Page 33 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

20 SAMAGRA TILAK - 2 • THE ORION

Vedic AryaS became settled in :fudia, such a change in the old order
of seasons was necessary to make them c.orrespond with the real
aspect of nature. But it is difficult to determine exactly when this
change was made.* The old order of seasons given in the passage
above quoted, however, clearly states that Vasanta in old days
commenced with the vernal equinox. We can now understand
why Vasanta has been spoken of as the first season and why the
Nak~hatras have been divided into two groups called the Deva
Nak~hatras and the Yama Nak~hatras.t I am aware of the
theory which attempts to explain away the passages above cited
as metaphorical to avoid the appearance of superstition.:!: But
the method is neither sound nor necessary. The path of the Devas ..
and the path of the Pitris are several times referred to in the ~;gveda
and though we might suppose the Brahmavadins to have develop-
ed the two ideas to their utmost extent, it 1,;8.Ilnot be denied that
the original idea is an old one, suggested by the passage of the
sun in the northern and southern hemispheres.
In the absence of anything to the contrary we might therefore
take it as established that in the early Vedic days the year began
when the sun was in the vernal equinox; and as the sun then
passed from the smith to the north of the equator it was also
the commencement of his northern passage. In other words, the
Uttaraya11a (if such a word was t.hen used), Vasanta, the year
and the Satras all commenced together at the vernal equinox.
The autumnal .equinox which came after the rains was the central
day of the year; and the latter half of the year was named the
Pitriyina or what. we would now call the Dak~hil}ayana. It is
<lifficult to definitely ascertain the time when the commencement
.of the year was changed from the vernal equinox to the winter
solstice. But the change must have been introduced long before
the vernal equinox was in the Kfittikas, and when this change
was made uttarayar,w must have gradually come to denote the
first half o~ the new year, i. e. the period from the winter to the
summer solstice, especially as the word itself was capable of be-
ing understood in the sense of " turning towards the north from

• See Zimmer's Life in Ancient India, p. 371. Kaegi's J;tigveda,
p. J 16, note 68.
t Taitt. Br. 1. J .20. 6 and i. s. 2. 6.
t See Thomson's Bhagwad Git~, p. 6o.