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

CHAPTER XI. THE AVESTIC EVIDENCE. Nature of Avestic evidence stated—Different views of scholars regarding its character—Necessity of re-examining the subject —An abstract of the first Fargard of the Vendidad—Sixteen lands created by Ahura Mazda with their modern equivalents &c.—Airyana Vaejo, the first created land represents the Paradise of the Iranians—Different views regarding its position —Darmesteter, Spiegel and others locate it in the east ; Haug and Bunsen in the far north—Darmesteter’s argument examin- ed—Airyana Vaejo cannot be determined from the position of Vanguhi—Identification of Rangha with the Caspian Sea or the westernmost river doubtful—Rangha is probably the same as Rasâ in the Rig-Veda X, 75, 6—Unsoundness of Darmesteter’s reasoning—The position of the Airyana Vaejo must be deter- mined from its special characteristics found in the Avesta— The passage where ten months winter is said to be such a characteristic cited—Ten months winter first introduced into the happy land by Angra Mainyu—Indicates that before the fiend’s invasion there must have been ten months summer and two months winter in the land—Sudden change in the Polar climate fully confirmed by latest geological researches—Two months winter necessarily synchronous with long Arctic night —The tradition about seven months summer and five months winter also refers to the original climate in the Airyana Vaejo —Mentioned in the Bundahish—Not inconsistent with the tradition of ten months summer recorded in the original passage—Both possible in the Arctic regions—Similar state- ments in the Rig-Veda—Coincidence between seven months summer, the legend of Aditi, and the date of Indra’s fight with Shambara, pointed out—Summary of the second Fargard— Yima’s Vara in the Airyana Vaejo—Annual sun-rise and a year-long day therein—Shows that the Airyana Vaejo must be located near the North Pole and not to the east of Iran— The account too graphic to be imaginary or mythical—Re- presents the advent of the Glacial epoch in the land—It is the oldest human testimony to the advent of the Ice-age, 23