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

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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 some times 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, 80, 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 varâmsi, which Sâyana
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, and compares to the motion of a chariot wheel. Now the
heavens in the temperate and the tropical regions may be described
as moving like a wheel, from east to west and then back again to the
east, though the latter half of this circuit is not visible to the observer.
But we cannot certainly speak of the tropical sky as being supported
on a pole, for the simple reason that the North Pole, which must be
the point of support in, such a case, will not be sufficiently near the
zenith in the tropical or the temperate zone. If we, therefore, combine
the two statements, that the heavens are supported as on a pole and
that they move like a wheel, we may safely infer that the motion
referred to is such a motion of the celestial hemisphere as can be
witnessed only by an observer at the North Pole. In the يig-Veda§ I,
24, 10 the constellation of Ursa Major (Rikshah) is described as being
placed “high” (uchhâh), and, as this can refer only to the altitude of
the constellation, it follows that it must then have been over the head
of the observer, which is possible only in the Circum-Polar regions.
Unfortunately there are few other passages in the
* Rig. X, 89, 4, — इाय िगरो अिनिशतसगा अपः पररय े ं सगर बात ु । यो अणव े े चिबया
शचीिभिवक तिथवीमतु दयाम ॥
† Rig. II, 15, 2, — अवशं े दयामभायद बहमा रोदसी अणदिरम । स धारयद पिथव पूथ
सोम ता मद इकार ॥
‡ Rig. X, 89, 2, — स सयः ू पयु वराो ं े वाद रवचबा े । अितमपं न सग का
तमािसिा ं जघान ॥
§ Rig. I, 24, 10, — अमी य रा िनिहतास उा नं दौे कह ु िचद िदवयः े ु । अदािन वण वरतािन
िवचाकशमा नमित े ॥ It may also be remarked, in this connection, that the passage speaks of
the appearance (not rising) of the Seven Bears at night, and their disappearance (not setting) during
the day, showing that the constellation was circum-polar at the place of the observer.