Book Title: Philosophical Writings
Author(s): Hemant Shah
Publisher: Academy of Philosophy

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Page 159
________________ 140 Philosophical Writings movement in the shape ot a female, downward-pointing triangle, which is red. From this original couple, the white and the red, evolves a series of interwoven triangles, four male (upward-pointing) and four more female (downward-pointing). Their interpenetration produces circuits of lesser triangles, which represent the sub-dividing of the original creative energies into more definite forces. The outer circles and rings of lotus petals symbolize the unfolded reality of the world. All the different phases of the creative process seem to exist at once, since we are looking backwards, beyond the flow of passing time”. "The diagram illustrates some of the chief icons in Tantra, arranged in progressive series from left to right. At the top is the lingam, the male organ, symbol of the male seed of Being. In creative act it is represented as encircled by a symbol for the yoni, the female vulva, organ for the generation of world and time. Seen in plan view, the central shaft may become a circle or a dot, enclosed either in a vulva shape or a female triangle. Another image represents the lingam in an egg-like shape, with red flashes appearing on its surface (plate 9). This is the first stage of differentiation towards the creation of extended time (plate 8).” Fig. 5. Stylized symbols based on the female genital organs, with and without the male Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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