Doane 326

Mother’s Day (p. 330, p. 335.) “ Crishna and his mother are almost always represented Black,” (pp. 327, p. 331, and pp. 335 - 338.) Bigoted heathens. . . . built splendid temples, in honor of Ma-tsoo-po, ‘queen of Heaven.’ (p. 327.) The Cross and “ Queen of Heaven.” (p. 328, and p. 332.) [More references at bottom of this page.]
Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions (Page) 326 CHAPTER XXXII. THE WORSHIP OF THE VIRGIN MOTHER. The worship of the “ Virgin,” the “ Queen of Heaven,” the “ Great Goddess,” the “ Mother of God,” &c., which has become one of the grand features of the Christian religion— the Council of Ephesus (A. D. 431) having declared Mary “ Mother of God,” her assumption being declared in 813, and her Immaculate Conception by the Pope and Council in 1851 ^a — was almost universal, for ages before the birth of Jesus, and “ the pure virginity of the celestial mother was a tenet of faith for two thousand years before the virgin now adored was born.” ^b ^a See Bonwick’s Egyptian Belief, p. 115, and Monumental Christianity, pp. 206 and 226. ^b Inman: Ancient Faiths, vol. i. p. 159. In India, they have worshiped, for ages, Devi, Maha-Devi— “ The One Great Goddess” ^c — and have temples erected in honor of her. ^d Gonzales states that among the Indians he found a temple “ Pariturś Virginis” — of the Virgin about to bring forth. ^e ^c See Williams’ Hinduism. ^d See Higgins Anacalypsis, vol. i. p. 540. ^e See Taylor’s Diegesis, p. 185. Maya, the mother of Buddha, and Devaki, the mother of Crishna, were worshiped as virgins, ^f and represented with the infant Saviours in their arms, just as the virgin of the Christians is represented at the present day. Maya was so pure that it was impossible for God, man, or Asura to view her with carnal desire. ^f St. Jerome says “ It is handed down as a tradition among the Gymnosophists of India, that Buddha, the founder of their system was brought forth by a virgin from her side.” (Contra Jovian, bk. i. Quoted in Rhys Davids’ Buddhism, p. 183.) THE WORSHIP OF THE VIRGIN MOTHER. 327 [ Fig. No. 16 ] is a representation of the Virgin Devaki, with the infant Saviour Crishna, taken from Moor’s “ Hindu Pantheon.” ^g “ No person could bear to gaze upon Devaki, because of the light that invested her.” “ The gods, invisible to mortals, celebrated her praise continually from the time that Vishnu was contained in her person.” ^h ^g Plate 59. ^h Monumental Christianity, p. 218. Of the Virgin Mary we read: “ Her face was shining as snow, and its brightness could hardly be borne. Her conversation was with the angels, &c.” (Nativity of Mary, Apoc.) “ Crishna and his mother are almost always represented Black,” ⁱ and the word “Crishna” means “ the Black.” The Chinese, who have had several avatars, or virgin-born gods, among them, have also worshiped a Virgin Mother from time immemorial. Sir Charles Francis Davis, in his “ History of China,” tells us that the Chinese at Canton worshiped an idol, to which they gave the name of “ The Virgin.” ^j ⁱ See Ancient Faiths, i. 401. ^j Davis’s China, vol. ii. p. 95. The Rev. Joseph B. Gross, in his “ Heathen Religion,” tells us that: “ Upon the altars of the Chinese temples were placed, behind a screen, an image of Shin-moo, or the ‘ Holy Mother,’ sitting with a child in her arms, in an alcove, with rays of glory around her head, and tapers constantly burning before her.” ^k ^k The Heathen Relig., p. 60. Shin-moo is called the “ Mother Goddess,” and the “ Virgin.” Her child, who was exposed in his infancy, was brought up by poor fishermen. He became a great man, and performed wonderful miracles. In wealthy houses the sacred image of the “ Mother Goddess” is carefully kept in a recess behind an altar, veiled with a silken screen. ^l ^l Barrows: Travels in China, p. 467. The Rev. Mr. Gutzlaff, in his “Travels,” speaking of the Chinese people, says: “ Though otherwise very reasonable men, they have always showed themselves bigoted heathens. . . . They have everywhere built splendid temples, chiefly in honor of Ma-tsoo-po, the ‘queen of Heaven.’ ” ^m ^m Gutzlaff ’s Voyages, p. 154. Isis, mother of the Egyptian Saviour, Horus, was worshiped as a virgin. Nothing is more common on the religious monuments of Egypt than the infant Horus seated in the lap of his virgin mother. She is styled “ Our Lady,” the “ Queen of Heaven,” “ Star of the Sea,” “ Governess,” “ Mother of God,” “ Intercessor,” “ Immaculate Virgin,” &c; ⁿ all of which epithets were in after years applied to the Virgin Mother worshiped by the Christians. ^o ⁿ Bonwick’s Egyptian Belief, p. 141. ^o See The Lily of Israel, p. 14. (Page) 328 BIBLE MYTHS. “ The most common representation of Horus is being nursed on the knee of Isis, or suckled at her breast.” ^p In Monumental Christianity (Fig. 92), is to be seen a representation of “ Isis and Horus.” The infant saviour is sitting on his mother’s knee, while she gazes into his face. A cross is on the back of the seat. The author, Rev. J. P. Lundy, says, in speaking of it: “ Is this Egyptian mother, too, meditating her son’s conflict, suffering, and triumph, as she holds him before her and gazes into his face? And is this cross meant to convey the idea of life through suffering, and conflict with Typho or Evil?” ^p Kenrick’s Egypt, vol. i. p. 425. In some statues and basso-relievos, when Isis appears alone, she is entirely veiled from head to foot, in common with nearly every other goddess, as a symbol of a mother’s chastity. No mortal man hath ever lifted her veil. Isis was also represented standing on the crescent moon, with twelve stars surrounding her head. ^q In almost every Roman Catholic Church on the continent of Europe may be seen pictures and statues of Mary, the “ Queen of Heaven,” standing on the crescent moon, and her head surrounded by twelve stars. ^q See Draper’s Science and Religion, pp. 47, 48. and Higgins’: Anacalypsis, vol. i. p. 304. Dr. Inman, in his “ Pagan and Christian Symbolism,” gives a figure of the Virgin Mary, with her infant, standing on the crescent moon. In speaking of this figure, he says: “ In it the Virgin is seen as the ‘Queen of Heaven,’ nursing her infant, and identified with the crescent moon. . . . Than this, nothing could more completely identify the Christian mother and child, with Isis and Horus.” ^r ^r Pagan and Christian Symbolism, p. 50. This crescent moon is the symbol of Isis and Juno, and is the Yoni of the Hindoos. ^s ^s See Monumental Christianity, p. 307. and Dr. Inman’s Ancient Faiths. The priests of Isis yearly dedicate to her a new ship (emblematic of the YONI), laden with the first fruits of spring. Strange as it may seem, the carrying in procession of ships, in which the Virgin Mary takes the place of the heathen goddesses, has not yet wholly gone out of use. ^t ^t See Cox’s Aryan Mythology, vol. ii p. 112. nota. Isis is also represented, with the infant Saviour in her arms, enclosed in a framework of the flowers of the ancient bean, or lotus. ^u The Virgin Mary is very often represented in this manner, as those who have studied medićval art well know. ^u See Pagan and Christian Symbolism, pp. 12, 14. THE WORSHIP OF THE VIRGIN MOTHER. 329 Dr. Inman, describing a painting of the Virgin Mary, which is to be seen in the South Kensington Museum, and which is enclosed in a framework of flowers, says: “ It represents the Virgin and Child presisely as she used to be represented in Egypt, in India, in Assyria, Babylonia, Phoenicia, and Eturia.” ^v ^v Pagan and Christian Symbolism, pp. 4, 5. The lotus and poppy were sacred among all Eastern Nations, and were consecrated to the various virgins worshiped by them. These virgins were represented holding this plant in their hands, just as the virgin, adored by the Christians, is represented at the present day. ^w Mr. Squire, speaking of this plant, says: ^w See Knight: Ancient Art and Mythology, pp. 45, 104, 105. “ We see, in pictures that the Virgin and Child are associated in modern times with the split apricot, the pomegranate, rimmon, and the vitue, just as was the ancient Venus.” (Dr. Inman: Ancient Faiths, vol. i. p. 528. “ It is well known that the ‘ Nymphe’— lotus or water-lily— is held sacred throughout the East, and the various sects of that quarter of the globe represented their deities either decorated with its flowers, holding it as a sceptre, or seated on a lotus throne or pedestal. Lacshmi, the beautiful Hindoo goddess, is associated with the lotus. The Egyptian Isis, is often called the ‘ Lotus-crowned’, in the ancient invocations. The Mexican goddess Corieotl, is often represented with a water-plant resembling the lotus in her hand.” ^x ^x Serpent Symbol, p. 39. In Egyptian and Hindoo Mythology, the offspring of the virgin is made to bruise the head of the serpent, but the Ronamists have given this office to the mother. Mary is often seen represented standing on the serpent. Fig. 17 alludes to this, and to her immaculate conception, which, as we have seen, was declared by the Pope and council in 1851. The notion of the divinity of Mary was broached by some at the council of Nice, and they were thence named Marianites. The Christian father Epiphanus accounts for the fact of the Egyptians worshiping a virgin and child, by declaring that the prophecy— “ Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son”— must have been revealed to them. ^y ^y Taylor’s Diegesis, p. 185. [ Book available here: Bible Myths ] Doane, Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions, 7th ed., pp. 330 et seq. Doane, Bible Myths pp. 299 et seq. INDEX of Subjects. Martian Visitor ( Home ) Metaphysics: Which is PRIMARY? The Pagan origins of Easter THE WORLD’S SIXTEEN CRUCIFIED SAVIORS or Christianity Before Christ CONTAINING New, Startling and Extraordinary Revelations In Religious History, Which Disclose The Oriental Origin Of All The Doctrines, Principles, Precepts, And Miracles Of The CHRISTIAN NEW TESTAMENT And Furnishing A Key For Unlocking Many Of It’s Sacred Mysteries, Besides comprising the History Of 16 HEATHEN CRUCIFIED GODS BY KERSEY GRAVES Copyright, 1875

Mother’s Day (p. 330, p. 335.) “ Crishna and his mother
are almost always represented Black,” (pp. 327, p. 331, and pp. 335 - 338.) Bigoted heathens. . . . built splendid temples, in honor of Ma-tsoo-po, ‘queen of Heaven.’ (p. 327.) The Cross and “ Queen of Heaven.” (p. 328, and p. 332.)
[More references at bottom of this page.]

Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions
(Page) 326 CHAPTER XXXII.

THE WORSHIP OF THE VIRGIN MOTHER.

The worship of the “ Virgin,” the “ Queen of Heaven,” the “ Great Goddess,” the “ Mother of God,” &c., which has become one of the grand features of the Christian religion— the Council of Ephesus (A. D. 431) having declared Mary “ Mother of God,” her assumption being declared in 813, and her Immaculate Conception by the Pope and Council in 1851 ^a — was almost universal, for ages before the birth of Jesus, and “ the pure virginity of the celestial mother was a tenet of faith for two thousand years before the virgin now adored was born.” ^b

^a See Bonwick’s Egyptian Belief, p. 115, and Monumental Christianity, pp. 206 and 226.
^b Inman: Ancient Faiths, vol. i. p. 159.

In India, they have worshiped, for ages, Devi, Maha-Devi— “ The One Great Goddess” ^c — and have temples erected in honor of her. ^d Gonzales states that among the Indians he found a temple “ Pariturś Virginis” — of the Virgin about to bring forth. ^e

^c See Williams’ Hinduism.
^d See Higgins Anacalypsis, vol. i. p. 540.
^e See Taylor’s Diegesis, p. 185.

Maya, the mother of Buddha, and Devaki, the mother of Crishna, were worshiped as virgins, ^f and represented with the infant Saviours in their arms, just as the virgin of the Christians is represented at the present day. Maya was so pure that it was impossible for God, man, or Asura to view her with carnal desire.

^f St. Jerome says “ It is handed down as a tradition among the Gymnosophists of India, that Buddha, the founder of their system was brought forth by a virgin from her side.” (Contra Jovian, bk. i. Quoted in Rhys Davids’ Buddhism, p. 183.)

THE WORSHIP OF THE VIRGIN MOTHER. 327

[ Fig. No. 16 ] is a representation of the Virgin Devaki, with the infant Saviour Crishna, taken from Moor’s “ Hindu Pantheon.” ^g “ No person could bear to gaze upon Devaki, because of the light that invested her.” “ The gods, invisible to mortals, celebrated her praise continually from the time that Vishnu was contained in her person.” ^h

^g Plate 59.
^h Monumental Christianity, p. 218. Of the Virgin Mary we read: “ Her face was shining as snow, and its brightness could hardly be borne. Her conversation was with the angels, &c.” (Nativity of Mary, Apoc.)

“ Crishna and his mother are almost always represented Black,” ⁱ and the word “Crishna” means “ the Black.”
The Chinese, who have had several avatars, or virgin-born gods, among them, have also worshiped a Virgin Mother from time immemorial. Sir Charles Francis Davis, in his “ History of China,” tells us that the Chinese at Canton worshiped an idol, to which they gave the name of “ The Virgin.” ^j

ⁱ See Ancient Faiths, i. 401.
^j Davis’s China, vol. ii. p. 95.

The Rev. Joseph B. Gross, in his “ Heathen Religion,” tells us that:

“ Upon the altars of the Chinese temples were placed, behind a screen, an image of Shin-moo, or the ‘ Holy Mother,’ sitting with a child in her arms, in an alcove, with rays of glory around her head, and tapers constantly burning before her.” ^k

^k The Heathen Relig., p. 60.

Shin-moo is called the “ Mother Goddess,” and the “ Virgin.” Her child, who was exposed in his infancy, was brought up by poor fishermen. He became a great man, and performed wonderful miracles. In wealthy houses the sacred image of the “ Mother Goddess” is carefully kept in a recess behind an altar, veiled with a silken screen. ^l

^l Barrows: Travels in China, p. 467.

The Rev. Mr. Gutzlaff, in his “Travels,” speaking of the Chinese people, says:

“ Though otherwise very reasonable men, they have always showed themselves bigoted heathens. . . . They have everywhere built splendid temples, chiefly in honor of Ma-tsoo-po, the ‘queen of Heaven.’ ” ^m

^m Gutzlaff ’s Voyages, p. 154.

Isis, mother of the Egyptian Saviour, Horus, was worshiped as a virgin. Nothing is more common on the religious monuments of Egypt than the infant Horus seated in the lap of his virgin mother. She is styled “ Our Lady,” the “ Queen of Heaven,” “ Star of the Sea,” “ Governess,” “ Mother of God,” “ Intercessor,” “ Immaculate Virgin,” &c; ⁿ all of which epithets were in after years applied to the Virgin Mother worshiped by the Christians. ^o

ⁿ Bonwick’s Egyptian Belief, p. 141.
^o See The Lily of Israel, p. 14.

(Page) 328 BIBLE MYTHS.

“ The most common representation of Horus is being nursed on the knee of Isis, or suckled at her breast.” ^p In Monumental Christianity (Fig. 92), is to be seen a representation of “ Isis and Horus.” The infant saviour is sitting on his mother’s knee, while she gazes into his face. A cross is on the back of the seat. The author, Rev. J. P. Lundy, says, in speaking of it:

“ Is this Egyptian mother, too, meditating her son’s conflict, suffering, and triumph, as she holds him before her and gazes into his face? And is this cross meant to convey the idea of life through suffering, and conflict with Typho or Evil?”

^p Kenrick’s Egypt, vol. i. p. 425.

In some statues and basso-relievos, when Isis appears alone, she is entirely veiled from head to foot, in common with nearly every other goddess, as a symbol of a mother’s chastity. No mortal man hath ever lifted her veil.
Isis was also represented standing on the crescent moon, with twelve stars surrounding her head. ^q In almost every Roman Catholic Church on the continent of Europe may be seen pictures and statues of Mary, the “ Queen of Heaven,” standing on the crescent moon, and her head surrounded by twelve stars.

^q See Draper’s Science and Religion, pp. 47, 48. and Higgins’: Anacalypsis, vol. i. p. 304.

Dr. Inman, in his “ Pagan and Christian Symbolism,” gives a figure of the Virgin Mary, with her infant, standing on the crescent moon. In speaking of this figure, he says:

“ In it the Virgin is seen as the ‘Queen of Heaven,’ nursing her infant, and identified with the crescent moon. . . . Than this, nothing could more completely identify the Christian mother and child, with Isis and Horus.” ^r

^r Pagan and Christian Symbolism, p. 50.

This crescent moon is the symbol of Isis and Juno, and is the Yoni of the Hindoos. ^s

^s See Monumental Christianity, p. 307. and Dr. Inman’s Ancient Faiths.

The priests of Isis yearly dedicate to her a new ship (emblematic of the YONI), laden with the first fruits of spring. Strange as it may seem, the carrying in procession of ships, in which the Virgin Mary takes the place of the heathen goddesses, has not yet wholly gone out of use. ^t

^t See Cox’s Aryan Mythology, vol. ii p. 112. nota.

Isis is also represented, with the infant Saviour in her arms, enclosed in a framework of the flowers of the ancient bean, or lotus. ^u The Virgin Mary is very often represented in this manner, as those who have studied medićval art well know.

^u See Pagan and Christian Symbolism, pp. 12, 14.

THE WORSHIP OF THE VIRGIN MOTHER. 329

Dr. Inman, describing a painting of the Virgin Mary, which is to be seen in the South Kensington Museum, and which is enclosed in a framework of flowers, says:

“ It represents the Virgin and Child presisely as she used to be represented in Egypt, in India, in Assyria, Babylonia, Phoenicia, and Eturia.” ^v

^v Pagan and Christian Symbolism, pp. 4, 5.

The lotus and poppy were sacred among all Eastern Nations, and were consecrated to the various virgins worshiped by them. These virgins were represented holding this plant in their hands, just as the virgin, adored by the Christians, is represented at the present day. ^w Mr. Squire, speaking of this plant, says:

^w See Knight: Ancient Art and Mythology, pp. 45, 104, 105. “ We see, in pictures that the Virgin and Child are associated in modern times with the split apricot, the pomegranate, rimmon, and the vitue, just as was the ancient Venus.” (Dr. Inman: Ancient Faiths, vol. i. p. 528.

“ It is well known that the ‘ Nymphe’— lotus or water-lily— is held sacred throughout the East, and the various sects of that quarter of the globe represented their deities either decorated with its flowers, holding it as a sceptre, or seated on a lotus throne or pedestal. Lacshmi, the beautiful Hindoo goddess, is associated with the lotus. The Egyptian Isis, is often called the ‘ Lotus-crowned’, in the ancient invocations. The Mexican goddess Corieotl, is often represented with a water-plant resembling the lotus in her hand.” ^x

^x Serpent Symbol, p. 39.

In Egyptian and Hindoo Mythology, the offspring of the virgin is made to bruise the head of the serpent, but the Ronamists have given this office to the mother. Mary is often seen represented standing on the serpent. Fig. 17 alludes to this, and to her immaculate conception, which, as we have seen, was declared by the Pope and council in 1851. The notion of the divinity of Mary was broached by some at the council of Nice, and they were thence named Marianites.
The Christian father Epiphanus accounts for the fact of the Egyptians worshiping a virgin and child, by declaring that the prophecy— “ Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son”— must have been revealed to them. ^y

^y Taylor’s Diegesis, p. 185.

[ Book available here: Bible Myths ]

Doane, Bible Myths and their Parallels
in other Religions, 7th ed., pp. 330 et seq.

Doane, Bible Myths pp. 299 et seq.

INDEX of Subjects.

Martian Visitor ( Home )

Metaphysics: Which is PRIMARY?

The Pagan origins of Easter

THE WORLD’S
SIXTEEN CRUCIFIED SAVIORS
or
Christianity Before Christ
CONTAINING
New, Startling and Extraordinary Revelations In
Religious History, Which Disclose The Oriental
Origin Of All The Doctrines, Principles,
Precepts, And Miracles Of The
CHRISTIAN NEW TESTAMENT
And Furnishing A Key For Unlocking Many Of
It’s Sacred Mysteries, Besides comprising the
History Of 16 HEATHEN CRUCIFIED GODS
BY
KERSEY GRAVES Copyright, 1875