The Arctic Home in the Vedas c12.2

c12.2

Direct evidence for the Arctic theory summed up —Different nature of the mythological evidence —Schools of mythological interpretation —The naturalistic or the Nairukta school —Its theories —The Dawn theory and the myths explained by it —The Storm theory, Indra and Vritra —The Vernal theory, the Ashvins' exploits —Vritra's legend usually explained by the Storm theory —Simultaneous effects of Indra's conquest over Vritra —The release of waters, the release of cows, the recovery of the dawn and the production of the sun —Vedic authorities in support of their simultaneous character —Passages relating to the place and time of the conflict —The simultaneous nature left unexplained by the Dawn or the Storm theory —Battle not fought in the atmosphere above, as implied by the Storm theory —Nor in the rainy season —Misinterpretation of words like parvata, giri, adri, &c. —The Storm theory inadequate in every respect —New explanation necessary —The real nature of waters explained —They are aerial or celestial waters, and not the waters of rain —Vedic bards knew of a region ‘below the three earths’ —The contrary view of Wallis refuted —The real meaning of rajas, Nir-riti, ardhau and samudram explained —Cosmic circulation of aerial waters —Nether world, the home of aerial waters —Avestic passages describing the circulation of waters cited and explained —Sarasvatî and Ardvi Sûra Anâhita are celestial rivers —The source of all plants and rain —The real nature of Vritra's fight —Simultaneous release of waters and light is intelligible, if both have the same source —Both stopped by Vritra's encompassing the waters in the lower world —The closing of the apertures in the mountains (parvatas) on the horizon —The movement of the waters and the sun co-related —Express passages from the Avesta to that effect —The sun stopping for a long time in waters —Avestic passages in support thereof —Its effect on the disposal of corpses —Darkness synchronous with the cessation of the flow of waters in winter —Its long duration —Cosmic circulation of waters in other mythologies —Express texts showing that the fight with Vritra was annual and fought in winter —Inexplicable except on the Arctic theory —The exact date of Indra's fight with Vritra preserved in the Rig-Veda —The real meaning of *chatvârimshyám sharadi* explained —Shambara found on the 40th day of *Sharad* —Denotes the commencement of the long night —Vedic passages shewing *Sharad* to be the last season of sunshine —Paleographical evidence for reckoning time by seasons —Similar reckoning in the Avesta —100 autumnal forts of Vritra and the killing of the watery demon with ice explained —The seven rivers released by Indra —Cannot be terrestrial, nor the rivers of the Panjaub —The interpretation of Western scholars examined and rejected —The connection between the seven rivers and the seven suns pointed out —The origin of the phrase *Hapta-hindu* in the Avesta —Probably a transference of an old mythological name to a place in the new home —Vritra's legend Arctic in origin —Captive waters represent the yearly struggle between light and the darkness in the ancient Arctic home.