Part 28 (2/2)

There is another movement of the Sun round Dhruva. The radius of that revolution is one fourth the distance between Meru and Manasottara.

(_i.e._ 1/4 X 15,750,000 = 3,937,500).

The movement round Dhruva is caused by the action of air.

The seat within the chariot is 36 laksha of Yojanas wide. The yoke is also of the same measure. The seven horses are the seven Vedic metres (Gayatri, Ushnik, a.n.u.stup, Vrihati, Pankti, Tristup and Jagati). They are driven by Aruna.

The thumb sized Balikhilya Ris.h.i.+s stand in front of the chariot and chant hymns in honor of aditya.

THE PLANETS AND STARS.

*SKANDHA V. CHAP. 22-23.*

The moon is one laksha of Yojanas over the Sun. The growing Moon makes the day of the Devas and the waning Moon is the life of all Jivas, in fact he is Jiva.

He is Manomaya, Annamaya and Amritamaya. From him therefore proceed the life and advancement of Devas, Pitris, Men, Animals and Plants.

Two laksha of Yojanas over the Moon are the 27 Zodiacal constellations and also the star Abhijit ( a mysterious star between Uttarashadha and Sravana) attached to the wheel of time.

Two laksha of Yojanas over them is Sukra or Venus. His movements are like those of the Sun. He is ever favourable to men. His progression is generally accompanied by showers of rain. He also subdues those planets that counteract the rains.

Two laksha of Yojanas over Sukra is Budha or Mercury. He is much like Sukra in his movements and is generally favourable to men. But when he transgresses the Sun, there is fear of high winds, rainless clouds and drought.

Two laksha of Yojanas over Budha is Mangala or Mars. He moves round the Zodiac in three fortnights. He is generally unfavourable to men, causing miseries, unless he proceeds by retrogression.

Two laksha of Yojanas over Mars is Brihaspati or Jupiter. He moves in each sign of the Zodiac for one Parivatsara (year of Jupiter), if there is no retrogression. He is generally unfavorable to the Brahmanas.

Two laksha of Yojanas over Jupiter is Sanaischara or Saturn. He loiters in each sign of the Zodiac for thirty months. He completes his round in thirty Anuvatsaras. He is generally unfavourable to all and causes unrest.

Eleven laksha of Yojanas over Saturn are the Ris.h.i.+s. Their influence is for the good of all people. They revolve round the Supreme abode of Vishnu.

Thirteen laksha of Yojanas beyond the Ris.h.i.+s is Dhruva, which is the Supreme abode of Vishnu.

All luminous bodies attached to the wheel of time move round Dhruva being propelled by Vayu while Dhruva remains fixed.

The planets and stars remain fixed in their relative positions, under the union of Prakriti and Purusha by the future made for them by their Karma.

Some however say that the luminous bodies become fixed in their relative positions by the Yoga support of Vasudeva, being held together in the shape of Sisumara (the Gangetic porpoise). The Sisumara has its face downwards and its body is coiled.

Dhruva is at the end of its tail. Praj.a.pati, Agni, Indra and Dharma are in the lower part of the tail. Dhata and Vidhata are at the root of the tail. The seven Ris.h.i.+s are in the middle. On the right side are the fourteen Stars from Abhijit to Punarvasu. On the left side are the 14 stars from Pushya to Uttara Sarha. So on, all the stars and planets.

(For details refer to the original).

The Sisumara is the Universal manifestation of Maha Purusha.

[The following Geo-centric diagram is given, as ill.u.s.trative of the positions of the planets.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Positions of the planets.]

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