The Orion, or Researches into the Antiquity of the Vedas c12.13.2

c12.13.2

According to the sacrificial terminology the 4th day before Viṣhûvân or the central day of the yearly *satra* is called the Abhijit day. “In the sixth month,” observes Dr. Haug,* “there are three Abhiplava, *ṣaḷahas* (six-day’s periods) and one Pṛiṣhṭhya *ṣaḷaha*.” This makes up the first 24 days of the sixth month. The following days are thus enumerated: the Abhijit day, the three *svarasâman* days and the Viṣhûvân, or the central day which stands quite apart.” Thus if we exclude the Viṣhûvân day, as standing apart by itself, this gives us four days, and with the two days—*Atirâtra* and *Chaturvinsha*—which are taken up by the initial ceremonies of the *satra*, we make up the *ṣaḷaha* wanted to complete the six months. The Abhijit day thus falls on the fourth day before the Viṣhûvân. Now if Abhijit day be supposed to be named after the Nakshatra of that name (*i e.*, when the sun is in Abhijit) then the Viṣhûvân, or the autumnal equinox must fall four days—or as the sun travels over about 1° of the ecliptic each day, 4°—after the asterism of Abhijit; and it can be shewn by astronomical calculation that, with Aditi or Punarvasû at the vernal equinox to commence the sacrifice, we get nearly the same result. In the Sûrya Siddhânta (viii.