The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c7.s1.4

c7.s1.4

A celebrated ancient Hindu glossographer and etymologer of the name of Yāska reports three lists, respectively of 32, 36, and 31 gods, or semi-divine beings.² The last of these seems to begin to tell us in what succession the Vedic gods appear on the stage day by day, especially in the morning.³ He begins well with the Açvins, or "Horsemen" (the Vedic Dioscuri),⁴ Ushas, the Goddess Dawn, and Sūryā, the "Sun-Maiden." Soon, however, he grows problematic, or dunder-headed, with Vrishākapāyī, Saraṇyū, Tvashtar, and so on. Many years' occupation with the writings of this worthy, whose sense and erudition are valued much by the Hindus, as well as by Western scholars, have not increased my belief in his authority, or decreased my faith in the infinite possibilities of his ineptitude. Still this procession of the gods along the hours of the day has great interest for the Vedic ritual and the explanation of the gods themselves. Touches of it appear in the hymns themselves, as when the Rig-Veda² groups very neatly the gods of the morning: