The Orion, or Researches into the Antiquity of the Vedas c9.2

c9.2

Mrigashiras—Its oldest form and position—Identification of Rohinī and Rudra, etc.—Plutarch on the non-Egyptian origin of Orion, Canis and Ursa—Methods of interpreting mythological legends—Storm and dawn theories—Their insufficiency—Knowledge of the heavens amongst the ancient Aryas—Heaven and Hell, Devayāna and Pitriyāna—Joined by equinoxes, the gates of Heaven—Dogs at these gates—Kerberos and Yama's dogs—The Chinvat bridge and the dogs that guard it—Their identification with Canis Major and Canis Minor, when the vernal equinox was in Orion—Celestial river and Charon's boat—Comparison of the Rigveda and the Avesta dogs—Saramā and Shunāsīrau—Dog (star) commencing the year—Heliacal and acronycal rising of Orion in spring and autumn—Vishnu and Rudra—Kerberos and Orthros—The legend of Namuchi alias Vritra—His decapitation by Indra at the gates of heaven, where Orthros is stationed—Represented by the "antelope's head" in the heavens, Vritra being = Mriga—Compact between Indra and Namuchi—Watery foam—Its identification, with the Milky Way—Legends of Rudra—How he killed Prajāpati Yajna or Sacrifice at the begining of the year—Shulagava sacrifice—Tistrya = *hi stri*, the three star belt of Orion The Hindu Trinity, Dattātreya—His representation in the sky.