Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c24.10

c24.10

The earliest rishi who is called an Aṅgiras is the priest Bṛhaspati who supported the gods (devas)⁷ in their war against the Daityas, Dānavas and asuras, who were aided by the priest Uśanas-Śukra (chapter XVII). That story gives him a chronological position, but it seems doubtful if he really was an Āṅgiras, for he is not, I believe, ever derived from Atharvan Āṅgiras. Fable in one form says he had a son Kaca (p. 196). References to ‘Bṛhaspati’ occur in connexion with other persons, which show the lack of the historical sense and are vague, and being worthless for the present purpose are not cited here.¹