(RV 10.85.7, 10.85.36)
chittirā upabarhaņam
chakshurā abhyanjanam,
dyaur-bhūmiĥ kosham
āsīd
yadayāt sūryā patim.
gŗbhņāmi te saubhagatvāya hastam mayā patyā
jaradaşhtir-yathāsaĥ,
bhago aryamā savitā purandhir mahyam tvādur-gārhapatyāya
devaĥ.
Thought was the pillow and sight the
collyrium of the eyes
Heaven and earth, her treasure-box
when Sūryā went to her spouse;
I take thy hand for perfect enjoyment, that, with me, thy husband
Thou may attain old age Bhaga, Aryama, Savitr and Purandhi have
given me thee to be my home's
mistress.
These two verses are from the hymn 10.85 of
47 verses which describes the marriage of Surya with Soma. The
symbolism of the entire hymn
is too strong to be missed. Surya stands for the illumined
Knowledge and Soma for the Delight Existence. Even though
commoners regard Knowledge and Delight as quite far from each
other, Rig Veda proposes their union. All the human marriages are
counter parts of this divine union.
The verse 36 quoted above is still used in Hindu marriages as part
of the marriage vow spoken by the bridegroom to the bride.
The adoration of Soma is in the first five verses. 10.85.3 clearly
states that Soma is not a mere herb and the Soma known to men of
knowledge none ever drank. The next five describe Surya. The
remaining verses deal with the wedding procession and the blessing
of the couple.
Verse 7 describes the symbolism of the bride. For Knowledge, the
pillow can only be thought and the divine vision is the unguent of
the eyes which makes the thing seen clear. Both Heaven and earth
are the treasure boxes where Knowledge keeps her treasure.
The verse 8, not quoted here, declares that Agni, the God of
aspiration is the leader of the procession, Yajna. The twins,
Ashwins who bestow the perfect health of body and mind are the
brides men of Surya. Surya's mind is her chariot. The hymns or
suktas are the cross bars of the chariot pole. The Rik and saman
mantras are the two steers. The path is the sky.
|
