55 – The Sun’s Chariot

1-2 I shall briefly describe the chariot of the Sun, moon and other planets as also how the Sun traverses drinking up the waters. 

337. The solar car. Cf. Matsya, Ch. 127. for the Heptads of the Salar system Cf. MP. A study pp. 211-212. The solar system with the Sun as the centrel point is conceived as a chariot which moves upto 180 degrees both north and south of the equator (V 14. Also Matsya). 

The chariot of the sun has been crcated by Brahnıā for a specific purpose. O leading brahmins, it is conceived through the parts of the year. 

3. The golden chariot of the sun is the abode of all Devas. It has a single whcel with five spokes and three naves. 

4. Its length and breadth is nine thousand yojanas. Twice that length is the distance between the driver's box and the poleshaft. 

5. The horses are stationed on the side where the wheel is. They are unattached338 but appear to be yoked. There are seven horses. They are evolved out of the vedic passages and metres.339 

338. asangaih==antarikşhagaih ST. those that move in the void. 

339. The seven horses of the solar car are the seven metres, viz., gayatri, uşhnik, anuşhtup, bruhati, pankti, trishtup and jagati. 

6. The horses are bound to the side of the wheel. The axle is fitted to the poleshaft. The chariot revolves along with the wheel and the horses, and the poleshaft revolves along with the axle. 

7. The axle prompted by the poleshaft whirls along with the single wheel. It is the intelligent Dhruva (Pole star) that urges the luminaries by means of the wind and the rays (or by the wind which acts as reins). 

'8. There are two reins in the chariot. They are united to the extremities of the yoke and the axle. The chariot tied hy means of the reins to the yoke and the axle revolves by the grace of Dhruva. 

9. As the chariot whirls and moves along the firmament there shall be circles of bright lustre. The extremities of the yoke and the axle are to the right of the chariot. 

10. When the horses beyond the wheel340 are pulled by Dhruva by means of reins, both of them (the yoke and axle) as also the reins follow the poleshaft that whirls. 

340. Vichakrāšhve--when the horses, wheel and Aruņa the driver (are secured by Dhruva). 

11-13. The extremity of the yoke and the axle of this chariot which has the steed of wind whirls in all directions like a rope fixed to a nail. In the course of Uttarayaņa as the chariot moves about in the mandalas the reins increase in size (i.e., are let loose). In the course of the Dakşhiņāyana, when the chariot moves about in the mandalas the reins are pulled inwards. In either case, the reins are operated by Dhruva and then the sun seated within, moves about in the mandalas. 

14-15 The distance between the two solstices consists of one hundred and eighty degrees. The sun moves about the mandalas externally as the reins are being released by Dhruva. He then encircles the mandalas and moves quickly. 

16. Devas and sages perpetually worship lord Bhāskara, who is himself Bhava and Ishvara day and night. 

17. That chariot is occupied by Devas, Adityas sages, Gandharvas, Apsarases as well as serpents, Räkşhasas, and Grāmaņis. 

18. These reside within the sun for two months in succession and develop and nourish the auspicious sun by means of their splendour. 

19. The sages eulogise the sun by means of hymns. The Gandharvas and Apsarases worship him by music and dance. 

20. The Grāmaņis, Yakşhas and Bhūtas hold the reins. The serpents bear the sun and Yåtudhānas (Rakşhasas) follow him. 

21. The Välakhilyas surround the sun from his rise to his setting and accompany him. In this manner these reside in the sun for two months in succession. 

22-23. O leading brahmins, the following twelve months constitute the human year: -Madhu (Chaitra), Madhava (Vaišhākha), Shukra (Jyeşhtha), Shuchi (Aşhādha), Nabhas (Śhrävaņa), Nabhasya (Bhadrapada), Işha (Āśhvina) Urja (Kārttika), Sahas (Mārgaśhīrşha) Sahasya (Pausa), Tapas (Māgha) and Tapasya (Phālguna). 

24. The (six) Řutus (seasons) are Vasantika (Spring), Graişhma, (summer) Vārşhika (rainy season) Sharad (autumn), Hima (early Winter) and Shishira (late Winter)

 25.44- The seven groups accompany and abide in the sun, as follows: 

1. Devas are twelve in number. They nourish the sun by means of lustre. They are: -Dhātru, Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Vivasvān, Pūşhan, Parjanya, Amshu, Bhaga, Tvaşhtru and Vişhnu. 

2. The sages are twelve in number. They eulogise the sun by means of hymns. They are: - Pulastya, Pulaha, Atri, Vasişhtha, Angiras, Bhrugu, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Kashyapa. Kratu, Jamadagni and Vishvāmitra. 

3. The serpents are twelve in number. They bear the great lord Sun. They are: -- Väsuki, Kankaņīkara, Takşhaka, Nāga, Elāpatra, Shankhapala, Airāvata (Irāvān), Dhananjaya Mahāpadma, Karkoțaka, Kambala and Ashvatara. 

4. The twelve excellent Gandharvas worship the sun that takes in water by means of Songs. They are: -Tumburu, Nārada, Hāhā, Hūhū, Viśhvāvasu, Ugrasena, Surugi, Parāvasu Chitrasena, Urņāyu, Dhrutarāşhtra and Suryavarchas. 

5. The twelve Apsarases worship the sun by their charming Tāndava dance. They are: -Krutasthalā of splendid face, the divine lady Puñjikasthali of splendid hips, Menaka. Sahajanyā, Pramlochā of sweet smiles, Anumlochā, Ghrutāchi, Vishvāchí, Urvashī also known as Pūrvachitti, the gentle lady Tilottamā and Rambhä of lotus-like face. 

6. The twelve Grāmaņis hold the reins. They are: - Rathakrut, Rathaujas, Rathachitra, Subāhu, Rathasvana, Varuņa, Suşheņa, Senajit, Tārkşhya, Arişhțanemi, Kşhatajit and Satyajit. 

7. Then there are twelve Yātudhānas. Wielding their weapons, they accompany the sun. They are: -Rakshoheti, Praheti, Pauruşheya, Badha, Sarpa, Vyāghra, Apa, Vāta, Vidyut, Divãkara, Brahmopeta the leading Räkshasa and Yajñopeta. 

These seven groups of twelve members in each are proud of their position. 

Two from each of these seven groups occupy the sun for two months. The details are given below: 

45-48. 

During the Months of Chaitra-Varšhākha 

1. Twelve Devas                 Dhātru and Aryaman

2. Twelve Sages                  Pulastya and Pulaha

3. Twelve Serpents            Vāsuki and Kankaņikara 

4. Twelve Gandharvas      Tumburu and Nārada

5. Twelve Apsarases          Krutasthalā and Punjikasthalā

6.Twelve Grāmaņis           Rathakrut and Rathaujas

7. Twelve Yātudhānas       Rakshoheti and Praheti 

49-51. 

During the Months of Jyeshtha and Ashadha 

 1. Devas                     Mitra and Varuna

2. Sages                      Atri and Vasishtha

3. Serpents                Takşhaka and Nāga

4. Gandharvas           Hãhã and Hühū

5. Apsarases              Menakā and Sahajanya

6. Grāmanis              Subāhu and Rathachitra

7. Yātudhānas           Pauruşheya and Badha 

52-54. 

During Shravana and Bhadrapada 

1. Devas                               Indra and Vivasvān

2. Sages                               Angiras and Bhrugu

3. Serpents                         Elāpatra and Shankhapāla

4. Gandharvas                    Viśhvāvasu and Ugrasena

5. Apsarases                       Pramlochā and Anumlocha.

6. Grāmaņis                       Rathasvana and Varuņa

7. Yātudhānas                    Sarpa and Vyāghra 

55-57. 

During Ashvina and Kärttika 

1. Devas                               Pūşhā and Parjanya

2. Sages                               Bhāradvāja and Gautama

3. Serpents                         Irăvăn and Dhananjaya

4. Gandharvas                    Suruchi and Parāvasu

5. Apsarases                       Ghşhtāchi and Visvāchi

6. Grāmaņis                        Suşhena and Senajit

7. Yatudhānas                    Apa and Vāta

58-61. 

During Mărgashirsa and Pausha 

1. Devas                               Amşhu and Bhaga

2. Sages                               Kaśhyapa and Kratu 

3. Serpents                         Mahāpadma and Karkoțaka

4. Gandharvas                    Chitrasena and Urņãyu

5. Apsarases                       Urvashi and Pürvachitti

6. Grāmanis                        Tārkşhya and Arişhtanemi

7. Yātudhānas                    Vidyut and Diväkara.

62-65 

During Māgha and Phalguna 

1. Devas                               Tvastru and Vishņu

2. Sages                               Jamadagni and Vishvāmitra

3. Serpents                         Kambala and Ashvatara 

4. Gandharvas                    Dhrutarāshtra and Suryavanchas 

5. Apsarases                       Tilottamā and Rambhā

6. Grāmaņis                        Rathajit and Satyajit

7. Yátudhānas                    Brahmopeta and Yajňopeta 

66. These deities occupy the sun for two months (in different groups as mentioned above). These twelve Heptads are the governing forces during the twelve months of the solar year. 

67-69. The deities nourish and develop the sun by their splendour. The sages eulogise the sun by the hymns of the Vedas. The Gandharvas and the Apsarases worship him by their music and dance. The Grāmanis, Yakshas and Bhūtas hold the reins; the serpents bear the sun, and Yātudhānas follow him; Vālakhilyas lead the sun to his setting place after surrounding him at the time of his rise. 

70-71. The sun is nourished by the splendour of all these. The sun blazes in accordance with their splendour, penance, yogic power, Mantras, Dharmas and strength. These stay in the sun in groups, for two months each. 

72-73. The sages, Devas, Gandharvas, Serpents, groups of Apsarases, Grāmaņis, Yakşhas, and Yătudhānas mainly—these blazes, shower rain, illuminate, blow, create and remove the evil activities of living beings. They are glorified as such. 

74. They destroy the merits of the wicked and the sins of good persons in certain cases. 

75. They are seated in an aerial chariot that is divine, that has the speed of the wind and that can go wherever it wills. These move ahead along with the sun throughout the day. 

76. They shower rain. They blaze, they delight. O Sages, they protect all the living beings and firmament from destruction. 

77. They take pride and identify themselves with their positions in all the manvantaras of the past, present and future. 

78. These seven groups live in the sun in groups of fourteen in all the fourteen manvantaras. 

79. O leading sages, the activities of the intelligent lord of Devas have been recounted, some in brief and some in detail, in accordance with what I have heard and how they had happened. 

80. These seven groups of twelve deities in each are those who take pride in their positions and identify themselves with them. They reside in the sun for two months in the above order. 

81. Thus the sun, the harbinger of the day moves ahead quickly in a single-wheeled chariot341 drawn by seven green imperishable horses.

341. ekachakra --The single wheel of the solar chariot is represented by the year (samvatsara). 

82. He whirls day and night in his chariot which has a single wheel. He traverses in heaven over the seven continents and oceans with the help of seven groups.