COLLATION OF THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARIES
List of Title Abbreviations (in alphabetical order)
TG M. -- The thirteenth letter of the Hebrew and of the English alphabets, and the twenty-fourth of the Arabic. As a Roman numeral, this letter stands for 1000, and with a dash on it signifies one million. In the Hebrew alphabet Mem symbolized water, and as a numeral is equivalent to 40. The Sanskrit ma is equivalent to number 5, and is also connected with water through the sign of the Zodiac, called Makara (q.v.). Moreover, in the Hebrew and Latin numerals the m stands "as the definite numeral for an indeterminate number" (Mackenzie's Mason. Cyc.), and "the Hebrew sacred name of God applied to this letter is Meborach, Benedictus." With the Esotericists the M is the symbol of the Higher Ego -- Manas, Mind.
SD INDEX M(s) [letter]
androgyne I 384
five, or Makaras II 579
sacred names begin w I 384-5
water hieroglyph I 384; II 65
TG Ma (Sk.). Lit., "five". A name of Lakshmi.
SD INDEX Ma (letter), equivalent to "5" I 384; II 576-8
TG Ma, Mut (Eg.). The goddess of the lower world, another form of Isis, as she is nature, the eternal mother. She was the sovereign and Ruler of the North wind, the precursor of the overflow of the Nile, and thus called "the opener of the nostrils of the living". She is represented offering the ankh, or cross, emblem of physical life to her worshippers, and is called the "Lady of Heaven".
SD INDEX Ma, Egyptian goddess (de Rouge) II 368
SD INDEX Ma, Greek root meaning nurse I 396
SD INDEX Mabbul, waters of the flood I 385
SD INDEX Macben orMac-benah (Heb), symbol of animal kingdom II 575
SD INDEX Maccabees, Third Book of, &Book of Enoch II 532
SD INDEX Macedonian Greek(s), Indian art, science fr, cock & bull hypothesis I 647-8; II 225
TG Machagistia. Magic, as once taught in Persia and Chaldea, and raised in its occult practices into a religio-magianism. Plato, speaking of Machagistia, or Magianism, remarks that it is the purest form of the worship of things divine.
Machchittah sarvadurgani matprasadattarishyasi
With Mind on Me you will pass over all difficulties by My GraceSD INDEX Machinery, ancients knew of I 209n
SD INDEX MacKenzie, Kenneth R. H.
learned Mason, theosophist I 305
----- The Royal Masonic Cyclopaedia
antiquity of swastika II 556n
compares emblem & symbol I 305-6
Elihu, Elijah taken to heaven [II 531]
magical sigillae I 306
three, five, seven in Masonry I 113n
on translators of Bible I 128n
whirling souls, gilgulim I 568 &n
SD INDEX Mackey, Sampson Arnold
astronomer-shoemaker I 654
self-made adept of Norwich II 362n, 431n
time periods recorded by Pyramid II 436
----- "Mythological" Astronomy . . .
adept re Atlantic island [II 406]
date of Puranic Atlantis [II 407-8]
derivation of Kabiri, Axieros II 362n
Earth's pole & ecliptic II 357, 431
Egyptians re poles II 360 &n
gods descend, ascend II 357
Helion, Acheron II 357
Hindu astronomy II 332
inversion of poles II 360, 432-3
Lion on Dendera zodiac II 432-3
Mt Asburj II 407
mutilating Hindu chronology I 654
Sinhalese heirs of Lanka II 407-8
Virgo in Denon's zodiac II 433
SD INDEX Macmillan's Magazine (1860), new discoveries always suspect II 441
SD INDEX Macconnerie occulte. See Ragon, J. B. M.
SD INDEX Macrobius, Ambrosius T., Saturnalia, q Hemina on Kabiri II 363
TG Macrocosm (Gr.). The "Great Universe" literally, or Kosmos.
KT Macrocosm (Gr.) The "Great Universe" or Kosmos, literally.
FY Macrocosm, universe.
WG Macrocosm the great world, or universe, of which the microcosm, or little world -- man -- is a copy.
OG Macrocosm -- The anglicized form of a Greek compound meaning "great arrangement," or more simply the great ordered system of the celestial bodies of all kinds and their various inhabitants, including the all-important idea that this arrangement is the result of interior orderly processes, the effects of indwelling consciousnesses. In other and more modern phrasing the macrocosm is the vast universe, without definable limits, which surrounds us, and with particular emphasis laid on the interior, invisible, and ethereal planes. In the visioning or view of the ancients the macrocosm was an animate kosmic entity, an "animal" in the Latin sense of this word, as an organism possessing a directing and guiding soul. But this was only the outward or exoteric view. In the Mystery schools of the archaic ages, the macrocosm was considered to be not only what is hereinbefore just stated, but also to consist more definitely and specifically of seven, ten, and even twelve planes or degrees of consciousness-substance ranging from the superdivine through all the intermediate stages to the physical, and even to degrees below the physical, these comprised in one kosmic organic unit, or what moderns would call a universe. In this sense of the word macrocosm is but another name for kosmic hierarchy, and it must be remembered in this connection that these hierarchies are simply countless in number and not only fill but actually compose and are indeed the spaces of frontierless SPACE.
The macrocosm was considered to be filled full not only with gods, but with innumerable multitudes or armies of evolving entities, from the fully self-conscious to the quasi-self-conscious downwards through the merely conscious to the "unconscious." Note well that in strict usage the term macrocosm was never applied to the Boundless, to boundless, frontierless infinitude, what the Qabbalists called Eyn-soph. In the archaic wisdom, the macrocosm, belonging in the astral world, considered in its causal aspect, was virtually interchangeable with what modern theosophists call the Absolute.
SD INDEX Macrocosm. See also Microcosm
came out of Ideos (Hartmann) I 283
decad applied to, & man II 573
hexagon star symbol of I 224
Makara represents, & microcosm II 577
meaning of swastika & II 99
microcosm (man) & I 168, 181, 268, 274, 334, 594; II 177, 580n, 685
our planetary II 639n
SEE ALSO; MICROCOSM, MESOCOSM
TG Macroprosopus (Gr.). A Kabalistic term, made of a compound Greek word: meaning the Vast or Great Countenance (See "Kabalistic Faces"); a title of Kether, the Crown, the highest Sephira. It is the name of the Universe, called Arikh-Anpin, the totality of that of which Microprosopus or Zauir-Anpin, "the lesser countenance", is the part and antithesis. In its highest or abstract metaphysical sense, Microprosopus is Adam Kadmon, the vehicle of Ain-Suph, and the crown of the Sephirothal Tree, though since Sephira and Adam Kadmon are in fact one under two aspects, it comes to the same thing. Interpretations are many, and they differ.
WGa Macroposopus, a Kabalistic term, meaning the "Great Countenance". The Universe as a whole, or the totality of the manifested Cosmos. The Heavenly Man. The Macrocosm.
SD INDEX Macroprosopus (Kab) Great Face
abstraction in Chaldean Kabbala I 350
Ain or Non-being II 626
hairs on head of II 62
Microprosopus & I 60, 78, 239; II 625
perfect square, Tetraktys, etc II 626
three higher planes I 239
SD INDEX Madagascar, Madagascans
area betw Atlas &, was ocean II 264
first large cities on II 317
legend of woman fr man II 177
Lemuria, part of II 7, 177, 222, 317, 324, 327, 333
Maki of, originally in sunken land II 789
SD INDEX Maddena Nag (Chald), Venus II 759n
SD INDEX Maddin Nag (Irish), morning star II 759n
SD INDEX Madeira
Atlantis theory & II 791
Europe-America land bridge & II 781
TG Madhasadana or Madhu-Sudana (Sk.). "Slayer of Madhu" (a demon), a title of Krishna from his killing the latter.
TG Madhava (Sk.). (1) A name of Vishnu or Krishna; (2) The month of April; (3) A title of Lakshmi when written Madhavi.
WG Madhava, a title of Krishna. (Literally, "made of honey.")
SD INDEX Madhava, Madhavi (Skt) [Spring], gods & goddesses called I 384
WG Madhu, the demon of darkness; a giant who was slain by Krishna.
GH Madhu The name of an asura (q.v.), who was slain by Vishnu. Madhu and his companion Kaitabha sprang from the ear of Vishnu while the deity was resting at the end of a kalpa. These two asuras took advantage of the sleep of the god to approach Brahma, who was also resting, and were on the point of putting him to death but Vishnu awoke and frustrated them in their plot by immediately slaying the asuras. Because of this act Vishnu is known by the names of Madhusudana (slayer of Madhu) and Kaitabhajit (Causing the death of Kaitabha). W. Q. Judge suggests that Madhu represents the quality of passion in nature (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 49). Krishna was also called Madhusudana. (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 9)
GH Madhusudana A name applied to KrishnaVishnu (Krishna in the aspect of Vishnu). (Compound Madhu (q.v.); sudana, slayer. Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 9) Also the name of many Sanskrit authors. (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 51)
SD INDEX Madhusudana (Skt), on the Asvattha I 406
WG Madhvacharya, a great philosopher, who taught that the relation between Deity and man is that of master and servant. He founded a system of philosophy and established monastic orders that exist to the present day.
TG Madhya (Sk.). Ten thousand billions.
SD INDEX Madhya (Skt) [middle], beginning & end unknown I 138n
TG Madhyama (Sk.). Used of something beginningless and endless. Thus Vach (Sound, the female Logos, or the female counterpart of Brahma), is said to exist in several states, one of which is that of Madhyama, which is equivalent to saying that Vach is eternal in one sense: "the Word (Vach) was with God, and in God", for the two are one.
SD INDEX Madhyama (Skt) intermediate
Light of Logos is, form of Vach I 138, 432
quality of sound I 534
TG Madhyamikas (Sk.). A sect mentioned in the Vishnu Purana. Agreeably to the Orientalists, a "Buddhist" sect, which is an anachronism. It was probably at first a sect of Hindu atheists. A later school of that name, teaching a system of sophistic nihilism, that reduces every proposition into a thesis and its antithesis, and then denies both, has been started in Tibet and China. It adopts a few principles of Nagarjuna, who was one of the founders of the esoteric Mahayana systems, not their exoteric travesties. The allegory that regarded Nagarjuna's "Paramartha" as a gift from the Nagas (Serpents) shows that he received his teachings from the secret school of adepts, and that the real tenets, are therefore kept secret.
SKv Madhyamika, Nagarjuna The Madhyamika, meaning 'that which belongs to the madhya or middle way,' is a School which was founded in Tibet and China by Nagarjuna, a Buddhist Arhat who lived about 223 B.C. The teachings of this school were of purely esoteric origin and belonged to the Mahayana school of Buddhism. This Madhyamika School, however, soon degenerated into a school of Nihilism through the brain-mind arguments and the lack of intuitive understanding of its disciples. The word Nagarjuna is a compound of naga -- serpent or dragon, and arjuna -- the name of a special kind of tree. A dragon was a symbol of an Initiate among all ancient peoples; hence the title 'the Dragon-tree' was one of great honor. Nagarjuna's spiritual attainments were so grand that Buddhists often referred to him as 'one of the four great suns which illumine the world.'
SD INDEX Madhyamika School, Yogacharas &, re paramartha I 44n, 48
WG Madhya-stha, neutral, indifferent, unconcerned. (madhya, middle, medius; stha, standing.)
SD INDEX Madim [Ma'adim] (Heb) [Mars], Adam same as II 144n
SD INDEX Madonna. See also Virgin Mary
in crinolines & Kwan-yin I 473
Devaki antetype of II 527
Gnostic, nursing Jesus I 410
Qu-tamy's idol & I 401
GH Madri A sister of the king of the Madras, who became the second wife of Pandu. By means of the mantra given her by Kunti (q.v.), she became the mother of Nakula and Sahadeva by the twin Asvins (the sky-gods). At the death of Pandu, Madri ascended the funeral pyre with her husband's corpse. (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. iv)
SD INDEX "Mad Stones" II 345-6
SD INDEX Madurese [Malay of Madura, Java] II 523
SD INDEX Maedler, Johann Heinrich
on the Pleiades II 551
Sun revolves around Alcyone I 501
TG Maga (Sk.). The priests of the Sun, mentioned in the Vishnu Purana. They are the later Magi of Chaldea and Iran, the forefathers of the modern Parsis.
TG Magadha (Sk.). An ancient country in India, under Buddhist Kings.
SD INDEX Magadha (Skt)
Andhra dynasty of II 220n
Rajagriha ancient capital of I xx
SD INDEX Magas (priests of the Sun)
first Zarathushtra fr II 322-3
inhabited early Atlantis II 322
TG Mage, or Magian. From Mag or Maha. The word is the root of the word magician. The Maha-atma (the great Soul or Spirit) in India had its priests in the pre-Vedic times. The Magians were priests of the fire-god; we find them among the Assyrians and Babylonians, as well as among the Persian fire-worshippers. The three Magi, also denominated kings, that are said to have made gifts of gold, incense and myrrh to the infant Jesus, were fire-worshippers like the rest, and astrologers; for they saw his star. The high priest of the Parsis, at Surat, is called Mobed. Others derived the name from Megh; Meh-ab signifying something grand and noble. Zoroaster's disciples were called Meghestom, according to Kleuker.
IU Mage, Or Magian; from Mag or Maha. The word is the root of the word magician. The Maha-atma (the great Soul or Spirit) in India had its priests in the pre-Vedic times. The Magians were priests of the fire-god; we find them among the Assyrians and Babylonians, as well as among the Persian fire-worshippers. The three magi, also denominated kings, that are said to have made gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus, were fire-worshippers like the rest, and astrologers; for they saw his star. The high priest of the Parsis, at Surat, is called Mobed, others derived the word from Megh; Meh-ab signifying something grand and noble. Zoroaster's disciples were called Meghestom, according to Kleuker.
SD INDEX Magendie, F., Precis elementaire . . ., digestion in foetus II 131
SD INDEX Magha (Skt) [a lunar asterism], kali-yuga began w seven rishis in II 550
SD INDEX Maghada. See Magadha
SD INDEX Maghayanti [Meghayanti] (Skt), one of the Pleiades II 551
TG Magi (Lat.). The name of the ancient hereditary priests and learned adepts in Persia and Media, a word derived from Maha, great, which became later mog or mag, a priest in Pehlevi. Porphyry describes them (Abst. iv. 16) as "The learned men who are engaged among the Persians in the service of the Deity are called Magi", and Suidas informs us that "among the Persians the lovers of wisdom (philalethai) are called Magi". The Zendavesta (ii. 171, 261) divides them into three degrees: (1) The Herbeds or "Noviciates"; (2) Mobeds or "Masters"; (3) Destur Mobeds, or "Perfect Masters". The Chaldees had similar colleges, as also the Egyptians, Destur Mobeds being identical with the Hierophants of the mysteries, as practised in Greece and Egypt.
FY Magi, fire worshippers; the great magicians or wisdom-philosophers of old.
SD INDEX Magi (fr mag, Old Pers) I 410; II 393-5
affinity betw Druids & II 756
Aryan, emigrate to Sagdiani II 356
astronomical observations of I xxvi
believed in seven globes, continents II 608
college of, on Euphrates II 203
Democritus pupil of I 117
Egyptian, & Atlantean sorcerers II 428
greeted morning star II 759
Magas of Atlantis became II 323
Nargal Chaldean chief II 213
Orsi four-letter god of II 602
Persian, not fr Persia II 756n
requirements to become a I 409
Rosicrucians drew fr I 81n
seven devs of I 577
sevenfold doctrine of II 608-9, 756, 759
star of the I 654 &n
Three (New Testament), sepulchres at Cologne I 654n
used stone to elect a king II 346
used veiled language II 395
of Xerxes sacrifice to Tethys I 467
Yima was "man" to II 609
SD INDEX Magian Religion II 610. See also Mazdean
asuras (ahuras) in II 92-3
occult, magical, symbolic II 517
origin of evil in II 490
works of, destroyed by Alexander II 6n
TG Magic. The great "Science". According to Deveria and other Orientalists, "magic was considered as a sacred science inseparable from religion" by the oldest and most civilized and learned nations. The Egyptians, for instance, were one of the most sincerely religious nations, as were and still are the Hindus. "Magic consists of, and is acquired by the worship of the gods", said Plato. Could then a nation, which, owing to the irrefragable evidence of inscriptions and papyri, is proved to have firmly believed in magic for thousands of years, have been deceived for so long a time. And is it likely that generations upon generations of a learned and pious hierarchy, many among whom led lives of self-martyrdom, holiness and asceticism, would have gone on deceiving themselves and the people (or even only the latter) for the pleasure of perpetuating belief in "miracles"? Fanatics, we are told, will do anything to enforce belief in their god or idols. To this we reply: in such case, Brahmans and Egyptian Rekhget-amens (q.v.) or Hierophants would not have popularized belief in the power of man by magic practices to command the services of the gods: which gods, are in truth, but the occult powers or potencies of Nature, personified by the learned priests themselves, in which they reverenced only the attributes of the one unknown and nameless Principle. As Proclus the Platonist ably puts it: "Ancient priests, when they considered that there is a certain alliance and sympathy in natural things to each other, and of things manifest to occult powers, and discovered that all things subsist in all, fabricated a sacred science from this mutual sympathy and similarity. . . . and applied for occult purposes, both celestial and terrene natures, by means of which, through a certain similitude, they deduced divine virtues into this inferior abode". Magic is the science of communicating with and directing supernal, supramundane Potencies, as well as of commanding those of the lower spheres; a practical knowledge of the hidden mysteries of nature known to only the few, because they are so difficult to acquire, without falling into sins against nature. Ancient and mediaeval mystics divided magic into three classes -- Theurgia, Goetia and natural Magic. "Theurgia has long since been appropriated as the peculiar sphere of the theosophists and metaphysicians", says Kenneth Mackenzie. Goetia is black magic, and "natural (or white) magic has risen with healing in its wings to the proud position of an exact and progressive study". The comments added by our late learned Brother are remarkable. "The realistic desires of modern times have contributed to bring magic into disrepute and ridicule. . . . Faith (in one's own self) is an essential element in magic, and existed long before other ideas which presume its pre-existence. It is said that it takes a wise man to make a fool; and a man's ideas must be exalted almost to madness, i.e., his brain susceptibilities must be increased far beyond the low, miserable status of modern civilization, before he can become a true magician; (for) a pursuit of this science implies a certain amount of isolation and an abnegation of Self". A very great isolation, certainly, the achievement of which constitutes a wonderful phenomenon, a miracle in itself. Withal magic is not something supernatural. As explained by Iamblichus, "they through the sacerdotal theurgy announce that they are able to ascend to more elevated and universal Essences, and to those that are established above fate, viz., to god and the demiurgus: neither employing matter, nor assuming any other things besides, except the observation of a sensible time". Already some are beginning to recognise the existence of subtle powers and influences in nature of which they have hitherto known nought. But as Dr. Carter Blake truly remarks, "the nineteenth century is not that which has observed the genesis of new, nor the completion of old, methods of thought"; to which Mr. Bonwick adds that "if the ancients knew but little of our mode of investigations into the secrets of nature, we know still less of their mode of research".
KT Magic. The "great" Science. According to Deveria and other Orientalists, "Magic was considered as a sacred science inseparable from religion" by the oldest and most civilised and learned nations. The Egyptians, for instance, were a most sincerely religious nation, as were, and are still, the Hindus. "Magic consists of, and is acquired by, the worship of the gods," says Plato. Could, then, a nation which, owing to the irrefragable evidence of inscriptions and papyri, is proved to have firmly believed in magic for thousands of years, have been deceived for so long a time? And is it likely that generations upon generations of a learned and pious hierarchy, many among whom led lives of self-martyrdom, holiness and asceticism, would have gone on deceiving themselves and the people (or even only the latter) for the pleasure of perpetuating belief in "miracles"? Fanatics, we are told, will do anything to enforce belief in their god or idols. To this we reply: -- In such cases Brahmans and Egyptian Rekhget-amens or Hierophants, would not have popularised the belief in the power of man by magic practices, to command the services of the gods: which gods are in truth but the occult powers or potencies of Nature, personified by the learned priests themselves, who reverenced only in them the attributes of the one unknown and nameless Principle. As Proclus, the Platonist, ably puts it: "Ancient priests, when they considered that there is a certain alliance and sympathy in natural things to each other, and of things manifest to occult powers, and discovered that all things subsist in all, fabricated a sacred science from this mutual sympathy and similarity. . . . and applied for occult purposes both celestial and terrene natures, by means of which, through a certain similitude, they deduced divine natures into this inferior abode." Magic is the science of communicating with, and directing supernal supramundane potencies, as well as commanding those of lower spheres; a practical knowledge of the hidden mysteries of nature which are known only to the few, because they are so difficult to acquire without falling into sin against the law. Ancient and mediaeval mystics divided magic into three classes -- Theurgia, Goetia and Natural Magic. "Theurgia has long since been appropriated as the peculiar sphere of the Theosophists and metaphysicians," says Kenneth Mackenzie. "Goetia is black magic, and 'natural' or white magic has risen with healing in its wings to the proud position of an exact and progressive study." The remarks added by our late learned brother are remarkable: "The realistic desires of modern times have contributed to bring magic into disrepute and ridicule. . . . Faith (in one's own self) is an essential element in magic, and existed long before other ideas which presume its pre-existence. It is said that it takes a wise man to make a fool; and a man's idea must be exalted almost to madness, i. e., his brain susceptibilities must be increased far beyond the low miserable status of modern civilisation, before he can become a true magician, for a pursuit of this science implies a certain amount of isolation and an abnegation of self." A very great isolation certainly, the achievement of which constitutes a wonderful phenomenon, a miracle in itself. Withal, magic is not something supernatural. As explained by Iamblichus, "they, through the sacerdotal theurgy, announce that they are able to ascend to more elevated and universal essences, and to those that are established above fate, viz., to god and the demiurgos: neither employing matter, nor assuming any other things besides, except the observation of a sensible time." Already some are beginning to recognise the existence of subtle powers and influences in nature, in which they have hitherto known nought. But, as Dr. Carter Blake truly remarks, "the nineteenth century is not that which has observed the genesis of new, nor the completion of old, methods of thought"; to which Mr. Bonwick adds, that "if the Ancients knew but little of our mode of investigation into the secrets of Nature, we know still less of their mode of research."
WGa Magic, the science of bringing into visible action forces ordinarily hidden. The ancients recognized three sorts: Theurgia, or White Magic; Goetia, or Black Magic; and Natural Magic. Theurgia had to do with the powers of the soul, the philosopher's stone, the magic which makes of man a God. Goetia was sorcery, or the communication with the regents of the invisible worlds with evil intent. Natural Magic had dealings entirely with nature, and might be either Black or White according as the Adept whose will called it into action was of the Left- or Right-hand path. The physician who heals with the use of his drugs is as much a natural magician as the necromancer who effects cures by his thaumaturgy; with the difference, however, that the one can give no reason for the effects he produces, while the other can.
SD INDEX Magic. See also Black Magic, Sorcerer
art of divine, (Tritheim) II 512n
astral light &, (Levi) I 253n, 254-5
astrological, in Chaldea I 652
astrology, kalpas & II 179
Bacon, Roger & I 581 &n
beings of lower spheres & I 605-6
black, of Egyptians, Chaldeans, Jews II 139n, 211-12
black, white, struggle betw II 211, 364
ceremonial I 234n; II 748
Christian & pagan black I 416, 467-9
Confucius believed in I 441
Dracontia used for II 346-7
early, meant science of wisdom II 319
followed beginning of Christianity I xl
head is astral light (Zohar) I 424
Hermes initiated men into I 473
initiation & II 380
Kabiri-Titans demonstrated II 364
knowledge of primary causes is I 263
left-path, & castes, ritual II 503
mandrake used in black II 27n
Moon rules over I 387, 397
nehhashim (serpents) or, (Zohar) II 409
Neptune symbol of Atlantean II 356
North & South Poles & II 274, 400n
number five symbol in II 579
Paracelsus versed in I 263
powers II 427
reverse of, is sorcery II 179
right- & left-hand II 25-6
seven, number II 629-30
sorcery often I xl, 467-9
speaking stones & II 341-2
speaking to gods in their language I 464
swastika a, sign II 99
"There is no," (She, Haggard) II 319
white, black, in Atlantis I 192n; II 427-8, 495, 762
TG Magic, Black. (Vide Supra.)
KT Magic, Black (vide supra). Sorcery, abuse of powers.
SEE ALSO; BLACK MAGIC
KT Magic, Ceremonial. Magic, according to Kabalistic rites worked out, as alleged by the Rosicrucians and other mystics, by invoking Powers higher spiritually than Man, and commanding Elementals who are far lower than himself on the scale of being.
TG Magic, White, or "Beneficent Magic", so-called, is divine magic, devoid of selfishness, love of power, of ambition, or lucre, and bent only on doing good to the world in general, and one's neighbour in particular. The smallest attempt to use one's abnormal powers for the gratification of self, makes of these powers sorcery or black magic.
KT Magic, White, or "Beneficent Magic," so called, is divine magic, devoid of selfishness, love of power, of ambition or lucre, and bent only on doing good to the world in general and one's neighbour in particular. The smallest attempt to use one's abnormal powers for the gratification of self makes of these powers sorcery or Black Magic.
TG Magician. This term, once a title of renown and distinction, has come to be wholly perverted from its true meaning. Once the synonym of all that was honourable and reverent, of a possessor of learning and wisdom, it has become degraded into an epithet to designate one who is a pretender and a juggler; a charlatan, in short, or one who has "sold his soul to the Evil One", who misuses his knowledge, and employs it for low and dangerous uses, according to the teachings of the clergy, and a mass of superstitious fools who believe the magician a sorcerer and an "Enchanter". The word is derived from Magh, Mah, in Sanskrit Maha -- great; a man well versed in esoteric knowledge. (Isis Unveiled.)
IU Magician. -- This term, once a title of renown and distinction, has come to be wholly perverted from its true meaning. Once the synonym of all that was honorable and reverent, of a possessor of learning and .wisdom, it has become degraded into an epithet to designate one who is a pretender and a juggler; a charlatan, in short, or one who has "sold his soul to the Evil One;" who misuses his knowledge, and employs it for low and dangerous uses, according to the teachings of the clergy, and a mass of superstitious fools who believe the magician a sorcerer and an enchanter. But Christians forget, apparently, that Moses was also a magician, and Daniel, "Master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers" (Daniel, v.II).
The word magician then, scientifically speaking, is derived from Magh, Hindu or Sanscrit -- great; a man well versed in the secret or esoteric knowledge; properly a sacerdote.
SD INDEX Magician(s)
Atlantean, perished II 350
good & bad, North & South Poles II 274
ishin help, produce homunculi II 376
Keely a natural-born I 558
mighty builders, good & bad II 754
of Ruta & Daitya II 428
seventh son of seventh son II 213
wicked, of Atlantis II 222, 223
SD INDEX Magic Papyrus. See Papyrus Magique Harris
SD INDEX Magic: White & Black. See Hartmann, F.
SD INDEX Magie der Zahlen, Die. See Hellenbach
SD INDEX Magism, Babylonian I 10
SD INDEX Magna Graecia (Lat), Hermes & II 367
TG Magna Mater (Lat.). "Great Mother". A title given in days of old, to all the chief goddesses of the nations, such as Diana of Ephesus, Isis, Mauth, and many others.
SD INDEX Magna Mater (Lat)
Greek & Syrian Virgin Mary, Moon I 392
old world, a plagiarism (de Mirville) I 400
spouse of son she conceives I 393
MO Magne [[Norse]] (mang-neh) [godly power: gravitation?] One of Thor's sons in cosmic space
TG Magnes. An expression used by Paracelsus and the mediaeval Theosophists. It is the spirit of light, or Akasa. A word much used by the mediaeval Alchemists.
SD INDEX Magnes (of Paracelsus)
aether, living fire or I 343-4
magus &, two branches I 339
"Spirit of Light" & I 338-9
TG Magnetic Masonry. Also called "Iatric" masonry. It is described as a Brotherhood of Healers (from iatrike a Greek word meaning "the art of healing"), and is greatly used by the "Brothers of Light" as Kenneth Mackenzie states in the Royal Masonic Cyclopedia. There appears to be a tradition in some secret Masonic works -- so says Ragon at any rate, the great Masonic authority -- to the effect that there was a Masonic degree called the Oracle of Cos, "instituted in the eighteenth century B.C., from the fact that Cos was the birthplace of Hippocrates". The iatrike was a distinct characteristic of the priests who took charge of the patients in the ancient AEsclepia, the temples where the god Asclepios (Aesculapius) was said to heal the sick and the lame.
TG Magnetism. A Force in nature and in man. When it is the former, it is an agent which gives rise to the various phenomena of attraction, of polarity, etc. When the latter, it becomes "animal" magnetism, in contradistinction to cosmic, and terrestrial magnetism.
SD INDEX Magnetism
aspect of universal motion I 147
atmospheric, of naturalists I 338n
cosmic, & gravitation I 497-9
Fohat & seven forms of I 145
iron &, occult properties of II 371 &n
kundalini sakti & I 293
lunar I 394, 398
mesmerism & I 297
molecular expl of, inadequate II 719
nature of, not understood I 498
not a mode of motion I 484, 496, 516
noumenal, phenomenal I 145-6
secondary effect I 484
solar system revolutions & I 501
terrestrial, & anima mundi II 562
ultimate causes of I 514-17
TG Magnetism, Animal. While official science calls it a "supposed" agent, and utterly rejects its actuality, the teeming millions of antiquity and of the now living Asiatic nations, Occultists, Theosophists, Spiritualists, and Mystics of every kind and description proclaim it as a well established fact. Animal magnetism is a fluid, an emanation. Some people can emit it for curative purposes through their eyes and the tips of their fingers, while the rest of all creatures, mankind, animals and even every inanimate object, emanate it either as an aura, or a varying light, and that whether consciously or not. When acted upon by contact with a patient or by the will of a human operator, it is called "Mesmerism" (q.v.).
SD INDEX Magnetizer, fluid radiating fr I 338
SD INDEX Magnolia, in polar regions II 326, 726
TG Magnum Opus (Lat.). In Alchemy the final completion, the "Great Labour" or Grand Oeuvre; the production of the "Philosopher's Stone" and "Elixir of Life" which, though not by far the myth some sceptics would have it, has yet to be accepted symbolically, and is full of mystic meaning.
SD INDEX Magnus, Johannes, ----- [Historia de omnibus . . . regibus], Starkad carrying rune stones II 346n
SD INDEX Magnus, Olaus, [Historia de gentibus . . .], kings elected by divination II 346
SD INDEX Magnus Annus. See Annus Magnus
SD INDEX Magnus Limbus. See Limbus Major
TG Magus (Lat.). In the New Testament it means a Sage, a wise man of the Chaldeans; it is in English often used for a Magician, any wonder-worker; in the Rosicrucian Society it is the title of the highest members, the IXth grade; the Supreme Magus is the Head of the Order in the "Outer"; the Magi of the "Inner" are unknown except to those of the VIIIth grade. [W.W.W.]
SD INDEX Magus & Magnes, two branches I 339
WGa Maha, (Sans.) great.
SD INDEX Maha-Atma (Skt) "great soul" of world I 365, 461
TG Mahabharata (Sk.). Lit., "the great war"; the celebrated epic poem of India (probably the longest poem in the world) which includes both the Ramayana and the Bhagavad Gita "the Song Celestial". No two Orientalists agree as to its date. But it is undeniably extremely ancient.
FY Maha-Bharata, the celebrated Indian epic poem.
WGa Mahabharata, a great epic poem of India. The "Great war". In it occur the two celebrated poems, the Bhagavad-Gita and the Ramayana. Probably the oldest poem extant.
GH Mahabharata literally 'The great (war) of the Bharatas.' The great epic poem of Hindusthan, consisting of about 215,000 lines of metrical prose, which are divided into 18 parvas (books or sections). The main theme of the work is the recounting of the history of the later scions of the Chandravansa (Lunar Dynasty) dealing especially with the exploits of the Kurus and the Pandavas, culminating in the great conflict which forms the major portion of the epic. Not only does it follow the achievements of its principal characters, for the ramifications of the narrative consider innumerable stories and allegories with a wealth of description and fancy unequalled in the realm of fiction; but every phase of the human emotions is dealt with, so that this epic has been the source of material for dramas and stories for succeeding generations. The mythological and religious aspect of the people of ancient times is set forth, as regards both the allegories of the deities and the priestly ceremonial observances; philosophical discourses abound (the Bhagavad-Gita being but a single instance); teachings in regard to Karman and Reincarnation are expounded as well as illustrated in story-form (see under Draupadi and Sikhandin); moral and ethical lessons are repeatedly inculcated, while the traditions and legends of the Bharatas are stressed at all times, featuring all the exploits of a war-like race. The tale of Rama (which forms the basis for the second great epic of India, the Ramayana) is told in full, as is also the story of Sakuntala (later dramatized by Kalidasa). Unquestionably the Mahabharata is a work intended for the populace, therefore it is written in a manner which would appeal to the people of that time, and deals principally with battles. Its compilation is attributed to Vyasa (q.v.). "No two Orientalists agree as to its date. But it is undeniably extremely ancient." (Theosophical Glossary, H. P. Blavatsky, p. 201) ". . . from the first appearance of the Aryan race . . . down to the final disappearance of Plato's small island of Atlantis, the Aryan races had never ceased to fight with the descendants of the first giant races. This war lasted till nearly the close of the age which preceded the Kali Yug, and was the Mahabharatean war so famous in Indian History." (Secret Doctrine, II, p. 395) (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. i)
SKo Mahabharata, Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna, Arjuna, Ramayana, Rama The Mahabharata and the Ramayana are the two celebrated epic poems of India. The Mahabharata, the greater of the two, is the story of the maha or 'great' Bharatas, a family of old India. It is the longest poem known to the world -- 220,000 lines. The Bhagavad-Gita or the 'Divine-Song' is a portion of the Mahabharata wherein Krishna, the Avatara, and Arjuna, his disciple, discuss lofty and spiritual philosophy. In this dialog Krishna represents the Divinity within each man, and Arjuna the learning human entity.
The Ramayana, the older of the two epics, narrates the adventures -- ayana -- of Rama, the Avatara. This epic of some forty-eight thousand lines has been called the 'Iliad of the East,' because of its beautiful poetry and its high ideals.
SP Mahabharata -- the great epic of ancient India, the great story of the descendants of Bharata. The other famous ancient Indian epic is the Ramayana, the Story of Rama.
SD INDEX Mahabharata (Skt)
agneyastra weapons II 629
Anugita part of I 94n
Arjuna married Ulupi II 214 &n
Atlantean War in II 395
cataclysm ending fourth race II 146
Daksha creates II 275
destruction of rakshasas II 232n
explained by Bhagavad-Gita II 139
history as much as Iliad II 183
Karttikeya's birth II 43n
Mayasura's gift to Pandavas II 426
Narada II 47
Narayana II 591n
Pandavarani or Kunti II 527
prajapati are twenty-one, ten, six, five in I 90; II 40
prologue to fifth race drama II 139
seven mind-born sons II 78
seven rishis I 436
sweat-born II 68, 183
War in Heaven II 390
war in, real, not fabulous I 397
TG Mahabharatian period. According to the best Hindu Commentators and Swami Dayanand Saraswati, 5,000 years B.C.
TG Mahabhashya (Sk.). The great commentary on Panini's grammar by Patanjali.
FY Mahabhashya, a commentary on the Grammar of Panini by Patanjali.
SEE ALSO; BHASHYA
TG Mahabhautic (Sk.). Belonging to the Macrocosmic principles.
FY Mahabhautic, belonging to the macrocosmic principles.
TG Mahabhutas (Sk.). Gross elementary principles of matter.
FY Mahabhutas, gross elementary principles.
WG Maha-bhutas, the five great elements, ether, air, fire, water and earth. (maha, great; bhuta, element.)
SEE ALSO; BHUTA, TATTVA
TG Maha Buddhi (Sk.). Mahat. The Intelligent Soul of the World. The seven Prakritis or seven "natures" or planes, are counted from Mahabuddhi downwards.
WGa Maha-buddhi, mahat. The great intelligence of the Universe; Cosmic Ideation.
IN Mahabuddhi (Skt) "Great buddhi," cosmic intelligence or mind, source of human mind.
SD INDEX Maha-Buddhi
Adi-Buddhic monad manifests as I 572
cosmic ideation, Mahat or I 16
difference betw, & water I 257n
Mahat or I 335, 572
manas in man springs fr I 334
Universal Soul I 420
Vaishnavas' idea of I 451
vehicle of spirit I 420
TG Maha Chohan (Sk.). The chief of a spiritual Hierarchy, or of a school of Occultism; the head of the trans-Himalayan mystics.
WGa Maha Chohan, the "great Chohan". The head of a spiritual Hierarchy. On this planet the head of the trans-Himalayan School of Adepts.
SD INDEX Maha-Chohan(s)
called Arghyanath II 416n
Egyptian, born without woman II 369
Java Aleim or II 220
SEE ALSO; CHOHAN
TG Maha Deva (Sk.). Lit., "great god"; a title of Siva.
SD INDEX Mahadeva (Skt)
destroying Tripurasura II 591
lingam symbol of II 85
parent of rudras, maruts II 548
pasa or ankh-tie of II 548-9
symbol of generative powers I 358
TG Maha Guru (Sk.). Lit., "great teacher". The Initiator.
SD INDEX Maha-Guru (Skt). See also Wondrous Being
guides teachers of man I 208
TG Mahajwala (Sk.). A certain hell.
TG Maha Kala (Sk.). "Great Time". A name of Siva as the "Destroyer", and of Vishnu as the "Preserver".
TG Maha Kalpa (Sk.). The "great age".
WG Maha-kalpa, 100 years of Brahma, comprising 360 days and nights of Brahma, making 311,040,000,000,000 solar years. (maha, great; kalpa, age.)
SD INDEX Maha-Kalpa (Skt). See also Maha-Manvantara
beginning of, & asuras II 500
Brahma's Age I 36, 53, 368; II 70
Garuda emblem of I 366; II 565, 570
Great Round & rounds, races II 615n
Great Wheel or I 40n
length of I 36, 40n, 53, 144n, 206, 368; II 70, 615n
mahatmic state & II 309n
pralaya of I 53
present, (Varaha) or Padma II 179
role of Satan & I 198
SEE ALSO; KALPA
SD INDEX Mahaleel [Mahalaleel] (Heb), or Mehujael II 391n
SD INDEX Maha-loka. See Maharloka
TG Maha Manvantara (Sk.). Lit., the great interludes between the "Manus". The period of universal activity. Manvantara implying here simply a period of activity, as opposed to Pralaya, or rest -- without reference to the length of the cycle.
KT Mahamanvantara (Sans.) Lit., the great interludes between the Manus -- the period of universal activity. Manvantara here implies simply a period of activity as opposed to Pralaya or rest -- without reference to the length of the cycle.
WGa Maha-manvantara, the great manvantara, or period of universal activity. Said to include 311,040,000,000,000 years, or a Maha-Kalpa.
SD INDEX Maha-Manvantara (Skt). See also Maha-Kalpa, Manvantara
Adi-sakti, lasts for I 10
beginnings of I 289
Brahm lays Golden Egg each I 359
dawn of I 11 &n
heptad perfect number of our II 602
nirvanis fr preceding II 79
paranishpanna at end of I 42
SEE ALSO; MANVANTARA
TG Maha Maya (Sk.). The great illusion of manifestation. This universe, and all in it in their mutual relation, is called the great Illusion or Mahamaya. It is also the usual title given to Gautama the Buddha's Immaculate Mother -- Mayadevi, or the "Great Mystery", as she is called by the Mystics.
SKv Maha-maya 'The Great Illusion,' 'the Objective Universe , 'which is a temporary vehicle of a great living god. (See Maya.)
SD INDEX Mahamaya (Skt)
of the ABSOLUTE IS II 446
conscious egos & I 631
dragon of absolute wisdom & II 384n
as Gautama's mother, & lotus I 379n
manifested universe is II 88, 384n
snares of, & real kosmos I 278
swastika & II 100
Virgo, Kanya or I 292
SEE ALSO; MAYA
TG Maha Parinibbana Sutta (Pali.). One of the most authoritative of the Buddhist sacred writings.
FY Mahaparinibbana Sutta, one of the most authoritative of the Buddhist sacred writings.
TG Maha Pralaya (Sk.). The opposite of Mahamanvantara, literally "the great Dissolution", the "Night" following the "Day of Brahma". It is the great rest and sleep of all nature after a period of active manifestation; orthodox Christians would refer to it as the "Destruction of the World".
WGa Maha Pralaya, a great pralaya, or period of universal rest and dissolution. The "Night of Brahma".
SD INDEX Maha-Pralaya (Skt) I 140, 368-72
all born in space & time die at II 549
all returns to one element at I 373 &n
Brahma pralaya or I 172n
after Brahma's Age I 552
dissolution of universe II 146
gods die in I 373n
initial existence after I 289
knowledge previous to I 369
length of I 134n, 371
Microprosopus destroyed in I 215
paranirvana during entire I 134n
sweeps out gods, atoms I 151
SEE ALSO; PRALAYA
TG Maha Purusha (Sk.). Supreme or Great Spirit. A title of Vishnu.
WG Maha-purusha. the Supreme Spirit. (maha, great; purusha, spirit.)
SD INDEX Mahapurusha (Skt), Supreme Spirit II 108
SEE ALSO; PURUSHA
TG Maharaga (Sk.). Maha uraga, "great serpent" -- Sesha or any others.
TG Maharajahs, The Four (Sk.). The four great Karmic deities with the Northern Buddhists placed at the four cardinal points to watch mankind.
WGa Maharaja, "Great King". The four Maharajas are the four Karmic deities said to be at the four cardinal points to watch mankind.
SD INDEX Maharajah of Benares, motto of, & Theosophical Society I xli
SD INDEX Maharajas, Four
Christian, Jewish equivalent of I 125-7
described I 122-8
do not punish or reward I 124
each of the, enthroned on a lotus I 379
four Genii, Dragons or I 408
Great Four or II 427 &n
protectors of mankind I 126, 294n
regents of elements, quarters I 126
TG Maha Rajikas (Sk.). A gana or class of gods 236 in number. Certain Forces in esoteric teachings.
TG Mahar Loka (Sk.). A region wherein dwell the Munis or "Saints" during Pralaya; according to the Puranic accounts. It is the usual abode of Bhriga, a Prajapati (Progenitor) and a Rishi, one of the seven who are said to be co-existent with Brahma.
SD INDEX Maharloka (Skt)
beings go to, at Maha-pralaya I 371
one of seven dvipas II 321
progenitors go to, return fr II 92
GH Maharshi literally 'Great Sage' (great Rishi): referring especially to the ten Maharshis who were the 'mind-born sons' of Prajapati (or Manu Svayambhuva) enumerated in The Laws of Manu (Manava-Dharma-Sastra) (I, p. 34) as: Marichi Atri Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Prachetas, Vasishtha, Bhrigu, Narada. They are also called the ten Prajapatis. Sometimes they are referred to as seven only -- as in chapter x, sloka 6, rendered as "the seven great Sages," Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 71. (See Rishi.) "Every nation has either the seven and ten Rishis-Manus and Prajapatis; . . . One and all have been derived from the primitive Dhyan-Chohans of the Esoteric doctrine, or the 'Builders' of the Stanzas (Book I). From Manu, Thoth-Hermes, Oannes-Dagon, and Edris-Enoch, down to Plato and Panodorus, all tell us of seven divine Dynasties, of seven Lemurian, and seven Atlantean divisions of the Earth; of the seven primitive and dual gods who descend from their celestial abode and reign on Earth, teaching mankind Astronomy, Architecture, and all the other sciences that have come down to us. These Beings appear first as 'gods' and Creators; then they merge in nascent man, to finally emerge as 'divine-Kings and Rulers."' (Secret Doctrine, II, pp. 365-6) (Compound maha, great; rishi, a Sage or Seer. Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 81)
TG Maha Sunyata (Sk.). Space, or eternal law; the great void or chaos.
FY Maha Sunyata, space or eternal law; great emptiness.
SKf Maha-sunya, Maha-sunyata Maha-sunya or Maha-sunyata means 'the Great Void' or Infinite Space to our physical senses, but a great and lofty 'Fulness' to the awakened divinity within each man or god; also equivalent to the Pleroma of the ancient Greeks.
TG Mahasura (Sk.). The great Asura; exoterically -- Satan, esoterically -- the great god.
SD INDEX Mahasura (Skt), Hindu Lucifer II 237n
WGa Maha-sushupti, the great dreamless sleep of all, signifying pralaya or dissolution, for at the great pralaya everything goes into a state which for us can only be rendered as dreamless sleep.
TG Mahat (Sk.). Lit., "The great one". The first principle of Universal Intelligence and Consciousness. In the Puranic philosophy the first product of root-nature or Pradhana (the same as Mulaprakriti); the producer of Manas the thinking principle, and of Ahankara, egotism or the feeling of "I am I" (in the lower Manas).
KT Mahat (Sans.) Lit. "The Great One." The first principle of Universal Intelligence and consciousness. In the Puranic philosophy, the first product of root-nature or Pradhana (the same as Mulaprakriti); the producer of Manas the thinking principle, and of Ahankara, Egotism or the feeling of "I am I" in the lower Manas.
FY Mahat, Buddhi; the first product of root-nature and producer of Ahankara (egotism), and manas (thinking principle).
WG Mahat, intellect in the universal sense; first manifested intellect.
OG Mahat -- (Sanskrit) This word means "great." Mahat is a technical term in the Brahmanic system, and is the "father-mother" of manas; it is the "mother" of the manasaputras or sons of mind, or that element from which they spring, that element which they breathe and of which they are the children. In the Sankhya philosophy -- one of the six darsanas or "visions," i.e., systems of philosophical visioning of ancient India -- mahat is a term that corresponds to kosmic buddhi, but more accurately perhaps to maha-buddhi.
SKs Mahat Literally 'the Great.' Mahat is 'Divine Intelligence,' 'Cosmic Mind,' the source of the mind or Manas in man. Theosophy teaches that Mahat is actually the aggregate of the divine and spiritual intelligences of our cosmos, in other words, the host of Dhyani-Chohans.
IN Mahat (Skt) The "great"; cosmic mind or intelligence; source of manas.
SP Mahat -- universal intelligence, the macrocosmic equivalent to buddhi.
SD INDEX Mahat (Skt) I 88. See also Mind (cosmic), Universal Mind
ahamkara, five tanmatras & I 256n, 335; II 639
all wisdom reflection of II 81
appears first as Vishnu I 75; II 639n
awakened, & self-consciousness I 51
Brahma & I 350; II 79, 163
buddhi characteristic of I 256, 373
cosmic ideation or I 16
egg symbol & I 360
egoism of matter II 639n
first aspect of Parabrahm I 451
first creation of Brahma I 216n, 454n
first manifest intellect I 385
first product of pradhana I 216n, 256, 284
flames of, landed on Earth II 232
God, Logos I 256, 602
incarnating spirits of II 230
Indra personifies II 614
intellectual understanding II 378
Kantian mind & I 602
later called egotism (Anugita) I 75
Lucifer essence of II 513
maha-buddhi or I 335, 572
manas & ahamkara I 334
manas & chitti I 288n
manasaputras & II 167
manifested wisdom or I 110
mati synonym of II 414n
Mot (Phoenician) & Mut (Egyptian) I 451
Nous (Greek) I 350
occult & Vedanta views of I 62
our globe progeny of I 260
phantasm fr absolute wisdom I 62
Second Logos first emanation fr II 478
sons of, quickened man II 103, 230
subtile elements originate fr I 284-5
Thought w Gnostics I 74
transformed into human manas I 75
universal intelligent soul I 16, 420, 450; II 58-9, 639 &n
TG Mahatma. Lit., "great soul". An adept of the highest order. Exalted beings who, having attained to the mastery over their lower principles are thus living unimpeded by the "man of flesh", and are in possession of knowledge and power commensurate with the stage they have reached in their spiritual evolution. Called in Pali Rahats and Arhats.
KT Mahatma (Sans.) Lit., "Great Soul." An adept of the highest order. An exalted being, who having attained to the mastery over his lower principles, is therefore living unimpeded by the "man of flesh." Mahatmas are in possession of knowledge and power commensurate with the stage they have reached in their spiritual evolution. Called in Pali Rahats and Arhats.
FY Mahatma, a great soul; an adept in occultism of the highest order.
WG Mahatma, great soul. As applied to beings it is held by some to mean a perfectly developed sage who has become one with universal spirit. (maha, great; atma, spirit: mahatma, the Supreme Spirit, or maha-tattva; mahatma, great-souled, powerful.)
OG Mahatma -- (Mahatman, Sanskrit) "Great soul" or "great self" is the meaning of this compound word (maha, "great"; atman, "self"). The mahatmas are perfected men, relatively speaking, known in theosophical literature as teachers, elder brothers, masters, sages, seers, and by other names. They are indeed the "elder brothers" of mankind. They are men, not spirits -- men who have evolved through self-devised efforts in individual evolution, always advancing forwards and upwards until they have now attained the lofty spiritual and intellectual human supremacy that now they hold. They were not so created by any extra-cosmic Deity, but they are men who have become what they are by means of inward spiritual striving, by spiritual and intellectual yearning, by aspiration to be greater and better, nobler and higher, just as every good man in his own way so aspires. They are farther advanced along the path of evolution than the majority of men are. They possess knowledge of nature's secret processes, and of hid mysteries, which to the average man may seem to be little short of the marvelous -- yet, after all, this mere fact is of relatively small importance in comparison with the far greater and more profoundly moving aspects of their nature and lifework. Especially are they called teachers because they are occupied in the noble duty of instructing mankind, in inspiring elevating thoughts, and in instilling impulses of forgetfulness of self into the hearts of men. Also are they sometimes called the guardians, because they are, in very truth, the guardians of the race and of the records -- natural, racial, national -- of past ages, portions of which they give out from time to time as fragments of a now long-forgotten wisdom, when the world is ready to listen to them; and they do this in order to advance the cause of truth and of genuine civilization founded on wisdom and brotherhood. Never -- such is the teaching -- since the human race first attained self-consciousness has this order or association or society or brotherhood of exalted men been without its representatives on our earth. It was the mahatmas who founded the modern Theosophical Society through their envoy or messenger, H. P. Blavatsky, in New York in 1875.
GH Mahatman literally 'Great Soul' or 'Great Self' compound of maha, great; atman, Self. In India today the word (Anglicized as Mahatma) is applied as a title to a man of outstanding achievement, although in ancient times it referred to a man of outstanding spiritual attainment, as mentioned in the Bhagavad-Gita. In Theosophical literature the word is employed technically for those beings farther advanced evolutionally than ordinary men, who are also referred to as the Masters of Wisdom, or the Sages and Seers. (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 55)
SKo Mahatman A 'Great Soul' or 'Great Self'; a compound of maha -- great, and atman -- self. The Mahatmans are adepts of the highest order and are the flowers of human evolution. They are known as Sages, Seers, and Masters of Wisdom.
SP Mahatman -- literally "great-souled one," master, Mahatma.
SD INDEX Mahatma(s) (Skt) See also Adepts, Arhans, Brotherhood (The), Initiates, Masters, Occultists
buddhas &, historical II 423
personality of I 52
Sons of Will & Yoga ancestors of II 173
spiritual intuition of I 46n
SD INDEX Mahatma Letters [all refs inMahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett]
Avalokitesvara I 471
Divine Essence fr Adam [error in IU, q in ML p 45] I xlii
failures among dhyani-chohans I 188; II 232-3n
fifth round men I 161
fourth race civilizations II 429-30
giant bones in Himalayan caves II 293n
impossible to give details I 164n
man in second round I 159-60
man's evolution thru fourth round I 188-9
many inhabited globe chains I 164
concerning Mars & Mercury I 163-6
metaphysics, East & West I 169
nomenclature needed I 167-8
777 incarnations I 168
seven man-bearing worlds I 167
time I 44
unable to give whole truth I 168
TG Mahatmya (Sk.). "Magnanimity", a legend of a shrine, or any holy place.
SD INDEX Mahatmya(s) (Skt), local legends I 367n
TG Mahatowarat (Sk.). Used of Parabrahm; greater than the greatest spheres.
SD INDEX Mahatorvavat [Mahatomahiyan] (Skt)
"greater than the great" I 35
Katha-Upanishad I, 2, 20
TG Mahattattwa (Sk.). The first of the seven creations called respectively in the Puranas -- Mahattattwa, Chuta, Indriya, Mukhya, Tiryaksrotas, Urdhwasrotas and Arvaksrotas.
SD INDEX Mahat-tattva (Skt), First Creation I 446, 450-2
SD INDEX Mahavansa [Mahavamsa] (Skt)
Morya (Maurya) name I 378n
Sattapanni cave I xx
TG Mahavanso (Pali.). A Buddhist historical work written by Bhikshu Mohanama, the uncle of King Dhatusma. An authority on the history of Buddhism and its spread in the island of Ceylon.
FY Mahavanso, a Buddhist historical work written by the Bhikshu Mohanama, the uncle of King Dhatusma.
TG Maha Vidya (Sk.). The great esoteric science. The highest Initiates alone are in possession of this science, which embraces almost universal knowledge.
SD INDEX Maha-vidya (Skt), magic, now tantrika I 169
TG Mahayana (Pal.). A school; lit., "the great vehicle". A mystical system founded by Nagarjuna. Its books were written in the second century B.C.
KT Mahayana (Sans.) A school of Buddhistic philosophy; lit., the "Great Vehicle." A mystical system founded by Nagarjuna. Its books were written in the second century B.C.
WG Maha-yana, "the great vehicle," a system of Buddhism promulgated by Nargajuna.
SKv Mahayana, Hinayana The Mahayana or 'the Great Vehicle' and the Hina-yana or 'the Lower or Incomplete Vehicle' are the names of two schools of Buddhist religion and philosophy. The Hinayana is the older of the two schools, and its sects are found in Ceylon, Burma, Siam, and Cambodia. The Mahayana School, though of a later date, embraces a more esoteric aspect of the original teachings of the Buddha than does the Hinayana. The Western representatives of the Mahayana are in Tibet and Mongolia, the eastern in China, Japan, Korea, and Hawaii. Though these two schools fundamentally teach the same truths, the Mahayana is more distinctly religious and intuitive, and the Hinayana more intellectual in type. The Hinayana could be said to teach the 'Eye-Doctrine,' and the Mahayana the 'Heart Doctrine.' The Pratyeka-Buddha doctrine, or the attainment of liberation for Self, in other words, Nirvana, is the goal of the Hinayana, whereas that of the Mahayana is the Buddha of Compassion, or Self-Renunciation for the salvation of mankind, the great Bodhisattva doctrine, which makes the highest call on the human heart: the Renunciation of well-earned Nirvana in order to serve and enlighten struggling hearts still left on earth.
SD INDEX Mahayana Buddhism (ists)
adepts of, & Taraka division I 158
Alaya in I 48-9
Hinayana &, re nidanas, etc I 39-40
originated after Buddha's death I 39
"Vedantins in disguise" II 637
worship of bodhisattvas II 34n
SEE ALSO; HINAYANA
TG Maha Yogin (Sk.). The "great ascetic". A title of Siva.
SD INDEX Mahayogin(s) (Skt) II 613
inhabited White Island II 584
pasa or ankh-tie of II 548-9
Siva called I 459
TG Maha Yuga (Sk.). The aggregate of four Yugas or ages, of 4,320,000 solar years: a "Day of Brahma" in the Brahmanical system; lit., "the great age".
FY Maha-Yug, the aggregate of four Yugas, or ages -- 4,320,000 years -- in the Brahmanical system.
SD INDEX Maha-yuga(s) (Skt) I 641
aggregate of four ages I 63
Chaldeans also used I 655n
equals total of four ages I 450; II 308n
length of II 69 &n, 70, 321, 624n
no figures more meddled w II 73
one thousand, in Day of Brahma I 63, 372; II 308n, 505
rebels tied to Earth during II 246
seventy-one in a manvantara II 307n, 321
SEE ALSO; YUGA
SD INDEX Mahendra (Skt), star in Ursa Minor & II 612 &n
WG Mahesvara, the great lord, the Supreme Spirit. (maha, great; isvara, master.)
GH Mahesvara literally 'Great Lord,' a term applied to the 'spirit.' Also a title applied to Siva (the third member of the Hindu Trimurti). (Compound maha, great; isvara, lord, master. Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 96)
WG Mahima, a power or siddhi by which one can expand the consciousness and perception so as to embrace the largest mass or the greatest space.
WG Mahimnastava, a hymn of praise.
SD INDEX Mahody [Mahadeva], of Elephanta II 85
SD INDEX Mahomet. See Mohammed
TG Mahtmya (Sk.). "Magnanimity", a legend of a shrine, or any holy place.
GH Mahusudana (should be Madhusudana, q.v. The name of many Sanskrit writers. Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 51)