Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

BIRTH, SECOND, OF AN ARYAN 

A symbol of the bringing forth into manifestation of the spiritual egos already on the mental plane (the Aryans). These are born into the lower nature when mind begins to function in the human soul.

"According to the injunction of the revealed texts the first birth of an Aryan is from his natural mother, the second happens on the tying of the girdle of munga grass, and the third on the initiation to the performance of a Srauta sacrifice. Among those three the birth which is symbolised by the investiture with the girdle of munga grass, is his birth for the sake of the Veda." – Laws of Manu, II. 170.

The "first birth" is from the "natural mother," that is, from the natural order, or lower evolution; this is the birth of the personality. The "second birth" occurs when the spiritual-mental ego descends into the human form as mind awakens; this is the birth of the individuality. In this second birth, the ego is tied, as it were, to the upward current of the Divine Life (girdle), for the sake of the "Veda," that is, for the purpose of spiritual evolution according to the Divine law of true life on the higher planes. It is through the development of the three human bodies, causal, mental, and astral, now interrelated in connection with the Divine Life, that the ego progresses in its upward course. The three bodies (Brahmana, Kshatrya, and Vaisya) partake of the second birth, for they are directly united with the higher evolution; but the physical body (Sudra) is a product of the natural order (first birth) only, and does not develop from incarnation to incarnation. It is for the temporary use of the soul, and has to serve the other bodies and their life principles. Hence the Sudra is called "once born."

The "third birth" occurs at the end of the cycle, when the soul attains liberation, and the lower Self and the higher Self become one on the higher mental plane. The "Srauta sacrifice" signifies the final abandonment of the lower nature: this is equivalent to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

See Also

ARYAVARTA
BARHIS
BARSOM
BUCKLE
CASTES
Devayana
Girdle ROPE
KUSTI
SUDRA
TAMAGUSHI
VEDA
YAGNAPAVITA