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

THE NIGHT OF THE GODS. · 65
texts and legends which have not yet been satisfactorily explained,
and ascertaining how far such texts and legends indicate
the existence of a Polar or Circum-Polar home in early times.
The distinguishing characteristics of these regions have been
already discussed and stated in the previous chapter, and all
that we have now to do is to apply these tests, and decide if
they are satisfied or fulfilled by the texts and legends under con-
sideration.
The spinning round of the heavenly dome over the head is
one of the special characteristics of the North Pole, and the
phenomenon is so peculiar that one may expect to find traces
of it in the early traditions of a people, if they, or their ances-
tors ever lived near the North Pole. Applying this test to the
Vedic literature, we do find passages which compare the motion
of the heavens to that of a wheel, and state that the celestial
vault is supported as if on an axis. Thus in Ṛig. X, 89, 4, Indra
is said " to separately uphold by his power heaven and earth
as the two wheels of a chariot are held by the axle."* Prof.
Ludwig thinks that this refers to the axis of the earth, and the
explanation is very probable. The same idea occurs in other
places, and sometimes the sky is described as being supported
even without a pole, testifying thereby to the great power or
might of Indra (II, 15, 2; IV, 56, 3).† In X, 89, 2, Indra is
identified with Sûrya and he is described as " turning the widest
expanse like the wheels of a chariot."‡ The word for ' expanse '
is varâṁsi, which Sâyaṇa understands to mean ' lights,' or
'stars.' But whichever meaning we adopt, it is clear that
the verse in question refers to the revolution of the sky,

• Ṛig. X, 89, 4,—यो अक्षेणेव चक्रिया शचीभिर्विश्वक्तस्तंभ पृथिवीमुत द्यां ।
  † Ṛig. II, 15, 2,—अवंशे द्यामस्तंाभवत् । IV, 56, 3,—स इमे द्यावा-
  पृथिवी जजान उर्वी गंभीरे रजसी सुमेके अवंशे धीरः शच्या समैरत् ।
  ‡ Ṛig. X, 89,2,—स सूर्यः पर्युरु वरांस्येन्द्रो ववृत्याद्रथ्येव चक्रा ।