Origin of Brahmin Gotras

SR No.: 011130
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Dharmanand Kosambi
Publisher: D D Kosambi
Total Pages: 59
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 5 MB

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D. D. KOSAMBI
cessor of Indra, who strikes down dcmons just likc lum and frees the imprisoned strcams; for this rciationship i.52.5 is particularly characteristic, where it is said of Indra that he brokc thc dcfcnces of Vala like Trita. 2) So hc blow's upon Agni (v.9.5 ;x.46.3), discoyers him, establishes him in thc houses of men. 3) Hc leads Varuna-Soma to the sca (ix.95.4) and cven sccms himself to be Varuna (viii.41.6) 4) Hc appears in alliance with other gods (ii.31.6 ; ¡1.34.10,14 ; v.54.2 ; viii.12.16), namcly also 5) with the winds (x.64.3 ; X. 114.4) and 6) with Soma (ix.32.2; ix.34.4 ; ix.37.4 ; ix.38.2; ix.86.20; ix. 102.2, 3 ; ii.11.20), so that thc fingers that purify thc Soma appcar as Trita's virgins (ix.32.2 ;ix.38.2), thc Soma stonc as Trita's stone (ix.102.2) and Soma as coming to Trita (ix.34.4). So he is represented 7) as living in thc far unknown distancc (1.105.9) and thereforc 8) carried away to Trita (viii.47.13, 17) is equal to carried very far away. In all thesc conccptions, he appears with the qualification äplya, as also in mcaning 9. But hcsidcs this conception of Trita as a higher dcity, he appcars also 9) as a lower god (1.102.1; 11.11.19; x.48.2 ;x.99.6 ;x.8.8) who performs labours in the scrvicc of Indra or 10) calls upon the gods for help (1.105.17 ;x.8.7) when fallen into a well. Finally 11) in the plural, a whole class of gods is so denoted (vi.44.23) in whose abode Indra found the nectar of immortality".
This shows that Trita, though faded, had at one time a substantial following. The whole ncxus can very well hc cxplaincd by our present hypothesis if the course of historical devclopment hc taken into consideration. Onc may remark that viii.47.13-17, wherc evil demons and nightmares arc exorcised away to Trita Āptya need not just mcan driving them away to a far distance but may also be in the nature of a curse upon Trita. In any case, Trita's distance in time and place from the rgvcdic sccrs and the major strcam ol tradition need not be doubted, particularly as hc finds no mention in the Visvamitra. Vāmadeva, and Vasistha books. The higher forms of Trita must iridicate his antiquity and ancestral position for some clans, say thc Aptyas, whilc thc prayer from a well might prescryc a memory of his actual humanity. Very significantly, Indra is himself called äplyam äplyānām (x.120.6). Knowing what we now do of the Aryan invasion, it sccms plausiblc that Trita is Intra or onc of thc invading Aryan chicfs, latcr collectively dcifice under the title of Indra". His scparation from Indra is helpful, sccing that some time after the conqucst Indra has to be worshipped by brâhamaņas in spite of the stillremembered killing of their ancestors, and destruction of their gods and cities. In fact, we have seen from thc Avestan tradition that Azi Dahatic liscroll
as the husband of two kinds of vêc ; thc word vacaspali is used without
vacaspati as thc husband of two
e don A.A. MacdningH, JRAS.xxv. 1892 pp. 119-196, identiAvaigut my intcrprctation of Trila, scc A.A. Macdninstell,JRAS.xxv. 1802 This with Auni in the same vein, 1. Fowler JAOS vol. 67-1947. p. 39- 130
at Trita is a dubic of Indra alleast in the one performance that infinite
.. XXV. 1892
no posible doubt that Trita is a douhicofin Oi
!. Sams vein, 11. Fowler LAOS . namely the Killing of Tribiras,