CWTVKS Volume 2

Symbolisms

Q: You have stated (p. 74 Lights on the Veda) that the triangle, square, cross represent certain inner truths. What do the symbols represent? It is also stated in the previous paragraph that the vehicles, vahanas, colours of devas represent certain states. Can you illustrate them with references and descriptions given in the Rig Veda of Agni, Indra, Vayu, Varuna and Aditya? Garuda, Risabha, Swan, are respectively the vahanas of Vishnu, Siva and Brahma. Do they represent the Veda, the turbulent mind, and the calm mind?

A: The meaning of these symbolisms, really speaking, becomes clear to one whose vision-centre opens and turns upon them. A certain mental idea about them has little value. Of course they are used in worship according to the instructions received by the initiate, besides they are interpreted in different ways by different schools of occult thought. For instance, Circle represents a wider and larger world. A Triangle—it depends upon the position—generally represents, according to some, creation. Cross represents transformation and so on. But the real thing in all these things is, when the sadhaka perceives them in the inner vision either the significance dawns on him or follows the vision or corresponds to the experience that he is to get or has already got. In some cases the symbols may be just devices for worship which may not correspond to truths that pertain to the planes to which the world of symbols belongs. And it is not of much use to make an attempt to reconcile the symbols mentioned in Puranas and the Tantra with those we come across in the Upanishads, much less with those of the Vedas. The Veda, turbulent mind, calm mind—that is the explanation given usually. But the Eagle, the Bull, the Swan these signify something different in the Veda.