Hinduism: Mundaka Upanishad 2:
2-4
Context:
According to the Mundaka Upanishad, the Agnihotra sacrifice is the most
important personal puja. It has very
specific rules concerning how ritual gestures are to be performed. It’s purpose was to protect the very being
and identity of the individual performing it: to neglect it was thought to
literally bring on the forces of personal destruction, i.e. instability,
insanity, physical breakdown. It is one
of the few places in Hindu scripture where Kali is mentioned by name as an
element of curse.
“If
a man's Agnihotra sacrifice is not followed by the new-moon and full-moon
sacrifices, by the four-months' sacrifices, and by the harvest sacrifice, if it
is unattended by guests, not offered at all, or without the Vaisvadeva
ceremony, or not offered according to rule, then it destroys his seven worlds-- Kâlî
(black), Karâlî (terrific), Manogavâ (swift as thought), Sulohitâ (very
red), Sudhűmravarnâ (purple), Sphulinginî (sparkling), and the
brilliant Visvarűpî (having all forms), all these playing about
are called the seven tongues (of fire).”
Buddhism: Dhammapada “The
Thirst”
“This salutary word I tell you, ‘Do ye, as many as are here
assembled, dig up the root of thirst, as he who wants the sweet- scented Usira
root must dig up the Birana grass, that Mara (the tempter) may not crush you
again and again, as the stream crushes the reeds.’”
Zoroastrianism: Gathas of
Zarathustra, Yasna 29, 1
Context: The Ox-soul is representative of all nature, particularly
the part that lives in close relationship with humanity. In this Yasna, nature cries out to Ahura
Mazda seeking protection from the violence of human abuse. Zarathustra will step up to volunteer his
services; it is this willingness that brings him to the attention of Ahura
Mazda.
“Unto you wailed the Ox-soul, "For whom did ye fashion me?
Who created me? Violence and rapine (and) savagery hath oppressed me, and
outrage and might. I have no other herdsman than you; prepare for me then the
blessings of pasture."
Judaism: Exodus 34: 8-10
Context: Moses has destroyed the initial tablets of
the commandments when, upon descending Sinai, he sees the Israelites having a
party over their new god, the Golden Calf.
God has told him to make another set of tablets and to come up the
mountain again. In a poignant scene, God
admits his anger and offers to make Moses’ offspring the sole beneficiaries of
his grace. Moses refuses and, in
essence, rebukes God, challenging the deity to begin again. God relents and allows Moses to have a
glimpse of the divine nature. Then God
asserts himself again.
“And
Moses made haste to bow his head toward the earth, and worshiped. And he said,
"If now I have found favor in thy sight, O Lord, let the Lord, I pray
thee, go in the midst of us, although it is a stiff-necked people; and pardon
our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thy inheritance." And he said,
"Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such
as have not been wrought in all the earth or in any nation; and all the people
among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD; for it is a terrible thing
that I will do with you.”
Christianity: Gospel of Matthew 24: 5-14
Context: Jesus’ disciples have asked him about his
impending death and the expected coming of the world. Many scholars believe these passages indicate
that the text was written either during or shortly after the destruction of
For
many will come in my name, saying, `I am the Christ,' and they will lead many
astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not
alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and
earthquakes in various places:
all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs. Then they will deliver you up
to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for
my name's sake. And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate
one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And
because wickedness is multiplied, most men's love will grow cold. But he who
endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be
preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then
the end will come.
Islam: Qur’an Surah 99 "The
Quaking"
“In
the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. When the earth is shaken with
her (violent) shaking, And the earth brings forth her burdens, And man says:
What has befallen her? On that day she shall tell her news, Because your
Lord had inspired her. On that day men shall come forth in sundry bodies that
they may be shown their works. So. he who has done an atom's weight of good
shall see it And he who has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it.”