The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c16.s5.8

v1.c16.s5.8

In the Yasna of the Avesta we find Vīvaṅhvant, father of Yima, who is the first man to prepare the Haoma, the second being Āthwya, and the third Thrita. The parallelism is perfect, for not only is Vivasvant the father of Yama, but it is said in one passage of the Rigveda⁵ that Indra drank Soma beside Manu Vivasvant and Trita. From the parallelism it is possible to support the theory of Oldenberg,⁶ which sees in Vivasvant nothing more or less than a deification of the first sacrificer, the ancestor of the human race. But the theory is, on the whole, somewhat inadequate to account for all that is said of Vivasvant. His connexion with the Açvins, with Agni, and with Soma can be explained, as well as the importance laid upon his seat, by the theory that he is the sun, especially the rising sun. This also suits best the obvious etymological sense of his name. Further refinement of his essence, such as making him, with Ludwig,⁷ the god of the bright sky, or, with Barth,⁸ the heaven of the sun, is hardly necessary. The god in any case bears the appearance of having lost much of his original colour and life.