Artic Home of the Aryans by Lokamanya Bal ... - Mandhata Global

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times, that is, before the Aryan separation, and who, for this reason,
seem to have attained almost divine character in the eyes of the
poets of the يig-Veda. They have all been described as more or less
connected with Yama in X, 14, 3-6; but it does not follow therefrom
that they were all Yama’s agents or beings without any human origin.
For, as stated above, there are a number of passages in which they
are described as being the first and the most ancient sacrificers of the
race; and if after their death they are said to have gone to Yama and
become his friends and companions, that does not, in any way,
detract from their human character. It is, therefore, very important in
the history of the sacrificial literature to determine if any traditions are
preserved in the يig-Veda regarding the duration of the sacrifices
performed by these ancient ancestors of the Vedic people (nah pûrve
pitarah, VI, 22, 2), in times before the separation of the Aryan people,
and see if they lend any support to the theory of an early Circum-
Polar home.
Now so far as my researches go, I have not been able to find
any Vedic evidence regarding the duration of the sacrifices performed
by Manu, Atharvan, Bhṛigu, or any other ancient sacrificers, except
he Angirases. There is an annual sattra described in the Shrauta
Sûtras, which is called the Angirasâm-ayanam, and is said to be a
modification of the Gavâm ayanam, the type of all yearly sattras. But
we do not find therein any mention of the duration of the sattra of the
Angirases. The duration of the Gavâm ayanam is, however, given in
the Taittirîya Samhitâ, and will be discussed in the next chapter. For
the present, we confine ourselves to sattra of the Angirases, and
have to see if we can find out other means for determining its
duration. Such a means is, fortunately, furnished by the يig-Veda
itself. There are two chief species of the Angirases (Angiras-tama),
called the Navagvas and the Dashagvas, mentioned in the يig-Veda
(X, 62, 5 and 6). These two classes of ancient sacrificers are
generally mentioned together, and the facts attributed to the
Angirases are also attributed to them. Thus, the Navagvas