THE MOVEMENT OF THE SUN
As a grain of wheat is divided into two parts and one can estimate the size of the upper part by knowing that of the lower, so, expert geographers instruct, one can understand the measurements of the upper part of the universe by knowing those of the lower part. The sky space between the earthly plane and heavenly plane is called “antariksha” in Sanskrit. It adjoins the top of the earth plane and the bottom of that of heaven.
In the midst of that region of the sky is the most opulent sun, the king of the luminaries that emanate heat, such as the moon. By the influence of its radiation, the sun heats the universe and maintains its proper order. It also gives light to help all living entities see. While passing toward the north, toward the south or through the equator, in accordance with the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is said to move slowly, swiftly or moderately. According to its movements in rising above, going beneath or passing through the equator — and correspondingly coming in touch with various signs of the zodiac, headed by Capricorn — days and nights are short, long or equal to one another.
When the sun passes through Aries and Libra, the durations of day and night are equal. When it passes through the five signs headed by Taurus, the duration of the days increases until Cancer, and then it gradually decreases by half an hour each month, until day and night again become equal in Libra.
Until the sun travels to the south the days grow longer, and until it travels to the north the nights grow longer.
The learned say that the sun travels over all sides of Mānasottara Mountain in a circle ⭕️ whose length is 95,100,000 yojanas. On Mānasottara Mountain, due east of Mount Sumeru, is a place known as Devadhānī, possessed by King Indra. Similarly, in the south is a place known as Samyamanī, possessed by Yamarāja, in the west is a place known as Nimlochanī, possessed by Varuna, and in the north is a place named Vibhāvarī, possessed by the king of the moon. Sunrise, midday, sunset and midnight occur in all those places according to specific times, thus engaging all living entities in their various occupational duties and also making them cease such duties.
The living entities residing on Sumeru Mountain are always very warm, as at midday, because for them the sun is always overhead. Although the sun moves counterclockwise, facing the constellations, with Sumeru Mountain on its left, it also moves clockwise and appears to have the mountain on its right because it is influenced by the dakshināvarta wind. People living in countries at points diametrically opposite to where the sun is first seen rising will see the sun setting, and if a straight line were drawn from a point where the sun is at midday, the people in countries at the opposite end of the line would be experiencing midnight. Similarly, if people residing where the sun is setting were to go to countries diametrically opposite, they would not see the sun in the same condition.
The chariot of the sun king has only one wheel. The twelve months are calculated to be its twelve spokes, the six seasons are the sections of its rim, and the three austerity periods are its three-sectioned hub. One side of the axle carrying the wheel rests upon the summit of Mount Sumeru, and the other rests upon Mānasottara Mountain. Affixed to the outer end of the axle, the wheel continuously rotates on Mānasottara Mountain like the wheel of an oil-pressing machine.
As in an oil-pressing machine, this first axle is attached to a second axle, which is one-fourth as long. The upper end of this second axle is attached to Polaris by a rope of wind.
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Byrdman11h ago
