Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s18.373

v1.c3.s18.373

The shape of the earth is compared with a wheel in the Rigveda,¹⁶ and is expressly called 'circular' (*pari-maṇḍala*) in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa.¹⁷ When earth is conjoined with heaven, the two are conceived as great bowls (*camvā*) turned towards each other.¹⁸ In the Aitareya Āraṇyaka¹⁹ the two are regarded as halves of an egg. The distance of heaven from the earth is given by the Atharvaveda²⁰ as a thousand days' journey for the sun-bird, by the Aitareya Brāhmaṇa²¹ as a thousand days' journey for a horse, while the Pañcaviṃśa Brāhmaṇa²² whimsically estimates the distance as equivalent to a thousand cows standing one on the top of the other.