From the book
Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry
R. Swinburne Clymer · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordLingam and yoni are the Indian terms paired with phallus and cteis in the book’s comparison of generative symbolism.
- In Ancient Mystic Oriental MasonryThe author’s sources place these images within reverence for the productive powers of nature.
- In this editionThe spellings Lingam and Yoni follow the source.
- A place to readS.133: … “union of the Phallus and Cteis, or the Lingam and Yoni, in one compound figure, as” …
Meaning
Lingam and yoni are the Indian terms paired with phallus and cteis in the book’s comparison of generative symbolism.
Use in the book
The author’s sources place these images within reverence for the productive powers of nature. The union of male and female principles is treated as a widespread religious pattern, and a later quoted dialogue defends prayer connected with procreation as a sacred act. The terms function as examples within this comparative argument.
Places to read
- Masonic Symbolism · Block 133… “union of the Phallus and Cteis, or the Lingam and Yoni, in one compound figure, as an object of adoration, was the most usual mode of representation. This was in strict” …
- Masonic Symbolism · Block 142… “thus the first Indians thought who revered the Lingam, the symbol of generation; the ancient Egyptians who carried the Phallus in procession; the Greeks who erected temples to Priapus. "”
In this edition
The spellings Lingam and Yoni follow the source. No Sanskrit translation apparatus has been added to an English copy text.
Reading the argument
The book’s equation of terms does not establish that all traditions using them have identical theology or ritual. Read the comparison as a proposed likeness of symbolic function, while retaining the distinct names and settings.
Lingam
“Lingam” — 5 occurrences in 4 text blocks: S.132–133, 140, 142.
Yoni
“Yoni” — 3 occurrences in 3 text blocks: S.132–133, 140.