The Names of the Signs ……. Their Exoteric or Literal Meanings
1. Mesha ……………………… Ram, or Aries. 2. Rishabha …………………..Bull, or Taurus. 3. Mithunam ………………. Twins, or Gemini (male and female). 4. Karkataka …………………. Crab, or Cancer. 5. Simha ………………………… Lion, or Leo. 6. Kanya ……………………….. Virgin or Virgo.* 7. Tula …………………….. Balance, or Libra. 8. Vrischika ………………… Scorpion, or Scorpio. 9. Dhanus ………………….. Archer, or Sagittarius. 10. Makara ……….. The Goat, or Capricornus (Crocodile, in Sanskrit). 11. Kumbha ……………… Water-bearer, or Aquarius. 12. Meenam …………….. Fishes, or Pisces.
The figures of the constellations included in the signs at the time the division was first made do not at all resemble the shapes of the animals, reptiles and other objects denoted by the names given them. The truth of this assertion can be ascertained by examining the configurations of the various constellations. Unless the shape of the crocodile** or the crab is called up by the observer's imagination, there is very little chance of the stars themselves suggesting to his idea that figure, upon the blue canopy of the starry firmament.
———— * Virgo-Scorpio, when none but the initiates knew there were twelve signs. Virgo-Scorpio was then followed for the profane by Sagittarius. At the middle or junction-point where now stands Libra and at the sign now called Virgo, two mystical signs were inserted which remained unintelligible to the profane.—Ed. Theos.
** This constellation was never called Crocodile by the ancient Western astronomers, who described it as a horned goat and called it so— Capricornus.—Ed. Theos. ————
If, then, the constellations have nothing to do with the origin of the names by which the Zodiacal divisions are indicated, we have to seek for some other source which might have given rise to these appellations. It becomes my object to unravel a portion of the mystery connected with these Zodiacal signs, as also to disclose a portion of the sublime conception of the ancient Hindu philosophy which gave rise to them. The signs of the Zodiac have more than one meaning. From one point of view they represent the different stages of evolution up to the time the present material universe with the five elements came into phenomenal existence. As the author of "Isis Unveiled" has stated in the second volume of her admirable work, "The key should be turned seven times" to understand the whole philosophy underlying these signs. But I shall wind it only once and give the contents of the first chapter of the History of Evolution. It is very fortunate that the Sanskrit names assigned to the various divisions by Aryan philosophers contain within themselves the key to the solution of the problem. Those of my readers who have studied to some extent the ancient "Mantra" and the "Tantra Sastras" * of India, would have seen that very often Sanskrit words are made to convey a certain hidden meaning by means of well-known pre-arranged methods and a tacit convention, while their literal significance is something quite different from the implied meaning.
————- * Works on Incantation and Magic. ————-
The following are some of the rules which may help an inquirer in ferreting out the deep significance of ancient Sanskrit nomenclature to be found in the old Aryan myths and allegories:
1. Find out the synonyms of the word used which have other meanings.
2. Find out the numerical value of the letters composing the word according to the methods given in ancient Tantrika works.