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

VEDIC MYTHS—THE MATUTINAL DEITIES. 303
(Vadhrimati) they gave a son called Hiraṇya-hasta (I, 116, 13;
VI, 62, 7). The cow of Shayu which had left off bearing they
caused to give milk (I, 116, 22); and to Pedu they gave a
strong swift dragon-slaying steed impelled by Indra which
won him unbounded spoils (I, 116, 6)."
Besides these there are many other exploits mentioned in I,
112, 116-119; and the Ashvins are described as having saved,
helped, or cured a number of other persons. But the above
summary is sufficient for our purpose. It will be seen from it
that the Ashvins bear the general character of helping the
lame, the blind, the distressed, or the afflicted; and in some
places a reference to the decayed powers of the sun is discern-
ible on the face of the legends. Taking their clue from this
indication, many scholars, and among them Prof. Max Muller,
have interpreted all the above legends as referring to the sun
in winter and the restoration of his power in spring or summer.
Thus Prof. Max Muller tells us that Chyavâna is nothing but
the falling sun (chyu, to fall), of which it might well be said
that he had sunk in the fiery or dark abyss from which the
Ashvins are themselves said to come up in III, 39, 3. The
Vedic Ṛishis are again said to have betrayed the secret of the
myth of Vandana by comparing the treasure dug for him by
the Ashvins to the sun 'dwelling in darkness.' Kali is simi-
larly taken to represent the waning moon, and Vishpalâ's iron
leg, we are told, is the first quarter or pâda of the new moon,
called 'iron' on account of his darkness as compared with the
golden colour of the full moon. The blindness of Ṛijrâshva is
explained on this theory as meaning the blindness of night or
winter; and the blind and the lame Parâvṛij is taken to be the
sun after sunset or near the winter solstice. The setting sun
thrown out of a boat into waters is similarly understood to
be the basis of the legend Bhujyu or Rebha. Vadhrimati,
the wife of the eunuch, to whom Hiraṇya-hasta or the gold-
hand is said to be restored, is, we are further told, nothing