1 28 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
2 abounding in milk, The deities were invoked to protect the cows from
3 misfortune, to increase the herds and to make the pastures green. Cattle
4 were the medium of exchange, as are coins in modern times. Payments
5 were made and fines imposed in kine, and one of the war-cries signifies “a
6 desire for kine.’ Night and day the subject of cows was present to their
7 Their veneration for minds. The cow was pronounced to be the animal favoured of the Al-
8 the cow.
9 Their subsequent
10 division into three
11 tribes.
12 The hymns of the
13 Rig Veda were pre-
14 sumably composed in
15 the Panjab.
16 Rersons for this
17 conclusion.
18 The Brakmararta.
19 Piowdy encounters
20 Tetvcen the primitive
21 Arcauns and the anci-
22 aut races of India.
23 en :
24 aos LL Vorabtion
25 chant, cee
26 mighty, and since it was so useful to man, its preservation became a religious
27 obligation. But veneration for the cow is not confined to the Hindus.
28 The ancient Egyptians and Pheenicians equally venerated this most useful,
29 valuable and gentle animal. The worship of the bull Apis is the leading
30 feature of Egyptian mythology. Besides buffaloes, sheep and goats, the
31 Vedas mention horses, and parched corn was sprinkled at the sacrifices of
32 horses to deities, in the hope that such offerings would promote the breeding
33 of horses. The Aryans also kept humped oxen and camels.
34 According to the Zenda Vesta of the Iranians, the Aryan community
35 was divided into three divisions, or tribes, of which one lived by hunting,
36 another tended flocks of cattle, and the third followed an agricultural life,
37 This was, of course, when they had attained to a settled state of society.
38 The hymns of the Rig Veda were composed iu the Panjab and in the
39 colonies along the Indus. Here (in the Panjab) the psalmists sang them, in-
40 voking their gods for victory against the “ black-skinned ” Indians, or against
41 the opponents of their own race. The Sindhu (Indus), “the far famed
42 bestower of wealth,” is the object of special praise and veneration. Mention is
43 made of the “Sapta Sindhawa,”* or seven rivers, as the dwelling place of the
44 Aryans, These are the Sindhu (Indus), Vitasta (Jhelum), Asicni, or Acesi-
45 nes (Chinab), Iravati (Ravi), Vipasa (Bias), and Satadru (Sutlej. The
46 seventh river is the Saraswati, identified with the Sarsuti, near Thanesar,
47 expressly mentioned in the Veda as the “seven-sistered.” The country was
48 abundantly watered and rich in pastures.
49 ‘ The names of Yamuna and Ganges occur only casually, and the Vindhya
50 ountains and the Narmadas (Narbéd4) are not mentioned at all. This
51 shows that, at the time when these hymns were composed, the Aryans were
52 still confined to the regions of the Panjab. One of the famous settlements
53 Tee ea in that age of heroic song was between the Saraswati
54 ‘ gree 1) ue the Drishadvati, the modern Ghaggar. The land was created
55 pee 0 ie ne and on that account they gave it the name Brahma-
56 oe ras : oe the holy singers.” The country is still considered sacred,
57 and the Ganges, ryans gradually spread to the fertile tracts of the Yamuna
58 The songs of the Ri ; a ae
59 g Veda afford ampl :
60 Aryans were not allowed to settle in Ge Peds ee Gaie
61 bloody struggles were mainta; t nj2b unmolested. Long an
62 Astires and ee maintained with the wild and warlike Rakshasas, the
63 ale os soy Sevny yoleured Pishachas. The aborigines dwelt in cities
64 carl he : possessed horses, cattle and chariots. They fought des-
65 ie Vea Kian eens and the numerous invocations for victory in
66 ve og - -
67 thes finally cab queda nie aeons me — had to encounter before
68 of bringing on rain storms, is, with Liz voi e fierce Indra, who had the power
69 and troops of black clouds = 1s voice of thunder, his sword of lightning
70 demons.” to crush the We Sade ge to cleave the dark bodies of the
71 to snap the bowstrings “of es of “black skins.” The gods are invoked
72 aie Se eae the enemy. The hymns are full of the
73 praises of Vedic warriors and h ae
74 and heroes. The mailed warrior is compared
75 ® Tdenti
76 entified as the “ Hafta Hindu” of the Avesta of the Irdnians.
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