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
|
Nandi is the bull vahana of the Hindu
god Shiva. He is
also the guardian deity of Kailash, the abode of Shiva. Almost all Shiva temples
display stone-images of a seated Nandi, generally facing the main shrine.
According to Saiva
Siddhanta, Nandeeswarar is considered to be chief
among the Siddhars,
initiated by Mother Parvati and Father Shiva. He passed on
what he had learned to his 8 disciples, namely, the Four
Kumaras, Sundaranandar
who later becomes Tirumular by a chance happening, Vyagrapada
(also known as Pullipani), Patanjali, and Sivayoga Muni. They were sent out in eight
different directions, to spread wisdom (Gopinatha Rao, T. A. (1997). Elements of Hindu Iconography, Volume 2. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 213). Subba Row gives an
esoteric account of the Hindu astrological symbol: Rishabha. This
word is used in several places in the Upanishats and the Veda to mean Pranava
(Aum). Shankarâchârya has so interpreted it in several portions of his
commentary. [Example: Rishabhasya – Chhandasam
Rishabhasya Pradhânasya Pranavasya]
 |
| 2- Nandi, zoo-anthropomorphic form |
For the Egyptian symbolism,
Blavatsky gives a rather specific instance of the god Apis: “It is not simple
chance,” we are told, “that has placed in certain spheres, on a throne, the
head of that bull (Taurus), trying to push away with the ansated
cross on its horns, a Dragon; the more so, since this constellation
of Taurus was called ‘the great city of God and the mother of
revelations,’ and also ‘the interpreter of the divine voice,’ the Apis
pacis of Hermoutis, in Egypt, which (as the patristic fathers would
assure the world) preferred oracles that related to the birth of the Saviour” (Pneumatologie,
iv., 71) … The serpent was the symbol of
Wisdom; and the Bull (Taurus)
the symbol of physical or terrestrial generation. Thus the latter,
pushing off the Dragon, or spiritual, Divine Wisdom, with the Tau,
or Cross — which is esoterically “the foundation and framework of all
construction” (Secret Doctrine 1, 657) . Moreover, the 'black bull Mnevis, the son of Ptah, was sacred to the God Ra at Heliopolis; the Pacis of
Hermonthis—to Amoun Horus, &c., &c., and Apis himself was a
hermaphodite and not a male animal, which shows his cosmic character' (Blavatsky,
Bull-Worship, Theosophical
Glossary).
,_N372.2.jpg) |
| 3- Apis, Bull with moon, 1823-25 |
Regarding Apis in the form a bull, this animal was
chosen because it symbolized the courageous heart, great strength, and fighting
spirit of the king. Apis came to being considered a manifestation of the king,
as bulls were symbols of strength and fertility, qualities that are closely
linked with kingship. "Strong bull of his mother Hathor" was a
common title for Egyptian gods and male kings, being unused for women serving
as king, such as Hatshepsut.
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
|
Early on, Apis was the herald (wḥm)
of Ptah, the chief
deity in the area around Memphis. As a manifestation of Ptah, Apis also was
considered to be a symbol of the king, embodying the qualities of kingship. In
the region where Ptah was worshiped, cattle exhibited white patterning on their
mainly black bodies, and so a belief grew up that the Apis calf had to have a
certain set of markings suitable to its role. It was required to have a white triangular
marking upon its forehead, a white Egyptian vulture wing outline on its back, a
scarab mark under its tongue, a white crescent moon shape on its right flank,
and double hairs on his tail.
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:
Kain, presiding over the Taurus
(Bull) of the Zodiac, is also very suggestive. Taurus belongs to the earthy
trigon, and in connection with this sign it will not be amiss to remind the
student of an allegory from the Persian Avesta. The story goes that
Ormazd produced a being — source and type of all the universal beings — called LIFE, or Bull in the Zend.
Ahriman (Cain) kills this being (Abel), from the seed of which (Seth) new
beings are produced. (Isis
Unveiled 2, 465).
 |
| 6- Gozu Tenno |
The Bundahishn of the Middle Persian era tells of the
world created by the deity Ahura Mazda. The great mountain, Alburz, grew for
800 years until it touched the sky. From that point, rain fell, forming the Vourukasha
sea and two great rivers. The first animal, the white bull, lived on the bank of the
river Veh Rod. Gavaevodata is the Avestan language name of the primordial bovine of Zoroastrian cosmogony and cosmology, one of Ahura Mazda's six primordial material creations and the mythological progenitor of all beneficent animal life.
However, the evil spirit, Angra Mainyu, killed it. Its seed was
carried to the moon and purified, creating many animals and plants (Boyce, Mary (1975), A History of Zoroastrianism, vol. 1, Leiden: Brill, pp. 138–139)
,_N372.2.jpg)
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#/media/File:Api_or_Hapi_(Apis,_Taureau_Consacr%C3%A9_a_la_Lune),_N372.2.jpg ){kind=link}
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