Page 107 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

94 SAMAGRA TILAK - 2 • THE ORION

as originally proposed, the vernal equinox in the constellation
of Orion, and identifying Namuchi alias V ritra with the constella-
tion of M!igashtras or the antelope's head situated just below the
Milky Way.
We have next to deal with the legends of the bold hunter,
the terrible Rudra chasing the antelope. Several attributes in the
Purcipic mythology e. g., his bearing the Ganges, in his matted
hair, his fondness for the burning ground, and his appearance
as Kirata or hunter, are all accounted for by placing Rudra just
below the Milky Way or the celestial Ganges. • at the gates of
the Pitriyana and figured as a hunter. I have already alluded to
the difficulty of identifying Rudra. But whether we take the star
of Ardra or Sirius to represent the lord of cattle, the above attri-
butes remain the same. But neither these legends nor the story
of Rudra chasing PrajApati, which so far as it was necessary
for our present purpose, has been already given, can help us, in
a material degree, to solve the question under consideration. I
wish, therefore to deal here only with such traditions as point
out to the position of Rudra in the course of the year. Rudra, as
the lord of the cattle and the presiding deity of storms can be
at once recognised and placed in the rainy season. There are,
however, other legends indicating time more definitely. In ~g.
v. 192. 2, Samvatsara or the year is said to rise out of the ocean,
the place where V ritra was killed ( ~ig. x. 68. 12 ). Prajapati,
as represented by Orion, may also be naturally supposed to com-
mence the year when the vernal equinox was in Orion
Rudra killed Praj&pati, and as I have shown before, Prajlpati,
Samvatsara and Yajna were convertible terms. Rudra therefore
killed Praj&pati or Yajna at the beginning of the year; and Yajna
also meant sacrifice. Rudra was therefore naturally believed to
have killed the sacrifice-thus giving rise to the PurpAic legends
of Rudra routing the sacrifice of Dak~ha. At the end of the Saup-
tika Parva in the Mahabh&ratat we are told that ' Rudra pierced
• See Mahimna Stotra, verso 17, quoted sup11.
t Mahl. Saupt. 18. 19. 14 :-
~:6~~~~~1
•Niflia«ttfl ~t ~ ~ 61Jrcron:
6 u ~" m ft<i Sfltq' OlfUGI«,
""'"'fq1nijr m ~ ii1R~ n
Here the antelope is said to be pierced in the htart and not in the