Ancient pagan and modern Christian symbolism . Figure 133. Kamala, one of the many forms given to female bears in one hand the lotus, emblem of self-fructifica-tion, — in other similar figures an effigy of the phallus isplaced, — whilst in the other she holds her infant Krishna,Crishna, or Vishnu. Such groups are as common in India 89 as in Italy, in pagan temples as in Christian idea of the mother and child is pictured in every ancientcountry of whose art any remains exist. Figure 134 is taken from plate xxiv., fig. 1, of MoorsHindu Pantheon, it represents a subject of
Ancient pagan and modern Christian symbolism . Figure 133. Kamala, one of the many forms given to female bears in one hand the lotus, emblem of self-fructifica-tion, — in other similar figures an effigy of the phallus isplaced, — whilst in the other she holds her infant Krishna,Crishna, or Vishnu. Such groups are as common in India 89 as in Italy, in pagan temples as in Christian idea of the mother and child is pictured in every ancientcountry of whose art any remains exist. Figure 134 is taken from plate xxiv., fig. 1, of MoorsHindu Pantheon, it represents a subject often depicted by. Figure 134. the Hindoos and the Greeks, viz., androgynism, the unionof the male and female creators. The technical word isArddha-Nari. The male on the right side bears the emblems 90 of Siva or Mahadeva, the female on the left those of Parvatior Sacti. The bull and lioness are emblematic of the mas-culine and feminine powers. The mark on the templeindicates the union of the two ; an aureole is seen aroundthe head, as in modern pictures of saints. In this drawingthe Ganges rises from the male, the idea being that thestream from Mahadeva is as copious and fertilising as thatmighty river. The metaphor here depicted is common inthe East, and is precisely the same as that quoted in 7, and also from some lost Hebrew book in John It will be noticed, that the Hindoos express androgyneityquite as conspicuously, but generally much less indelicately,than the Grecian artists. Figure 135 is a common Egyptian emblem, said tosignify eternity, but in truth it has another meaning. Th
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