The objective of this monograph is to demonstrate that Shamash 'Sun divinity' (ANE) is derived from Suryasiddhanta reference to ष़डशीतिमुख, six passages of the Sun into zodiacal seasons to signify six seasons
This is an addendum to: Shamash, sun divinity of ANE 3rd m. BCE is derived from six seasons linked to Sun's passage into 6 zodiacal signs https://tinyurl.com/yxfccy5o
RV 1.28.5 refers to Vedamãso; Sāyaṇa interprets this as a reference to the 13th intercalary month to fuse the solar and lunar calendars. The word -मास 'a month or the 12th part of the Hindu year (there are 4 kinds of months , viz. the solar , सौर ; the natural , सावन ; the stellar , नाक्षत्र , and the lunar , चा*न्द्र ; the latter , which is the most usual and consists of 30 तिथिs , being itself of two kinds as reckoned from the new or full moon cf. IW. 179 ; for the names of the months » ib. 173 n. 3) RV. &c (मासम् , for a month ; मासम् एकम् , for one month ; मासेन , in the course of a month ; मासे , in a month = after the lapse of a month)'(Monier-Willisms)
RV 1.28.5 refers to Vedamãso; Sāyaṇa interprets this as a reference to the 13th intercalary month to fuse the solar and lunar calendars. The word -मास 'a month or the 12th part of the Hindu year (there are 4 kinds of months , viz. the solar , सौर ; the natural , सावन ; the stellar , नाक्षत्र , and the lunar , चा*न्द्र ; the latter , which is the most usual and consists of 30 तिथिs , being itself of two kinds as reckoned from the new or full moon cf. IW. 179 ; for the names of the months » ib. 173 n. 3) RV. &c (मासम् , for a month ; मासम् एकम् , for one month ; मासेन , in the course of a month ; मासे , in a month = after the lapse of a month)'(Monier-Willisms)
मास is thus a Vedic word which refers to a calendrical tradition. It is suggested that the expression Shamash in ANE as a reference to Sun Divinity is derived from षष् + मास = Shamash 'Six months'. In this expression, षष् is relatable to the Suryasiddhanta reference षड्-शीति-मुख the passage of the sun into zodial signs to signify the six seasons.
ṣaḍaśīti ʻ 86 ʼ Sūryas.Pa. chaḷāsīti -- , Pk. chalasīiṁ, chāsīiṁ, K. śĕyĕśīth, S. chahāsī, L. cheāsī, P. chiāsī, N. chiyāsi, A. sayāxi, B. chiyāsi, Or. chayāasi, Bhoj. Aw.lakh. chiāsī, H. chiyāsī, G. chāsī, M. śahã̄śī, śeẽśī, śāyśī˜.(CDIAL 11793)ṣaṇmāsa m. ʻ period of six months ʼ VarBr̥S. [ṣáṣ -- , māˊsa -- ]A. samāh ʻ half a year ʼ, OM. sāmāsa; M. samaskī f. ʻ a cow that has a calf every year and so is in milk for six months ʼ.(CDIAL 12801) ṣaṇmāsika ʻ half -- yearly ʼ Mn. [Cf. ṣáṇmāsya -- ʻ six months old ʼ Kāṭh., n. ʻ period of six months ʼ Gr̥Śr. <-> ṣaṇmāsa -- ]Pk. chammāsiya -- , chamā˚ ʻ lasting six months ʼ, S. chamāhī˜ f. ʻ six -- monthly pay ʼ, P. chimāhī f.; A. samahiyā ʻ six months old, lasting six months ʼ, Or. chamāsiā; G. chamāsī ʻ occurring after six months ʼ; M. sāmāśī ʻ six -- monthly ʼ, f. ʻ cow that gives milk for six months ʼ; Si. hamas -- mā̤ ʻ the bean Dolichos sesquipedalis ʼ. (CDIAL 12802) ṣáṣ -- , nom. ṣáṭ ʻ six ʼ RV. 2. *ṣuvaṭ. 3. *kṣaṭ or *kṣvaṭ.1. Aś.kāl. ṣaṣu loc. pl., iDoc. ṣo (whence
ṣodhama ʻ sixth ʼ), Gy. pal. šas ( -- s?), Ḍ. ṣa, Paš.lagh. x̌e, shut. ṣä, nir. dar. weg. ṣe_ , Kand. ṣā, Sh.gil. ṣa, gur. jij. pales. ṣah, K. śĕ, śĕh, rām. pog. kash. śĕ, ḍoḍ. śăh, WPah. bhad. śāh, bhal. śāˋ (śe iaũ ʻ sixth ʼ).2. Gy. eur. šov, Ash. ṣu, Wg. Kt. ṣū, Pr. uṣū, wuṣu, Dm. ṣō, Tir. xu ọ̈̄, Shum. ṣọo, Woṭ. šō (*šuo in šwoyəm ʻ 6th ʼ), Gaw. ṣu ō, ṣōu , Kal.rumb. ṣɔ, Bshk. ṣuə, ṣɔ, Tor. ṣōu (ṣōm ʻ sixth ʼ), Niṅg. ṣō, Sv. ṣōu , ṣū, Mai. šōh, ky. ṣō, Phal. ṣw o, ṣo, ṣoh , Sh.koh. ṣvā, kōl. ṣua.3. Pa. cha, chaḷ -- in cmpds., Pk. cha, Ap. chaha, Paš.lauṛ. c̣hā, uzb. nij. ishk. c̣ha, kuṛ. c̣hē, ar. chil. c̣e, Kho. c̣hoi, S. cha, chīh (chahõ ʻ sixth ʼ), L. chẽ, chī, khet. chē, P. che, chī, WPah.pāḍ. ċhai, paṅ. cur. chē, Ku. chai, N. cha (*chai in chaiṭaũ ʻ sixth ʼ), A. say, B. chay, Or. cha, Mth. chao, OAw. chahuṁ obl., lakh. chā, H. Marw. G. cha, M. sahā, sā, Ko. sa, Si. sa -- , ha -- , saya, ha˚. (CDIAL 12803)
Thus, cognates are: sāmāsa (OM) > Shamash (ANE)
-- षष् + ऋतुः (षड्--ृतु ) of सूर्यसिद्धान्त; which explains six seasons in Hindu calender also yields: Hitt. dšiuš `(sun)god which is cognate with Shamash 'sun divinity' in Ancient Near East in vogue since 3rd millennium BCE. (Evidence of cylinder seal of Adda, scribe).
Shamash is shown tearing into the mountain ranges with a weapon in his hand. Cylinder seal ca. 2300-2200 BCE (BM 89115). See: https://tinyurl.com/yxfccy5oतुलादे: षडशीत्यंशै: षडशीतिमुखं दिनं
भचतुष्टयमेवं स्याद द्विस्वभावेषु राशिषु
षडविंशे धनुषो भागे द्वाविंशेsतिमिनस्य च
मिथुनेs ष्टादशे भागे कन्यायां च चतुर्दशे
मिथुनेs ष्टादशे भागे कन्यायां च चतुर्दशे
[सूर्य सिद्धांत – मनध्याय (Surya Siddhanta, Manadhyāya -Chapter 14:4-5)]
I think the key is to understand the significance of the expressions षडशीतिमुखं and षडशीत्. in: तुलादे: षडशीत्यंशै: षडशीतिमुखं दिनं भचतुष्टयमेवं स्याद द्विस्वभावेषु राशिषु and identifying cardinal solar points of the solar calendar which define the six seasons.
aśītiḥ अशीतिः f. [निपातोयम् P.V.1.59] Eighty (used in the singular and fem. gender whatever be the number and gender of the noun it qualifies); sometimes in dual and pl.; पिण्डानां तिस्रो$शीतीः Ms.11.22. -Comp. -तम् a. Eightieth. -भागः the eightieth part, one part of eighty; अशीतिभागं गृह्णीयान्मासाद्वार्धुषिकः शते Śi.9.86; Ms.8.14.
There is also a pun on the word अशीतिः | अशीत signifies numeral 86 and also aśīta अशीत a. 1 Not cold, hot. -2 The eightieth. -Comp. -करः, -रश्मिः &c. the sun. Thus, अशीतिमुख is a metaphor for the Sun and the semantic expansion in the expression षष् + अशीतिमुख signifies the Sun which is the creator of six seasons in the annual calendar. षष् + अशीतिमुख gets the cognate Shamash in Ancient Near East venerated as the Sun Divinity (who is also divinity of justice, morality, and truth) and celebrated in the exquitely crafted Sit Shamshi Bronze -- also associated with the Veda sacred fire-prayers. See:
Bronze sunrise Sit Shamsi of Susa is visual image of Veda sacred fire-prayers signified by काण्डर्षितर्पण oblations to ancestor equipment makers https://tinyurl.com/y5gwp44![]()
I found this enote of elucidation by W.. Brennand, in reference to अशीत " the eightieth " » अर्वाग्-शीत्/अ (Monier-Williams), i.e. the 86 days count specified by सूर्यसिद्धान्त :
[quote]The Solar Mana is that by which are determined the lengths of day and night, the Shadasiti-Mukhas, the solstitial and equinoctial times and the holy days of Sankranti on which good actions bring good desert to the performer. Verses from (4) to (6) relate to a peculiar division of time consisting of successive periods of 86 solar days beginning from the time when the sun enters the sign of Libra; the 86th day of each period is called Shadasiti-Mukha, and there are four such days in the year, the first happens when the sun is at 26 of Sagittarius, the second when he reaches 22 Pisces, the third when he is at 18 Gemini, and the fourth at 14 Virgo. The remaining 16 Saura days or degrees of the Saura month, when the sun is in Virgo are sacred, good actions performed in those days confer great merit, equal to that of a sacrifice, a gift then in honour of deceased ancestors is imperishable. [unquote] (W. Brennand, 1896, Hindu Astronomy, Chas. Straker & Sons, Ltd., Bishopsgate Avenue, E.C., London.)
Shadasheeti divides solar year षडशीतिमुखं 86 days four times every year (86X4 = 344 +16 days) which overlaps the six-fold division of seasons of a year (6 X 60). This is a fusion of seasonal calendar with the solar calendar. This reinforces Suryasiddhanta as the basis for षष् > Shamash 'Sun divinity' of ANE.
An intercalary month mentioned in the Rig Veda {Vedamãso dhrutavrato dvãdasha prajãvatah; vedã ya upajãyate. (I/25:8)} is a fusion of solar calendar, seasonal calendar and lunar calendar. Now we know that Surya siddhanta gave the name in 3rd of 4th millennium BCE to Shamash as the Sun divinity.-- Shamash derived from षष् + mãso (of Suryasiddhanta and RV time reckoning)
Griffith translation: RV 1.25.8 True to his holy law, he knows the twelve moons with their progeny:He knows the moon of later birth.
Wilson translation: RV 1.25.8 He, who accepting the rites (dedicated to him) knows the twelve months and their productions and that which is supplementarily engendered. [An allusion to the thirteenth, the supplementary or intercalary month of the Hindu unisolar year and to the transition to the lunar year from the solar year; 'that thirteenth or additional month which is produced of itself, in connection with the year', yah trayodas'o adhikama_sa upaja_yate sam.vatsarasami_pe svayam evotpadyate].
(See
Bronze sunrise Sit Shamsi of Susa is visual image of Veda sacred fire-prayers signified by काण्डर्षितर्पण oblations to ancestor equipment makers
I am grateful to Dr. Jayasree Saranathan for the brilliant insights she has provided into the tradition releated to time-reckoning of ष़डशीतिमुख or passages of the sun into zodiacal signs.
ष़डशीतिः means numeral '86'. How does this reconcile with four seasons and six seasons in variant calendrical reckonings of ancient times?
"The 12 zodiacal signs are categorised as Chara (moving), Sthira (fixed) and Ubhaya (common / both chara and sthira). Sun's entry in Chara rashi marks Vishu, in Sthira marks Vishnupadi and in Ubhaya marks Shadasheeti. All the entry days are meant for yajna, tarpan etc....Like many concepts that were lost with time, the practice of spiritual shadana associated with Ubhaya rashi kaala was also lost and therefore substituted with a standard time identified with the first day of sun's entry into the Ubhaya rashis. Now we identify Shadasheeti with the day of solar sankramana in 4 Ubhaya rashis. Since meditation on Shadangan is best in these months. Shadasheeti Punyakala is best remembered as the day of Shadangan. The concept is derived from Shadangan, the name of Shiva as one having 6 limbs. Meditation on the 6 limbs of Shiva was meant in Tantric sadhanas. Shadasheeti also means 'bound by six' or 'fastened to six'. Since the word also means 86, it is probable that number 86 was chosen. Shadasheeti is thus basically a time identified for certain spiritual sadhanas and as such they are not clubbed along with physical division of the zodiac in astrology. This appears in Muhurtha astrology for identifying best time for sadhana related to Shiva. Munda people have the habit of doing Karam Puja on Shadasheeti days."
षष् 'six' ..-अशीतिः f. (-ष़डशीतिः) 1 eighty-six. -2 N. of the four passages of the sun from one zodiacal sign to the other (Apte) षड्-शीति-मुख n. (or f(आ). scil
Seasons within the Hindu calendar
It is even more interesting, how the solar year was classified on the basis of seasons. The 12 lunar months of a solar year are divided into six ritus (seasons), each comprising of approximately two months. Since the seasons are solar based, each of the six seasons — Sharad (late monsoon), Hemant (early winter), Shishir (winter), Vasant (spring), Grishma
(summer) and Varsha (monsoon)- commence around the 21st date (±2) of each even month of the Western calendar.
The Hindu calendar recognizes the importance of the summer solstice and winter solstice in a solar year, determining the six seasons. The Dakshinayana or the sun’s southern course starts from June 21 till December 21, during which the day-length is successively getting shorter until it is the shortest in december. The Uttarayana or the sun’s northern course progresses from December 21 until June 21, during which the day-length gets successively longer until it is the longest in June. Sun reaches the equinox twice in a year, during which the length of day and night are equal. The first point is Vernal Equinox in March 20(Vasant Sampaat). The other point is called Autumnal Equinox in September 22(Sharad Sampaat).
...When does the year start?
The start of the year varies from one region to another, predominantly based on the cultural as well as agricultural harvest season. In most regions, the year starts on the New Moon before the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries (Meṣa). This happens on or around the day of the March equinox, which marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It is during this time of the year that the grains have been harvested and the new season of sowing starts. It follows the spring equinox (Vasant Sampat) and generally falls on 14 April of the Gregorian year. The same date is observed as the traditional new year in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Tripura, Bihar, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan as well as in Nepal and Bangladesh. Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Sinhalese in Sri Lanka also celebrate the same day as their new year. [unquote]
Rtu /season is mentioned in the Rig Veda. Though seasons are mentioned in it Atharvaveda (6-55-2) and several Samhitas mention “Six Seasons”.
Valmiki in his Ramayana described Hemanta Rtu in Aranya kanda, Vasanta Rtu and Varsha rtu in Kishkinda Kanda.
Manu mentioned seasons in the verses: 1-30, 3-217, 4-26, 9-36 and 3-273.
Kalidasa in his famous book on seasons Rtu Samharam (The Gathering of the Seasons) begins with summer season. It has got six sections, one each for a season. It has 144 verses.
Kalidasa in his famous book on seasons Rtu Samharam (The Gathering of the Seasons) begins with summer season. It has got six sections, one each for a season. It has 144 verses.
According to Taittiriya Samhita Vasanta Rtu is the first one. Krishna also says that he is Vasanta rtu among the seasons (Bhagavd Gita 10–35).
