Greco-Christian stream·Pistis Sophia·Third Book — Mysteries of the Light·Chapter 126
Of the dragon of the outer darkness
Of the rulers of the twelve dungeons and their names · This [is] he who is called in his region 'Charachar
Source context
- Theme
- mysteries of light as initiatory and cosmological revelation within Gnostic Christian transmission
- Soul-faculty
- Consciousness Soul
Steiner
- GA 69c, 1912-11-16Steiner identifies the Christ impulse as central to Gnostic thought, noting that thinkers such as Basilides, Marcion, and Valentinus understood it as absolutely necessary for the entire development of humanity on earth.
- GA 87, 1902-04-19Steiner describes the Gnostics as inheritors of ancient religious systems across the whole world, whose foundational views preserved what was still widely accessible to initiatic knowledge in their era.
- GA 228, 1923-07-28Steiner notes that Gnostic writings were systematically destroyed and are known in Europe only through counter-writings, marking a deliberate suppression of this stream of light-mystery knowledge.
- GA 8, chapter 9Steiner treats the Apocalypse of John as the culminating revelation that the mysteries shall no longer be concealed, with divine light identified with the Lamb — a motif structurally continuous with Gnostic light-cosmology.
Cross-tradition
- Neoplatonism / Plotinian light-metaphysicsCross-tradition congruence appears in Plotinus's account of the One as pure light that emanates through Nous and Soul, structurally parallel to Gnostic descending pleroma-light sequences.
- Kabbalah / Ohr Ein SofCross-tradition congruence exists between Gnostic light-mysteries and the Kabbalistic doctrine of the Ohr Ein Sof — infinite light — that contracts and diffracts through successive Sefirot in the act of creation.
- Hermetic tradition / PoimandresThe Hermetic Poimandres opens with a vision of boundless light identified as the supreme Nous, offering cross-tradition congruence with Gnostic Christian light-cosmologies in which illumination is both cosmic principle and initiatory telos.
Chapter 126
CHAPTER 126
AND Mary continued again and said unto Jesus: "In what type is the outer darkness; or rather how many regions of chastisement are there in it?"
Of the dragon of the outer darkness.And Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "The outer darkness is a great dragon, whose tail is in his mouth, outside the whole world and surrounding the whole world. And there are many regions of chastisement within it. There are twelve mighty |320. chastisement-dungeons and a ruler is in every dungeon and the face of the rulers is different one from another.
Of the rulers of the twelve dungeons and their names."And the first ruler, who is in the first dungeon, hath a crocodile's face, whose tail is in his mouth. And out of the jaws of the dragon cometh all ice and all dust and all cold and all different diseases. This [is] he who is called with his authentic name in his region 'Enchthonin.'
"And the ruler who is in the second dungeon,--a cat's face is his authentic face. This [is] he who is called in his region 'Charachar.'
"And the ruler who is in the third dungeon,--a dog's face is his authentic face. This [is] he who is called in his region 'Archarōch.'
"And the ruler who is in the fourth dungeon,--a serpent's face is his authentic face. This [is] he who is called in his region 'Achrōchar.'
"And the ruler who is in the fifth dungeon,--a black bull's face is his authentic face. This [is] he who is called in his region 'Marchūr.'
"And the ruler who is in the sixth dungeon,--a wild boar's face is his authentic face. This [is] he who is called in his region 'Lamchamōr.'
"And the ruler who is in the seventh dungeon, |321.--a bear's face is his authentic face. This [is] he who is called in his region with his authentic name 'Luchar.'
"And the ruler of the eighth dungeon,--a vulture's face is his authentic face, whose name in his region is called 'Laraōch.'
"And the ruler of the ninth dungeon,--a basilisk's face is his authentic face, whose name in his region is called 'Archeōch.'
"And in the tenth dungeon is a multitude of rulers, and every one of them hath seven dragon's heads in his authentic face. And he who is over them all is in his region with his name called Xarmarōch.'
"And in the eleventh dungeon is a multitude of rulers,--and every one of them hath seven cat-faced heads in his authentic face. And the great one over them is called in his region Rōchar.'
"And in the twelfth dungeon is an exceedingly great multitude of rulers, and every one of them hath seven dog-faced heads in his authentic face. And the great one over them is called in his region 'Chrēmaōr.'
"These rulers then of these twelve dungeons are inside the dragon of the outer darkness, each and every one |322. of them hath a name every hour, and every one of them changeth his face every
Of the doors of the dungeons.hour. And moreover every one of these dungeons hath a door opening upwards, so that the dragon of the outer darkness hath twelve dark dungeons, and every dungeon hath a door opening upwards. And an angel of the height watcheth each of the doors of the dungeons,--whom Yew, the First Man, the overseer of the Light,The angels who watch the doors. the envoy of the First Commandment, hath established as watchers of the dragon, so that the dragon and the rulers of his dungeons which are in him, may not mutiny."