Page 540 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

CHAPTER XII
COMPARATIVE MYTHOLOGY

The value of Comparative Mythology as corroborative evidence-
Its use in the present case-The ancient calendars of lhe European
Aryan races-The plurality of Dawns in the Lettish, the Greek and
the Celtic mythology-The ancient Roman year of ten months and
Numa's reform thereof-Plutarch's view-Improbability of Lignana's
theory pointed out-The ancient Celtic year-Closed with the last day
of October and marked the commencement of winter and darkness-
The winter feast celebrated on the day-The mid-summer feast of
Lugnassad on the first of August-The commencement of summer on
the first of May-The date of the battle of Moytura-Similar duration
of the Old Norse year-Comparison with the ancient Greek calendar-
All indicate six months' light and six months' darkness-Corroboration
derived from comparative philology-Two divisions of the year in
primeval times-The Maid of Nine Forms in the Celtic Mythology-
The Nine paces of Thor in the Norse legend-Compared with the
Vedic Navagvas and Vifra Navaza in the Avesta-Balder's home in
the heavens-Indicates the long Arctic day-The Slavonic story of
Ivan and his two brothers-Continuous night in Ivan's home-Compa-
rison with the Vedic legend of Trita-The Slavonic winter demon-
The story of Dawn and Gloaming in the Finnish mythology-Indicates
a long day of four weeks-Celtic and Teutonic legends representing
the Sun-god's annual struggle with darkness-Baldur and Hodur,
Cuchulainn and Fomori-Temporary sickness and indisposition of gods
and heroes-Prof. Rhys' view thereon-The affliction indicates winter
darkness-Celtic and Teutonic myths indicating long continuous day
and night-All point to a primeval home in the Arctic region-
Recent ethnological researches in favour of European home referred
to-Indicate northern Germany or Scandinavia-The necessity of
going still farther North-Prof. Rhys suggests Finland or White Sea-
Not inconsistent with the theory which seeks to make the North Pole
the home of the whole human race-Prof. Rhys' method and conclusion
-Primeval Arctic home established alike by the traditions of the
eastern and western Aryas-Its relation with the general theory about
the cradle of the human race at the North Pole explained.
We propose in this chapter to examine whether and how
far the conclusions we have deduced from the Vedic and the
A vestic evidence are corroborated by the Myths and traditions
of the European branches of the Aryan race. It is true that
A 21