Page 268 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

THE NIGHT OF THE GODS 55
eas.t to west and then back again to the east, though the latter
half of this circuit is not visible to the observer. But we cannot
certainly speak of the tropical sky as being supported on a pole,
• for the simple reason that the North Pole, which must be the
point of support in such a case, wiJI not be sufficiently near the
zenith in the tropical or the temperate zone. If we, therefore
combine the two statement , that the heaven are upported a
on a pole and that they move like a wheel, we may afely infer
that the motion referred to i such a motion of the cele tial hemi-
sphere as can be witnessed only by an observer at the North
Pole. In the Rig-Veda § I, 24, 10 the constellation of Ursa Major
( ~ik~haf.z ) is described as being placed ' high ' ( uchhdf.z ) and, as
this can refer only to the altitude of the constellation, it follows
that it must then have been over the head of the observer, which
is possible only in the Circum-Polar regions. Unfortunately there
are few other passages in the ~ig-veda which describe the motion
of the celestial hemisphere or of the stars therein, and we must,
therefore, take up another characteristic of the Polar regions,
namely, 'a day and a night of six months each', and see if the
Vedic literature contains any references to this singular feature
of the Polar regions.
The idea that the day and the night of the Gods are each of
six months' duration is so widespread in the Indian literature,
that we examine it here at some length, and, for that purpose,
commence with the Post-Vedic literature and trace it back to the
most ancient books. It is found not only in the Purapas, but also
in astronomical works, and as the latter state it in a more definite
form we shall begin with the later Siddhantas. Mount Meru is
the terrestrial North Pole of our astronomers, and the St1rya-
Siddhinta, XII, 67, says:- " At Meru Gods behold the sun after
but a single rising during the half of his revolution beginning with
Aries. " Now according to Purapas Meru is the home or seat of
all the Gods, and the statetnent about their half-year-long night
and day is thus easily and naturally explained; and all astrono-

§ ~ig I. z+, ro,- aJ+i'l ~r ~ .::-..~1 ~ ~:81 ~~~: I
It may also be remarked, in this connection, that the passage speaks of
the appearance (not rising) of the Seyen Bears at night, and their
disappearance (not ctting) during the day, showing that the con tella-
tion was circum-polar at the place of the observer.