H.P.
Blavatsky describes Taurus as a ‘most mysterious constellation of the Zodiac,
one connected with all the “First-born” solar gods. The Bull is the symbol of
force and procreative power—the Logos’ (Blavatsky ‘Taurus’, Theosophical
Glossary). Moreover, the ‘worship of the Bull and the Ram was addressed to one
and the same power, that of generative creation, under two aspects— the
celestial or cosmic, and the terrestrial or human. The ram-headed gods all
belong to the latter aspect, the bull—to the former. the emblems of the
generative, or of evolutionary power in the Universal Kosmos’ (Blavatsky,
Bull-Worship, Theosophical
Glossary).
She gives a general overview
of the Bull symbol in different traditions: ‘The bull Nardi, the vehan
of Siva and the most sacred emblem of this god, is reproduced in the Egyptian
Apis; and in the bull created by Ormazd and killed by Ahriman. The religion of
Zoroaster, all based upon the "secret doctrine," is found held by the
people of Eritene; it was the religion of the Persians when they conquered the
Assyrians. From thence it is easy to trace the introduction of this emblem of LIFE represented by the Bull, in every
religious system. The college of the Magians had accepted it with the change of
dynasty; Daniel is described as a Rabbi, the chief of the Babylonian
astrologers and Magi (Book of Daniel, iv,v); therefore we see
the Assyrian little bulls and the attributes of Siva reappearing under a hardly
modified form in the cherubs of the Talmudistic Jews, as we have traced the
bull Apis in the sphinxes or cherubs of the Mosaic Ark; and as we find it
several thousand years later in the company of one of the Christian evangelists
Luke’ (Isis Unveiled 2, 235-6).
1-Nandi [Bull] 2nd c. AD Mysore |
2- Nandi, zoo-anthropomorphic form |
3- Apis, Bull with moon, 1823-25 |
As early as the time of the Narmer Palette, the king is depicted with a bovine tail on one side, and a bull is seen knocking down the walls of a city on the other. Occasionally, Apis was pictured with the sun-disk symbol of his mother, Hathor, between his horns, being one of few deities ever associated with her symbol. When the disk was depicted on his head with his horns below and the triangular marking on his forehead, an ankh was suggested. That symbol always was closely associated with Hathor.
4-Apis statue |
The calf that matched these markings was selected from
the herds, brought to a temple, given a harem of cows, and worshiped as an
aspect of Ptah. The cow who was his mother was believed to have conceived him by
a flash of lightning from the heavens, or from moonbeams. She also was treated
specially, and given a special burial. At the temple, Apis was used as an oracle,
his movements being interpreted as prophecies. His breath was believed to cure
disease and his presence to bless those around with strength. A window was
created in the temple through which he could be viewed and, on certain
holidays, he was led through the streets of the city, bedecked with jewelry and
flowers (Griffith, Francis Llewellyn (1911). "Apis". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 168).
Blavatsky also points out the
story of the bull in the Zoroastrian Avesta:
5- Persepolis mural: death of Gavaevodata |
6- Gozu Tenno |
Jean-Marie
Ragon relates how the bull in Japanese myths relates to this sign (La Messe et ses Mysteres, 1844, p. 347). With the fusion of Shinto and Buddhism, Susa-no-O was identified with GozuTenno ("Bull-headed King of Heaven").
Image References1- 2nd-century CE sculpture of a Nandi in Mysore https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandi_(Hinduism)#/media/File:Nandibull.jpg
2-Painting on paper, c. 1820s https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandi_(Hinduism)#/media/File:Nandieshvara.jpg
3- "Api or Hapi (Apis, Taureau Consacré a la Lune)", 1823-25. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apis_(deity)#/media/File:Api_or_Hapi_(Apis,_Taureau_Consacr%C3%A9_a_la_Lune),_N372.2.jpg
4- Apis statue http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=70
5- Persepolis mural: The death of Gavaevodata/Gawiewdad, the primordial bovine, whose cithra is rescued by the moon. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Mah
6- Ox-Headed Deva King, gozu tenno 牛頭天王 The Japanese god of plague https://heianperiodjapan.blogspot.com/2015/09/gozu-tenno-legends.html
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