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The vedas describe four well-defined seasons, viz., Spring(Vasanta),
Summer(Grishma), Rainy(Varsha), and winter(Sarat Hemanta). But these
clear-cut seasons vary in different parts of the world and one cnnot exactly
say to which climate and which parts the ancients referred to. They praised
the Arctic climate and welcomed the long sunless winters. Just as the Black
races might feel enthusiastic about their hot climates to which they are
accustomed, the Aryans adored the Arctic cold. It would be of interest to
quote from Sriman Tilak’s "The Arctic home in the Vedas" where he
refers to the polar characteristics which are the same to-day. Although he
had not personally visited these regions, I believe, owing to difficulties
of travel in his days and was not able to witness them himself, his
descriptions derived purely from the study of the Vedas show a precision
and correctness of detail which might be verified to-day by us. He writes,
(pages 53 and 59).
-
- THE POLAR
CHARACTERISTICS.
- "The Sun rises
in the South.
- The Starts do not
rise and set; but revolve, or spin round and round, in horizontal
planes, completing one round in 24 hours. The northern celestial
hemisphere is alone over-head and visible during the whole year; and
the southern or the lower celestial world is always invisible.
- The year consists
only of one long day and one long night of six months each.
- There is only one
morning and one evening or the Sun rises and sets only once a year.
But the twilighht whether of the morning or of the evening lasts
continually for about two months, or 60 periods of 24 hours each. The
ruddy light of the morn or the evening twilight, is not again confined
to a particular part of the horizon (eastern or western) as with us;
but moves, like the starts at the place, round and round along the
horizon, like a potter’s wheel, completing one round every 24 hours.
These rounds of the morning light continue to take place, until the
orb of the Sun comes above the horizon, and then the Sun follows the
same course for six months, that is, moves without setting, round and
round the observer, completing one round every 24 hours.
-
- THE CIRCUM-POLAR
CHARACTERISTICS.
- The Sun will always
be to the south of the zenith of the observer. But as this happens
even in the case of the observer stationed in the Temperate Zone, it
cannot be regarded as a special characteristic.
….to be filled in…
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