*SKANDHA V. CHAP. 21-22.*
The Sun from the Bhuvar Loka sends forth his rays to Triloki.
(Here follow astronomical details which need not be given.)
When the Sun is between the Autumn and spring Equinoxes it is called
Uttarayana (or going towards the north.) Then the Sun's motion is said
to be slow.
When the Sun is between the spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox, it is
Dakshinayana (Going towards the south.) The Sun's motion is then said to
be Quick.
When the sun is at the Equinoxes it is Vishuva. The Sun's motion is then
said to be Even.
When it is Dakshinayana, the days increase. When it is Uttarayana the
nights increase.
The sages teach 9 Krores and 51 lakhs of Yojanas as the Circumference of
Manasottara.
[On both sides of Meru up to Manasottara is 3 Krores and 15 lakhs. The
Measure of the above circle is obtained from this (diameter).
_Sridhara_.]
[A full diagram of the Bhur system will now have to be given, to explain
the above figures. For the sake of convenience, the Dvipa and its ocean
are given as one.]
[Illustration: A diagram of the Bhur system.]
From Meru to Lokaloka on one side ... 12 1/2 Krores
on both sides ... 25 "
Loka loka on both sides ... 25 "
Measure of Bhur system ... 50 "
Distance from Meru to Manasottora 15,750,000
On both sides ... 31,500,000
The Manasottara range is a circle of which the last figure is the
diameter.
The circle is obtained by multiplying the diameter by a little over 3.
The circle is thus given to be -- 9 Krores and 51 Lakshas.
The Manasottara is the path of revolution of the sun round Meru.
On the East side of Meru in the Manasottara is the seat of Indra named
Devadhani.
On the South side is the seat of Yama named Sanyamani.
On the West is the seat of Varuna named Nimlochani.
On the North is the seat of the Moon named Vibhavari.
Sunrise, midday, Sunset and night on those seats cause action and
inaction in beings, according to the time with reference to the side of
Meru.
(For those that live to the south of Meru, their east &c. commence from
the abode of Indra, of those that live to the west from the abode of
Yama, of the northern people, from the abode of Varuna, of the eastern
people from the abode of the Moon. _Sridhara_.)
Those that live on the Meru have the Sun always over their heads.
The Sun's chariot makes one round along Manasottara in one year. The
wheel or chakra of the chariot is therefore called Sanvatsara.
The 12 months are the 12 spokes of that wheel. The six seasons form 6
arcs.
The pole of that chariot extends to the top of Meru. The other end of
the pole is on the Manasottara. (It is either to be thought that the
wheel is placed more than 50,000 Yojanas over the Manasottara in the
regions of air or the wheel is to be considered as high as that
distance, otherwise the Manasottara being 10,000 Yojanas high and Meru
being 84 Yojanas high, 16 thousand being under ground, there will be a
difference of planes in the Sun's revolution. _Sridhara_.)
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, Anustup, Vrihati, Pankti, Tristup and Jagati). They
are driven by Aruna.
The thumb sized Balikhilya Rishis stand in front of the chariot and
chant hymns in honor of Aditya.