Two symbols that have a striking similarity are the Star of David and Sri Yantra, pictured below:
Star of David & Sri Yantra
The Star of David is a hexagram, or six-sided star, which according to Jewish tradition appeared on shields of King David, hence its other name Shield of David (Hebrew Magen David, or ). It also has the name Seal of Solomon due to its association with King Solomon.
In fact, the Seal of Solomon was a magical ring possessed by King Solomon (in Islamic Sulayman), the son of David, which allowed him to command demons (jinn, ) and communicate with animals. The legend of Solomon and his seal ring was elaborated by Arabic writers. In those legends, the ring came down from heaven with the sacred name of God engraved on it. It was a combination brass and iron.
The brass part commanded good jinn and the iron part evil jinn. The word jinn resembles the English word genie but they are not related. Genie is actually derived from French g鮩e, referring to any sort of guardian spirit. French translations of The Arabian Nights translated Arabic jinn to French g鮩e, which in turn entered into English translations.
Solomon’s Seal Amulet: Amulets were worn for good luck but they often showed a pentacle, not the hexagram.
An interesting point is that King Solomon’s ring in these legends came from heaven and it brought the power of heaven to earth. The symbol contains two triangles. One points down to earth and the other points up to heaven. The triangles are conjoined signifying the marriage of heaven and earth.
The symbol was also drawn to represent creation of the world in six days with its six points. Centre and balance is inferred from the area inside where the two triangles meet. So the hexagram represents the connection of heaven and earth and it also represents creation of the world.
The menorah (Hebrew ) is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish people. It symbolizes the burning bush seen by Moses on Mount Sinai (exodus 25) and the miracle of Hanukkah. The Star of David becomes a more visible sign of Judaism. It became a clear symbol of Jewish identity from the 18th century onwards. Its acceptance as the primary symbol of Jewish identity has been further cemented by its adoption by Zionists and its inclusion in the Israeli national flag.
The themes of creation and balance of heaven and earth are also found in the Sri Yantra.
Solomon’s Seal on 3rd Century Synagogue in Galilee
The Sri Yantra is a more elaborate symbol than the Star of David but at its core you have two interconnected triangles. A yantra is a graphical representation of energies similar to mandalas. Mandalas are used by Buddhist tantric schools of Vajrayana (“Thunderbolt Vehicle”), while yantras are used by Hindu tantrics. Tantra aims to use the human body to achieve spiritual enlightenment through understanding of active, female (Shakti) and passive, male (Shiva) energy. That energy is symbolically represented in the Sri Yantra. The legendary account of Solomon also explores the ability to control different energies in the form of good and evil demons.
At the very centre of the Sri Yantra is a dot (bindu), which is the unmanifest source of creation. The hexagonal star (shatkona) represents the union of Shiva-Shaki, male-female energy. Through that energy the unmanifest potential of creation contained in the bindu powerfully manifests outwards.
The diagram encourages the viewer to see the manifestation of energy through evolution but also encourages the involution of energies to the focal point in the centre, the bindu. The triangles pointing up represents the the male principle and the triangles pointing down represents the female energy. The union of male-female energies is something also explored in some Kabbalistic writings. All yantras are considered to be contained in the Sri Yantra. So it has extensive themes that can be explored outside this post.
Sri Yantra and the Star of David explore similar themes of creation and connection or union of heaven and earth, or male and female. What is implicit in the Seal of Solomon is made explicit in the Sri Yantra.
Interesting comparison between thetwo symbols. But does this mean that the Star of David comes from the tantrik symbol?
Grace,
Thank you for your comment. That’s a great question. My post didn’t make it clear but no my suggestion wasn’t that the Sri Yantra, the tantric symbol, is the origin for the Star of David.
The two share common symbolic characteristics but this does not mean that you needed a diffusion of ideas in order to have those similarities. I would like Joseph Campbell believe that different cultures can come up with similar themes based on their shared lived experiences available as archetypes in Jung’s collective unconscious.
About the hexagram becoming a Jewish symbol from the 18th century -researcher Uri ofir claims “that this emblem’s origin is in the Tabernacle that was built about a year after the exodus of the sons of Israel from Egypt”.
See: http://star-of-david.blogspot.com/2006/06/jewish-origin-of-star-of-david.html
Israeli Lost tribes that arrived to India could have brought their symbol with them, or even King Solomon’s fleet sailors, but these are only speculations and I didn’t see any research on this issue, yet…
Zeevveezz,
Thank you very much for your comment. Your blog gives wonderful images of the Star of David. My post wasn’t clear, so please allow me clarify the point now.
I mentioned the Star of David with the 18th century in reference to when the Star of David became the primary symbol of Jewish identity, not that it didn’t exist as a Jewish symbol prior to that date. I have included more information to clear up this possible misconception. I thank you for bringing it to my attention.
I tend to view religious symbols not literally but as symbols or metaphors for philosophical ideas. Symbols have arisen in different cultures with similar metaphorical associations without any apparent contact between them.
Cultural diffusion of an idea at the core of most symbols is not necessary as an explaination, since common human experiences can globally manifest in symbols. The human psyche can understand symbols through archetypes across various cultures along similar lines. Of course, in some cases you can find evidence that a symbol or idea started within one area and then spread, though this is not always the case.
For example, the old explaination of the agricultural revolution’s origins was that it started in the Fertile Crecsent. However, archaeological evidence suggests that many civilizations in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas developed agriculture around the same time with little known contact between many of them. So the idea that agriculture started in one place and then spread to other areas is no longer valid. Farming itself is replete with symbols that in turn find expression in various agrarian-based myths. Hunting and gathering cultures, in contrast, have common Shamanic understanding.
Your comment stimulated me to think more deeper about symbols. I love the wonderful images on your blog connected to the Star of David.
Thank you for visiting my blog and liking it…
Meanwhile I found out a web site
(http://www.jesus-kashmir-tomb.com/YantraStarofDavid.html)that claims:
“First six pointed star artifact
The above yantra was carved nearly 10,000 years ago into a rock near Adam’s
Peak in Sri Lanka. Adam was thought to have visited there, and Noah was believed to have brought the
remains of Adam and Eve on the Ark for reburiel. If the star was first associated with Hebrews that far back,
then Solomon was not the first priest-king to continue it as a family symbol. This leaves several ways the Star
symbol was brought into India and became the yantra”.
Please tell me what you think about this data. I sent them an email with some questions but they didn’t answer me,yet…
Sounds interesting though the Sri Yantra is an integral symobol used in tantric Hinduism. The Atharavaveda has a hymn dedicated to it. Since the symbol is integral among both the Hebrews and in the Hindu tradition with deep symbolic roots in either milieux, I would posit that the Star of David and Sri Yantra developed separately with certain similar symbolic associations instead of through cultural diffusion. The symbols over time develop in different cultural contexts: The Star of David becomes the predominant symbol of Jewish identity and the Sri Yantra represents the primary Yantra, geometric figure, since all other Yantras are contained in it.
Hello, i love nexusnovel.wordpress.com! Let me in, please
I am sure we all agree Hinduism is far older than Judaism. Not only the Star of David comes from India, the Swastika does too. Even the Christian cross. What is true indeed is that jews, nazis and Christians gave different meaning to all those symbols, and so did others who copied those symbols long before them.
Ramon,
Very insightful comment! It’s interesting to see how a symbol can evolve over time. I was delving into the similarity between Sri Yantra/Star of David in their symbolism.
The Swastika is another symbol that developed in India and continues to adorn many Hindu, Jain shrines and homes. It has strong association with Hindu tantra. It shows the transmutation of the physical into spiritual and vice versa.
The Nazis of course perverted the symbol and made it part of their racist ideology. The association with Nazism is so strong that many people don’t know that it has been an ancient religious symbolism. The Hindu symbols turns in reverse direction to the Nazi swastika. Swastika comes from Sanskrit Sva-stik स्वस्तिक. Su means “well” and asti “being. Together it signifies “well-being” created through harmony of physical and spiritual energies.
We shall discuss more on Star of David, Zohar symbol and Sri Yantra etc.
You will find the complete meaning of Svastika in http://www.srilalitha.org
with regards,
Subash
Few updates:
Zecharia Sitchin found a cylinder seal VA/243 in the Vorderasiatisches Museum in Berlin. This seal is dated to c.2500 B.C.
On this seal is a six pointed star surrounded
by all the planets we know of today, plus the Moon and plus one more planet. Michael S. Heiser in his article titled A Brief
Analysis of Cylinder Seal VA 243 brings ANOTHER photo of a six pointed star from the same period. See:
http://star-of-david.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html#6436729342607712959
See: http://kataragama.org/research/dionysus.htm
The Satkona yantra, cut into black stone with the diagram of the Kataragama deity. Representation of flames along the periphery, the Tamil OM in the centre. In the Museum für Völkerkunde, Basel. From Wirz (1954)
Paul Wirz, Kataragama the Holiest Place in Ceylon, trans. by Doris Berta Pralle, (Colombo: Gunasena, 1966), p. 20.
Dr. Manoshi Bhattacharya wrote that
The earliest evidence of this symbol was found among coins from the excavation of the city of Ujjain in India. The coins have been dated to be 2000 – 3000 years old.
See:
http://www.the-south-asian.com/Jan2005/The_Sacred_Bride.htm
hexagram in a perfect condition found In 1991 by Iraqi archaeologist Muzahim Mahmu in the Treasure of Nimrud. It is one of 613 items of gold jewelry and precious stones that were dated to the 8th and 9th century B.C.
See: http://star-of-david.blogspot.com/search?q=nimrud
in Heraklion Museum, Crete, there are a few Minoan hexagrams from Phaestos from 1700 B.C.E.
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Hexagram
Hello ::: From my Planet to ALL of yours !!…
I am sincere when I say that this is one of the most informative and interesting sites I have ever come upon. I JUST LOVE NEXUS!!!
First of all my deepest gratitude for creating a place of learning that is inspired and sharing spirituality through Nexus. A place wherein information can be shared…also.Wherein the idea of teaching one another is pronounced.
I have read almost all the discussions now…when the enthusiasm or passion of another is aroused by way of “religious” beliefs, it is certainly understandable…the cooling waters of Arvind in neutralizing the fires becomes an essential blanket, to allow us all:: to take in the variety of symbolic meanings…that it may deepen for us a Universal theme…a wholeness…the 1AUM…the Christ conciousness…the Buddha within us all.
And to think … I was looking for a symbol to paint on a Rock for my friends Birthday…he wanted a symbol of “Oneness” to represent his journey. We are all blessed in this quest, in this Nexus…we are all pilgrims…learning the same lessons at different times and in different ways.
Rock Art as I call it has been so therapuetic for me in my healing process…as I discover symbols universal, spiritual, traditional…it deepens my personal love for God ~ this process blesses others … with a physical symbol created to honor their pilgramage….Nexus….I am grateful. Thank you for helping me personally in my research as well as my own quest for my own Bodhi Tree.
Love OOOXXX
Aubrianna
Aubrianna,
Thank you for your appreciation of Nexus and for sharing your insights. You have highlighted important connections that Deborah and I are exploring in our writing and on this blog.
Symbols expressed in various traditions have an underlying meaning of oneness and wholeness and this is an important theme explored on our Nexus blog.
I am delighted by your insightful comment and invite you to share more about your quest and your work with rock art.
Peace and blessings,
Arvind
Thanks for this information, my comment is I have a David Star I wear like a neckles and this is made special for me whith my birthday date. Well somethimes people aks me what is this a tell them is for my good luck I do not much about the David star but the person who sell me it tell me is good. but one day a cristian men tell me that this is satanic I not believe him for this I look for information I want to know this is truth I like it I feel very good wearing it. Pleace tell me.
Interesting post. I have also seen a variant of Sri Yantra symbol in Sikh tradition that uses part of tantric symbolism; as in “Khanda” or “nishan Sahib” which is also known as “Adi Shakti” meaning “female energy”. Even Sikh Ardas “supplication” starts with “Sri Bhaguati Ji Sahai” which is a reference to a “female source of creative energy” as taught by Siri Singh Sahib, Yogi Bhajan!
Traditionally, all of the words below are related to sanskrit words “ant” meaning “something with an end” and “beyant” meaning “infinite”
‘antar” – reference to inner body or soul
“mantar” – mantra like “mool mantar”
“tantar” – tantric
“yantar” – a complex “design” or “a puzzle” or “a device”
“su-tantar” – “free”
“pe-tantar” – “bad”
Have much enjoyed this discussion — new and wonderful thoughts for me to savour! Have you heard of the “Journey of Man” video, featured on Public Television? How humans originated in Africa; then a small band separated and traveled along coastal routes through India to Australia. Some in India went inland to settle in the areas we now call the near and middle east and Europe. Is there any evidence of these symbols or similar in African cultures?
Actually the Star of David does show up in the Hindu faith many places. However, all one has to really do is identify the fact that during the Apostolic period of the region, the disciples of Christ traveled all around in the Middle East.
There is substanciated historical evidence that both Bartholomew and Thomas taught in India, and it is widely believed that Thomas was executed in India.
All one has to do is go back to the historical documents to find out how the symbols made their way around the region.
veda science predates the disciples of christ
Here is another theory to think about, perhaps the Jews are the Kuru’s who were defeated in Mahabharat war and Krasna said to them ‘go I have found a place for near blue water where you and your people can live in peace’ and they took with them the symbol which they now call Star of David.
Comments will be wellcome
For years i have been fascinated.by this six pointed star>long before i did any research> i still believe.the star is of a good meaning> than of evil > this should be thoroughly investigated and findings be shared > as final >since there will always be skeptics .> i need to know >> since i believe the symbol >> have the power of more good >> than bad. i am voting on my beliefs . and the voice of someone with the knowlege of the truth > should pass it on as a closure to these contradictions >> once and for all>> Star or no star we as humans are dying from the day we were born .
This is good and it cam at the best chosen time you guys if you are only intrested in good fealings about the stars you can have alot of that but ,read the kebra negast ,the bible and you wil belong somewhere its triky to jump up and down in a religious mind love is the gretest above all in all religions ,practise it and pray to GOD if you have enough time try all religions and you will find the truth,as for me am a comfortable christ follower with locs,i love you so wise coments we have one another to prove and support the facts of this life,like GOD is real and the star of david is an art of a blessed wise man with a powerful and GODLY unity with man resemblerance.Blessed love.
the annunaki of ancient sumer came down and taught science to the humanity they created from their own DNA and the DNA of an ape woman. (missing link in evolution of humankind)
the science they taught …”sacred geometry” sacred science of the vedas (hindi)
of the veda science:
TANTRA — SRI YANTRA (the triangular overlapping talisman in the picture) hindis believe that gods on spaceships taught them this sacred science (from what i’ve been researching)
many stories from the bible were already written in the sumerian libraries (great flood, ADAMA and EVE (e.den)) so would it be strange that judaism has this symbol? also, annunaki are believed to have some responsibility to the giza plains pyramids in egypt (again with the mathematics in their architecture)
put that in your pipe and smoke it
I beleive Zoroastrianism claims to be the world’s oldest revealed religion. Much of it has been lost through the many conquests Iran through the ages. I believe it predates Hinduism and they also have a “Star of David / Seal of Solomon” called a Kings Star.