Justin Martyr had a deep reverence for this great disciple of Pythagoras and in his writings he expresses wonder at the potency of the talismans of Apollonius, which calm the fury of the sea, hold back the winds of Heaven, cause wild animals to become tame;—“Our Lord’s miracles are held to us only by tradition, but the miracles of Apollonius are uncountable almost, and truly were evident enough to charm all those who saw them.”
CHAPTER VIII
STONES IN VARIOUS MYTHOLOGIES
THE DWELLING PLACE OF INDRA: THE SERPENT KING: THE CHARIOT OF SURYA: SURYA’s TEMPLE: RAMA AND THE BRIDGE OF ADAM: THE AVATARAS: THE TEMPLE CAVES OF KANHARI: NECKLACE OF THE KING OF MAABAR: JAIPAL’s NECKLACE: THE BUDDHIST TWELVE HEAVENLY JEWELS: THE TREASURES: THE OFFERINGS OF THE FOUR DEVA SAGAS: THE BLACK STONE OF MECCA: ROLAND AND THE JEWEL OF THE FOREST KNIGHT: IRISH CHARM STONES: DENDRITES: GARDEN CHARMS.
Meru or the North Pole, the abode of the great Indra who, according to the Rigveda, “fixed firm the moving Earth, made tranquil the incensed mountains, who spread the wide firmament, who consolidated the Heavens,” is symbolically presented as a shining mountain of jewels and precious metals.
The Lord of Patala (the infernal regions), Seshanaga, known as the King of the Serpents, is pictured in the Bhagavad-Gita (Revelations) as:
"Of appearance gorgeous and brilliant. He has a thousand heads and on each of them is set a crown of glittering gem stones. His neck is black, his body is black and black are his tongues.
“Like torches gleam his eyes: yellow-coloured are the borders of his robe: from each ear hangs a sparkling gem stone: his extended arms are adorned with jewelled bracelets: his hands hold the holy shell, the radiant weapon, the war mace and the lotus.”
Surya is the great Sun to whose chariot is harnessed seven green horses driven by the charioteer Arun, the Dawn. In his account of the Temple of Surya, Hort quotes the following from a very old traveller: “The walls were of red marble interspersed with streaks of gold. On the pavement was an image of the radiant Divinity, hardly inferior to himself in splendour: his rays being imitated by a boundless profusion of rubies, pearls and diamonds of inestimable value, arranged in a most judicious manner and diffusing a lustre scarcely endurable by the sight.” The Hindu work AYEEN AKBERY is also quoted by the same author. In it the temple of Surya is thus described: “Near to Jaggernaut is the Temple of the Sun in the erecting of which was expended the whole revenue of Orissa for twelve years. The wall which surrounds the edifice is one hundred and fifty cubits high and nineteen cubits thick: having three entrances. At the Eastern Gate are two very fine figures of elephants, each with a man upon his trunk. On the West are two surprising figures of horsemen completely armed, who having killed two elephants are seated upon them. In front of that gate is an octagonal pillar of black stone fifty cubits high. Nine flights of steps lead to an extensive enclosure, in which is a large dome constructed of stone, upon which are carved the Sun and the Stars: and around them is a border on which is represented a variety of human figures expressive of different passions: some kneeling, others prostrate: together with a number of imaginary strange animals.”
Rama’s monkey army is said to have built a bridge of rocks, called the Bridge of Adam, from the western point of India to Ceylon. Krishna, the eighth Avatara or incarnation of Vishnu, is represented in magnificent dress adorned with garlands of wild flowers and with strings of costly pearls around his ankles. His complexion is blue, as is also the large bee usually depicted flying above his head. The Avataras are all adorned with gems, flowers and loose gauze cloaks interwoven with gold and silver and colours, while they hold various symbols such as the Holy Shell, the axe, rings, etc.
The antique Temple Caves of Kanhari at Salsette contain remarkable stone carvings, some of the statues cut from the main rock being fifteen feet high. Of these sacred figures some are adorned with helmets, others have jewelled crowns, others great masses of hair. The famous necklace of the King of Maabar was composed of rubies, sapphires and emeralds, and the necklace taken from Jaipal, the Hindu King, by Mahmud (1001 A.D.) was made up of pearls, rubies and various precious stones, the whole being valued at over 500,000 dollars. These necklaces were regarded as religious objects. Buddha was worshipped symbolically as a black square stone, and the ancient Zodiac of the Buddhist has been known as the Twelve Heavenly Jewels. This is symbolized as: