________________
232
MYTHOLOGY of life, through which souls wander in the course of transmigration, namely.
(i) deva (as a resident of heavens), (ii) manushya (as a human being), (iii) narka (as a resident of a hell), and (iv) all others, collectively termed tiryancha (birds,
beasts, insects, plants, minerals, etc.). The three cipher-digits symbolise Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct, and the crescent moon is the mark of the quickening spirit who is bound to grow and wax strong, till He becomes Full and Perfect (like the full Moon). The cipher-digit at the top is, of course, an emblem of Godhood, full and perfect. This is the true explanation of the crescent moon in the language of symbolism.
As for the arch-angel, Gabriel, Sir Syed Ahmad declined to believe in his existence, holding that when the Prophet said that an angel had appeared unto him he meant nothing more or less than the simple fact that an unknown person had met him (The Philosophy of Islam by Khaja Khan, p. 54). But the true explanation is to be found elsewhere. It is said in the Shiva Samhita, a notable work on yoga :" When the yogi thinks of the great Soul, after rolling back
hig eyes, and concentrates his mind to the forehead, then he can perceive the lustre from the great Soul. That clever yogi who always meditates in the abovementioned way, evinces the great soul within himself and can even bold communion with Him."
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org