The Arctic Home in the Vedas c13.s2.1.2

c13.s2.1.2

In the Purâṇic literature, Viṣṇu’s three steps appear as the three steps of Vâmana, the fifth incarnation of Viṣṇu. Bali, the powerful enemy of the gods, was celebrating a sacrifice, when, assuming the form of a dwarf, Viṣṇu approached him, and begged for three paces of ground. No sooner the request was granted than Viṣṇu assumed a miraculous form and occupied the whole earth by the first step and the atmosphere and everything above it with the second. Bali, who was the lord of the universe before, was surprised at the metamorphosis of the dwarf; but had to make good his own word by offering his head for the third step of Vâmana. The offer was accepted and Bali was pressed down under the third step into the nether world, and the empire of the earth and heavens above was again restored to Indra from whom it had been snatched away by Bali. Amongst these various interpretations one thing stands out very clear, viz., that Viṣṇu represents the sun in one form or another. But Vedic scholars are not agreed as to whether Viṣṇu’s strides represent the daily or the yearly course of the sun. We must, therefore, carefully examine the Vedic passages relating to Viṣṇu, and see if any indication is found therein to decide which of these two views is more probable or correct. Now in I, 155, 6, Viṣṇu is described as setting in motion, like a revolving wheel, his ninty steeds with their four names, evidently referring to 360 days, divided into four groups or seasons of 90 days each.