The Hindu Temple v1.c5.s2.38

v1.c5.s2.38

The Vāstumaṇḍala with its border is the place in which the motions of Sun and Moon are reconciled and where their union takes place. It is the Vāstu in which the decrepit, old Cyavana asked his sons, to put him down so that he would become young again. Cyavana, the aged decrepit (RV. I. 116. 10) whose story has several versions in the Brāhmaṇas and Purāṇas, though always of the same meaning, is the Moon and Sukanyā, ‘the lovely maiden’ whom he desires, is the Sun. The ‘Jaiminīya’ or ‘Talavakāra Brāhmaṇa’ says³⁴: “Cyavana, the Bhārgava knew the Brāhmaṇa of Vāstupa. He said to his sons: I know the Brāhmaṇa of Vāstupa, put me down then in the Vāstu and go forth . . . They went forth . . . He, left in the Vāstu, wished ‘may I be young again . . . May I win a girl for wife. May I sacrifice with a thousand cows'; he saw this Sāman;³⁵ he praised with it; when he had praised, Śaryāta, the Mānava³⁶ with his clan, settled down (adhyavāsyat) by him. The young cowherds smeared him with dirt . . . . he wrought discord for the Śaryātas; then neither did mother know son, nor son mother.' Śaryāta, the Mānava, said: Have ye seen anything here which could have brought this about? They said to him: surely there lies below here this worn out old man; him the young cowherds and shepherds to-day have been smearing with dirt—hence this has become thus. He said: That verily was Cyavana, the Bhārgava; he knows the Brāhmaṇa of Vāstupa, him now his sons have left in the Vāstu and have gone forth. Running up to him, he said: Sage, homage to thee: have mercy Sir, on the Śaryātas. Now there was a beautiful daughter of Śaryāta, Sukanyā. He said: Do you give me Sukanyā! . . . . Sure I know the Brāhmaṇa of Vāstupa; put her down here by me and then go with your clan this very day at evening." They gave her to him. Then Cyavana, the Bhārgava having praised with this chant and become young again, his youth restored by the union with the Sun, grows from crescent to full moon.