The Arctic Home in the Vedas c13.s5.2

c13.s5.2

We begin with the sun. He is described as seven-horsed (saptâshva) in V, 45, 9, and his chariot is described as seven-wheeled, or yoked with seven horses, or one seven-named horse in I, 164, 3. The seven bay steeds (haritaḥ) are also mentioned as drawing the carriage of the sun in I, 50, 8. But in IX, 63, 9, the sun is said to have yoked ten horses to his carriage; and the wheel of the year-god is said to be carried by ten horses in I, 164, 14. In the Atharva Veda XI, 4, 22, the sun's carriage is, however, said to be eight-wheeled (aṣṭâ-chakra).