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The figures of the constellations included in the signs at the time the division was first made do not at all resemble the shapes of the animals, reptiles and other objects denoted by the names given them. The truth of this assertion can be ascertained by examining the configurations of the various constellations. Unless the shape of the crocodile*[1] or the crab is called up by the observer's imagination, there is very little change of the stars themselves suggesting to his idea that figure, upon the blue canopy of the starry firmament.
If, then, the constellations have nothing to do with the origin of the names by which the Zodiacal divisions are indicated, we have to seek for some other source which might have given rise to these appelations. It becomes my object to unravel a portion of the mystery connected with these Zodiacal signs, as also to disclose a portion of the sublime conception of the ancient Hindu philosophy which gave rise to them. The signs of the Zodiac have more than one meaning. From one point of view they represent the different stages of creation up to the time the present material universe with the five elements came into phenomenal existence. As the author of "Isis Unveiled" has stated in the second volume of her admirable work, "the key should be turned Seven times" to understand the whole philosophy underlying these signs. But I shall wind it only once and give the contents of the first Chapter of the History of Creation. It is very fortunate that the Sanskrit names assigned to the various divisions by the Aryan philosophers contain within themselves the key to the solution of the problem. Those of my readers who have studied to some extent the ancient "Mantra" and the "Tantra Sâstrâs" †[2] of India, would have seen that very often Sanskrit words are made to convey a certain hidden meaning by means of certain well-known pre-arranged methods and a tacit convention, while their literal significance is something quite
