566 MR J. MUIR ON THE PRINCIPAL DEITIES OF THE RIGVEDA. 



is that of striding across the heavens in three paces. These three steps 

 are explained by one of the ancient interpreters as denoting the triple mani- 

 festation of light — as fire on earth, as lightning in the atmosphere, and as the 

 sun in the sky ; and by another, as designating the three stages of the sun's daily 

 movement — his rising, culmination, and setting. From this difference of view 

 prevailing between two of the oldest expounders of the Veda, it appears that these 

 three steps of Vishnu must, from a very ancient period, have been regarded as 

 something enigmatical. Some of the highest divine functions and attributes are 

 also assigned to Vishnu in the hymns. Thus he is said to support alone the sky 

 and the earth, and to comprehend all the worlds with his three vast strides. No 

 one, even the soaring birds, can attempt to follow his third and loftiest step. He 

 alone is acquainted with the highest sphere. No one born, or yet to be born, 

 can in thought attain to the furthest limit of his greatness. The pious enjoy 

 celestial bliss in his abode. Varuna and the Asvins do homage to his power. 

 But we are not, therefore, to imagine that he was regarded as superior to the other 

 deities ; for Indra is associated with Vishnu even in some of the hymns in which 

 the latter is most magnified. Nay, in one place, the power through which Vishnu 

 takes his three strides is said to be derived from Indra ; in two other texts Vishnu 

 is represented as celebrating Indra's praises ; and, as described in various other 

 passages, the former appears to play a secondary part as compared with the 

 latter. Besides, the same high functions and awful attributes which are ascribed 

 to Vishnu, are in other and far more numerous texts assigned to Indra, Varuna, 

 and other deities.* 



- Surya and Savitri. 



The great powers presiding over day and night are, as we have seen, sup- 

 posed by the Indian commentators to be personified in Mitra and Varuna. But 

 these two deities, and especially Varuna, are far more than the mere representa- 

 tives of day and night. They are recognised as moral governors, as well as 

 superintendents of physical phenomena. There are two other deities who are far 

 more direct representatives of the solar orb — viz., Surya and Savitri, who are in 

 a few passages described as belonging to the same class of gods as Mitra and 

 Varuna — viz., the Adityas. It is under these two different names that the sun 

 is chiefly celebrated in the Veda, according, perhaps, to the different aspects 

 in which he is viewed, or the functions which he is conceived as fulfilling. 

 Different sets of hymns are devoted to his worship under each of these appella- 

 tions ; and the epithets which are applied to him under each of these characters 

 are for the most part different. 



Surya is described as moving through the heavens on a car, which is some- 



* See my Sanskrit Texts, vol. iv. Preface iv. fF., and pp. 54-101. 



