Page 464 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

VEDIC MYTHS-THE MATUTINAL DEITIES . 245'
round the sun in the·distant region C paravati ). We also read that
the Ashvins moved the most sweet sindhu, or ocean, evidently mean-
ing that they made the waters of the ocean flow forward ( I, 112,
9) and they are said to have made Rasa, a celestial river, swell
full with water-floods, urging to victory the car without the horse
(I, 112, 12 ). They are also the protectors of the great Atithigva and
Divodasa against Shambara; and Kutsa, the favourite of Indra,
is also said to have been helped by them ( I, 112, 14 and 23 ).
In verse 18 of the same hymn, the Ashvins are addressed as Atigirases,
and said to have triumphed in their hearts and went onwards to
liberate the flood of milk; while in VIII, 26, 17, we read that they
abide in the sea of heaven ( divo arnave ). Taking all these facts
together, we can· easily see that the ·Ashvins were the helpers of
Indra in his struggle for waters and light; and we now know what
that struggle means. It is the struggle between the powers of light
and darkness, and the Ashvins, in their character as divine physi-
cians, were naturally the first to help the gods in this distress or
affliction. It is true that Indra was the principal actor or hero in
this fight; but the Ashvins appear to have stood by him, rendering
help whenever necessary, and leading the van in the march of the
matutinal deities after the conquest. This character of the Ashvins
is hardly explained by the Vernal theory; nor can it be accounted
for on the theory of a daily struggle between light and darkness,
for we have seen that the dawn, during which the Ashvina-shastra
is recited, is not the evanescent dawn of the tropics. The Arctic
theory alone can satisfactorily interpret the facts stated above;
and when they are interpreted in this way, .it is easy to perceive
how the Ashvins are described as having rejuventated, cured, or
rescued a number of decrepit, blind, lame or distressed proteges
of theirs in the various legends ascribed to them.
The important achievements of the Ashvins have been summed
up by Macdonell in his Vedic Mythology ( § 21 ) as follows :-
"The sage Chyavana, grown old and deserted, they released
from his decrepit body; prolonged his life, restored him to youth,
rendered him desirable to his wife and made him the husband of
maidens (I, 116, 10 etc.). They also renewed the youth of the
aged Kali, and befriended him when he had taken a wife (X, 39,
8; T, 112, 15 ). They brought, on a car, to the youthful Vimada wives
or a wife named Kamadyu ( X, 65, 12 ) who seems to have been the