Page 498 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

VEDIC MYTHS -THE MATUTINAL DEITIES 279
proteges of Indra we again have one called Dasha-dyu, or one
shining ten-fold (I, 33, 14; VI, 26, 4 ); while Dasho~i, a being
with ten arms or helpers, and Dasha-maya, or a ten-wiled person,
are mentioned amongst those whom Indra forced to submit to
Dyotana in VI, 20, 8. Dasho~ya and Dashashipra are also
mentioned to have been by the side of Indra when he drank
Soma with Syumarashmi in VIII, 52, 2.
The chariot of Soma and PUshan is described as five-rayed
and seven-wheeled in II, 40, 3. But Soma is said to have ten
rays ( rashayah ) in IX, 97, 23.
Agni is described as sapta-rashmi or seven-rayed in I, 146,
1, and his rays are expressly said to be seven in II, 5, 2. His
horses are similarly described as seven-tongued in Ill, 6, 2.
But in I, 141, 2, Agni is said to be dasha-pramati, and his ten
secret dwellings are mentioned in X, 51, 3. The adjective
navamam or the ninth is also applied to the youngest ( navi~h­
~Mya) Agni in V, 27, 3, much in the same way as dashamam is
applied to the new ( nava ) Indra in VIII, 24, 23.
Seven dhitis, prayers or devotions of sacrificial priests, are
mentioned in IX, 8, 4. But in I, 144, 5, their number is said
to be ten.
Foods are said ~o be seven in III, 4, 7. But in I, 122, 13, the
food is described as divided ten-fold. In the Shatapatha
Brahmap.a I, 8, 1, 34, havi!z, or sacrificial oblation, is however
described as made in ten ways.
Seven vipras ( III, 7, 7, ) or seven sacrificers ( hotara~ ),
are mentioned in several places (III, 10, 4; IV, 2, 15; X, 63,
7 ). But in III, 39, 5, the number of the Dashagavas is expressly
stated to be ten. The sacrifi.cers ( hotara~ ) are also mentioned
in the Taittiriya Brahmap.a II, 2, 1, 1, and II, 2, 4, 1.
Brihaspati, the first-born sacrificer, is described as seven·
mouthed or saptasya in IV, 50, 4, and the same verse occurs
in the Atharva Veda (XX, 88, 4 ). But in the Atharva Veda
IV, 6, 1 the first Brahmap.a Brihaspati is said to be dashasya, or
ten-mouthed, and dasha-shirsha or ten-headed. Seven heads
of the Brahmap.a are not expressly mentioned in the :B.ig-Veda,
but in X, 67, 1 " our father," meaning the father of the Angi-
rases. is said to have acquired seven-headed ( sapta ·shir~h7J€)
devotion or intelligence ( dhi ).