The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c11.58.1

v1.c11.58.1

**Reply to the seventh objection** : The seventh objection refers to the shape of the divinity. This, however, involves the quesition of phallic worship in ancient times. All the ancient nations of the earth regarded with awe the mystery of generation, and founded on it various myths and forms of religion, some looking upon it as the source of all evil ; others as the fountain of existence and blessing. The finest and most perfect allegory extant of the first class, is the Mosaic account of the fall of man. To the philosophic enquirer, this account means nothing more or less than that sin entered this world through the carnal desires of our first parents ; but it is so complete in all its parts, and so beautifully developed, that even the most fastidious critic fails to detect the smallest trace of anything offensive or indelicate in it. The tree, the apple, the serpent ²¹ are all well-known and generally-acknowledged phallic emblems among the followers of sexual forms of religion ; but they have been so artistically put together in the account in question, that they do not at first sight convey any improper idea. The Zoroastrian Aryans adopted the doctrine, and a counterpart of the Jewish account of the fall is given in the *Banduheṣ*, but in a form that has nothing of the charm of the Mosaic record.