IN Voluspa "The Sibyl's Prophecy," mystic poem opening the Elder Edda, the Norse theosophy.

SD INDEX Voluspa (poem in Elder Edda) on mundane egg I 367


SD INDEX Von Buch, Leopold. See Buch, L. von


SD INDEX Von Hartmann. See Hartmann


SD INDEX Von Schelling. See Schelling


TG Voodooism, or Voodoos. A system of African sorcery; a sect of black magicians, to which the New Orleans negroes are much addicted. It flourishes likewise in Cuba and South America.

SD INDEX Voodoo(s), revered serpent II 209


TG Voordalak (Slav.). A vampire; a corpse informed by its lower principles, and maintaining a kind of semi-life in itself by raising itself during the night from the grave, fascinating its living victims and sucking out their blood. Roumanians, Moldavians, Servians, and all the Slavonian tribes dwelling in the Balkans, and also the Tchechs (Bohemians), Moravians, and others, firmly believe in the existence of such ghosts and dread them accordingly.


SD INDEX Vormius [Wormius] & Olaus Magnus, oracle rocks elected kings II 346


SD INDEX Vortex-Atoms

Stallo on theory of I 488-9
Thomson on I 117, 492
Thomson's, & early atomists I 488, 579


SD INDEX Vortical Movement, Vortical Theory

aether & I 487
Greek concepts of, traced I 117
in primordial matter I 117-18
Stallo on I 488-9
Swedenborg on I 118n


SD INDEX Vortices

of Descartes, & stars I 206n, 492
elemental, & Universal Mind I 623
initiates taught of atomic I 569
systemic, of Kepler I 623


SD INDEX Voru Barshti (Pers) globe G, Earth chain or II 759

SD INDEX Voru-Zarshti (Pers). See also Earth Chain

globe A, Earth chain or II 759


SD INDEX Vossius [Gerrit Jansz Vos]

----- Theologia Gentili . . . Idolatriae
Angelic Virtues oversee I 123n
Aristotle's view of planets I 493
Mercury, Sun are one II 28
Michael is Mercury II 480-1


TG Votan (Mex.). The deified hero of the Mexicans, and probably the same as Quetzal-Coatl; a "son of the snakes", one admitted "to the snake's hole", which means an Adept admitted to the Initiation in the secret chamber of the Temple. The missionary Brasseur de Bourbourg, seeks to prove him a descendant of Ham, the accursed son of Noah. (See Isis Unveiled, I., pp. 545 et seq.)

SD INDEX Votan (Mexican demigod)

Quetzalcoatl, Ham, Canaan II 380
seven families & II 35
son of the snakes II 379


SD INDEX Vowel(s)

"All-in-all" & ONE ALL I 20
five, AEIOV, & root-races II 458
five mystic, & creation II 579
-parent of monosyllabic languages II 199
potency of I 94
seven, & forty nine powers I 410-11; II 564
seven, heavens, logoi II 563


SXa Vox populi Vox Dei II 298 (Lat) "The voice of the people is the voice of God."


SD INDEX Voyage dans le Comte de Cornouailles . . .See Halliwell, J. O.


SD INDEX Voyage de Laponie. See Regnard, J.-F.


SD INDEX Voyages dans la basse. See Denon, D. V.


SD INDEX Voyage to Siberia. See Chappe d'Autroche


SD INDEX Voyageurs anciens et modernes. See Charton


TG Vrata (Sk.). Law, or power of the gods.

SD INDEX Vrata (Skt) [law or power] Indra's, most powerful II 606


TG Vratani (Sk.). Varuna's "active laws", courses of natural action. (See Rig-Vedic Hymns, X., 90-1.)

SD INDEX Vratani (Skt) [active laws] Varuna's laws or II 606


TG Vriddha Garga (Sk.). From Vriddha, "old", and Garga, an ancient sage, one of the oldest writers on astronomy.

SD INDEX Vriddha-Garga, on yugas II 624n


TG Vriddha Manava (Sk.) The laws of Manu.


SD INDEX Vril

of Bulwer-Lytton I 563
of Keely kept secret I xxxv, 563


FY Vrishalas, outcasts.


GH Vrishni A descendant of Yadu, the first of the Yadava line, which became extinct with Krishna. Krishna was therefore called Varshneya, 'descendant of Vrishni.' Yadu was also the half-brother of Puru (the ancestor of the Kurus and founder of the Paurava line). (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 27)


TG Vritra (Sk.). The demon of drought in the Vedas, a great foe of Indra, with whom he is constantly at war. The allegory of a cosmic phenomenon.

SD INDEX Vritra (Skt)

cosmic serpent II 378
demon of drought II 385
killed by Indra I 202; II 382, 384


TG Vritra-han (Sk.). An epithet or title of Indra, meaning "the slayer of Vritra".

SD INDEX Vritra-Han (Skt) slayer of Vritra, title of Indra II 382, 384


WG Vritti, event; procedure, action; established rule; occupation, means of subsistence.


SD INDEX Vritri, or Ah-hi [Vritra or Ahi] serpents I 202


PV Vucup Hunahpu [[Quiche]] The god-Seven of Quiche myth, identical with Uuc-cheknal of the Mayas. The Seven Ahpu, produced by the Supreme Pair, Ixpiyacoc and Ixmucane. Hypostases of the Supreme Being (Ixpiyacoc). Their nahual is the old Fire god, oldest in the Maya pantheon, who is the father of the Maize god (Hunahpu). Their celestial ideogram is the constellations Orion and Ursa Major. Identical with Heart of Heaven (Cabahuil) and the Agrarian or Creative deity (Hunrakan). "The Descendant of Seven Generations."


PV Vukup Cakix [[Quiche]] "Seven Macaw," or "Seven Feathers of Fire." A false creator deity of the First Age in the Popol Vuh who, while the world was still enveloped in semi-obscurity, pretended to be the true solar or illuminating deity. After being vanquished by Hunahpu and Ixbalamque, he and his wife Chimalmat and two sons, Zipacna and Caprakan, four giants, were transformed into four cosmic bearers.


SD INDEX Vul (Assyr) atmospheric god, same as Hindu Indra II 386


SD INDEX Vulcan, Vulcain (Lat)

Cain, Saturn, Jehovah & I 578
father of four Kabiri II 106
Kabir, instructor of metal arts II 390
Lemnos sacred to II 3
Mars, Cain, Vul-Cain or II 390n, 392-3n
power over fire I 464
Sepp in error re II 619-20
Visvakarma, Tubal-Kain or II 384n


SD INDEX Vulgate (Latin version of Bible)

Protestant Bible disagrees w I 576
on Reuben I 651


SD INDEX Vulture, Promethean II 413, 422


TG Vyahritis (Slav.). Lit., "fiery", words lit by and born of fire. The three mystical, creative words, said by Manu to have been milked by the Prajapati from the Vedas: bhur, from the Rig- Veda; bhuvah, from the Yajur-Veda: and Swar, from the Sama-Veda (Manu II., 76). All three are said to possess creative powers. The Satapatha Brahmana explains that they are "the three luminous essences" extracted from the Vedas by Prajapati ("lords of creation", progenitors), through heat. "He (Brahma) uttered the word bhur, and it became the earth; bhuvah, and it became the firmament; and swar, which became heaven". Mahar is the fourth "luminous essence", and was taken from the Atharva-Veda. But, as this word is purely mantric and magical, it is one, so to say, kept apart.

SD INDEX Vyahritis (Skt) declaration, bhur, bhuvar, svar I 432n


WG Vyakta, discrete, discernible, manifest, evident.

SD INDEX Vyakta (Skt) II 46

matter as, conditioned I 10n


SD INDEX Vyana (Skt), one of the "Life Winds" II 567

SEE ALSO; APANA


TG Vyasa (Sk.). Lit., one who expands or amplifies: an interpreter, or rather a revealer; for that which he explains, interprets and amplifies is a mystery to the profane. This term was applied in days of old to the highest Gurus in India. There were many Vyasas in Aryavarta; one was the compiler and arranger of the Vedas; another, the author of the Mahabharata -- the twenty-eighth Vyasa or revealer in the order of succession -- and the last one of note was the author of Uttara Mimansa, the sixth school or system of Indian philosophy. He was also the founder of the Vedanta system. His date, as assigned by Orientalists (see Elphinstone, Cowell, etc.), is 1,400 B.C., but this date is certainly too recent. The Puranas mention only twenty-eight Vyasas, who at various ages descended to the earth to promulgate Vedic truths -- but there were many more.

FY Vyasa, the celebrated Rishi, who collected and arranged the Vedas in their present form.

WG Vyasa, a mythical Indian sage and poet, to whom the compilation of the Vedas, the Maha-bharata and other works is ascribed. The Vishnu-Purana enumerates twenty-eight Vyasas, and the first Vyasa is said to have been Svayambhuva, or Brahma himself.

GH Vyasa The celebrated sage and author, regarded as the original compiler and arranger of the Vedas and Vedanta-sutras (hence called Veda-vyasa -- vyasa meaning an arranger, a compiler). In the Mahabharata it is related that Vyasa was the half brother of Vichitravirya and Bhishma, his parents being the Rishi Parasara and Satyavati. Because of his dark complexion he was called Krishna, and on account of being born on a dvipa (island) in the Junma Jumna?, he received the name Dvaipayana. Although he had retired into the wilderness in order to become a hermit, his mother implored him to wed the childless widowed wives (Ambika and Ambalika) of Vichitravirya, and he thus became the father of Dhritarashtra and Pandu -- parents of the Kurus and Pandavas respectively, by whom the great conflict was waged. Vyasa is also regarded as the compiler of the Mahabharata, the narrator of the Bhagavata-Purana, and author of other Puranas. The Puranas mention 28 Vyasas -- represented as incarnations of Brahma or Vishnu, descending upon earth for the purpose of arranging and promulgating the Vedas and other sastras. 'Vyasa' is indeed a term applied to the highest gurus in India, "for that which he explains, interprets and amplifies is a mystery to the profane. . . . There were many Vyasas in Aryavarta; one was the compiler and arranger of the Vedas; another, the author of the Mahabharata -- the twenty-eighth Vyasa or revealer in the order of succession -- and the last one of note was the author of Uttara Mimansa, the sixth school or system of Indian philosophy. He was also the founder of the Vedanta system." (Theosophical Glossary, H. P. Blavatsky, p. 367) (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. pp. iii and 72)

SD INDEX Vyasa(s) (Skt)

Vishnu is all 28
of Vedas II 146n


WG Vyashti-sarga, specific and individual creation. (Vyashti, manifold; sarga, creation.)


FY Vyavaharika, objective existence; practical.

SD INDEX Vyavaharika (Skt), ray manifested in I 356


SD INDEX Vyaya (Skt) [perishable], Purusha-pradhana & I 582


SD INDEX Vyse, Colonel Howard

----- . . . The Pyramids of Ghizeh
Arabs, Sabeans, Pyramids II 361-2
q various authors on Seth II 366