9 World Chronicles

The cup of Eternity

Classification: Sacred Object

Associated: immortality, longevity

Also Known As: the Holy Grail, The Cup of Life, The Serpent Grail

Culture: Hindu. Indian Sub Continent, Christianity (Europe) , Eastern Philosophy myth of China and Korea

Literature:  Aramahansa Yogananda’s poem, “The Cup of Eternity”. Medieval folk lore

. . . The deathly thirst so fleshly born

Shall parch his soul, oh, ne'er again!

The cup he'll drink, but not the bane,

To quench his thirst and bliss attain.* . . .

aramahansa Yogananda’s poem, “The Cup of Eternity” speaker is dramatizing the spiritual longing, metaphorically describes as “thirst,” which can by quenched only by God-realization through gaining awareness of the soul within the physical and mental encasements.

Marici she who is shining or Ray of Light

Classification: Deva, Bodhisattva

Culture: Buddhist Mahayana beliefs

Associated: light and the Sun

She is among the lists one of the guardian devas, specifically the Sixteen Devas

An Astro goddess in Buddhist Mahayana beliefs an emancipation of Vairocana whose name means coming from the sun.

 She also his female aspect or Sakti . She is further identified as the Bodhisattva  or budda-designate. She may also be the mother of Sakyamuni a form of the Buddha.

Considered by some to be the equal of Surya a Hindu Vedic sun deity worshipped circa 1700 bce and persist unto present times.

 She may be depicted in three headed form in which case her left hand is that of a pig. During this time the pig stood for mother hood, prosperity happiness. The Kemetic Goddesses Nut and Isis had associations to the pig or sow. And several Mesopotamian goddesses shared the connection.

She rides a chariot drawn by 7 boars. The boar was a primordial symbol of strength, fearless aggression, resolute courage Their colors are red yellow or white. her attributes also include the arrow the bow the fly wisk, prayer wheel, staff sword, and Trident.

Gandharvas

Classification: Divine or Heavenly beings/Demi Gods

Associated: Music, messengers,

Literary References: Mahabharata

In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, a Gandharva is a distinct heavenly being. It is also a term for skilled singers in Indian classical music.

They are male nature spirits and husbands of the Apsaras. Some are part animal, usually a bird or horse. They have superb musical skills. They guard the Soma and play beautiful music for the gods in their palaces. Gandharvas are frequently depicted as singers in the court of the gods.

Gandharvas in the historic sense acted as messengers between the gods and humans. In Hindu law, a Gandharva marriage is one contracted by mutual consent and without formal rituals.

The Gandharvas of ours are a class of Hindu demigods who are said to inhabit the heavens of the war God Indra along with the Apsaras. as natural spirits are associated with the fertility of the earth.

The Gandharvas Guard, the soma the sacred drink. Soma, in ancient India, an unidentified plant the juice of which was a fundamental offering of the Vedic sacrifices. ... The personified deity Soma was the “master of plants,” the healer of disease, and the bestower of riches.

The Soma drink conveyed divine powers to the Gods and draws comparisons the ambrosia of the Greek Gods.

In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, A Gandharvas united with and Apsara and produced the first two humans Yami and Yama.

Gandharvas can fly through the air, and are known for their skill as musicians. They are connected with trees and flowers, and are described as dwelling in the scents of bark, sap, and blossoms. They are among the beings of the wilderness that might disturb a monk meditating alone.