History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.94.1

v6.c82.94.1

The next question is: what was the extent of the year in the Vedic age. Some Ṛk. verses may be cited in this connection. 'The wheel⁷⁰⁷ of *ṛta* has twelve spokes, it revolves round the heavens; it does never wear out. O Agni! in this (wheel) seven hundred and twenty sons in pairs abide Some say that the father (Sun) who sends down water has five feet and twelve forms and remains endowed with fulness in the distant half (part) of heavens while others say that he (the Sun), the all-seeing, is placed in a lower (place) that has seven wheels and six spokes, all the worlds abide in the revolving wheel with five spokes, one wheel and twelve rims (of the wheel) and three naves—who is there that knew these (thoroughly); in that (wheel i e. year) are placed together three hundred and sixty very unstable nails' (Ṛg I 164. 11-13 and 48). In these passages the sage poses a riddle or puzzle in very metaphorical and mystic language about a year divided into three, five or six seasons, twelve months, 360 days and 720 days and nights (when calculated separately). It is possible to hold that the wheel of *ṛta* means the zodiacal belt divided into twelve parts (dvādaśāra). But it is a very difficult matter to keep in view the twelve divisions correctly. In Ṛg. I. 164. 15 it is said 'They say that the 7th of those that are born together is born of one; there are only six twin sages born of the gods'.