Page "Ribhus" Paragraph 6

Bal Gangadhar Tilak then interpreted also in 1893 the Period of twelve days as the twelve intercalary days, to fix the difference between the lunar year of 354 days and the solar year of 366 days.

While he interpreted the beginning of the year at the vernal equinox, Arthur Anthony Macdonell 1917 stated that the twelve intercalary days " in all probability " were inserted at the winter solstice.

A. B.

Keith 1925 also criticized Tilak's interpretation by pointing to "... the fact that a year of 360 days and 12 months is ... the only year clearly known to the whole of Vedic literarure prior to the late Sutras ".

Because he also " admits that ancient Indians had knowledge of intercalation " his statements on that point are concidered " confused ".

But already 1895 a similar view in terms of the length of the year was stated by George Thibaut and W. D.

Whitney in Indian Antiquity.

In 1960 Narendra Nath Law wrote in Indian Antiquity Quaterly that: " W < hitney > would be correct if the 7th season or the 13th month ( presumably for intercalation ) had not been mentionend.

" He was referring to RV 1. 164. 15 which was interpreted by H. H.

Wilson as describing seven seasons.

But according to the translation of Ralph Thomas Hotchkin Griffith RV 1. 164. 15 means the seven Rishis, which according to David Frawley were actually eight seers, representing the Big Dipper.

The eighth star of the big dipper is according to his later reference to RV 3. 56. 2 in connexion with RV 1. 164. 15 not the unseen fourth star of the handle forming a double star sytem but the Pole Star around which the big dipper rotates.

Already Moritz Winternitz 1907 pointed " to the fact that there are certain passages in the Vedic texts which admid of various interpretations.

" So A. B.

Keith's and A. A. Macdonell's 1912 statement is still appplicable, the 12 days were " merely the ' reflexion of the year ' ( samvatsarasya pratima ) in the same way that they represent the twelve months and have no relation to chronology at all.