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