The Sun
Skandha V. Chap. 21-22
The Sun from the Bhuvar Loka sends forth his rays to Trilokî.
(Here follow astronomical details which need not be given.)
When the Sun is between the Autumn and spring Equinoxes it is called Uttarâyana (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 Dakshinâyana (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 Dakshinâyana, the days increase. When it is Uttarâyana the nights increase.
The sages teach 9 Krores and 51 lakhs of Yojanas as the Circumference of Manâsottara.
[On both sides of Meru up to Manâsottara is 3 Krores and 15 lakhs. The Measure of the above circle is obtained from this (diameter). Śridhara.]
[A full diagram of the Bhûr 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.]
From Meru to Lokâloka on one side... 12 1/2 Krores on both sides... 25 "
Loka loka on both sides... 25 "
Measure of Bhûr system... 50 "
Distance from Meru to Manasottora 15,750,000
On both sides... 31,500,000
The Manâsottara 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 Manâsottara is the path of revolution of the sun round Meru.
On the East side of Meru in the Manâsottara is the seat of Indra named Devadhânî.
On the South side is the seat of Yâma named Sanyamanî.
On the West is the seat of Varuna named Nimlochani.
On the North is the seat of the Moon named Vibhavarî.
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 Yâma, of the northern people, from the abode of Varuna, of the eastern people from the abode of the Moon. Śridhara.)
Those that live on the Meru have the Sun always over their heads.
The Sun’s chariot makes one round along Manâsottara 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 Manâsottara. (It is either to be thought that the wheel is placed more than 50,000 Yojanas over the Manâsottara in the regions of air or the wheel is to be considered as high as that distance, otherwise the Manâsottara 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. Śridhara.)
There is another movement of the Sun round Dhruva. The radius of that revolution is one fourth the distance between Meru and Manâsottara. (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 (Gâyatri, Ushnik, Anustup, Vrihatî, Pankti, Tristup and Jagati). They are driven by Aruna.
The thumb sized Bâlikhilya Rishis stand in front of the chariot and chant hymns in honor of Âditya.