Page 462 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

VEDIC MYTHS--THE MATUTINAL DEITIES 243
struggle with the ten-fold division of darkness-Bribaspati and his
lost wife in the ~ig-Veda-Ten non-sacrificing kings and Ravana
compared-Mythical element in the R4mayana probably derived from
the Vedic mytholgy-Hanumln and Vri1hlkapi-Was Rlmlyana copied
from Homer-Both may have a common source-Conclusion.

THE inadequacy of the Storm theory to explain the legend
of Indra and V{itra has been fully set forth in the last chapter; and
we have seen how a number of points therein, hitherto uninte-
lligible, can be explained by the Arctic theory combined with the
true conception of the circulation of aerial waters in the upper and
the nether world. We shall now take up the legends that are usu-
ally explained on the Vernal theory, and show how, like the Storm
theory, it fails to account satisfactorily for the different features of
these legends. Such legends are to be found amongst the achieve-
ments of the Ashvins, the physicians of the gods. These achieve-
ments are summed up, as it were, in certain hymns of the ~ig-Veqa
(I, 112, 116, 117, 118 ), each of which briefly refers to the import-
ant exploits of these twin gods. As in the case ofV#tra, the character
of the Ashvins and their exploits are explained by different schools
of interpreters in different ways. Thus Yaska ( Nir. XII, 1 ) informs
us that the two Ashvins are regarded by some as representing
Heaven and Earth, by others as Day and Night, or as Sun and Moon;
while the Aitihasikas take them to be two anc~ent kings, the per-
formers of holy acts. But as before, we propose to examine the
legends connected with the Ashvins only according to the natur~;t­
listic or the Nairukta school of interpretation. Even in this scho_ol
there are, however, a number of different views held regarding the
~ture and the character of these two gods. Some believe _that the
natural basis of the Ashvins must be the morriiag star, that being
the only morning-light visible before fire, da~n an~ sun; while
others think that the two sta;s in the constellation of Gemini w~e
the original representatives of the twin gods. The achievemen~ 9f
these gods are, however, generally explained as referring to the
restoration of the powers of the sun decayed in wint~r; and an
elaborate discussion of the Ashvins' exploits ~n this theory will
be found in the Contributions to the Science of Mythology, ( V Cll·
II, pp. 583-605) by Prof. Max. Muller, published a few ye~s agt>.
It is beyond the scope of this work to· examine· each oncbdf·.tbe
different legends connected with the Ashvins~ ~s Prof.· M~2t ,MyUtr