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

CONTENTS, . xix PAGE —Express passages from the Avesta to that effect—The sun stop- ping for a long time in waters —Avestic passages in support there- of—Its effect on the disposal of corpses —Darkness synchronous with the cessation of the flow of waters in winter—Its long dura- tion—Cosmic circulation of waters in other mythologies—Express texts showing that the fight with Vṛitra was annual and fought in winter—Inexplicable except on the Arctic theory —The exact date of Indra's fight with Vṛitra preserved in the Ṛig-Veda—The real meaning of chatvâriṁshyâm sharadi explained—Shambara found on the 40th day of sharad —Denotes the commencement of the long night —Vedic passages shewing sharad to be the last season of sunshine—Paleographical evidence for reckoning time by seasons —Similar reckoning in the Avesta — 100 autumnal forts of Vṛitra and the killing of the watery demon with ice ex- plained —The seven rivers released by Indra—Cannot be terres- trial, nor the rivers of the Panjaub —The interpretation of West- ern scholars examined and rejected—The connection between the seven rivers and the seven suns pointed out —The origin of the phrase Hapta-hindu in the Avesta—Probably a transference of an old mythological name to a place in the new home —Vṛitra's legend Arctic in origin —Captive waters represent the yearly struggle between light and the darkness in the ancient Arctic home. 233 CHAPTER X. VEDIC MYTHS—THE MATUTINAL DEITIES. Vernal theory and the legends of the Ashvins—The part played by the Ashvins in the struggle for waters and light —Intelligible only on the Arctic theory—Their exploits and legends—Saving or rejuve- nating, rescuing from the ocean, or restoring the eye-sight or light, to Chyavâna, Rebha, Bhujyu, Atri, Vandana &c.—All ex- plained at present as referring to the rescue of the daily dawn or the vernal restoration of the powers of the winter sun—But the theory fails to explain references to blindness or darkness in se- veral legends—Nor does it account for the duration of the distress of the Ashvins' protégés —Nor for the character of the place of distress from which the proteges were saved—Bottomless and dark ocean really means the nether world—A bowl with bottom up and mouth downwards indicates the inverted hemisphere of the