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

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The Vedic يishis 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 similarly 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 color of the full moon. The
blindness of يijrâshva 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 Hiranya-hasta or the gold-hand is said to be
restored, is, we are further told, nothing but the dawn under a
different name. She is called the wife of the eunuch because she was
separated from thee sun during the night. The cow of Shayu (derived
from shî, to lie down) is again said to be the light of the morning sun,
who may well be described as sleeping in the darkness from which
he was brought forth by the Ashvins for the sake of Vandana. In
short, each and every legend is said to be a story of the sun or the
moon in distress. The Ashvins were the saviors of the morning-light,
or of the annual sun in his exile and distress at the time of winter
solstice; and when the sun becomes bright and brisk in the morning
every day, or vigorous and triumphant in the spring, the miracle, we
are told, was naturally attributed to the physicians of the gods.
This explanation of the different legends connected with the
Ashvins is no doubt an advance on that of Yâska, who has explained
only one of these legends, viz., that of the quail, on the Dawn theory.
But still I do not think that all the facts and incidents in these legends
are explained by the Vernal theory as it is at present understood.
Thus we cannot explain why the protégés of the Ashvins are
described as being delivered from darkness on the theory that every
affliction or distress mentioned in the legend refers to mere decrease
of the power of the sun in winter. Darkness is distinctly referred to
when