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

CHAPTER XII. COMPARATIVE MYTHOLOGY. The value of Comparative Mythology as corroborative evidence —Its use in the present case—The ancient calendars of the European Aryan races—The plurality of Dawns in the Lettish, the Greek and the Celtic mythology—The ancient Roman year of ten months and Numa's reform thereof--Plutarch's view--Im- probability of Lignana's theory pointed out—The ancient Celtic year—Closed with the last day of October and marked the com- mencement of winter and darkness—The winter feast celebrated on the day—The mid-summer feast of Lugnassad on the first of August—The commencement of summer on the first of May —The date of the battle of Moytura—Similar duration of the Old Norse year—Comparison with the ancient Greek calendar —All indicate six months' light and six months' darkness—Corro- boration derived from comparative philology—Two divisions of the year in primeval times—The Maid of Nine Forms in the Celtic mythology—The Nine paces of Thor in the Norse legend —Compared with the Vedic Navagvas and Vifra Navaza in the Avesta—Balder's home in the heavens—Indicates the long Arc- tic day—The Slavonic story of Ivan and his two brothers—Con- tinuous night in Ivan's home—Comparison with the Vedic le- gend of Trita—The Slavonic winter demon--The story of Dawn and Gloaming in the Finnish mythology—Indicates a long day of four weeks—Celtic and Teutonic legends representing the Sun-god's annual struggle with darkness—Baldur and Hodur, Cuchulainn and Fomori—Temporary sickness and indisposition of gods and heroes—Prof. Rhys' views thereon—The affliction indicates winter darkness—Celtic and Teutonic myths indi- cating long continuous day and night—All point to a primeval home in the Arctic region—Recent ethnological researches in favour of European home referred to-Indicate northern Germany or Scandinavia—The necessity of going still farther North—Prof. Rhys suggests Finland or White Sea-Not inconsistent with the theory which seeks to make the North Pole the home of the whole human race—Prof. Rhys' method and conclusion--Primeval