How old is the Vedic Civilization?

Continued From: Sanathana Dharma: How old is the Vedic Civilization? (thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.com)

The Rig Veda states that the sun seems to rise from the South. The stars were not seen to rise or set but revolve around the pole completing one revolution in 24 hours. There are mentions in the Vedas about the length of days for Gods which equal 6 months and the length of night to equal another 6 months. Mr. Bal Gangadhar Tilak states in his book “The Arctic Home In The Vedas” that the duration of day and night of God refers to Polar conditions as the Sun does not set for 6 months and does not rise for 6 months. He also mentions in his book about descriptions in the Vedas about the dawn at polar regions. At the time when civilizations started to develop, the Indian sub-continent might have been in the circumpolar region instead of the polar region. There are descriptions in the Rig Veda that the sun always appeared to the south of the zenith of the observer. In the circumpolar regions large number of stars would be present constantly in the heavens with a very few rising or setting.  There are many more Rig Vedic verses that refer to phenomenon that could be observed only in the polar or circumpolar regions. For example, the heaven is compared to a wheel which is supported on an axis. To an observer in Polar region the revolution of the constellations around the Earth’s axis must have appeared like a giant wheel that was spinning on the axis. The Rig Vedas also speak about the mythical mountain Mount Meru; the sun, stars and the moon are said to revolve around the mountain from left to right. The Mahabharata mentions that the mountain is said to be covered by luster even at night which might refer to the Aurora Borealis effect. There is also a verse that describes the polar dawn as “many were the days between the first beam of light and sunrise”. Another hymn which is presented below mentions that the Sun unyoked his chariot in the middle of the heaven and stood still. It must have seen to the observer at the Polar region that after the Sun Rise, the Sun stands still for a period of time instead of continuing in its direction to set.

Vi sûryo madhye amuchad ratham divo

vidad dâsâya pratimânam âryah |

Dridhâni Pipror asurasya mâyinah

Indro vyâsyach chakrivâm Rijishvanâ ||

 Lokamanya Bal Gangadar Tilak who was a friend of Max Muller was under the influence of the Aryan Invasion Theory; he interpreted these hymns to mean that the ancient Aryans had immigrated to the Indian sub-continent from the Arctic. The Vedas do not mention any ancient home for the Vedic people. The word “Aryan” itself means “noble” or “royal” in Sanskrit and was used to describe the members of the royal family. The Vedas do not mention that people migrated to India from a distant land. If the proposed migration had occurred it would have been described in the ancient Puranas and Veda along with a description of the ancient home of the Vedic people. It is more probable that the Indian sub-continent was part of a larger super continent and was closer to the then North Pole during a remote point in history. Moreover, the present area in the Arctic region would have been in the temperate or tropical zone where the polar conditions would not have been observed.

Continued On: Sanathana Dharma: How old is the Vedic Civilization? (thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.com)