Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

DAWN, DAYBREAK, DAY-SPRING

A symbol of the commencement of manifestation — the period of the Self’s forthgoing to establish the planes of nature. This is typified in the approach of sunrise, when the sun (the Self) appears.

“Verily, the Dawn is the head of the Horse which is fit for sacrifice; the Sun its eye, the Wind its breath, the Mouth the Vaisvânara fire, the Year the body of the sacrificial Horse, etc.” — Brihad. Upanishad, V. 1.

The Horse “sacrifice” has the same meaning as the Lamb “sacrifice,” and is a symbol of the sacrifice of the Logos in the involution of Himself in matter. Hence the Horse often stands for the Ram in the first sign of the Zodiac, which represents the sun’s (the Self’s) entrance upon his course.

The “head of the Horse” signifies the beginning of manifestation. The “Year the body” represents the whole Cycle of Life. The Sun its eye stands for the Higher Self, the perceiving consciousness. The “Wind its breath” signifies the Divine Life active upon the mental plane. The “Mouth the Vaisvânara fire” signifies the Divine Will expressed in the energies of the atma‑buddhic plane.

See Also

ADITI
ARIES
Asura
CREATION
EAST
HORSE-SACRIFICE
MAYA (higher)
MORNING
NUT
SUN-RISING
VAISVÂNARA