Arkites

The term "Arkites" likely derives from "Ark," a word with ancient roots, possibly related to the Greek "arktos" (bear, or north) or Latin "arca" (chest, coffer). In Blavatsky's context, it refers to the Egyptian Ark of Isis and the Hindu Argha, suggesting a connection to sacred feminine principles.

The ancient prit-sls who wt-rc attached to tln' Ark, whether of Isis. oi- the Hindu Argua, and who were seven in number, like the priests of tlie Egyptian Tat or any other cruciform symbol of the three and the four, the combination of which gives a male-female number. The Arqha (or ark) was the four-fold female principle, and the flannburning over it the triple lingham.

Blavatsky's mention of the Arkites, though brief and somewhat obscure, points to a fascinating undercurrent in ancient devotional practices. The "Ark," whether literal or metaphorical, served as a focal point for ritual and contemplation. In the Egyptian context, the Ark of Isis would have been a potent symbol of the Great Mother, embodying generative power and cosmic order. The Hindu Argha, as a yoni-shaped vessel, similarly represents the divine feminine, the source from which all creation flows. The number seven, often associated with completeness or spiritual perfection, further imbues these devotees with a sense of sacred purpose. Mircea Eliade, in his studies of shamanism and archaic religions, frequently highlights the importance of sacred spaces and objects as conduits for the divine. The Arkite's devotion, therefore, was not merely an act of faith but a participation in a cosmic drama, a conscious engagement with the fundamental forces of existence. This emphasis on symbolic containers for divine presence resonates with later mystical traditions, where the heart or the soul can be seen as an inner ark, holding the divine spark. The Arkites remind us that the sacred is often apprehended through tangible, albeit symbolic, forms, bridging the immanent and the transcendent. The very act of venerating an ark, a vessel, implies a recognition of containment and potential, of a sacred space where the ineffable might be encountered.