740 (Part 9/10) of Lord Venkateswara, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Usins and Laime Mate of Latvian Folklore

This is Part 9 of the series of our explorative studies on various probabilities of history and origin of the Lord Venkateswara's (Balaji) shrine at Tirumala-Tirupati. This is in continuation of our blog posts 508, 511, 512, 513, 584, 597, 631, 739. For those who wish to study them (studying them will broaden our frame of thinking-i.e. perspective.), here are the links: To go to 508- Part1/10. To go to 511- Part2/10. To go to 512- Part3/10. To go to 513- Part4/10. To go to 584- Part5/10. To go to 597- Part6/10. To go to 631- Part7/10. . To go to 739- Part8/10. .

SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS EXPLAINING LATVIAN GOD USINS and LATVIAN GODDESS LAIME or LAIME MATE -vis-a-vis THE VEDIC GOD VISHNU and VEDIC GODDESS LAKSHMI, similarities and contrasts.

Question: USINS in Latvin Folklore drives only two horses, whereas the chariot of Sun God in India has seven horses. Explain.

ANSWER:-The most important similarity between Usins and the Indian Sun God is they bestow light, and represent LIGHT, apart from traversing the sky along zodiac. Though scholars compare 'Usins' to Vedic Goddess 'Ushas' (dawn), and attribute to it feminine form, and inasmuch as Ushas, Sandhya (two interregnums dawn and dusk), chAya (shadow or shade) are also regarded as feminine and as wives of Sun God, somehow they do not find much significance.

On the other hand, Vedic Sun is treated on par with Lord VishNu, calling him "SrI sUrya nArAyaNa" (nArAyana = Lord VishNu). Besides sUrya (Sun God) and Lord VishNu both are masculine, uterine brothers to Mother Aditi, Father Sage Kashyap, and are members of the 12 AdityAs. The 5th incarnation of Lord VishNu, called vAmana is also one Aditya. Thus Sun God and VishNu are virtually same in Vedic Literature, though some people seem to differentiate Sauram (Sun-worship) from VaishNavam (VishNu worship).

There is a hymn called "Aditya hridayam" = Heart of the Son of Aditya. Though literally, this hymn is regarded as a prayer to Sun God, it can also be interepreted to mean that VishNu being Aditya, the Sun God and VishNu are same. In Valmiki Ramayana, Sage Agastya taught the ADITYA HRIDAYAM to Shri Rama, before the later started his battle with demon Ravana. In mahAbhArata also, the king yudhishThira worshipped and Aditya and Aditya hridayam to get blessings of Sun God, and VishNu.

Reconstruction of the Latvian-Lithuanian-Ancient-Prussian Gods and Goddesses from Latvian folklore, by the Latvian-Lith-Ancient Prussian Researchers, has a longer way to go. Either they may add another five horses to Usins, or Indians may allow flexibility in the number of horses. My humble view: Aryans, starting from Arctic Circle (pl. see my blog post No. ...in which I have given link to download the book of Lokmanya Bala Gangadhara Tilak, proposing that Aryans started their migration from Arctic.).

According to me, from Arctic, the Aryans proceeded to Latvia-LIthuania (Baltics), then Mesapotaemia (at present Iraq), then Afghanistan, and then India. The second route was through Persia (Iran). Mesopotamian Civilisation seems to have a special love for the numbers 7, 12, 60. The relationship between the Mesopotamian Astronomy-Astrology and the Indian Astronomy-Astrology are to be deeply inquired into. Seven horses may represent seven days in a week. The two horses Usins might have shifted to seven horses in Iran / Iraq.

Question: Latvian Goddess Saule, representing Sun, is feminine. How can you equate masculine Vedic Sun (sUrya) with Saule?

Ans: For this reason only, Indian Sun God is to be compared to Usins, instead of Saule. There is another Sanskrit name for the God of Light in Indian traditions: "savitru or savitur" from which we have got the word 'SAvitri'. This 'savitur' dispels darkness, and ignites the intellects of individuals, as can be seen in gAyatri mantram (Chant of gAyatri) regarded as very sacred and secret by scholars for a long time:

Om bhur bhuvar suvar tat savitur varENyam
bhargO dEvasya dhImahi, dhiyO yO nah prachOdayAt.

English Gist: Let us meditate on that excellent glory of the divine vivifying Sun, May he enlighten our understandings. — Translated by Monier Monier-Williams. BhU, bhuvar, suvar are the three worlds earth, nether world, and heaven.

Additional comment from ybrao-a-donkey: This chant is taught during thread-induction ceremonies (called upa-nayanam ceremony) prevalent in some Aryan Castes. The word Upa-nayananm, means 'sub-eye' "opening or providing an additional third eye". This additional eye, is "Eye of Awareness". Some people may believe that this personified "eye of awareness" opens automatically once the upanayanam ceremony is performed. No, not. After the youth is taught the gayatri chant, he has to worship the Sun God (it is Lord VishNU), three times a day, which is not idol worship (saguNam). It is idol-less meditation on the Supreme Power (nir-guNam).

The Baltic Aryans, the Mesopotamian Aryans, the Iranian Aryans, who migrated to India were not idol worshippers. They were worshippers of VishNu (Usins).

Let us see this verse from Bhagavad Gita: CHAPTER 15, VERSE 14 OF BHAGAVAD GITA. You can also have a look at ybrao-a-donkey's translation of Bhagavadgita at Click if you wish to study bhagavadgitayb.blogspot.com by ybrao-a-donkey. This Bhagavadgita has been revised, after removing some unpleasant comments, in the context of pluralism in India, and the delicate minds of Indians. However, I welcome questions on any particular verse. I shall reply with proof, to the extent possible.

aham vaisvanaro bhUtva
prANinAm deham asritah
prAnApana-samayuktah
pacAmi annam catur-vidham.

English: I am the fire of digestion in every living body. I am the air of life, outgoing and incoming. I digest the four kinds of foodstuff.

ybrao-a-donkey: Light, fire, heat, Air these four atributes, the Aryans have blended into their Supreme God. Though in strict sense "vaiSvAnara" some people may take only as Fire God, light and fire are interdependent. The Star Sun itself is a big burning fire ball, emanating glowing light. Hence, "VaisVanara" can be taken to mean "Usins".

There are many other interpretations and translations. Here is a link which gives word-to-word meaning of the gAyatri chant: Click to go to eaglespace.com. .

When I give links to external websites which report, explain, comment etc., it does not mean that I endorse everything they write/publish. Some of the things they publish have valuable contributions, probably more valuable than things I write here. It is for the Reader to work with his discriminative abilities.

Shall finish shortly.

(To continue. और लिखने का है। ఇంకా వ్రాయాల్సింది ఉంది.