The Arctic Home in the Vedas c3.1

c3.1

An abstract of the first Fargard of the Vendidad —Sixteen lands created by Ahura Mazda with their modern equivalents &c. — Airyana Vaejo, the first created land represents the Paradise of the Iranians —Different views regarding its position —Darmesteter, Spiegel and others locate it in the east; Haug and Bunsen in the far north—Darmesteter’s argument examined—Airyana Vaejo cannot be determined from the position of Vanguhi —Identification of Rangha with the Caspian Sea or the westernmost river doubtful—Rangha is probably the same as Rasâ in the Rig-Veda, X, 75, 6 —Unsoundness of Darmesteter’s reasoning —The position of the Airyana Vaejo must be determined from its special characteristics found in the Avesta —The passage where ten months’ winter is said to be such a characteristic cited —Ten months’ winter first introduced into the happy land by Angra Mainyu—Indicates that before the fiend’s invasion there must have been ten months summer and two months winter in the land —Sudden change in the Polar climate fully confirmed by latest geological researches —Two months winter necessarily synchronous with long Arctic night —The tradition about seven months summer and five months winter also refers to the original climate in the Airyana Vaejo —Mentioned in the Bundahish —Not inconsistent with the tradition of ten months summer recorded in the original passage —Both possible in the Arctic regions —Similar statements in the Rig-Veda —Coincidence between seven months summer, the legend of Aditi, and the date of Indra’s fight with Shambara, pointed out —Summary of the second Fargard —Yima’s Vara in the Airyana Vaejo —Annual sunrise and a year-long day therein —Shows that the Airyana Vaejo must be located near the North Pole and not to the east of Iran —The account too graphic to be imaginary or mythical —Represents the advent of the Glacial epoch in the land--It is the oldest human testimony to the advent of the Ice-age, destroying the Arctic home —Special importance of the Avestic evidence pointed out —Fully corroborated by scientific evidence—Migration from Airyana Vaejo rendered necessary by glaciation —Sixteen lands in the first Fargard therefore represent successive stages of migration to Central Asia —Establishes the historical character of the first Fargard —The legend of deluge in the Shatapatha Brâhmaṇa —Probably refers to the same event as the Avestic legends —Other Vedic passages indicating the northern origin of Indian Aryas —Conclusion to be drawn from the Vedic and Avestic evidence combined. . . . . . . 335