The Orion, or Researches into the Antiquity of the Vedas c9.64

c9.64

We have next to deal with the legends of the bold hunter, the terrible Rudra chasing the antelope. Several attributes in the Purāṇic mythology, *e. g.*, his bearing the Ganges, in his matted hair, his fondness for the burning ground, and his appearance as Kirāta or hunter, are all accounted for by placing Rudra just below the Milky Way or the celestial Ganges,* at the gates of the Pitṛi-yāna and figured as a hunter. I have already alluded to the difficulty of identifying Rudra. But whether we take the star of Ārdrā or Sirius to represent the lord of cattle, the above attributes remain the same. But neither these legends, nor the story of Rudra chasing Prajāpati, which, so far as it was necessary for our present purpose, has been already given, can help us, in a material degree, to solve the question under consideration. I wish, therefore, to deal here only with such traditions as point out to the position of Rudra in the course of the year. Rudra, as the lord of the cattle and the presiding deity of storms, can be at once recognized and placed in the rainy season. There are, however, other legends indicating time more definitely. In Ṛig. x. 192. 2, *Samvatsara* or the year is said to rise out of the ocean, the place where Vṛitra was killed (Ṛig. x. 68. 12). Prajāpati, as represented by Orion, may also be naturally supposed to commence the year when the vernal equinox was in Orion. Rudra killed Prajāpati, and as I have shown before, Prajāpati, *Samvatsara* and *Yajna* were convertible terms. Rudra therefore killed Prajâpati or *Yajna* at the beginning of the year; and *Yajna* also meant sacrifice. Rudra was therefore naturally believed to have killed the sacrifice—thus giving rise to the Purâṇic legends of Rudra routing the sacrifice of Dakṣa. At the end of the Sauptika Parva in the Mahâbhârata* we are told that "Rudra pierced the heart of *Yajna* or Sacrifice with an arrow. Thus pierced the Sacrifice, with fire, fled away in the form of an antelope and having reached the sky, there shines in that form, followed by Rudra." Thus it was that Rudra acquired the title of Sacrifice-breaker. In the Tâṇḍya Brâhmaṇa vii.2.1, the death of Prajâpati is, however, spoken of as voluntary. In Taitt. Br. iii. 9. 22. 1, he is said to have assumed the form of *Yajna* and given himself up to the Devas to be sacrificed. The Devas killed him on their morning, and so every one should similarly perform the *Ashwamedha* sacrifice at the beginning of the year. One can now understand what the meaning of these stories is. They refer to the death of Prajâpati by Rudra at the beginning of the year; and thus it was that *Yajna* meaning the year was sacrificed by means of *Yajna* or Prajâpati. Rig. x.90. 16., where we are told that Gods sacrificed *Yajna* by *Yajna*, but this (human sacrifice) was an old (out of date) practice, may also be similarly interpreted. I cannot say which of