वेदों की प्राचीनता एवं काल-निर्णय / ओरायन (लोकमान्य बाल गंगाधर तिलक - खगोलीय वैदिक शोध)

xvi CONTENTS. PAGE. —Evidence from sacrificial literature —The families of sacrificers in primeval times —Called ' our ancient fathers ' in the Ṛig-Veda —Atharvan and Aṅgiras traced to Indo-European period —Nava- gvas and Dashagvas, the principal species of the Aṅgirases—Help- ed. Indra in his fight with Vala —They finished their sacrificial session in ten months —The sun dwelling in darkness —Ten months' sacrifices indicate only ten months of sunshine, followed by the long night —Etymology of Navagva and Dashagva —Ac- cording to Sâyaṇa the words denote persons sacrificing for nine or ten months —Prof. Lignana's explanation improbable —The ad- jective Virûpas applied to the Aṅgirases—Indicates other varieties of these sacrificers —Saptagu, or seven Hotṛis or Vipras—Legend of Dîrghatamas —As narrated in the Mahâbhârata—A protege of Ashvins in the Ṛig-Veda—Growing old in the tenth yuga —Mean- ing of.yuga discussed—Mânushâ yugâ means ' human ages,' and not always ' human tribes ' in the Ṛig-Veda —Two passages in proof thereof—Interpretations of Western scholars examined and rejected--Mânushâ yugâ denoted months after the long dawn and before the long night—Dîrghatamas represents the sun setting in the tenth month —Mânushâ yugâ and continuous nights—The five seasons in ancient times— A Ṛig-Veda passage bearing on it discussed —The year of five seasons described as residing in waters —Indicates darkness of the long night —Not made up by combining any two consecutive seasons out of six —The explana- tion in the Brâhmaṇas improbable—Summary. . . 148 CHAPTER VIII. THE COWS' WALK. The Pravargya ceremony—Symbolises the revival of the yearly sacri- fice —Milk representing seed heated in Gharma or Mahâvîra — Mantras used on the occasion of pouring milk into it —The two creating the five, and the ten of Vivasvat—Indicate the death of the year after five seasons or ten months—The tradition about the sun falling beyond the sky —Annual Sattras —Their type, the Gavâm-ayanam or the Cows' Walk—Lasted for 10 or 12 months according to the Aitareya Brâhmaṇa —Two passages from the Taittirîya Saṁhitâ describing the Gavâm-ayanam —Mention 10 months' duration of the Sattra, but give no reason except that it