The Orion, or Researches into the Antiquity of the Vedas c1.1

c1.1

these legends is older, whether that of Prajâpati sacrificing himself, or of Rudra killing him at the beginning of the year. But whichever of these be the older one it does not affect our present question. Both of them indicate that Prajâpati once commenced the year and that he either willingly allowed himself to be sacrificed or was killed by Rudra at that time. As another indication of time, I may point out that the time, prescribed for the sacrifice of Shûlagava in Âshvalâyana Gṛihya Sûtras, 4. 9. 2, is in Vasanta or Sharad with the asterism of Ârdrâ. The passage, as now understood, means that the sacrifice should be performed on any day in Vasanta or Sharad when the moon—whether full, half, quarter or new—is near the asterism of Ârdrâ, the star over which Rudra presides. But it appears to me that here we have a tradition that the sacrifice was originally required to be performed at the new or full moon in the vicinity of Ârdrâ, in Vasanta or Sharad, thus indicating that the vernal equinox was near Ârdrâ when the sacrifice was orginally established. When the seasons receded Ârdrâ new or full moon could not fall in Vasanta or Sharad and therefore Ârdrâ night afterwards came to mean any night when the moon is near the asterism of Ârdrâ in Vasanta or Sharad. However, as the point is not quite satisfactory I shall not press it here. The only other fact about Rudra worthy of notice is that he seems to be described as followed by dogs or rather as their master (Vaj. San, 16. 27).* This may shew that the Vedic poets knew of the dogs near the star of Rudra.