Capricorn 183Since the sign marks the dawn of gods it is called
the doorway of entrance into the temple of higher
initiation. The six signs from Capricorn to Cancer form
the arch towards the north. This is called Makara Tho-ran.a
(the arch of Capricorn or the Divine arch just as the lower
arch is called the Royal arch). After crossing death and
entering the new life, the candidate for initiation goes
down into the bottom of the earth to search for the hidden
treasures. After he is permitted through the doorway of
higher initiations in Capricorn, he climbs up along the
Divine arch. The symbols of all the gods and Goddesses
of the Hindu temples are decorated with the divine arch
around their heads. This divine arch is the halo around
the heads of gods which is but the spirit in man. This arch
exists between man and God in the final stages.
Man crosses this arch and is already there in the
Sanctum Sanctorum as one with God though not as God.
There is a sword hanging at the top of this arch (vernal
equinox). The head of the candidate is severed in sacrifice
by this sword and the candidate has become “the jewel”
on the heart of God in His necklace. A heirophant of the
highest rituals knows the full significance of this
symbolism. The ritual of the sacrifice of Daksha where the
head of the sacrificer himself is cut and replaced by that
of a ram is the highest and the last ritual of a particular
order. After this ritual all the gods and Rishi
-
s gather
around the Lord of the Ritual and praise Him as “The
Lord under the shade of the Great Banian tree”. He reveals
the word to them through silence. At this stage, the Lord
is called Dakshin.a-mu-rthy (exoterically the Lord of tolerance
but esoterically the Lord facing south). The meridian has
got a spiritual connection with the south (where the north
pole of the earth’s magnet is located) and the vernal