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