Guest guest Posted August 9, 2004 Report Share Posted August 9, 2004 Hello everyone, A good friend of mine has recently endeavored to expand an article he wrote on the apotropaic (demon destroying) uses of iron into a full blown book. Among the interesting things he is elaborating on: the uses of iron for cemetary gates, moroccan uses of iron to protect against jinn, the common horseshoe hung above a door is another example of iron warding off spirits, Tibetan phurba daggers feature iron blades but use bronze handles presumably to protect from harming ones own spiritual energies, old folk remedies to fight deiseases caused by ghosts use water with iron in them, iron nails placed around doorways to protect houses in europe, siberian yakut shamans wearing clothes covered in iron pieces the jingling sound of which warded off evil spirits etc. etc. The list goes on and on. What I want to ask is if anyone here has any knowledge of the symbolic uses of metals in Hindu ritual practices???? Also, 2 very important things..... Shivas Trident and Kalis sword are both supposed to be made of iron. Does anyone know why??? When I had my Khorgo forged in Bengal they told me that if it was to be sacred to Kali it simply must be made of iron, but know one could say why specifically!!!! At Tarapith as well as Kalighat I flet and examined both swords and they were surely black iron. Also, is there any rules in temple conduct, or construction prohibiting the uses of iron??? If anyone has any ideas please send them my way. As to why Iron is regarded as being so powerful in warding off demons, negative spirits etc. I cannot answer. I know that it is magnetic- the only metal that really magnetizes so maybe the properties of that have something to do with it. Interesting nonetheless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 In a message dated 8/10/2004 5:01:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, kalipadma writes: Each of the planets is associated with a metal in alchemy. The associations are different in West and East, though. See below Thats really neat! I know the western correspondences from studying alchemy, magick, kabbalah etc. but the Indian planet/metal correspondences were unknown! Do you know any source materials for info on things like that???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 Everywhere iron was found, it's magical attraction to lodestone (natural magnets), and ability to me magnetized was noted and appreciated. In Western traditions, iron is considered a metal of planet Mars (the lesser malific). It has magical associations because the older, Goddess-worshipping cultures of the West used bronze weapons, and the new invaders iron weapons cut through them like butter. In India, iron is considered the metal sacred to Shani (planet Saturn, the greater malific). Wearing iron or steel jewelry will protect you from Saturn's restrictions and trials. Worshipping Kali will give the same protection from Saturn. Maybe that is why Kali's kadgha should be made of iron? -- Len/ Kalipadma <jyotish student> On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 21:35:10 EDT swastik108 writes: > Hello everyone, > > > A good friend of mine has recently endeavored to expand an article > he wrote > on the apotropaic (demon destroying) uses of iron into a full blown > book. > > Among the interesting things he is elaborating on: > > the uses of iron for cemetary gates, moroccan uses of iron to > protect against > jinn, the common horseshoe hung above a door is another example of > iron > warding off spirits, Tibetan phurba daggers feature iron blades but > use bronze > handles presumably to protect from harming ones own spiritual > energies, old folk > remedies to fight deiseases caused by ghosts use water with iron in > them, iron > nails placed around doorways to protect houses in europe, siberian > yakut > shamans wearing clothes covered in iron pieces the jingling sound of > which warded > off evil spirits etc. etc. > > The list goes on and on. > > What I want to ask is if anyone here has any knowledge of the > symbolic uses > of metals in Hindu ritual practices???? Also, 2 very important > things..... > > Shivas Trident and Kalis sword are both supposed to be made of iron. > Does > anyone know why??? When I had my Khorgo forged in Bengal they told > me that if it > was to be sacred to Kali it simply must be made of iron, but know > one could > say why specifically!!!! > > At Tarapith as well as Kalighat I flet and examined both swords and > they were > surely black iron. > > Also, is there any rules in temple conduct, or construction > prohibiting the > uses of iron??? > > If anyone has any ideas please send them my way. As to why Iron is > regarded > as being so powerful in warding off demons, negative spirits etc. I > cannot > answer. I know that it is magnetic- the only metal that really > magnetizes so maybe > the properties of that have something to do with it. Interesting > nonetheless. > ______________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 21:35:10 EDT swastik108 writes: > What I want to ask is if anyone here has any knowledge of the > symbolic uses > of metals in Hindu ritual practices???? Each of the planets is associated with a metal in alchemy. The associations are different in West and East, though. See below/ PLANET WESTERN INDIAN Sun gold copper & gold Moon silver silver Mars iron copper Mercury mercury* mercury* Jupiter tin pure gold Venus copper silver & zinc Saturn lead iron * Since mercury is liquid, brass or amalgam (mercury mixed with silver) may be substituted. -- Len/ Kalipadma ______________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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