64 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XVI, 
supreme, pure and exalted science—the chief Vedinga—in its 
entirety: the cause, namely, of the motion of the heavenly 
bodies. 
‘“He performed in propitiation of the Sun very severe 
religious austerities. Gratified by these austerities and ren- 
dered propitious, the Sun himself delivered unto that Maya 
who besought a boon the system of the planets. 
to m 
and I am gratified by your austerities. I will give you the 
. 
munication I have no leisure.! This person, who is a part of 
me, shall relate to you the whole. Go therefore to the city of 
Romaka where you reside. There, undergoing incarnation as 
a barbarian, owing to a curse of Brahma, I will impart to you 
29Q 
. 
this science.’ 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
also in upper Bengal and Orissa. In South India only one, in 
Tanjore, is known. Images of Sirya are much more numer- 
Osia and Sirohi in Rajputana, Multan in the Punjab and 
Konarak in Orissa. The (?) solitary South Indian sun temple 
is at Stryanarkovil in Tanjore. 
There is also faint evidence of a separate lunar cult in 
India. Certain coins of the Kushan rulers of the second 
century A.D. bear images of a moon-god, and there is also 
the Pauranic tradition of a lunar race of kings.§ 
shi Wed oe a; a avalkya importaned the Sun to teach him the Vedas, 
e Sun said: *‘* How is that possible as I must tually wander ?” 
ALBiRnwni India i, 129, < Ace 
2 Whitney thinks the last verse is an interpolation, but it is found in 
Bor. 
many of the manuscripts. 
3 The chiefs of Karauli and Jaisalmer claim to be of the ‘lunar race.’ 
