Ancient Psychedelia: Alien Gods & Mushroom Goddesses
Online Book - Chapter 5, Page 69
Back to Online Book Mainpage / Next Page (Chapter 5, Page 70)
| Vishnu serves the role of the dying and resurrected vegetation god as well. During the months of June-July through October-November, it is believed through popular custom that Vishnu sleeps. This is the time when vegetation is dying, and harvests can no longer occur. From Popular Religion and Folklore in Northern India by Crooke, we read: “At the commencement of the sugar cane harvest in the north figures of Vishnu and his wife Lakshmi are painted on a wooden board on which offerings are placed. A fire-sacrifice is offered, and five sugar canes are tied together at the top of a board. The mill is then marked with red paint and lamps are lighted upon it. Vishnu is thereupon awakened with an incantation and called upon to arise because ‘the clouds are dispersed the full moon will soon appear in perfect brightness.’ Fresh fruits of the season are offered to him and the harvest begins with mirth, revelry and dancing.” (34) Vishnu is the sacrificial god in the Satapatha Brahmana, and we find that he hides himself among the roots of the plants and he is buried about 3 inches deep. This becomes Vishnu’s altar. Perfect for a mushroom, wouldn’t you agree? In addition we get the symbolism of the (3). (9) The gods said: “What has become of Vishnu? What has become of the sacrifice?” They said: “On all (three) sides he is enclosed by the metres, with Agni to the east, there is no (way of) escaping: search for him in this very place!” By slightly digging they accordingly searched for him. They discovered him at a depth of three inches (or thumb's breadths): therefore, the altar should be three inches deep; and therefore, also Pâñki made the altar for the Soma-sacrifice three inches deep. This, however, one must not do. Among the roots of the plants he (Vishnu) hid himself: therefore, let him (the Adhvaryu) bid (the Âgnîdhra) to cut out the roots of the plants. And since they found (anu-vid) Vishnu in that place, therefore it is called Vedi (altar). (35) Vishnu (Sanskrit, ‘the Preserver’) in the Hindu pantheon, is married to Maha Lakshmi or Sri, a form of the Mother Goddess or Shakti. Two of his avatars are Rama and Krishna. (36) Varaha is a boar-headed Vishnu and Hayagriva is a horse-headed Vishnu, both of which are depicted under a “parasol,” or mushroom (18f, h). In the alternative, they have a dome over them representing the cap and their bodies represent the stem. The Hindu deities always hold implements in their hands such as a “gada,” which have resemblance to the mushroom, but do not look exactly like them. There’s always a fanciful explanation for these implements of their iconography. It’s either a parasol or an axe or a shield or an arrow, or a mace, but every time I have found it’s really just a mushroom in disguise. There are not many references to Vishnu in the Rig Veda. |
 (18f) Matsya Avatar of Lord Vishnu. Eshava Temple, Somnathpur, Karnataka  (18h) Vishnu in the form of a boar Hoysaleshvara Temple, Halebid, India c. 1100-1200 AD Once again, the deity is said to reside among cattle, whether cow, bull or oxen: (6) Fain would we go unto your dwelling-places where there are many-horned and nimble oxen, For mightily, there, shineth down upon us the widely-striding Bull's sublimest mansion. (RV1) Hymn CLIV. Viṣṇu (34) Cult of the Mother Goddess, p. 106; Crooke, Popular Religion and Folklore in Northern India, vol. ii, 1896, p. 299); http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43682/43682-h/43682-h.htm (35) Magic Mushrooms, p. 30; Satapatha Brahmana, 1.2.5.9 (36) Cult of the Mother Goddess, p. 106; Ivengar, Dravidic Studies, vol. iii, p. 62 |
Go Back to Page 68