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THE SIDDHANTA.
four classes of living beings, that is, those whose bodies are made of the four different kinds of matter, namely, the air-bodied, the fire-bodied, the water-bodied, and the earth-bodied. The six wings of each of these beasts have a reference to the descending and ascending arcs of Time, called Avasarpini and Utsarpini respectively. The aras (spokes), of which there are six on each arc, probably refer to the divisions of time in which the four kinds of jivas undergo different kinds of experiences, on account of the changes of Time.
After this brief prelude, we may proceed to consider
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Mythology. Indra, the god of the thunder-bolt, is said to have committed adultery with Ahalya, the wife of his spiritual preceptor, Gautama, for which he was punished with a thousand disgraceful marks all over his body. These marks were, however, subsequently changed into eyes, which, according to Mr. W. J. Wilkins, the author of Hindu Mythology' came to be regarded, by the ignorant, as marks of his omniscience.' The interpretation of this myth gives us, in a few words, the nature of Life and the effect of its manifestation in matter. Indra is Life, the god who holds in his hands thunder and lightning. He is ever-joyous and fond of Soma, the intoxicating nectar of bliss. Ahalya is the wife of Gautama, the sage, who is an impersonation of wisdom, i,e., intellect. The wife of intellect is matter, since intellect primarily only deals with matter and form. The word Ahalya means night, i.e., darkness, as well as unploughed soil, and is thus suggestive of matter. Therefore, the mythological adultery of Indra with Ahalya only signifies the entry of Will, or Life, into matter, in consequence of which jivas appear as ugly spots on the body of Indra. These jivas subsequently evolve out self consciousness, in the course of spirit ual evolution; hence the disgraceful marks are changed into 'eyes' on the body of the god.
Mr. Wilkin's observation about the ignorance of those who regard these 'eyes' as marks of Indra's Omniscience needs no further comment.
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