Dear Colleagues
I’ve come across two references in the Brāhmaṇas to the Sun as
‘the twenty-first’ –
ŚB
6.7.1.1:
…” It (the plate) is round, for he (the Sun) is round. It has
twenty-one knobs, for he is the twenty-first. He wears it with
the knobs outside, for the knobs are his (the Sun's) rays, and
his rays are outside." (Eggeling 1894:265),”
and
AB 4.18: "They perform the ceremonies of the Ekaviṃśa day,
which is the equator, dividing the year (into two equal
parts). By means of the performance of this day, the gods had
raised the Sun up to the heavens. This Ekaviṃśa day on which
the Divākīrtya mantra (was produced) is preceded by ten days,
and followed by ten days, and is in the midst (of both
periods). On both sides it is thus put in a Virāṭ: (the number
ten). Being thus put in a Virāṭ (in the number ten) on both
sides, this (Ekaviṃśa, i.e. the Sun) becomes not disturbed in
his course through these worlds." (Haug 1977:288-289).
Does anyone have other references to the Sun as the 21st, and
any other explanations for this other than these two Brahmana
explanations?