Identifying Vatsara i.e. Year beginning with Vasanta and Vasus
Verb root √vas gives the final clue to erroneous understanding of the year beginning
While examining the relationship between numerous words and their causative verb roots, onomastic investigations are crucial. Several Nakshatras and their deities haunted me for a very long time, and I never understood why they were referred to as they did. Following this, I discovered other intriguing passages in Maitrayāṇī Araṇyaka Upaniṣad where specific nakshatras were invoked by sorts, such as vasus, viśvedevāḥ, etc., while experiencing seasons. I already mentioned in one of my blogs that different seasons resulted in distinct chandas. I’ll talk about three words that are created using the root √vas. Due to their usage in Saṃvatsara and the term formation from the same root, all are connected. The words are distinct pieces of evidence that have been utilized in related contexts.
- Vasantaḥ
वसन्तः , पुं, (वसन्त्यत्र मदनोत्सवा इति । वस
+ “तॄभूवहिवसिभासिसाधिगडिमण्डिजिनन्दि-
भ्यश्च ।” उणा० ३ । १२८ । इति झच् ।)
ऋतुविशेषः । स च चैत्रवैशाखमासद्बयात्मकः ।
यथा ।
2. Vasuḥ
वसुः , पुं, (वसतीति । वस + उः ।) वकवृक्षः ।
अनलः । रश्मिः । गणदेवताविशेषः । इत्यमरः ॥
स चाष्ट संख्यातः ।
Gaṇadevatāviśeṣaḥ would mean speacial deity of a group. We come across such a usage in Maitrayāṇī Araṇyaka Upaniṣad. 7.1, which specifies that year with Agni is at season spring and Sun rises in the East with asterisms. It also states that the nakshatra are of Vasavaḥ (plural of Vasuḥ) types. Likewise, Rudra are at summers, Adityas at rainy (summersolstice), Varuṇa at Sharat, and Maitrāvaruṇī at winters.
अग्निर्गायत्रं त्रिवृद्रथन्तरं वसन्तः प्राणो नक्षत्राणि वसवः पुरस्तादुद्यन्ति तपन्ति वर्षन्ति स्तुवन्ति पुनर्विशन्ति अन्तर्विवरेणेक्षन्ति…॥ ७.१॥
Agni, the Gāyatrī meter, the Trivṛt stoma, the rathanthara sāman, the spring, the vital air that goes upward (prāṇa), the lunar mansions, the Vasus, — they rise to the east of (of the sun). They warm, they rain, they praise, they reenter within the sun, they look into the opening. (Cowell). /7.1/
3. Vatsaraḥ
वत्सरः , पुं, (वसन्त्यस्मिन् अयनर्त्तुमासपक्षवारा-
दय इति । वस निवासे + “वसेश्च ।” उणा०
३ । ७१ । इति सरन् ।
“ विषुवाभ्यां वत्सरः स्यादिति शब्दविदां मतम् । महाविषुवमाख्यातं कृतिभिश्चैत्रचिह्नितम् । तथा स्याज्जलविषुवं क्रमादाश्विनचिह्नितम् ॥ “ इति शब्दरत्नावली ॥
Here Mukuta endorses Mahā Viṣuva and Jala Viṣuva, which finds parallels to Agni (Vernal to Autumnal) and Varuṇa/Soma (Autumnal to Vernal) concept of new year in Maitrayāṇī Araṇyaka Upaniṣad 6.14. (read below) Śabdalkalpadrum also endorses Vatsaraḥ ,i.e., year made up of two viṣuva pakṣas; viṣuvābhyāṃ vatsaraḥ (read above).
अन्नं वा अस्य सर्वस्य योनिः कालश्चान्नस्य सूर्यो योनिः कालस्य तस्यैतद्रूपं यन् निमेषादिकालात्सम्भृतं द्वादशात्मकं वत्सरमेतस्याग्नेयमर्धमर्धं वारुणं मघाद्यं श्रविष्ठार्धमाग्नेयं क्रमेणोत्क्रमेण सार्पाद्यं श्रविष्ठार्धान्तं सौम्यम्…॥ ६.१४॥
Takeaway
Its always amazing when we are able to connect the dots. This information will be very helpful in the critical studies of year beginning in all the Bharatiya-Indic texts.
Its thus noted that all the above three words come from ‘√वस निवासे’ and are etymologically connected with the year beginning.
