Page 269 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

SAMAGRA TILAK...:. 2 • THE'ARCTIC HOME
mers and divines have accepted the accuracy of the explanation.
The day of the Gods corresponds with the passage of the sun from
the vernal to the autumnal equinox, when the sun is visible at the
Nonh Pole, or the Meru; and the night with the Southern passage
of sun, from the autumnal back to the vernal equinox. But
Bbaskar<\charya, not properly understanding the passage which
states that the "Uttaraya~a is a day of Gods" has raised the question
how Uttaraya~a which in his day meant the passage of the sun
from the winter to the summer solstice, could be (he day of the
Gods stationed at the North Pole; for an observer at the Pole can
only see the sun in his passage from- the .vernal to the autumnal
equinox.* But as shown by me elsewhere, Bhaskanlcharya has'
there fallen into an error by attributing to the word Uttardya1Ja
a sense which. it did not bear in old times, or at least in the passage
embodying this tradition. The old meaning of UttarayarJa, literally,'
the northern passage of the sun, was the period of time required:
by the sun to travel from the vernal to the autumnal equinox; or'
~be portion of the ecliptic in the northern hemisphere; and if wt!
understand the word in this seme, the statement that the Uttaraya~a:
i§ a day of the Devas is at once plain and intelligible. Bhaskara~
charya's reference to older astronomical Samhitas clearly shows'
that the tradition was handed down from the· oldest times. It is
sl}ggested that in· these passages Gods TJJ.ay mean the apotheo-
sized ancestors of the human race. But I do not think that we need'
any such explanation. If the ancestors of the human race ever
lived at the North Pole, so must have their Gods; and I shalf shew'
in ·a subsequent chapter that the Vedic deities are, as a matter of
fact clothed with attributes, which are distinctly Polar in origin.
It makes, therefore, no difference for our purpose, if a striking:
feature of the primitive home is traditionally preserved and
remembered as a characteristic of the Gods, or of the apotheosized'
an,cestors oLthe race. We are concerned with the -tradition·
itself, ard our object is gained if its existence is ' clearly;
established.
The next authority for the statement is Manu, I, 67. Whil~
describing the divisions . of time ,it says, '' A year ( human ) is a
day and a night of the Gods; thus are the two divided, the nor-
thern passage of the sun is the day: and the southern the night. ;,

• See Orion, p. 30.