Sacred Fig

The Sacred Fig Ficus religiosa, also known as Bo (from the Sinhalese Bo), Pipal (Peepul) or Ashwattha tree, is a species of banyan fig native to India, southwest China and Indochina east to Vietnam. It is a large dry season-deciduous or semi-evergreen tree up to 30 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 3 m. The leaves are cordate in shape with a distinctive extended tip; they are 10-17 cm long and 8-12 cm broad, with a 6-10 cm petiole. The fruit is a sm ...

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Arani (Sanskrit) (from the verbal root ri to tend upward, move, insert, fix)

Moving around; being fitted in or inserted. Arani (sing) is one of the two ceremonial rubbing-sticks used to ignite the sacrificial fire: the upper stick, uttararani or pramantha, is held upright and set into a groove in the lower stick, adhararani, and when twirled or rotated rapidly it generates heat and flame. According to the Rig-Veda, the upright stick was made from the sami tree (Mimosa suma), and the horizontal from the asvattha or pipal tree (Ficus religiosa), the sacred fig tree. In the Satapatha-brahmana, however, both sticks were carved from the wood of the asvattha.

The arani (dual) represent the father and mother elements in nature, the creative, generative energy producing the offspring from the receiver, the mother. While the male/female metaphor has application physiologically, it may be interpreted cosmically: "this idea of the creative power of fire is explained at once by the ancient assimilation of the human soul to a celestial spark" (M. G. Dech 261); again "The 'female Arani,' the mistress of the race, is Aditi, the mother of the gods, or Shekinah, eternal light -- in the world of Spirit, the 'Great Deep' and Chaos; or primordial Substance in its first remove from the Unknown, in the manifested Kosmos" (SD 2:527).

(See also: Arani , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Bodhi (Sanskrit) (from the verbal root budh to acquire understanding, awaken)

Perfect wisdom or enlightenment; true divine wisdom. A state of consciousness in which one has so emptied the mind that it is filled only with the selfless selfhood of the eternal. In this state one realizes the ineffable visions of reality and of pure truth. Bodhi is a name for the enlightened intellect of buddha. " 'Bodhi' is likewise the name of a particular state of trance condition, called Samadhi, during which the subject reaches the culmination of spiritual knowledge" (SD 1:xix). The bodhi state is called a buddha, and the organ in and by which it is manifested is termed buddhi.

Bodhi is also a name for the mystical tree under which legend says Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment, known as the sacred fig tree of India.

See also Asvattha

(See also: Bodhi , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Ashwattha: The pipal (sacred fig) tree, the eternal tree of life whose roots are in heaven. The "world tree" in the sense of the axis of the earth and even of the cosmos.

(See also: Ashwattha , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Chnouphis (Ancient Greek). Nouf in Egyptian. Another aspect of Ammon, and the personification of his generative power in actu, as Kneph is of the same in potentia. He is also ram-headed.

 If in his aspect as Kneph he is the Holy Spirit with the creative ideation brooding in him, as Chnouphis, he is the angel who "comes in" into the Virgin soil and flesh. A prayer on a papyrus, translated by the French Egyptologist Chabas, says; ‘ 0 Sepui, Cause of being, who hast formed thine own body! 0 only Lord, proceeding from Noum ! 0 divine substance, created from itself! 0 God, who hast made the substance which is in him! 0 God, who has made his own father and impregnated his own mother."

This shows the origin of the Christian doctrines of the Trinity and immaculate conception. He is seen on a monument seated near a potter’s wheel, and forming men out of clay. The fig-leaf is sacred to him, which is alone sufficient to prove him a phallic god - an idea which is carried out by the inscription: "he who made that which is, the creator of beings, the first existing, he who made to exist all that exists." Some see in him the incarnation of Ammon-Ra, but he is the latter himself in his phallic aspect, for, like Ammon, he is " his mother’s husband", i.e., the male or impregnating side of Nature.

His names vary, as Cnouphis, Noum, Khem, and Khnum or Chnoumis. As he represents the Demiurgos (or Logos) from the material, lower aspect of the Soul of the World, he is the Agathodemon, symbolized sometimes by a Serpent ; and his wife Athor or Maut (Mot mother), or Sate, "the daughter of the Sun", carrying an arrow on a sunbeam (the ray of conception), stretches "mistress over the lower portions of the atmosphere". below the constellations, as Ne?th expands over the starry heavens. (See "Chaos".)

(See also: Chnouphis , Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,)

In the series, Evolving Towards Enlightenment I-V, Carl Johan Calleman explains the links between the Mayan Calendar Enlightenment and the significance of the year 2012.

Read more here: » Mayan Calendar: Evolving Towards Enlightenment - II

Pippala (Sanskrit) Also pimpala. The sacred Indian fig tree, Ficus religiosa, which holds a highly mystical and symbolic position in Hindu mythology. It is closely connected with the Asvattha, the cosmic Tree of Life, or tree of the cosmic hierarchical structure, thus symbolized also in other countries of the world.

It is interesting to note that both Asvattha and Pippala are names sometimes given to the sun, and that Buddhist legend has it that it was under such a tree, now commonly called the Bo or Bodhi Tree, that Gautama Buddha attained his final enlightenment.

(See also: Pippala , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

The history of Buddhism spans from the 6th century BCE to the present, starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddharta Gautama. This makes it one of the oldest religions practiced today. Throughout this period, the religion evolved as it encountered various countries and cultures, adding to its original Indian foundation Hellenistic as well as Central Asian, East Asian, and Southeast Asian cultural elements. In the process, its geographical extent became considerable so as to affect at one time or another most of the Asian continent. The history of Buddhism is also characterized by the development of numerous movements and schisms, foremost among them the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions, punctuated by contrasting periods of expansion and retreat.

Read more here: » Buddhism: History of Buddhism

Peepal tree

Botanical name or the Latin name: Ficus religious

Name in "Sanskrit" language: Ashvattha

The "Peepal tree" or the "holy fig tree" is the most accepted botanical entity in the Hindu tradition. It is considered sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists and its name has been referred in the Vedas and hindu epics. The saints used to meditate sitting under this holy tree. It was only under the Peepal tree that Gautam Buddha (9th Avataar of Lord Vishnu) attained enlightenment and that particular tree was named as "Bodhi-brikhsa", the wisdom-tree. The Peepal is considered as a feminine to the masculine Banyan tree.

The tree grows in most parts of India, especially on the banks of rivers and large water bodies and are abundantly found in the forests on the lower slopes of the Himalayas, Orissa as well as in central India. The Peepal-bark has light gray color and is smooth and the leaves have a distinctive shape of heart and have long and tapering tips. The tree is also used in Ayurveda (the Indian branch of medical science dealing with natural plants and products). €€€

(See also: Peepal tree , Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

Nutritive values for fruits, Nutrition calculation and fruit ranking for amino acid content, vitamins and minerals. Nutritional content and nutrition value for fruits. Compose a fruit meal and see the nutritive content as well as rank the fruits on different values.

Read more here: » Fruitarian Diet - Detailed nutritional fruitarianism information

Buddhism: Basic Buddhist Dictionary

A basic dictionary of Buddhism terms. Please note that all words in grey like " Buddhism " are links to an archive with related articles.

Udumbara (Sanskrit) A variety of the fig tree, Ficus glomerata; also a rare species of lotus called the nila-udumbara (blue lotus), regarded by Buddhists as a highly noteworthy omen whenever it blossoms, which it is said to do but rarely.

"Arhans and Sages of the boundless Vision are rare as is the blossom of the Udumbara tree. Arhans are born at midnight hour, together with the sacred plant of nine and seven stalks, the holy flower that opes and blooms in darkness, out of the pure dew and on the frozen bed of snow-capped heights, heights that are trodden by no sinful foot" (VS 39). The arhans born at midnight refers to the mystic births that take place during the higher initiations, the sacred plant of nine and seven stalks referring to the entire constitution of the human being, all of whose principles, elements, and spiritual and intellectual functions, become more or less operative during the initiation period.

(See also: Udumbara , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

In the series, Evolving Towards Enlightenment I-V, Carl Johan Calleman explains the links between the Mayan Calendar Enlightenment and the significance of the year 2012.

Read more here: » Mayan Calendar: Evolving Towards Enlightenment - III

Mayan Calendar: In the series, Evolving Towards Enlightenment I-V, Carl Johan Calleman explains the links between the Mayan Calendar Enlightenment and the significance of the year 2012.

Read more here: » Mayan Calendar: Evolving Towards Enlightenment - V

A Dream Dictionary including dreams about:

Accuse, Aches, Acid, Acorn , Acquaintance, Acquit , Acrobat, Actor and Actress , Adam and Eve, Adamant, Adder , Addition, Adieu, Admire, Admonish, Adopted, Adulation , Adultery, Advancement, Adventurer, Adversary, Adversity, Advertisement

For more dream interpretation, see: Dream Dictionary

For more about dreams, see: Dreams.

PRIAPUS

An interesting poem of Petronius from the PRIAPEIA:

The Complaint of Priapus for being Veiled

The Almighty's image of his shape afraid,

And hide the noblest part  e'er nature made,

Which God alone succeeds in his creating  Trade!

The Fall their fig-leaved modesty began,

To punish woman by  obscuring man;

Before, where'er his stately Cedar moved

She saw,  ador'd and kissed the thing she lov'd.

Why do the gods their several signs disclose,

Almighty Jove his  Thunder-bolt expose,

Neptune his Trident, Mars his Buckler  show,

Pallas her spear to each beholder's view,

And poor Priapus  alone confin'd

T'obscure the woman's god, and parent of  mankind?

Since fire-born brute their liberty attain,

T'obscure the  woman's god, and parent of mankind?

Since fire-born brute their liberty  attain,

Long hast thou journey-worked for souls in vain,

Storm the  Pantheon, and demand thy right,

For on this weapon 'tis depends the  fight.

This was found in an obscure book, privately printed in 1906 {The Masculine Cross - author unknown}. The author goes on to describe circumcision, male and female, and also a practice in Dahomey described as Prolongatio, videlicet, artificialis labiorum pundendi, capellae mamillis simillima. (the prolongation artificially of the labia so as to resemble goat teats!). There is a companian volume, entitled Ophiolatreia, as well as other volumes (Tree Worship, Flowers & Fire, Phallic Worship).

 PROBE

("Programmed recreation of brain emissions.") The encoding of brain waves emitted during the thought of certain words in order to computerize the data for two-way transmission.

(See also: PRIAPUS , Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul,)

At the time of death when the breathing becomes difficult the Jiva or the individual self that is in the body goes out making noises. Just as a cart heavily loaded goes on creaking, so does the Jiva creak while the Prana departs.

The death and dying and the life after death has always fascinated man. This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Soul’s Journey After Death: How Soul Departs After Death

KALA

In Hinduism, this is the word for Time as the source of all things. In Tantric philosophy, kalas are out-flowings from time (scents, flowers, exudations, emanations, phenomena), particularly referring to the human "kalas" or numerous body fluids and products: blood, semen, milk, sweat, earwax, etc. of which the Tantrists number over thirty (occidental medicine acknowledges no more than 23-24). Apparently, many extra Tantric kalas are produced by prolonged and obscure sexual rituals. One of these is called the sadhakya kala and is the most secret of all -- "the essence where time stands still; where time is not," says Grant. There is also bindhu, a fluid that bisexualizes men and women, obtainable only through Tantric practice; and there is melatonin produced by the pineal gland from serotonin found in the hypothalamus, the blood, dates, bananas, plums and ficus religiosus, or the fig of the Bo-tree of Buddha. Grant used the word in the same sense as above, but also in his own special sense as a synonym for the Tunnels of Set, which he sees as types of "secretions". (See TUNNELS OF SET.)

(See also: KALA , Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul,)

bhandira

A fig tree of the banyan species.

(See also: bhandira , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Bodhi Tree or Bo Tree The tree of wisdom or knowledge; the tree (Pippala or Ficus religiosa) "under which Sakyamuni meditated for seven years and then reached Buddhaship. It was originally 400 feet high, it is claimed; but when Hiouen-Tsang saw it, about the year 640 of our era, it was only 50 feet high. Its cuttings have been carried all over the Buddhist world and are planted in front of almost every Vihara or temple of fame in China, Siam, Ceylon, and Tibet" (TG 59).

This legend of the enormous height attained by the fig tree under which the Buddha obtained enlightenment, illustrates how soon the spiritual vision of the real meaning of the bodhi tree became involved in mythologic wonder.

While the historical legend of the Buddha obtaining omniscience under the bodhi tree may be correct historically, it is also a usage of the mystical language of the Mysteries -- Gautama attaining supreme wisdom and knowledge under the "wisdom tree" is but another way of saying that through initiation into the highest grades of the Mysteries, he reached the stage of buddhahood because he was already a buddha through inner evolution. Again, in India adepts of both the right- and left-hand were often referred to as trees, the path indicated by whether the tree named was beneficent or maleficent.

See also ASVATTHA

(See also: Bodhi Tree, Bo Tree , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)