Chapter 23 - Information about Heavenly bodies (stars, planets etc.)

Summary: Information about Heavenly bodies (Stars, Planets etc.): The movement of the Polar Star.

Sūta said:

1. That chariot is occupied and presided over by the Devas, Ādityas, sages, Gandharvas, Divine damsels, Grāmaṇīs, Serpents and demons.^[1]

2-5a. These abide in the sun for the period of two months each in due order.^[2]

The following reside in the sun continuously in the months of Madhu and Mādhava (Caitra and Vaiśākha) viz. (gods) Dhātṛ and Aryaman; (sages) Pulastya, Pulaha, the Prajāpati; (serpents) Airāvata, Vāsuki, Kaṃsa, Bhīma; Rathakṛt, and Rathaujas—these two are cited as Yakṣas; (Gandharvas) Tumburu, Nārada; (divine damsels) Susthalā and Puñjikasthalā, (protector-demons), Heti and Praheti these two are cited as Yātudhānas.

5b-8a. The following reside (in the sun) during the months of Śuci and Śukra: (Jyeṣṭha andĀṣāḍha); (Gods) Mitra and Varuṇa; the sages cited being Atri and the famous Vasiṣṭha; (Apsaras) Sahajanyā, Menakā; Pauruṣeya, and Vadha who are cited as Rākṣasas, the Gandharvas Hāhā and Hūhū; Yajña (probably Yakṣa and not Yajña): Rathasvana, Rathacitra, another named Nāgasākṣaka (rather Nāga called Takṣaka) and Rambhaka.

8b-11. Other deities also reside in the sun. The following group (of Devas and others) resides in the sun during the months of Nabhas and Nabhasya (Śrāvaṇa and Bhādrapada) viz. (Gods) Indra and Vivasvān; (sages) Aṅgiras, Bhṛgu; the serpents: Elāpatra and Śaṅkhapāla; (Gandharvas) Viśvāvasu and Ugrasena, Śveta and Aruṇa; (the two Apsaras) well-known as Pramlocā and Anumlocā and the two Yātudhānas (demons) Sarpa and Vyāghra.

12-15. Other pure deities and sages reside (in the sun) during the autumn (Āśvina and Kārttika); (gods) Parjanya and Pūṣan; (sages) Bhāradvāja along with Gautama; Parāvasu and Suruci the Gandharvas; Viśvācī and Ghṛtācī the two (Apsaras) of splendid characteristics; Airāvata and Dhanañjaya the well-known serpents and Śyenajit and Suṣeṇa who are Senānīs (commanders) and Grāmaṇīs (or Yakṣas). Āpas and Vāta these two are cited as Rākṣasa—All these always stay in the sun during the months of Āśvina and Kārttika.

16-19. The following stay in the sun during the two months of Hemanta (Early Winter); they are the two (Devas) Aṃśa and Bhaga; (the two sages) Kāśyapa and Kratu; the two serpents Mahāpadma and Karkoṭaka; the two Gandharvas Citrasena and Ūrṇāyu; the two celestial damsels Urvaśī and Pūrvacittī [Pūrvacitti?]; Tārkṣa and Ariṣṭanemi who are Senānī (commanders) as Yakṣas and Vidyutsphūrja and Śatāyu who are cited as Yātuhānas (demons)—these reside in the sun in the months of Saha and Sahasya (Mārgaśīrṣa and Pauṣa).

20-23. The following reside in the sun during the months of Śiśira (late winter). They are (gods) Tvaṣṭṛ, Viṣṇu (sages) Jāmadagnya, Viśvāmitra; the two serpents Kambala and Aśvatara who are the sons of Kadru; the two Gandharvas Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Sūryavarcas; (the two celestial damsels) Tilottamā and Rambhā; the demon Brahmāpeta and the other well-known demon Yajñāpeta, and Ṛtajit and Satyajit who are cited as Gandharvas^[3] (rather Yakṣas)—all these, O excellent sages, reside in the sun during the months of Tapas and Tapasya (Māgha and Phālguna.)

24. Making the Pitṛs, Devas and Human beings well nourished, O Brāhmaṇas, Savitṛ the cause of days and nights goes on revolving.

25. These Devas reside in the sun for periods of two months in due order. These twelve groups of seven (or heptads) identify themselves with their place of office and residence.

26. By means of their splendour they increase the excellent splendour of the sun. By means of words (and prayers) composed by themselves, sages eulogise the sun.

27. The Gandharvas and the Apsaras serve him by means of songs and dances. The Grāmaṇīs, Yakṣas and Bhūtas perform the worship of his rays.

28. The serpents carry the sun, the demons follow him. From sunrise to sunset, the Vālakhilyas surround the sun and lead him on.

29-31. The sun who is the lord of all these, blazes with h is brilliance in accordance with the virility, austerities, virtues, contacts, realities and strength of these (Devas etc.)

Thus, these stay in the sun for periods of two months viz. the sages, the Devas, the Gandharvas, the serpents, the groups of celestial damsels, the Grāmaṇīs (or group-leaders) or the Yakṣas and especially the demons.

32-33. These blaze, shower rains, shine, blow and create. On being glorified they dispel the inauspicious demerits of all living beings.

These remove the auspicious merit of evil-minded men. In some respects they reṃove the sins of men of good character and conduct.

34. All these followers of the day revolve along with the sun. They shower rain on the subjects, they scorch them and they delight them (too).

35-36. They protect all the living beings till the destination of the Manus. In the Manvantaras of the (Manus) of the past and future as well as those who are present, this is the abode of those who identify themselves.

Thus those fourteen sets of seven reside in the sun in the course of the fourteen Manvantaras.

37. The sun releases heat energy during the summer. He scatters rain during the rainy season and snow (during winter). He is the maker of day and night. He keeps up his movement in accordance with (the changing) seasons and gratifies the Devas, the Pitṛs and the human beings with the rays suitably adapted.

38. By means of the (ray) named Suṣumna, the sun develops the moon in the bright half day by day and makes it complete (on the full moon day). He propitiates the Devas by means of the nectar. The Devas imbibe it during the dark half.

39. When the nectar of the moon is drunk, the moon, loses all his digits except one during the dark half. At the close of it, the moon does not ooze out nectar from its rays. The Devas, the pitṛs, the Saumyas and the Kāvyas imbibe that nectar.

40. Men conquer (satisfy) hunger by means of foodstuffs and beverages and medicinal herbs developed by means of rain, with waters lifted up and released by means of his rays by the sun.

41. It is during the bright half that the Devas are propitiated by means of nectar and the pitṛs (are done so) during the dark half (of the month). (The sun) perpetually sustains the human beings by means of food. He holds them well by means of his rays.

42. The sun is being led by green horses. At that time, he removes (evaporates) water by means of his green rays. At the time of discharge (of water), he releases the water. Thus the sun sustains the mobile and immobile beings.

43. The sun is being led by green horses. He drinks water by means of thousands of green rays. Being carried by green horses, the sun releases it.^[4]

44. Thus the sun traverses the quarters by means of his swift chariot with one wheel. The horses are splendid but they do not have the usual pace^[5] (? Akramaiḥ).

45. In the course of a day and night, the sun traverses the earth consisting of the seven continents and oceans by means of his chariot with a single wheel.

46-48. The chariot is yoked with only seven horses. They are the Veḍic Metres that have assumed the form of horses. They are stationed towards the place where the wheel is fitted. They assume the forms as they wish. They are green, imperishable; they (? are accompanied) by tawny-coloured masters expounding the Brahman. In the course of a year those horses traverse eighty-three hundred circles.

It traverses the external as well as the internal circular zones, in the course of days. They have been yoked in the beginning of the Kalpa and they continue to bear till the annihilation of all living beings.

49. Surrounded by Vālakhilyas, they wander both night and day. The sun is eulogised by great sages by means of words (and prayers) of the highest order and composed by themselves.

50. He is served by Gandharvas and groups of celestial damsels by means of songs and dances. The lord of the day (i.e. the sun) thus revolves and wanders by means of horses that gallop and that are as swift as birds.

51. The chariot of Soma (the Moon) has three wheels.^[6] His horses have the lustre of Kunda (white Jasmine) flowers. They are ten in number and they are yoked to the left as well as to the right. The moon traverses by means of this.

52. They traverse the stars supported by the Vīthi (the path of the firmament). They gain velocity by means of the support of Dhruva. The shrinking and lengthening of its rays are remembered as being like those of the sun.

53. It should be known that the chariot of the moon has three wheels with horses on either side. The chariot is born (i.e. evolved) out of the womb of the waters along with the horses and the charioteer.

54. It has three wheels with hundred spokes. It is yoked with ten excellent white horses. They are slim and divine. They are unimpeded and they have the swiftness of the mind.

55-57. They are yoked but once and they continue to bear it till the elapse of the Yugas. In that compact chariot, there are white serpents encircling the chariot (?) Horses of the same colour, having the lustre of conch-shells carry him (the Moon). The names of the ten horses of the moon are Yajus, Caṇḍamanas, Vṛṣa, Vājin, Nara, Haya, the famous horses Gaviṣṇu, Haṃsa, Vyoma and Mṛga.

58. These (horses) carry the Moon-lord with great dedication (and respect). The moon traverses (its orbit) surrounded by the Devas and the pitṛs.

59. At the end of the dark half and at the beginning of the bright half, when the sun is steady in the opposite direction, the moon is filled up, and as days pass by (the digits are reinstilled).

60. When the (nectarine) body of the moon has been imbibed by the Devas, it becomes exhausted on the fifteenth day. Then, with a single ray the sun makes it well developed.

61. By means of the ray called Suṣumnā (the sun) fills a part (of the moon) (digit by digit) every day. On being replenished thus by the Suṣumna (ray), the white and bright digits increase.

62. During the dark half, the digits become reduced and they are developed (replenished) during the bright half. The moon is thus developed, due to the power of the sun.

63. On the full Moon day, it appears bright in a complete disc. In the bright half, the moon is thus fully replenished day by day.

64-65. From the second day of the dark half to the fourteenth day, the Devas imbibe the nectar of the moon that is of the nature of the essence of the waters and that is wholly juicy. Drinking this liquid nectar of the moon, the Devas become delighted. It is due to the splendour of the sun that, this nectarine juice has been collected together in the course of half a month.

66. The nectar of the moon is for their food (consumption). It is resorted to for a single night on the full moon day by all the Devas and Pitṛs along with the sages.

67. On being imbibed gradually by the Pitṛs and the Devas at the beginning of the dark half, the digits of the moon which face the sun become reduced gradually.

68. Thirty three, three hundred (?) and three and three thousand and three Devas imbibe (the juice of) the moon.

69. On being sucked thus, the black digits of the moon increase. Hence, the white digits become reduced and the dark ones become increased.

70-72. Thus, the moon is sucked daily by the Devas. After imbibing it for a period of half a month, the excellent Devas go away on the New Moon day. The Pitṛs (thereafter) resort to the Moon on the New Moon day. Then on the fifteenth day when the digits are left over a little, the groups of Pitṛs resort to the last remanant (of the digits) in the afternoon. For a period of two Lavas, they imbibe the Kalās (of the moon) that are left over.

73. The nectar of Svadhā oozes from its rays on the New Moon day. After drinking that Svadhā for their own satisfaction (to the full) for the period of a month, those (Pitṛs) go-away.

74. The moon is scorched by the sun (i.e. sunlight) that is present in the Suṣumna. Similarly, the nectarṃe moon is imbibed by the Devas in the dark half.

75. They are of three (varieties), the Saumyas, the Barhiṣads and the Agniṣvāttas. Those who are mentioned as Kāvyas are all Pitṛs.

76. The Kāvyas are Saṃvatsaras, those who are remembered by the Brāhmaṇas as Pañcābdas (the five years). Saumyas should be known as the Ṛtus and Barhiṣads are remembered as. the Māsas (Months).

77-78. The Agniṣvāttas are the Ārtavas, O Brāhmaṇas, these are the creations of the Pitṛs. On being drunk by the Pitṛs on the fifteenth day, the digit of the moon that is one fifteenth part becomes reduced on the New moon day. Then in the next fortnight it becomes replenished.

79. The increase and decrease of the moon are remembered (as occurring) on the sixteenth day at the beginning of a fortnight. It is thus that the increase and decrease in the moon occur on account of the sun.

80. Again (i.e. henceforth), I shall describe the chariots of the stars, planets and Rāhu.^[7]

The chariot of the son of the Moon (Budha) is bright and full of the splendour of water.

81. The chariot of Bhārgava (the Venus) is glorious and it resembles the sun in splendour. It has the rambling sound of the cloud. It is equipped with banner, flagstaff and other paraphernalia.

82-83. It is yoked with various excellent horses of different colours born of the earth. It is fitted with the following ten horses, viz. Śveta, Piśaṅga, Sāraṅga, Nīla, Pīta, Vilohita, Kṛṣṇa, Harita, Pṛṣata and Pṛśni. They are of great grandeur. They are not lean. They have the speed of the wind.

84-86. The excellent chariot of the Mars also is glorious and golden. It has eight horses. With unimpeded red horses bora of fire and capable of going everywhere, the prince (i.e., the Mars) goes about. They have straight movement as well as those curved clockwise and curved anticlockwise ones.

The Jupiter (Bṛhaspati) of the family of Aṅgiras, the scholarly preceptor of the Devas, moves about in golden chariot by means of eight grey horses born of water. They are divine horses with the speed of the wind.

Staying for a year in a constellation, he goes ahead along with Vedhas^[8] (Brahmā) (?)

87-90a. Riding in a chariot of black steel (iron) fitted with strong horses born of the firmament, the Saturn proceeds ahead very slowly.

The horses of Rāhu are eight in number, and black in colour. They have the speed of the mind. His chariot is full of darkness. The horses are yoked but once and they draw it (to the end).

Having come out of the sun, Rāhu goes to the Moon during Parvan days (the Full moon days).

90b-91. The horses of the chariot of Ketu are eight in number and they have the speed of the wind. They have the colour of the smoke of straw. They are strong. They are tawny-coloured like donkeys.

Thus these horses of the planets along with the chariots have been described.

92. All of them are fastened to Dhruva by means of gaseous rays. They are fully developed. While whirling duly they blaze as well.

93. (Repetition) They are fully developed due to invisible gaseous rays. Being bound (to Dhruva) by means of these, the moon, the sun and the planets revolve in the firmament.

94-95. Those groups of luminaries follow Dhruva that whirls. Just as the boat is carried on along with the (current of) water in the river, so also these abodes of gods (? planets etc.) are carried by the gaseous rays. The groups of gods moving about in the firmament are not seen.

96. There are as many bonds of gaseous rays as there are stars. All of them are fastened to Dhruva. They whirl themselves and they make others also revolve.

97. Just as the oil-rollers whirl and cause the wheel also to whirl so also do the luminaries fixed (to Dhruva) on all sides by means of gaseous rays.

98. Urged by the whirlwind, they move about like a firebrand. (Since the wind) carried the luminaries, (the wind is remembered as Pravaha.

99. Thus the group of planets attached to Dhruva, moves about. This Gangetic porpoise and Dhruva should be known as made up of constellations in the firmament.

100-107. If a sin is committed in the day, it is dispelled by seeing it (Dhruva) during the night.

He lives as many or more years as there are stars supported by the Gangetic porpoise in the firmament.

The heavenly Gangetic porpoise should be known with its parts (?),^[9] (The various limbs of this porpoise are mentioned subsequently).

Auttānapāda (Dhruva the son of Uttānapāda) should be known as its upper jaw. Yajña should be known as the other (i.e. lower jaw). Dharma is based on its head, (i.e. constitutes its head).

Nārāyaṇa should be sought for in the heart and the pair of Aśvins in the forelegs. Varuṇa and Aryaman are its hind thighs.

Its penis is Saṃvatsara and Mitra clings to the Apāna (anus), Agni, Mahendra, Mārīca, Kaśyapa and Dhruva are in the tail.

The four stars in the milky way do not set.

The stars, the moon, the sun and the planets along with the constellations are fixed in the heaven, some with the faces up, others with faces turned away and all of them curved. They are presided over by Dhruva, They go round Dhruva who is the central pivot in the heaven and who is an excellent lord. Dhruva is remembered as the fourth and the last one after Agni, Indra and Kāśyapa.

108. On the top of the Meru Mountain, single-handed he whirls when he pulls them with face down. He observes Meru at the border and circumambulates it.¹

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This sublime concept of the Solar chariot is based on Yajurveda 15.15.19. Here Devas, Sages and Gandharvas represent light and immortality—the actinic portion of the solar spectra. The serpents, Grāmaṇis and Rākṣasas signify heat or death or the Thermal field of the spectra. This Heptad of the sun signifies the mutual difference in the different “Wave lengths” of the seven colours. This may be called the Puranic VIBGYOR.

[2]:

These verses (2-24) enumerate the names of the different devas, sages etc.—the heptad who occupy the solar chariot every month. These verses are common to the description of the Solar chariot in other Purāṇas e.g. the Mt. P. 125. 1-34, Vā. P. 52. 1-26 with slight differences in the names of the occupants of the chariot.

[3]:

This is wrong as the pair of Gandharvas is already cited. The reading should be Grāmaṇyau as in Vā.P.52.22.

[4]:

This verse practically repeats V. 42 in different words.

[5]:

The text is defective. The corresponding verse in the Vā.P. 52, 43b reads:

bhadrais tair akṣatairaśvaiḥ sarpate’sau divi kṣaye /

“with those auspicious unbroken horses he proceeds in the region of the sky”.

[6]:

VV 51-79 describe the mythological description of the chariot of the moon. Its scientific significance is not clear.

[7]:

VV 80-92 describe the chariots of other planets such as Budha, Śukra etc.

[8]:

Sarvagaḥ ‘one who can go everywhere and anywhere’ in Vā.P.52-87.

[9]:

VV 100-104 describe the various parts of the heavenly (stellar) porpoise (Śiśumāra).