CHAPTER VIII

STONES IN VARIOUS MYTHOLOGIES

THE DWELLING PLACE OF INDRA: THE SERPENT KING: THE CHARIOT OF SURYA: SURYA’s TEMPLE: RAMA AND THE BRIDGE OF ADAM: THE AVATARAS: THE TEMPLE CAVES OF KANHARI: NECKLACE OF THE KING OF MAABAR: JAIPAL’s NECKLACE: THE BUDDHIST TWELVE HEAVENLY JEWELS: THE TREASURES: THE OFFERINGS OF THE FOUR DEVA SAGAS: THE BLACK STONE OF MECCA: ROLAND AND THE JEWEL OF THE FOREST KNIGHT: IRISH CHARM STONES: DENDRITES: GARDEN CHARMS.

Meru or the North Pole, the abode of the great Indra who, according to the Rigveda, “fixed firm the moving Earth, made tranquil the incensed mountains, who spread the wide firmament, who consolidated the Heavens,” is symbolically presented as a shining mountain of jewels and precious metals.

The Lord of Patala (the infernal regions), Seshanaga, known as the King of the Serpents, is pictured in the Bhagavad-Gita (Revelations) as:

"Of appearance gorgeous and brilliant. He has a thousand heads and on each of them is set a crown of glittering gem stones. His neck is black, his body is black and black are his tongues.

“Like torches gleam his eyes: yellow-coloured are the borders of his robe: from each ear hangs a sparkling gem stone: his extended arms are adorned with jewelled bracelets: his hands hold the holy shell, the radiant weapon, the war mace and the lotus.”

Surya is the great Sun to whose chariot is harnessed seven green horses driven by the charioteer Arun, the Dawn. In his account of the Temple of Surya, Hort quotes the following from a very old traveller: “The walls were of red marble interspersed with streaks of gold. On the pavement was an image of the radiant Divinity, hardly inferior to himself in splendour: his rays being imitated by a boundless profusion of rubies, pearls and diamonds of inestimable value, arranged in a most judicious manner and diffusing a lustre scarcely endurable by the sight.” The Hindu work AYEEN AKBERY is also quoted by the same author. In it the temple of Surya is thus described: “Near to Jaggernaut is the Temple of the Sun in the erecting of which was expended the whole revenue of Orissa for twelve years. The wall which surrounds the edifice is one hundred and fifty cubits high and nineteen cubits thick: having three entrances. At the Eastern Gate are two very fine figures of elephants, each with a man upon his trunk. On the West are two surprising figures of horsemen completely armed, who having killed two elephants are seated upon them. In front of that gate is an octagonal pillar of black stone fifty cubits high. Nine flights of steps lead to an extensive enclosure, in which is a large dome constructed of stone, upon which are carved the Sun and the Stars: and around them is a border on which is represented a variety of human figures expressive of different passions: some kneeling, others prostrate: together with a number of imaginary strange animals.”

Rama’s monkey army is said to have built a bridge of rocks, called the Bridge of Adam, from the western point of India to Ceylon. Krishna, the eighth Avatara or incarnation of Vishnu, is represented in magnificent dress adorned with garlands of wild flowers and with strings of costly pearls around his ankles. His complexion is blue, as is also the large bee usually depicted flying above his head. The Avataras are all adorned with gems, flowers and loose gauze cloaks interwoven with gold and silver and colours, while they hold various symbols such as the Holy Shell, the axe, rings, etc.

The antique Temple Caves of Kanhari at Salsette contain remarkable stone carvings, some of the statues cut from the main rock being fifteen feet high. Of these sacred figures some are adorned with helmets, others have jewelled crowns, others great masses of hair. The famous necklace of the King of Maabar was composed of rubies, sapphires and emeralds, and the necklace taken from Jaipal, the Hindu King, by Mahmud (1001 A.D.) was made up of pearls, rubies and various precious stones, the whole being valued at over 500,000 dollars. These necklaces were regarded as religious objects. Buddha was worshipped symbolically as a black square stone, and the ancient Zodiac of the Buddhist has been known as the Twelve Heavenly Jewels. This is symbolized as:

An antelope or horse (in the place of Aries)

A bull Twins Crab Lion Virgin Scales Scorpion Bow and arrow (in the place of Sagittarius) Elephant (in the place of Capricorn) Waterbearer Swastika (in the place of Pisces)

The Zodiacal Treasures of the King are:

The Elephant equalling Capricorn The Horse equalling Aries The Beautiful Jewel equalling Libra The Wife equalling Virgo Holy Guide of the House equalling Aquarius The General equalling Sagittarius The Swastika equalling Pisces

Mr. Samuel Beal, B.A.R.N., etc., gives the following account of the offering of the Alms Dish in his “Buddhist Records of the Western World”: “The four Deva Sagas coming from the four quarters each brought a golden dish and offered it. The Lord sat silently and accepted not the offerings on the ground that such a costly dish became not the character of a hermit. The four Kings casting away the golden dishes offered silver ones. Afterwards they offered vessels of Po-Chi (crystal), Liu-Li (Lapis Lazuli), Ma-Nao (Carnelian), Ku-Chi (amber), Chin-Chu (ruby), and so on. The Lord of the World would accept none of them. The four Kings then returned to their palaces and brought as an offering stone patras of a deep blue colour and translucent. On their again presenting these the Lord to avoid accepting one and rejecting the others joined them all in one and thus accepted them. Putting them one within the other the Lord made one vessel of the four. Therefore four borders are to be seen on the outside of the rim of the dish.”

Black stones have been repeatedly mentioned in the history of man. We have seen them in the transition of Aglauros, in the Buddhistic devotion, and in the Biblical narratives. These Matsebah have been found engraved with the twelve signs of the Zodiac, sometimes symbolized as the twelve Gods of Assyria. Gramaldi in “Zodiacs and Planispheres” mentions a black stone which exhibited ten out of the twelve zodiacal signs and ten decans out of the thirty-six. It was found near the Tigris in Bagdad, and is perhaps the oldest zodiacal monument extant, its date being set down at 1320 years before the Christian era. But the most famous of all black stones is the HAJER-ALASVAD which is now set into the south-east corner of the KA’BAH. The story of this sacred relic is told very completely by Hadji Khan and Wilfred Sparrey in “With the Pilgrims to Mecca”: Having determined to form man in his own image, the Creator called the angels Gabriel, Michael and Israfil, each at a different time, requesting that they should bring for his purpose seven handfuls of earth from seven earth strata, and seven colours. But the Earth cried out that the anger of God would one day fall on her through the wickedness and folly of man, and so the angel departed without accomplishing the work. God then sent the Angel Azrail who, listening to no appeal, remorselessly carried out his divinely appointed task. God then made Azrail the Angel of Death, who ever after separated the souls of men from their useless bodies. The Earth was then set down between Mecca and Tayef where, having been pressed to a proper degree by the angels, it was shaped as a man by the Creator. The mass was then left for 40 years, being visited only by the Angels. But the angel Edris who, “from being of those that are nearest to God, became the Devil,” grew furious because he knew that man was designed to be his master. So with a vow that he would always oppose him, Edris kicked the image of earth which responded with an empty sound. Then the Creator breathed into the image His own Spirit and Man arose. He was given Paradise to inhabit, and out of his left side Eve was taken. When Man fell and was found no longer worthy of Eden, a peculiar stone fell too and, says the narrative, “this stone became the most cherished possession of the Muhammadan world.” The story continues: "It (the stone) was restored to Paradise at the Deluge, after which it was brought back to earth by Gabriel and given to Abraham who set it in the south-eastern corner of the Ka’bah which he is said to have built. There it remained till the Karmatians overturned the fundamental points of Islam, bearing it away in triumph to their capital. The citizens of Mecca sought to redeem the stone by offering no less than 5000 pieces of gold for it. The ransom was scornfully rejected by the impious sectaries. Some 22 years later, however, they sent back the stone voluntarily, covering their discomfiture by declaring it to be a counterfeit. The dismay of the Meccans was allayed when they discovered that the stone would swim on water, that being the peculiar quality of the stone they had lost; so they were satisfied that the true one had been returned to them. At first the stone was whiter than milk, but it grew to be black by the sins of mankind. All believers, whatever may be the cause to which they attribute the change of colour, agree that the defilement is purely superficial, the inside of the stone being still as white as the driven snow. The silver box wherein it lies is about twenty inches square and is raised a little more than five feet from the ground. A round window having a diameter of some nine inches is kept open to enable the pilgrims to kiss or touch the treasure within, the treasure being known as “the right hand of God on Earth.” In colour it is a shining black; in shape hollow like a saucer, presumably the result of the pressure of devoted lips. If a pilgrim fails to touch the Stone he must make a reverential salaam before it and pass on. Special prayers are also said. The guide accompanying the authors recited the following lines from the Fortuhul Haremeyn before leaving:

“Think not that the KA’BAH was made from the earth: in the body of the world it took the place of the heart. And the stone you call the Black Stone was itself a ball of dazzling light. In ages past the Prophet said it shone like the crescent moon until at last the shadows falling from the sinful hearts of those that gazed on it turned its surface black. Now since the amber gem that came to the earth from Paradise with the Holy Ghost, has received such impressions on itself what should be the impressions which our hearts receive? Verily, whosoever shall touch it being pure of conscience, is like unto him that has shaken hands with God.”

Other accounts state that the stone is about seven inches in diameter, oval and irregular, made up of a number of smaller and variously sized pieces, which inclines one to the opinion that it was at one time shattered by some hard blow and afterwards put together again. The most recent descriptions of the stone of Mecca agree that it is of a dark reddish-brown colour with a brown border seemingly of pitch and small sand stones, the whole being set in a band of silver.

The most wonderful thing regarding the history of this relic of Islam is that one little stone, the Black Stone of Mecca, should have such powerful attraction for over 222,000,000 of the inhabitants of the world.

Included in Guerber’s “Myths and Legends of the Middle Ages” is the following story of Roland and the Jewel:

“Charlemagne learning that the Robber Knight of the Ardennes had a precious jewel set in his shield called all his bravest noblemen together and bade them sally forth separately with only a page as escort in quest of the knight. Once found they were to challenge him in true knightly fashion, and at the point of the lance win the jewel he wore. A day was appointed when, successful or not, the courtiers were to return, and, beginning with the lowest in rank, were to give a truthful account of their adventures while on the quest. All the knights departed and scoured the Forest of the Ardennes, each hoping to meet the robber knight and win the jewel. Among them was Milon, accompanied by his son Roland, a lad of fifteen, whom he had taken as page and armour-bearer. Milon had spent many days in vain search for the knight when, exhausted by his long ride, he dismounted, removed his heavy armour and lay down under a tree to sleep, bidding Roland keep close watch during his slumbers. For a while Roland watched faithfully: then, fired by a desire to distinguish himself he donned his father’s armour, sprang on his steed and rode off into the forest in search of adventures. He had not gone very far when he saw a gigantic horseman coming to meet him and by the dazzling glitter of a large stone set in his shield he recognized him to be the invincible Knight of the Ardennes. Afraid of nothing, however, the lad laid his lance in rest when challenged to fight, and charged so bravely that he unhorsed his opponent. A fearful battle on foot ensued, each striving hard to accomplish the death of the other. But at last the fresh young energy of Roland conquered and his terrible foe fell to the ground in agony. Hastily wrenching the coveted jewel from the shield of the dead warrior, the boy hid it in his breast. Then riding rapidly back to his sleeping father he laid aside the armour and removed all traces of a bloody encounter. Soon after Milon awoke and resumed the quest, when he came upon the body of the dead knight. He was disappointed indeed to find that another had won the jewel, and rode sadly back to court to be present on the appointed day. In much pomp, Charlemagne ascended his throne amid the deafening sound of trumpets. Then seating himself he bade the knights appear before him. Each in turn told of finding the knight slain and the jewel gone. Last of all came Milon. Gloomily he made his way to the throne to repeat the story that had already been told so often. But as he went there followed behind him with a radiant face young Roland, proudly bearing his father’s shield in the centre of which shone the precious jewel. At the sight of this all the nobles started and whispered that Milon had done the deed. Then when he dismally told how he too had found the knight dead, a shout of incredulity greeted him. Turning his head he saw to his amazement that his own shield bore the gem. At the sight of it he appeared so amazed that Charlemagne set himself to question Roland, and thus soon learned how it had been obtained. In reward for his bravery in this encounter Roland was knighted and allowed to take his place among the paladins of the Emperor. Nor was it long before he further distinguished himself, becoming to his father’s delight the most renowned among all that famous company.”

The Irish Charm stones used to charm away vermin, are about one inch in thickness and about four inches long. The Australian natives carried magical stones which could never be seen by women.

Certain stones known as Dendrites exhibit markings which take the _form of trees_, grass, moss, etc. (see Moss Agate). The ancients considered them fortunate for prosperity in farming and in general affairs of life. Brigadier General Kenneth Mackay mentions in his book, “Across Papua,” various carved stones which were employed by the natives as garden charms.