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