The Arctic Home in the Vedas c3.4

c3.4

Proofs of the theory of the Arctic home summed up —They clearly indicate a Polar home, but the exact spot in the Arctic regions, that is, north of Europe or Asia, still undeterminable —An Arctic home possible only in inter-Glacial times according to geology —Ancient Vedic chronology and calendar examined —The interval between the commencement of the Post-Glacial era and the Orion period cannot, according to it, be so great as 8,000 years —Supported by the moderate estimate of the American geologists —Purâṇic chronology of yugas, manvantaras and kalpas —Raṅgâchârya’s and Aiyer’s views thereon —Later Purâṇic system evolved out of an original cycle of four yugas of 10,000 years, since the last deluge —The theory of ‘divine years’ unknown to Manu and Vyâsa —Adopted by later writers who could not believe that they lived in the Krita age —The original tradition of 10,000 years since the last deluge fully in accord with Vedic chronology —And also with the American estimate of 8,000 B. C. for the beginning of the Post-Glacial period —All prove the existence of a Polar Aryan home before 8,000 B. C. —Trustworthiness of the ancient traditions and the method of preserving them —The theory of the Polar origin of the whole human race not inconsistent with the theory of the Arctic Aryan home —Current views regarding primitive Aryan culture and religion examined —Primitive Aryan man and his civilisation cannot now be treated as post-Glacial —Certain destruction of the primeval civilization and culture by the Ice Age —Shortcomings or defects in the civilisation of the Neolithic Aryan races in Europe must, therefore, be ascribed to a post-diluvian relapse into barbarism —Life and calendar in the inter-Glacial Arctic home —*Devayâna* and *Pitṛiyâna* and the deities worshipped during the period —The ancient sacrifices of the Aryan race —The degree of civilisation reached by the undivided Aryans in their Arctic home —The results of Comparative Philology stated —The civilisation disclosed by them must be taken to be the minimum or the lowest, that can be predicated of the undivided Aryans—The culture of the undivided Aryans higher than the culture of the Stone or the Metal age —Use of metal coins among them highly probable —Beginnings of the Aryan language or the differentiation of human races according to colour or language still untraceable —The origin of Aryan man and religion lost in geological antiquity —Theological views regarding the origin and character of the Vedas summarised —Differently supported by writers on the different schools of philosophy —Patañjali’s and Vyâsa’s view that the Vedas were lost in the last deluge and repromulgated in *substance*, if not in *form*, at the beginning of the new age —The four periods into which the Post-Glacial era may be divided on astronomical grounds —Compared with the characteristics of the four yugas given in the Aitareya Brâhmaṇa —Theological and historical views regarding the origin &c., of the Vedas stated in parallel columns and compared —Vedic texts, showing that the subject matter of the hymns is ancient though the language may be new, cited —Vedic deities and their exploits all said to be ancient —Improbability of Dr. Muir’s suggested reconciliation —Vedas, or rather Vedic religion, shown to be inter-Glacial in *substance* though post-Glacial in *form* —Concluding remarks. 414