The Origin of Sacred Symbols and Row or Morris Games
by T.L. Subash Chandira Bose and Jack Andrews
Reprinted with permission.
In our mother earth millions of symbols were found in caves,
rocks surfaces, clay tablets, temples, stone pillars, manuscripts,
scrolls, and copper plates. These symbols were engraved/drawn by our
ancient people of different cultures. These symbols were drew the
attention of the researchers and scholars may be around 200 -300
years before. Due to unknown reason our knowledge to understand the
hidden meaning of the symbols are inadequate due to lack of ancient
records more over it appears the knowledge may be kept as secret by
limited people for unknown reasons. The origin and its period also
cannot be identified exactly due to lack of written script near or
around the symbols. In order to decipher one has to imagine, assume
the environment, life style of the ancient people, their culture and
religion. The scholars and researchers are managed to assume the
approximate periods to rounded figure of different ages of
civilization of human beings. So it remains as a tough task for the
researchers and scholars to decipher the ancient symbols.
There are some symbols with identical in shape and design, which
were found at many places having different cultures and religions.
Among those symbols, the symbol of three concentric oblongs found at
Kalkalpen (01), and on rock surface and doorsteps of Holy of Holy in
Tamil Nadu, India (02). The similar symbol was found on a clay sea
during excavation work at Harappa. (03). A study on this particular
symbol attracted the author, since a similar symbol (three
concentric square) also found among the symbols in "Row or
Morris Games" (04) it was also given title as a play board.
(1)Kalkalpen. (2) Tamil Nadu, India. (3)Harappa clay seal (4) Row or
Mill Games - Morris
(2) Symbol found on doorsteps of Holy of Holy In Tamil Nadu.
These symbols can be easily observed on the doorstep of entry gates
of towers and the doorstep of entry gates of the chambers of most
holy of holy. In some cases these symbols were identified on the
surface of rock or stone slabs in and around the temple complex. In
Indian traditional culture the door step of entry gate, the most
holy of holy considered to be most sacred place, even the door step
of main entry door of the residential house considered to be most
sacred one hence the entire door post and doors are decorated with
sacred sign and symbols spotted red (and yellow color) Kumkum and
Terminate paste. Since the doorsteps are considered to be most
sacred place and the particular symbol mostly found on the doorsteps
of holy of holy, the symbol must denote some sacred meaning.
Construction: The symbol with three concentric oblongs with
vertical and horizontal lines appears to be certainly a geometrical
Period: Based on the clay seal found at Harappa we can conclude
that the ancient people may know the knowledge of this symbol before
Ancient ritual ceremony and Geometry
A sacred ritual ceremony to find the cardinal direction indicated in
ancient manuscripts. Among those ancient manuscripts the
Vishvakarmiam and Maymata are the oldest manuscript. Vishvakarma
(Vishvakarmiam) said to the chief architect for Gods and Mayan
(Maymata) said to be the architect for human beings
The ancient geometry may be originated and developed for finding the
cardinal points with reference with sun. In the beginning our
ancestors would have been initially intend to know sun's path to
know the direction East and West. Later they found four directions
East, South, West and North, then other sub directions Southeast,
Southwest, Northwest and Northeast. In ancient time our ancestors
considered this as a most sacred practice and strictly followed as
ritual ceremony. Also a selected person called Sthapati (Architect)
will perform this ancient practice. It appears the ancient geometry
would have developed from this prime ritual practice. This ritual
practice narrated in details in various ancient texts. Even though I
am not intended to go in depth; the following few information is
essential to understand the ancient geometry of finding the cardinal
Chapter 6 - Orientation, Maya Mata (05) describes the ancient
geometrical method to find out the directions.
6.1-2a: Now I give the method of determining the cardinal points
with the help of gnomon. (One should proceed) at sunrise during a
month when the solar path is towards the north during a bright
fortnight when sunrise is beautiful, when there are no spots in the
solar disc and when the sun is in the asterism of the appropriate
6.2b- 3a: First of all a piece of ground in the middle of the
chosen site should be leveled by the water method; this must be
square one square pole in the center in the center of which the
gnomon should be set.
6.3b- 5: Herewith the dimensions of the gnomon (Sanku): the
largest kind is one cubit long, its diameter at is one digit at the
top and five at the bottom, it is perfectly circular and without
irregularities; one of medium size (has a length of) eighteen digits
and a small one a length of twelve or nine digits, their diameter at
the top and bottom being (in all case) proportionate to their
6.6- 7a: The materials prescribed for the making the gnomon are
as follows: Ivory, sandalwood, wood of khadira, kadara, sami, saka
or tinduka or other hard wood; its tip should be perfectly circular.
6.7b- 8a: When the gnomon has been made it is set up in the
chosen place at sunrise, then a circle is drawn of which the gnomon
is the center and which the diameter is double the length of the
6.8b-11a: The line which join the two points where the shadow (of
gnomon) has touched the circle in morning (A) and in the evening
(B), gives the east - west direction. The line which passes through
the space between these two points and (which is like that which)
connects the head and tail of a carp, is the north - south axis; the
sage should draw these two lines, Then the circles which have their
centers at the east and west points should be drawn.
6.11b- 13: (When the sun) is in Taurus or Virgo there is apaccya;
when it is in Aries, Gemini, Leo or Libra the (east-west axis) must
be put back two digits; when it is in Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces it
must be adjusted by four digits, when it is in Sagittarius or
Aquarius (it must be adjusted) by six digits and when it is in
Capricorn by eight digits. The east-west line is to be fixed after
it has been moved to the right or to left of the shadow.
6.27: (The east=west line) should be established with adjustments of
the following numbers of digits for each ten day period of each
month: (Aries) two, one, zero, (Taurus) zero, one, two, (Gemini)
two, three, four, (Cancer) four, three, two, (Leo) two, one, zero,
(Virgo) zero, one, two, (Libra) two, three, four, (Scorpio) four,
five, six, (Sagittarius) six, seven, eight, (Capricorn) eight,
seven, six, (Aquarius) six, five, four, (Pisces) four, three, two.
6-28: When the course of the sun has been taken into
consideration in relation to the constellations, the indicated
adjustment should be made, when necessary; the correction once made,
the line is drawn from the stake and the ground can be prepared.
The below diagram are the method to find cardinal
The possibility of the origins of sacred symbols arrived based on
ancient geometry of finding the cardinal points/directions. The
first symbol with a vertical and horizontal lines forming a shape of
a + (plus) cross was the first sacred symbol referring the four
cardinal (E, S, W and N) directions. The symbols in Morris play game
indicated in red. NB: In the group of symbols few symbols are
repeated for reference purpose.
Conclusion: We request the readers, scholars and researchers to
decide whether the symbols in Morris game are really meant for game
or originated from ancient sacred ritual geometry?
01. "Morris on rock in the northern part of the
Kalkalpen" by Franz Mandl
Author's Collections of ancient sacred symbols,
03. Yantra -The
tantric symbols of cosmic unity: Madhu Kanna, page-10,
04. Return to
the Board Games Page Return to the Museum and Archive of Games Index
Page. , 05.mayamata: Chapter-6, Orientation; translated by Bruno
Please contact: [email protected]
© T.L. Subash Chandira Bose.
Reprinted with permission.
The Vedas link the East and West
by Jack Andrews and T.L. Subash Chandira
Reprinted with permission.
I live outside of Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A. I have seen many rock
picture writings in Arizona and some of them appear to be very
unusual symbols that may have their writing origins in other lands.
The symbol below at Palatki ruins is an amazing example of what
looks like a Sanskrit "OM". I think that ancient ocean
going peoples from India were completely capable of sailing to the
North American continent. I wonder what their purpose was here in
North America and I find the subject extremely interesting. Palatki
has many strange mystical symbols painted on the rocks over the
centuries by visitors and inhabitants of the area. Certain Native
American tribes still use the location for spiritual ceremonies. Did
an ancient travelers from India visit Palatki and meet with native
inhabitants, experiencing the sacred nature of this special
location, becoming so enthralled that they left this potent and
powerful eastern spiritual symbol in red iron oxide pigment as a
remembrance to the future, or a gift of spiritual awareness to the
site in pictographic form? I have also been studying ancient myths
and words used by the Pima people (native peoples) of Central and
southern Arizona. I have read old Ethnology reports and many of the
Pima words and myths seem to "crossover" with ancient
words and myths from India. When I see the rock art symbols that Mr.
T.L. Subash Chandira Bose has researched, I am amazed at the
similarity of his photographed symbols to symbols I have seen here
in Arizona, U.S.A., North America! I especially have seen the many
concentric circle themes and spirals here in Arizona. Few months
ago, I joined in the expedition and research team founded by P.
Srinivasan adviser to "Pazankasu" with his team members
Sthapati. V.Raman and T.L. Subash Chandira Bose, to begins our
research work on our findings and shall come up with more amazing
discoveries in near future.
This symbol "OM" found at Palatki
Ruins, south of Sedona, Arizona, U.S.A. (North America). The
site where this was discovered is a cliff with an overhang and
there are ruins of a later date. The red ochre/blood rock
writing has been dated to the time period of 3,000 - 6,000
years ago. This must have been a very sacred site.
The following added text is by Jayendra Upadhye:
"The letter if at all Sanskrit is actually the Sanskrit
"AUM" pronounced as "Om". But the triple
syllable has been turned anticlockwise by 90 degrees. Sanskrit om or
aum symbol in your jpg, [The photo in this article] the "half
moon and dot in the top part of the "Om" have become
straight lines. But the hooked features are still visible, though
turned 90 deg clockwise." I had reached the same conclusion
that the person using the "om" was either illiterate or
had been a descendant of a person introduced to Sanskrit long before
he was born. There is a possibility that the "om" was
painted by a man who thought of it as a pictogram, and thus thought
nothing of turning it around by 90 deg in any direction. Secondly if
om is painted on a hide amulet and worn on the biceps (as was
practice in India.. not regarding om but of tying amulets on the
biceps), then the reader would see the on turned sideways, and may
be over time associate a sideways written trisyllable as the
"real" om. These were my thoughts after seeing the
painting."The seed or root Mantra, the first sound of cosmic
creation with pure vibration, the shabda -brahama in which the
supreme himself can be found. This pure sound vibration if
manifested as the "OM" mantra. "OM, AUM, UM, HUM,
AMAN and AMEN" (all one and the same, varies due to
pronunciation) is combination of three letters A, U, and M.
A Symbol found in Ica stone-Peru Similar
like a host of
titans called Mandehas attempt to gobble up Surya.
(Thanks to Madam. Kathy Doore.)
The Purascharyarnava (taranga -10)There is a legend
that at the period between night (ushas) and day (vyushti) known as
sandhya, a host of titans called Mandehas attempt to gobble up
Surya. They have a boon as a result of which they will they continue
with their re-invigorated bodies although they die every day. Thus,
each day of the year Surya has to battle with these titans. When the
pious people on the earth offer arghya for Surya with the gayatri
-hymn in the sandhya -ritual, the water thus offered will be
transformed into the invincible Vajrayudha, which will help Surya
burn up the titans. (Reference: "Navagraha-Kosha" Volume
One- S.K. Ramachandra Rao)
In Dhyana sloka of Surya.Surya, with four heads;
This form of Surya is distinguished by having four faces, with three
eyes in each face, and eight arms holding in the hands magical
weapon called khatvanga, two lotuses, discus, noose, goad, rosary
and skull cup. He is seated with his consort. He is golden-
complexioned, and finely decorated with jewels and necklaces of
diamonds. (Reference: "Navagraha-Kosha" Volume One- S.K.
A symbol of Khatvanga found in Ica
stone-Peru (Thanks to Madam. Kathy Doore.). And a Khatvanga in an
ancient Inscription found at Tiruchirapalli, South India.
(The author's collection -left)
"A Stone amulet: Mr. Jaun Moricz,
Argentine citizen by naturalization, born in Hungary, discovered
objects of great cultural and historical value to mankind in the
Province of Morona- Santiago, within the boundaries of the Republic
of Ecuador" "The Gold of The Gods" Page, 11. Thanks
to Mr. Erich Von Daniken.
Yajurveda - Book Twentyeight: "From his mind
came Moon, and from his eyes came Sun, from his ears were born Vayu
and Prana, and from his mouth was Agni born." "Mid -air
was born from his navel, the sky was fashioned fourth from his head,
earth from his feet, and quarters from his ears. Thus the world was
formed."Rigveda-Book Tenth: The moon was born from his mind,
the sun was born from his eyes, Indira and Agni were born from his
mouth, and the wind from his breathe. From his navel came forth the
air, the heaven was formed from his head, the earth from his feet,
and the four directions from his ears. Thus were formed the world.
The links between the above ancient stone figure found in Peru,
Ecuador with ancient Vedas and many ancient manuscripts of India is
an eye opening to the world to realize that the people of our earth
are interconnected and we are all of one human family. It is our
hope that these discoveries of ancient symbols, places, ruins, and
language similarities of ancient times between India and the north
American continent, will continue to bring us all together in peace
and we will see the wonderful connectedness of us all along with the
cultural diversity that makes us all unique.
We will continue to search out and bring public, as
yet undiscovered sites that will push forward this goal.
Please visit the web site: Lost Civilizations and
Hidden Mysteries, http://www.gci-net.com/users/v/vrartist/.
Please Contact: [email protected]
© T.L. Subash Chandira Bose.
Reprinted with permission.
The Mystery of the Nazca GGF Marking
article in PDF format.
Bolivian Rock Symbols
article in PDF format.
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Talismans: Sacred Symbols for Healing, Self-Balance, and
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