Vedic Mythology c4.4

c4.4

The four points of the compass are already mentioned in the RV. in an adverbial form (7, 72⁵; 10, 36¹⁴. 42¹¹) and in the AV. as substantives (AV. 15, 2¹ ff.). Hence 'four quarters' (*pradiśaḥ*) are spoken of (10, 19⁸), a term also used as synonymous with the whole earth (1, 164⁴²), and the earth is described as 'four-pointed' (10, 58³). Five points are occasionally mentioned (9, 86²⁹; AV. 3, 24³ &c.), when that in the middle (10, 42¹¹), where the speaker stands, denotes the fifth. The AV. also refers to six (the zenith being added) and even seven points⁵. The same points may be meant by the seven regions (*diśaḥ*) and the seven places (*dhāma*) of the earth spoken of in the RV. (9, 114³; 1, 22¹⁶).