Page 443 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

224 SAMAGRA TILAK - 2 • THE ARCTIC HOME
Mytholgy given above. All these passages become intelligible
only when interpreted on the theory of the cosmic circulation
of aerial waters through the upper and the lower celestial
hemispheres. But as the theory was little understood or studied
in this connection, the Vedic scholars, ancient and modern, have
hitherto failed to interpret the V!itra legend in a rational and intelli-
gible way, especially the four simultaneous effects of the conquest
of Indra over Vritra mentioned therein.
The cosmic circulation of aerial waters described above, is
not peculiar to the Indo-Iranian mythology. Dr. Warren, in his
Paradise Found, states that a similar circulation of aerial waters
is mentioned in the works of Homer. Homer describes the sun
as returning to the flowing of the ocean, or sinking into it, and
again rising from it and mounting the sky. All rivers and every sea
and all fountains and even deep wells are again said to arise from
the deep flowing ocean which was believed to encircle the earth.*
Helios or the sun is further described as sailing from west to east
in a golden boat or cup, evidently meaning that the underworld
was supposed to be full of waters. But Homeric scholars seem to
have raised unnecessary difficulties in the proper interpretation
of these passages by assuming that Homer conceived the earth
to be flat and that as the Hades was a region of complete darkness
the sun could not be said to go there even after his setting. Dr.
Warren has, however, shown that the assumption is entirely
groundless, and that Homer's earth was really a sphere and that
the underworld was full of aerial waters. We have seen above,
how some Vedic scholars have raised similar difficulties in the
interpretation of the V ritra myth by supposing that the lower
celestial hemisphere was unknown to the Vedic bards. This is
probably a reflection of the Homeric controversy, but as pointed
out by Dr. Warren,Jt these baseless assumptions are due mainly
to a prejudice with which many scholars approach the question
of the interpretation of ancient myths. It is assumed that the early
man could not possibly have known anything about the world,
beyond what the rudest savages know at present; and plain and
explicit statements are sometimes put aside, distorted, or ignored

• See Dr. Warren's Paradise Found, JOt.h Edition ( 1893) Part
V, Chap. V, pp. 250-260.
t Paradise Found, p, 333/.