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The dark and deep underworld in the Veda.

The Journal of the American Oriental Society April-June , 2002

IN EARLIER PUBLICATIONS I have discussed the concept of yonder word in theR!vedasa"hita #$%%&' and in the Atharvavedasa"hita #$%%%a'( as we as hoes and pits

#$%%%)' and distance #*+++a'( ite"s which so"eti"es are associated with an underword,The south and so"e other -uarters of space connected with death and ancestors are

studied in Bodewit. *+++), In the present artice I wi especiay treat the aspects of depth(downward "ove"ent( and dar/ness, In "y view these ite"s refer to concrete words yin!

under the earth, #$' Since depth and dar/ness so"eti"es occur to!ether and other aspectsof the underword wi occasionay )e incuded here( I wi not dea separatey with the two

aspects( )ut focus on the persons or )ein!s connected with the dar/ and deep underword(which for"s an opposition to a word of i!ht hi!h in heaven,

0e "ay distin!uish here the foowin! !roups of )ein!s1

a' 2e"ons and diseases

)' Sinners

c' Rivas and ene"ies

d' I!norant persons #and other dis-uaified peope'

d' Ancestors and diseased reatives or cients,

It is o)vious that de"ons and )eoved reatives are not !eneray supposed to ive in the

sa"e word, 3owever( the oder te4ts in particuar often do not "a/e cear distinctions, Anundivided underword "ay so"eti"es )e assu"ed, The concept of dar/ness #*' isconnected with such an underword,

2E5ONS AN2 2ISEASES

The de"on Susna or 6rtra is /ied )y Indra in R6 7( 8*( 7 and paced in dar/ness #ta"asi'

in a stone house #har"ye', Converse #$%9$1 $8:' interprets har"ya as the !rave, It isdou)tfu whether de"ons woud )e )uried in a !rave, They are sent to an underword or he,

The har"ya see"s to )e the nether word, #8' This word continues the pri"eva( chaoticword of 6rtra, Note that the de"on is said to )e aready suvrdha" ta"o!a" #7( 8*( &' andasurye ta"asi vavrdhana" #7( 8*( :' )efore his death, #&'

A si"iar -uaification is found in R6 9( $+&( $( where Indra and So"a are re-uested to send

down #ny arpayata"' so"e evi powers who are ta"ovrdhah, In verse & a Ra/sas whoshoud )e destroyed is said to )e vavrdhana" #cf, 7( 8*( :', In verse 7 the two !ods shoud

throw down #ni,,,vidhyata"' de"ons caed Atrins into the a)yss #parsane'( which o)viousyrefers to he #see Bodewit. $%%%a1 $$+', 0hitney transates the ver) with ;pierce; in the

parae A6 <( &( 7( which does not convince, In verse $9 a fe"ae de"on #=edner( )etween)rac/ets1 ;2ie Unhodin;' shoud fa down #ava,,, padista' in endess depths or hoes#vavra" anantan',

It is re"ar/a)e that this hy"n deas not >ust with de"ons, 0hitney cas its parae A6 <( &;A!ainst sorcerers and de"ons,; 3owever( other hu"an )ein!s aso pay a roe, They

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)eon! to the cate!ories of sinners and rivas, In this hy"n 6asistha see"s to pace his riva

6isva"itra on a eve with de"ons and sorcerers, The destination of a hated )ein!s in thishy"n is at east the underword( in the case of the de"ons pro)a)y he,

After havin! )een /ied )y Indra( 6rtra ay down in on! dar/ness #dir!ha" ta"a asayat' inR6 $( 8*( $+, Re"ar/a)y a si"iar e4pression refers to hu"an )ein!s in *( *9( $& #"a no

dir!ha a)hi nasan ta"israh', Thou!h the ver) a?say in $( 8*( $+ "i!ht point to a oca ratherthan a te"pora connotation of ta"as( and in post?6edic te4t this ter" denotes he( we "ay

aso assu"e #on account of *( *9( $& and the use of the ad>ective dir!ha' that on! dar/nessis >ust a synony" for death #the on! ni!ht', Sti this indicates that death coud )e associated

with dar/ness rather than with i!ht and heaven, The ad>ective dir!ha see"s to i"py thatdeath is not a tota annihiation,

Indra not ony defeats or /is de"ons@ he aso throws the" down into the depth, See R6 *($&( & yo ar)uda" ava nica )a)adhe ;der den Ar)uda hina) in die Tiefe stiess; #tr, =edner',

3owever( such a specification is not current,

The cre"ation fire shoud !o down in R6 $+( $:( % # A6 $*( *( <' /ravyada" a!ni" prdhino"i dura" ya"ara>no !achatu, =edner o)serves on the R6 version1 ;2as Reich des

a"a as die ausserste erne und .u!eich as der richti!e Ort fur das Leichenfeuer,; orthe connection )etween dura" and yonder word( which is pro)a)y the underword #cf, A6$*( *( $'( see Bodewit. *+++a1 $+& n, *,

In R6 $+( :+( $$ the disease caed rapas shoud !o down #nya! )havatu te rapah', The

concreteness of the downward "ove"ent appears fro" the co"parison with sunshine(wind( and "i/ which fa down fro" heaven and fro" the cow,

In A6 *( $&( 8 the wish is e4pressed that the house that is )eow shoud )e the destination

for the Arayis #so"e sort of fe"ae de"ons', 3ere asau yo adharad !rhah contains twocodes for yonder word( asau #"osty referrin! to heaven' and adharat #specifyin! yonderword as su)terranean', So"e schoars interpret this ;house; as he@ others( e,!,( Ar)"an

#$%*<1 *++' ta/e it as referrin! to the nether word or the underword in !enera,

In A6 7( **( *?& it is a!ain a for" of disease that is desired to )e sent down #adharanc'(na"ey fever, The code for underword or he is a!ain a derivation of adhara( in verse *

co")ined with nyac, #7'

Another disease #ya/s"a' is pushed away downward #adharanca"' in A6 :( $*9( 8, Thereis no reason to interpret these e4pressions as suppressin! a disease or "a/in! fever a)ate,Rather( they refer to de"ons #:' who have to )e driven )ac/ to the re!ion where they

)eon!( the nether word,

The disease caed ya/s"a and the fesh?eatin! #cre"ation' fire shoud !o forth downward#adharan parehi' in A6 $*( *( $, Cf, R6 $+( $:( %( where this fire is sent far away #dura"' to

the rea" of a"a,

The pi!eon( a )ird of i o"en which announces death( is sent away #paran evd para' to thehouse of a"a in A6 :( *%( 8, To the re"otest spaces #para,,,paravatah' shoud aso !owitchcraft #A6 <( 7( %', The Pisaca de"ons are transferred to a"a with the hep of a

particuar pant in A6 :( 8*( *, 0e "ay assu"e that a"a and his house here are notassociated with a word of i!ht in heaven, The far distances are the nether word,

In TS $( 8( %( * #cf, TS :( 8( %( *?8' #9' a Ra/sas de"on and the hatin! riva are sent to(

owest dar/ness, This owest dar/ness #adha"a" ta"ah' is so"e sort of for"ua in the A6(where it refers to the destiny of rivas and ene"ies,

In SB $( %( *( 87 the dispossession of the Asuras )y the 2evas is repeated in the ritua )ypourin! so"ethin! worthess under a )ac/ anteope s/in( thin/in! ;Thou art the Ra/sas

share,; Thus they cast it into )ind dar/ness #andhe ta"asi'( i,e,( the word of Asuras and

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de"ons,

Bind dar/ness is a!ain found in DB $( $9% in connection with the Asuras, It is descri)ed as

yin! )eyond the A!nisto"a and the year( and it is identified with the ni!ht,

SB 8( <( *( $7 -uotes 6S :( $: ;3erewith I tread down the Ra/sas( herewith I /noc/ down

#ava)adhe' the Ra/sas( herewith I ead the Ra/sas to the owest dar/ness #adha"a"ta"ah',; See aso SB 8( 9( $( $+( where one offers !hee into a hoe est the evi spirits( the

Ra/sas( shoud rise fro" )eow, Thus one /noc/s downward #ava)adhate' these Ra/sas,

AB &( 7( $ connects the Asuras with the ni!ht( which is e-uated with dar/ness #ta"ah' anddeath, Cf, =B *( 7( $, 2ar/ness and death are aso associated )y AB 9( $*( *,

In SB $$( $( :( < the Asuras are associated with dar/ness and with )ein! down, Pra>apaticreated the" with the downward )reathin! and thereupon there was dar/ness for hi",

In ISU three words covered with )ind dar/ness #andhena ta"asa vrtah' are caed asurya,

SINNERS

The )est hu"an candidates for he( at east for the underword( woud see" to )e thesinners, References to the"( however( are rather i"ited,

In R6 &( *7( : Indra wi throw or stri/e down #avahanta,,,avacah' peope who do not prepare

So"a, Of course the turn of phrase "i!ht >ust e4press the /noc/in! down of so"e)ody#=edner1 ;scha!t er .u Boden;'( )ut cf, DB $( $*8( where Asuras are thrown down fro" the

one word to the other( i,e,( fro" heaven( and the sa"e e4pression is used, A /noc/?out )yIndra is aways etha( and the addition of avacah e"phasi.es the downward "ove"ent, If

these ;sinners; are Aryans #and not un?Aryan ene"ies'( their sin consists of the ne!ect ofrei!ious duties,

A si"iar cate!ory of non?sacrificers is hured into a pit in R6 $( $*$( $8 dpi /arta" avartayoya>yun ;ou hured the non?sacrificers into the pit,; This downward re"ova definitey refers

to the underword, See Bodewit. $%%%)1 *$:,

In R6 %( 98( <?%,,,ava>ustan vidhyati /arte avratan,,,ava padaty apra)huh #;er stosst die"issie)i!en =eset.osen hina) in die =ru)e,,,,2er Unver"o!ende so da)ei in die =ru)e

a)stur.en(; tr, =edner' a!ain( dis-uaified persons see" to )e sent to the nether word, Accordin! to =edner in a note on %( 98( %( ;2as Bid der 0ettfahrt "it 3indernissen,; See(however( Bodewit. $%%%)1 *$:, The for"uation ;er stostt,,,in die =ru)e; can hardy refer to

an accident caused )y a deity,

In R6 9( $+& #)esides severa references to de"ons' we find indications of a nether wordfor sinners, See 9( $+&( 8 indraso"a dus/rto vavre antar anara")hane ta"asi pra

vidhyata" ;Indra und So"a Stosset die U)etater in die =ru)e( in die hatose insternis;#tr, =edner', It is o)vious that vavre here shoud refer to the nether word( since in 9( $+&( $9

the sa"e ter" is used in connection with an ;Unhodin; #=edner'( and dar/ness !enerayrefers to this word, See Bodewit. $%%&1 8+@ $%%%a1 $$+ for further iterature on this pacewhich is interpreted as he or as underword, #<'

There see"s to )e a reference to he in A6 $*( &( 8( if fain! down into a pit here denotes

faiin! down into he, The sinner is so"e)ody who !ives a a"e cow to a Brah"in, 3erea!ain the sin concerns the ne!ect of rei!ious duties, or further punish"ents of

"is)ehaviour a!ainst Brah"ins in the A6 see Bodewit. $%%%a1 $+%?$$, The destinations ofthese sinners are not characteri.ed )y dar/ness or )ein! down( )ut in A6 $*( &( 8: the ter"

nara/a #FheF' is e4picity used( and A6 $*( 7( :& cas the destination of so"eone who has

ta/en the Brah"inFs cow papao/an paravatah( i,e,( the far distances # underwords'( whichare hes,

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3e who defies his sister wi !o down #adhara/' #i,e,( to the underword or to he'( accordin!

to A6 *+( $*<( *,

6S 8+( 7 "entions as destination for a thief dar/ness #ta"as'( for a "urderer he #nara/a',Perhaps he and dar/ness are "ore or ess identica here, #%'

Nirrti is invo/ed in TS &( *( 7( & to see/ the "an who does not sacrifice, She shoud see/so"e)ody other than the spea/er, The road she foows is that of the thief and ro))er, Nirrti

here is aso caed the earth( )ecause her rea" is )eow the earth,

3e see"s to )e predicted for so"eone who draws )ood fro" a Brah"in in TS *( :( $$( *,3e wi not see the Pitro/a for a period of years correspondin! to the nu")er of partices of

dust on which the )ood fas, or sinners there is no pace in heaven( accordin! to DB $(*%$( where the specification of the destruction is i/ewise "issin!,

In GausU 8( < the at"an causes a person to do wron! deeds who" he wishes to eaddownward #ya" adho ninisat' and !ood deeds who" he wishes to ead upwards fro" these

words, The eadin! downwards of the sinner definitey has the underword or he as the finadestination,

Accordin! to 5aiU &( 8 one )eco"es urdhva)ha> )y foowin! the rues of oneFs ownasra"a, Otherwise one )eco"es arvan( i,e,( !oes to the underword,

ChU 7( $+( % "entions the five "ain sins #in ater te4ts caed the "ahapata/as' and

concudes that the sinners Ffa downF #patanti', This see"s to refer to !oin! down to he orto the underword( since one of these sins is the /iin! of a Brah"in,

RI6ALS AN2 ENE5IES

The non?ethica cate!ory of rivas is "ore often associated with the underword( at east inthe R6 and the A6 Sa"hitas, The /iin! or destroyin! of these rivas for"s a current topic in

the 6edic prose te4ts( )ut their uti"ate destination is !eneray not specified,

R6 8( 78( *$ # A6 9( 8$( $' yo no dvesty adharah sas padista ya" u dvis"as ta" u prano >ahatu is transated )y =edner with ;0er uns eind ist( der so unterie!en, 0e" wir eind

sind( de" so der Ode" aus!ehen; I thin/ that the two wishes for the two sorts of ene"iesare "ore or ess identica and that )oth wi die, Therefore I dou)t whether ;unterie!en; #$+'

is a correct renderin! of adharah ,,, padista( transated )y 0hitney in the A6 with ;"ay hefa downward,; The ter" adhara and its derivations are often associated with theunderword,

In R6 9( $+&( $$ ene"ies shoud sin/ )eow #adhas' three earths, =o")rich #$%971 $$&'

o)serves that ;the idea "ay )e >ust to !et hi" ri!ht out of the universe(; and he aso refersto A6 :( 97( 8 where rivas are sent )eyond the three heavens, 3owever( adhds is rather

e4picit and precise( and the whoe hy"n #which has a parae in A6 <( &' refers todownwards "ove"ents, See 9( $+&( $9 on fain! into endess a)ysses or caves # the

underword', The whoe of R6 9( $+& "atches de"ons( sinners( and rivas with theirdestinations, In 9( $+&( $: so"eone who accuses the spea/er of )ein! a sorcerer or whodenies )ein! a sorcerer hi"sef shoud )e /ied )y Indra and sin/ deep )eow a creatures

#visvasya >antor adha"as padista', Undou)tedy this refers to the underword,

In R6 $+( $&7( & # A6 8( $<( 8' the wish is e4pressed that a fe"ae riva shoud )e sent tothe farthest distance #para paravat', This "i!ht refer to the outs/irts of the earth( )ut the

ter" paravat is often used to denote the nether word #see Bodewit. *+++a', 5oreover SB $(*( &( $: e-uates the farthest distance with )ind dar/ness,

R6 $+( <%( $7 # $+8( $*' andhena ,,, ta"asa sacanta" is the eariest reference to )inddar/ness in connection with underword or he( #$$' the destiny of the ene"ies in this verse,

Cf, &( 7( $& asata sacanta" #pro)a)y aso referrin! to he',

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R6 $+( $7*( & "a/es the riva !o to ower dar/ness #$*' #adhara",,,ta"ah'( a co")inationof depth and dar/ness not unusua in ater te4ts for denotin! the underword, Its parae A6

$( *$( * reads adha"a" for adhara",

Lowest dar/ness is the destiny of rivas and ene"ies in A6 %,*( &@ %@ $9, It is aso denoted

)y )ind dar/ness #%( *( $+', or )ind dar/ness in connection with rivas see aso A6P $+($*( $* and $7( $%( *, As we have seen a)ove( this )ind dar/ness aso represents the word

of Asuras and Ra/sases,

A6 $( *$( * #cf, R6 $+( $7*( &' states that the ene"ies !o to the owest dar/ness #adha"a"ta"ah'( )ut in A6 <( *( *& this see"s to )e a !enera destination of the deceased,

A6 %( * "entions owest dar/ness #&@ %@ $9' in connection with the destiny wished for therivas or ene"ies,

In A6 $+( 8( % the rivas a!ain shoud !o to owest dar/ness( and a space without sun

#asurta" ra>ah' see"s to denote the sa"e,

The hatin! ene"y shoud !o to dar/ness #A6 $*( 8( &%' or to owest dar/ness #A6 $8( $( 8*',Cf, A6P $+( $+( *@ $:( $7*( $+( where the risin! sun shoud aso /noc/ the" down,

A6 %( *( $ refers to rivas who shoud fa downward #nicaih sapatnan "a"a padaya@ cf, %( *(% and $7', Since severa verses of the sa"e hy"n aso refer to fain! into )ind dar/ness #%(

*( $+' and owest dar/ness #%( *( &@ %@ $9'( the fain! downward has to )e ta/en ratheriteray( and the destination is the underword or he, Besides nicaih we aso find the

indication adharancah( na"ey in %( *( $* #;Let the" foat away downward;', Cf, aso A6 $$($( : nicaih nyu)>a dvisatah sapatnan ;Push down the hatin! rivas,;

A6 8( $%( 8 e4presses the wish that the ene"ies of the patron shoud fa down and re"ainthere #nicaih padyanta" adhare )havantu', One "ay dou)t whether adhare si"py refers to

inferiority( as 0hitney assu"es in his transation, See aso A6 9( 8$ yo no dvesty adharahsas padista,

In A6 $+( 8( 8 an a"uet shoud "a/e the ene"ies !o downward #adharan padayati', A6 $+(

7( 8: and $:( <( $ #ida" ena" adharanca" padaya"i' are used in a char" a!ainst anene"y, GausS &%( 8?$& uses verses fro" A6 $+( 7 for this char" and ets the perfor"er

pour out water with a verse which states that Pra>apati shoud pour down the ene"iesadharacah paraco Fvacah #&%( :',

In $8( $( 8+ the rivas shoud )e s"itten downward #avacinan,,, >ahi'@ in $8( $( 8$ they shoudfa ow #ddhare padyanta"'@ in $8( $( 8* the risin! sun shoud s"ite down #ava,,, >ahi' the

rivas and they shoud !o to the owest dar/ness, The parae A6P $<( $<( * reads sapatnan"e adharan /rnu, It is evident that a these references to a downward "ove"ent are to )e

associated with the nether word,

The "ost e4picit association )etween adharanc padayati and death is found in A6 $:( <( $;,,,Of hi" now I )ind up the spendour( )riiancy( )reath( ifeti"e, Now I "a/e hi" fadownward,; 3ere A6P $<( 7*( $ reads,,,ena" adha"a" ta"o !a"ayati instead of ena"

adharanca" padaya"i,

In a these turns of phrase death and ei"ination are "eant, The sa"e "ay )e said a)outthe e4pression ;to send to the "ost re"ote distance,; See( e,!,( A6 :( 97( * para"a" ta"

paravata" indro nudatu, The sa"e hy"n states that he shoud never return and that his;)anish"ent; concerns a pace )eyond the three words of i!ht #:( 97( 8',

The ter"inoo!y of the A6 is rather unifor" and to so"e e4tent continues that of the R6,The dar/ and ower words are associated with ene"ies or rivas, 3owever( as we wi see

)eow( the sa"e "ay refer to )eoved hu"an )ein!s, The distinction )etween underword

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and he sti is not -uite cear, or a "ore ea)orate discussion of the A6 "ateria I refer to

Ar)"an #$%*91 87+ff,'( who is incined to interpret it as a"ost e4cusivey referrin! to theunderword for hu"an )ein!s who are not -uaified for heaven or as a surviva of the oder

conceptions of ife after death #with the e4ception of so"e undenia)e references to he', Itis( however( possi)e that sendin! rivas or ene"ies to ow dar/ness "ay )e interpreted assendin! the" to he #>ust as aready in the R6 de"ons are sent to such paces',

In the other Sa"hitas and in the Brah"anas the "ateria )eco"es scarce, Sti so"e

references can )e found,

In TS $( 8( %( * the hated and hatin! riva shares the destiny of the Ra/sas de"on1 owestdar/ness, See aso TS :( 8( %( *?8,

In TS 7( 7( $+( * a"a see"s to )e associated with the nadir( and one paces ;hi" who"we hate and who hates us; in his >aws, The nadir is o)viousy su)terranean,

So"eone who has rivas shoud use a devaya>ana )efore which a hoe is found accordin! to

5S 8( <( &1 %9,$&, The i"pication is of course that the rivas wi fa into this hoe( whichrepresents he, See Bodewit. $%%%)1 *$%,

The strate!y of the ritua prescri)es that one shoud eave dar/ness to the riva and o)tainfor onesef the i!ht of heaven, See AB 7( *&( $* ;or rather when the sun has set they shoud

utter speech, Thus they "a/e the riva who hates the" have the dar/ness as his portion,;

SB $( *( &( $: identifies the farthest distance where the riva shoud )e tied down with )inddar/ness, or farthest distance functionin! i/e )ind dar/ness as a cipher for underword or

he( see Bodewit. *+++a,

In DB $( %8 the riva is thrown or /ic/ed down #arad evaitena dvisanta" pap"ana")hratrvya" avanca" apa)adhate #v, $, ava)adhate', AB $( $8( 7 uses the ver) apa?)adh inconnection with a riva who shoud aso fa down #dvisanta" evas"ai tat pap"ana"

)hratrvya" apa)adhate Fdhara" padayati', Dust as in the A6 this see"s to refer to sendin!ene"ies to the underword,

Accordin! to DB $( 8*7 one shoud re"ove #)y ritua "eans' the hatin! riva to ;that

direction; #eta" disa",,,nir)adhet'( i,e,( to the re!ion of death or rather to he #thesouthwest', Then the te4t continues )y sayin! that there are three heavens and three hes

of the sa"an, One shoud "a/e oneFs riva fa into such a he )ased on "a!ica sy")ois",

In DUB *( <( % one drives away the hatin! riva fro" this word, Si"iary the Asuras aredriven away in DUB *( <( 8, The downward re"ova is not e4picity "entioned here( )ut it is

stri/in! that DUB *( < deas with !ods( hu"an )ein!s( Pitrs( and AsurasHrivas in this order1i,e,( the Asuras and rivas are even )eow the Pitrs, 5oreover the word of Asuras as we as

of rivas is caed dura( pro)a)y denotin! the nether word or even a word )eow that,

I=NORANT PERSONS

The Upanisads( thou!h )eon!in! to the srauta tradition( )eco"e ess and ess interested in

the heaveny destination of the deceased( since "o/sa and /nowed!e a)out the at"anrepace the sacrificia "erits that produce a o/a in heaven, The Pitrs and the Pitro/a are not

fre-uenty "entioned, The word of these ancestors is situated #in the vertica hierarchy')etween the word of the hu"an )ein!s and the word of the !ods in BAU $( 7( $9( or even

ower( )etween the word of the hu"an )ein!s and the word of the =andharvas( in BAU &(8( 88, This Pitro/a is o)tained )y ritua #BAU $( 7( $9', Other passa!es attri)ute a ower

future to those who "iss the reeasin! insi!ht,

See BAU &( &( $+ # ISU %@ cf, aso ISU $*' on the enterin! of )ind dar/ness or even !reater

dar/ness )y those who are dedicated to i!norance or #profane' wisdo" #andha" ta"ah

6



pravisanti ye vidya" upasate, tato )huya iva te ta"o ya u vidyaya" ratah', See aso &( &(

$$ on the !oin! to words which are covered with )ind dar/ness and which are >oyess )ypeope who have no /nowed!e at a and are unwise1 ananda na"a te o/a andhena

ta"asavrtah, ta"s te pretya)hi!acchanty avidva"so F)udho >anah, This verse was partyused )y GathU $( 8 #pitoda/a >a!dhatrna du!dhadoha nirindriyah, ananda na"a te o/as tansa !acchati ta dadat'( where Naci/etas critici.es #one aspect of' ritua, Another version of

the verse is found in ISU 8( where the nether word is caed asurya and the i!norant peopeare differenty characteri.ed1 asurya na"a te o/a andhena ta"asavrtah, ta"s te

pretya)hi!acchanti ye /e cat"ahano >anah, Since a reference to suicide does not suit theconte4t and the at"an cannot )e /ied( we "ay assu"e tha t at"ahan shoud not )e ta/en

iteray here,

5uU $( *( %?$+ does not directy transfer the un/nowin! dead to a word of dar/ness, Theyony sin/ down #cyavante' after their word #i,e,( their "erit' has )eco"e e4hausted@ thenthey enter this word or even a ower one #hinatara'( i,e,( the underword,

ANCESTORS AN2 2ISBASE2

3ere we wi dea with the ife after death of the avera!e hu"an )ein!s who are not sinners(

rivas( or other dis-uaified persons( )ut oneFs reatives stayin! in a word of dar/ness )eow,In the odest 6edic te4t the deceased in !enera see" to have had the underword as theirdestination@ ater #fro" the atest ayers of the R6 onwards' to so"e of the" a heaveny

a)ode was pro"ised, #$8' 3owever( the dar/ underword is rarey "entioned even in theodest ayers of the R6,

In R6 *( *9( $& a nor"a hu"an )ein! as/s fro" the !ods that on! dar/nesses

#dir!hdh,,,ta"israh' "ay not reach hi", This dar/ness undou)tedy denotes death or theword of the dead, Cf,( however( R6 $( 8*( $+( where on! dar/ness is the destiny of 6rtra

sain )y Indra,

So"e)ody is afraid of )ein! devoured )y a wof and of fain! in a pit in R6 *( *%( :

#tradhva" no deva ni>uro vr/asya tradhva" /artad avapado ya>atrah', This aso refers todeath, It is true that the spea/er ad"its in the precedin! verse that he "ay have sinned( )ut

we "ay co"pare R6 $+( %7( $&( where Pururavas #not a sinner' descri)es his destiny afterdeath, 3e wi fa #or throw hi"sef down' #prapatet' and !o to the farthest distance

#paravata" para"a"' #"osty denotin! the underword'( ie in the ap of Nirrti( and )edevoured )y woves, It is uncear whether the devourin! woves produce a second death or

are >ust torturers,

Lyin! in the ap of Nirrti is "ore peacefuy descri)ed in R6 $( $$9( 7( where 6andana #who

apparenty was )uried aive' is co"pared with the sun yin! in dar/ness and a dead personseepin! in the wo") of Nirrti, A these instances refer to a dar/ ;ife; after death,

The ter" paravat #"entioned a)ove in connection with Pururavas in R6 $+( %7( $&' aso

occurs in R6 <( 8+( 8( where the !ods are as/ed not to ead peope far in the distance#dura" naista paravatah'( i,e,( to the underword,

A!ainst the ap of Nirrti #cf, R6 $+( %7( $7 and $( $$9( 7( discussed a)ove' the earth shoudprotect the deceased whose )ones are )uried after cre"ation in R6 $+( $+( $+, This see"s

to i"py that there are at east two options for ife after death,

A deathy i person is ta/en )ac/ fro" the ap of Nirrti in R6 $+( $:$( * #yadi /sitayur yadi vapareto yadi "rtyor anti/a" nita eva( ta" a hara"i nirrter upasthat,,,', This verse points to a

!enera destination of the deceased,

I""ortaity in heaven is rarey found in the R6 and ony in its atest ayers, In the oder

ayers the Pitrs are "ythica de"i!ods rather than oneFs own ancestors, The ter" pitro/a isnot yet found here, In ater 6edic te4ts this word see"s to )e so"e sort of second option

reserved for those who did not reach the hi!hest destination, This word( even if not situated

7



under the earth( ater was distin!uished fro" the heaven of the !ods,

In the A6 the dar/ or ower word of the deceased is "entioned in a i"ited nu")er of

hy"nns, The infor"ation( however( is very rich and eaves no dou)t a)out the concept of adar/ word which is situated )eow, The references concern a word fro" which the deathy iperson shoud )e saved or fetched )ac/,

R6 $+( $:$( * is repeated in A6 8( $$( *,

In A6 9( 78( 8 A!ni has ta/en ife and )reaths out of the ap of Nirrti( and the spea/er of this

"a!ica hy"n causes the" to enter the )ody a!ain, The hy"n ends with the we?/nownverse in which is said that one has ascended fro" dar/ness to the hi!hest i!ht #ud vaya"

ta"asas pari rohantah,,,' #9( 78( 9',

ro" the fetters of Nirrti the diseased is carried upwards #at tva ,,, )hara"asi' in A6 <( $( 8,

3e shoud stand up fro" there and not fa down #"avapatthah'( )ein! freed fro" the fettersof death #<( $( &', or hi" there shoud )e up?!oin!( not down?!oin! #<( $( :', 3e shoud not

!o after the Pitrs #<( $( 9'( who apparenty are down rather than hi!h in heaven, 3e shoudco"e to the i!ht( ascend out of dar/ness( and not heed the departed who ead one to the

distance #paravat( o)viousy the underword' #<( $( <', 3e shoud not fa to that dar/ness#ta"a etat purusa "a pra patthah' #<( $( $+', 2ar/ness shoud not find hi" #<( $( $:', In thishy"n the rescuin! is severa ti"es said to )e upwards@ see( e,!,( <( $( $% #at tva "rtyor

apipara"', 2ar/ness has eft the diseased #<( $( *$'@ i,e,( he has eft dar/ness,

In the ne4t hy"n si"iar state"ents are "ade, The spea/er says that he )rin!s )ac/ the ife#dsu and ayus' and that the diseased shoud not !o to dar/ness #ra>as and ta"as' #A6 <( *(

$', 3e shoud co"e up fro" there #<( *( <', Dust as in <( $( $%( the spea/er says that he hasrescued hi" out of death #<( *( %', 2yin! is caed a down?!oin! into dar/ness #yat te

niyana" ra>asa",,,' #<( *( $+', The "a!ician carries the a"ost deceased upwards fro" theower to the upper earth #<( *( $7'( fro" death #<( *( *8', 5en do not die and aso do not !oto the owest dar/ness #adha"a" ta"ah'( where this "a!ic char" is perfor"ed #<( *( *&?

*7',

A6 7( 8+( $$ "entions the deep and )ac/ dar/ness fro" which a diseased "an shoud rise#udehi "rtyor !a")hirat /rsnac cit ta"asas pari', Apparenty his free?sou had aready

reached the underword, In 7( 8+( $& the hy"n states that the a"ost deceased shoud notstay in a house which is the earth #"a nu )hu"i!rho )huvat', This "i!ht refer to the sa"e

ite" as the "rn"aya !rha in R6 9( <%( $ #!eneray ta/en as the !rave'( )ut the conte4trefers to a deep dar/ness( i,e,( the underword, Therefore we "ay as we ta/e into accountthe house which is )eow #adharat' in A6 *( $&( 8, That house cannot )e the !rave( since it

is the destination or seat of the Arayi de"ons,

A6 $<( 8( 8 does not refer to a diseased person( )ut to a wo"an who in ti"e is rescued fro"death( the widow who is aowed to eave the funera pyre and is said to )e covered with

)ind dar/ness #andhena ,,, ta"asa pravrta', See n, $$,

Accordin! to TS *( 7( <( 9 the fathers drin/ in a descendin! order after the hu"an )ein!s(i,e,( in the se-uence !ods( "en( fathers@ the ast see" to )e connected with thesu)terranean word, Cf, DUB *( <( 8H%( where the order is !ods( "en( fathers( AsurasHrivas,

See aso BAU &( 8( 88 on a Pitro/a "entioned after the word of the hu"an )ein!s,

2ar/ness is e-uated with death in TS 7( 9( 7( $, AB &( 7 e-uates ni!ht( dar/ness( and death#in the we?/nown conte4t of the contest )etween !ods and Asuras( in which ni!ht is

conceived as a particuar space', Cf, =B *( 7( $, In an e4piation for ta/in! out the fire too ate#i,e,( after sunrise'( the shadow "ay represent the ni!ht in AB 9( $*( *( and shadow then is

e-uated with dar/ness and death,

2ar/ness is not ony associated with de"ons and Asuras( )ut aso with the Pitrs, See SB *(

$( 8( $( where the i!ht haves of the year( of the "onth( of the twenty?four hours( and of the

8



day )eon! to the !ods and the correspondin! dar/ haves to the ancestors, SB $8( <( &( 9

states that the participants in the funera ritua shoud return to the via!e recitin! 6S 87( $&;0e have risen out of the dar/ness; and then e4pains1 ;fro" the dar/ness( the word of the

fathers( they now indeed !o to the i!ht( the sun,; This word of the fathers does not showthe we?/nown association with i!ht and happiness,

The dar/ness of death see"s to )e re!arded as he in AB 9( $8( :( where it is said that sonsrescue fathers fro" thic/ dar/ness, Cf, the we?/nown pseudo?ety"oo!y of putra( re!arded

as savin! #tra' fro" he #Jput'( occurrin! aready in =B $( $( *,

Those who perfor" at the southern fire !o down #anvavayanti' to the word of the fathers#SB $*( <( $( $<',

DB $( $:9 "entions peope who have risen up fro" death #"rtodirinah' and who say thatthey have seen so"ethin! in a"aFs )a, Apparenty a"aFs paace is re!arded here as

)ein! )eow instead of in hi!hest heaven, The conte4t concerns sou oss and !ettin! oneFssou )ac/ fro" a"a,

or the association of the Pitrs with pits( hoes( and roots see Bodewit. $%%%), 3ere I ony

"ention SB 8( 9( $( *7( where the top of a sta/e used in the ritua is dedicated to the !ods(the "idde part to the hu"an )ein!s( and the part which is du! in is associated with thePitro/a,

DUB 8( %( $ "entions the e"ission of seed into the wo") as one of the three for"s of dyin!,

This is e4pained )y sayin! that the wo") #the pace which the dyin! entity enters' is )inddar/ness,

I "ay aso draw attention to BAU $( 8( *<( where the verse asato "a sad !a"aya, ta"aso

"a >yotir !a"aya, "rtyor "a"rta" !a"aya is co""ented upon, 3ere asat( ta"as( and"rtyu are o)viousy identica( and the prose te4t e4picity identifies death and dar/ness, orthe association of dar/ness and death see aso BAU 8( %( $&( where the purusa consistin! of

shadow( whose a)ode is dar/ness( is caed death,

The fathers( death( and !od a"a are so"eti"es associated with the "oon and then ni!ht(and the dar/ness rather than the i!ht of the "oon "ay pay a roe( since the "oon is aso

connected with the ni!ht, #$&' Cear references to the nocturna aspect of the "oon(however( are "issin! outside the cassifications( in which the "oon occupies the fourth

position, See Bodewit. *+++),

The idyic i"a!e of ancestors en>oyin! the ceestia i!ht aso does not a!ree with the

association of death( a"a( and the Pitrs with seep and drea"s, #$7' This association isnot ony 6edic( )ut has paraes in other cutures, See 5, Ginsey in Eiade #$%<91 KIH$8&a'1

;In "any cutures the otherworid is viewed as a shadowy state( !ray and du, ,,, It is a du(cooress pace of haf?e4istence ,,, a pace of di"inished e4istence,; 2eath is the )rother of

Seep in 3o"er( Iiad $&( *8$@ $:( :9*, Both are sons of the ni!ht #3esiod( Theo!ony *$*and 97<', See aso 6ir!i( Aeneid :( *9<, Cf, Guiper $%9%1 8$f, on seep in archaic rei!ions

descri)ed as residin! #to!ether with death' outside the universe in the underword durin! theni!ht,

R6 $( $$9( 7 co"pares 6andana( who was apparenty dead )ut )eca"e reani"ated )y the Asvins( with the sun yin! in dar/ness #i,e,( in the underword' and with so"eone who is

seepin! in the wo") of Nirrti, #$:'

A6 :( &:( $ descri)es seep #$9' as the son of a"a and of 6arunaFs wife #i,e,( a rareinstance of adutery in the 6edic pantheon', In the ne4t verse #:( &:( *' seep is caed death,

Cf, A6 $:( 7( $?:,

This seep( )ein! an Asura #cf, n, $9'( went over to the 2evas accordin! to A6 $%( 7:( 8, #$<'

3avin! )een created in the dwein! of the Asura( he ca"e fro" a"a and went over to the

9



2evas #$%( 7:( $H8', The transition fro" the Asuras to the 2evas see"s to )e descri)ed in

verse three( the co"in! to "an fro" a"a in verse one, 3ere seep "i!ht aso )einterpreted as a )ad drea", In any case a"a and death here are yin! outside the

universe,

Gatha/asa"/aana 7+( &?7 e-uates svapna and "rtyu( and SB $*( %( *( * e-uates seepin!

with Pitrs and )ein! awa/e with "en,

In the Upanisads we find the association of drea" and a"a #GausU &( $7' and of drea" orseep and the Pitro/a #GathU :( 7',

See aso DUB &( 7( $?* on the hi!hest deity #or the sun' who( in settin!( )eco"es a"a( who

in the stones #as"asu( i,e,( pro)a)y in the nether word' )eco"es So"a( who in the ni!ht)eco"es the /in! of the athers( and who in seep or drea" enters "an,

CONCLUSIONS AN2 =ENERAL OBSER6ATIONS

Cear distinctions )etween the destinations of de"ons and ene"ies as we as of sinnersand other persons are hardy found as far as the underword is concerned, At east these

destinations see" to overap, The !enera i"pression is that ;ife; after death in such a caseis in a deep( dar/( and unhappy word, Life has )eco"e seep or at )est a drea",

3owever( the ter" he is so"eti"es found in 6edic te4ts( and characteri.ations of theunderword as a pit( hoe( or a pace of dar/ness into which one fas point to a he in post?

6edic iterature, This "eans that )esides the concept of a co""on nether word( the idea ofhe undou)tedy occurred in the 6eda,

0hat we "ost "iss in the passa!es discussed is one of the we?/nown characteristics of

he1 punish"ent and crueties, The va!ue indications of the underword point instead toso"e sort of 3ades,

The ter" nara/aHnara/a indeed is found so"eti"es( #$%' )ut we "iss descriptions of thehonors of he, The cearest indications of a he are found in the A6, In A6 7( $%( 8 #not

discussed a)ove( since there is no reference to dar/ness and a downward "ove"ent'peope who have severey and physicay insuted a Brah"in are descri)ed as sittin! in a

strea" of )ood and as devourin! hair, 3owever( )ein! #party or co"petey' devoured )ywoves see"s to )e a harsher punish"ent( and this is "entioned in connection with peope

who are not sinners, #*+'

One "ay as/ why for sinners and other )ad persons severe punish"ents were sedo"

predicted, So"e schoars i"py that ethics and "oras were not interestin! to 6edic authors,#*$' 3ere I have so"e dou)ts, It is true that not "uch attention was paid to the future of the

sinners( )ut sins as such were definitey discerned, See Bodewit. $%%<1 7%$( referrin! asoto earier pu)ications, 3owever( the "ain interest of the authors of the 6edic prose te4ts

was a happy ife on earth and its continuation in heaven #to )e o)tained )y rituas',

Ori!inay 6edic priests did not have "uch co"petition, Peope who did not want to co"pywith their de"ands for sponsorin! rituas or perfor"in! "eritorious acts were hardyinterestin! to the", At the end of the 6edic period( however( we see that with the popuarity

of other circes( their cai"s on a different ;ife; after death and their criticis" of the 6ediccai"s for uni"ited happiness and i""ortaity were definitey ta/en seriousy, Life in heaven

)eca"e "ore and "ore dissociated fro" corporea en>oy"ents, #**' Criticis" of the 6ediccai" on per"anent i""ortaity in heaven was countered )y the doctrine of the overco"in!

of death in heaven #punar"rtyu', #*8' In this threatened position the cosed front of 6edicrituais" )ro/e down( and deiverance fro" death in heaven #i,e,( 6edic i""ortaity' now

)eca"e cai"ed )y a i"ited nu")er of rituas #especiay the A!nicayana', #*&'

In this new situation there was no roo" for warnin!s a!ainst unethica )ehavior, The circes

outside 6edic orthodo4y and 6edic rituais" woud hardy he i"pressed )y such warnin!s(

10



since the search for i)eration #"os/a' i"pied transcendin! the "oras of daiy ife, or

phiosophers who eft the prescripts of society( he was associated with i!norance #or evenrituais"' rather than with )ad )ehavior and the ne!ect of ritua,

In the oder 6edic te4ts the "ain opposition was )etween heaven and the underword,3eaven was the destination of the happy few who or!ani.ed the rituas and were i)era to

the priests, The Pitrs )eca"e situated so"ewhere in heaven after the odest ayers of theR6( at east in the srauta te4ts, It is re"ar/a)e that the ter" pitro/a is "issin! in the

R!vedasa"hita as we as in the =rhyasutras, In so"e 6edic te4ts at east( !ods and Pitrssee" to share heaven( thou!h the word of the !ods and of the ess privie!ed ancestors

pro)a)y was not the sa"e,

Si"iary the underword was shared )y the hu"an dead and de"ons, 0e "ay assu"e thatthe unhappy few consistin! of de"ons( sinners( and perhaps aso rivas or ene"iesinha)ited he( whereas the "a>ority ived in an underword,

So we have an opposition of heaven and i!ht #for two !roups( !ods and Pitrs( whose

do"ains were overappin!' and of underword and dar/ness #a!ain for two !roups( de"onsand Pitrs( with overappin! do"ains of he and 3ades',

In the cassificatory syste" #see Bodewit. *++$a' the east )eon!s to the !ods( thesoutheast to #so"e of' the Pitrs( the south to #so"e of' the Pitrs( and the southwest to the

de"ons #at east it represents he',

3ere the south #the re!ion of so"e of the Pitrs' is in opposition to the north #the re!ion ofpeope ivin! on earth', A!ain this opposition has to do with i!ht #north' and dar/ness

#south', It aso deas with a)ove and )eow( since the north #uttara' and the south #adhara'are -uaified )y ad>ectives in this sphere,

The difficut point is for"ed )y the position of the Pitrs #and !ods i/e a"a and 6aruna'(who )eon! to the upper as we as to the ower party,

=od a"a is "osty connected with heaven and i!ht in the srauta te4ts fro" the atest

ayers of the R!vedasa"hita to the atest Brah"anas, 3owever( in post6edic iterature thene!ative associations are nu"erous, Even in 6edic te4ts the #itera and "etaphorica' ;dar/;

side of a"a is so"eti"es to )e o)served, See( e,!,( Ehni #$<%:1 7$'( who identifiesa"aFs word with sunset and ni!ht and o)serves that a different deveop"ent was "ar/ed

)y the connection of a"a with the hi!hest heaven,

The reation )etween these two opposite aspects is "osty interpreted as a deveop"ent in

which a"a #and his word and its inha)itants' !raduay )eco"es ess )enevoent and isde!raded fro" heaven to the underword or even to he, See( e,!,( Gane #$%781 $:+'1 ;Thus

fro" )ein! a )eneficent ruer of the departed sous in the very eary 6edic ti"es( a"aca"e !raduay to )e oo/ed upon as a dreadfu punisher of "en,; #*7'

It is uncear how a ceestia( )enevoent deity coud )eco"e de!raded to a dar/ !od of the

underword, Rather we shoud assu"e that the dar/er side of a"a was ori!ina( that hisceestia transfor"ation too/ pace as a conse-uence of the discovery of heaven for hu"an)ein!s( first discerni)e in the atest ayers of the R!vedasa"hita( and that the ori!ina

aspect continued outside the sphere of the !rauta sacrifices and the Atharvavedic sava rites,See Bodewit. $%%&1 89 and $%%%a1 $$8@ $%%%)1 **$f,( where references to further iterature

are !iven,

So the dar/ and dreaded a"a continues the oder situation, In this respect he "ay )eco"pared with 6aruna( who aso shows this a")ivaence, See Guiper $%<81 <*f, on the

sharin! of pace and function of these two !ods and Guiper $%9%1 :9 on ;6aruna as a

de"oniaca fi!ure and as the !od of 2eath,; In the epic( 6arunaFs residence is aso thenether word( as Guiper #$%9%1 <$ff,' shows, This a!rees with his ori!ina position as an

Asura, Both !ods are connected with ni!ht( death( and the "oon( as we as with the

11



underword,

If we ony oo/ at the association with the "oon and the nocturna s/y and do not ta/e into

account its ceestia and u"inous aspects( then the connection with the underword oo/sess surprisin!, =onda #$%:71 &8' o)serves that ;on the one hand so "any peopes re!ardthe earthFs sateite as the re!ion of the death( and on the other hand unar deities not rarey

are at the sa"e ti"e chthonic and funera divinities,; 3is e4panation of this pheno"enon#;And )ecause what happens to the "oon and to the a!ricutura cyce proves that there is

ife in death( the dead coud )e conceived to !o either to the underword or to the "oon??which each "onth enters the rea" of death??to )e re!enerated and to prepare the"seves

for a new earthy e4istence;' is interestin!( )ut woud see" to appy to the 3induis" oftrans"i!ration( rather than to the 6edis" of cassifications and "ythoo!ica identifications,

The ho"oo!y of ni!ht( death( dar/ness( the South( "oon( So"a( waters( and the netherword for"s a safer )asis for the 6edic approach to cos"ic "ysteries, See Guiper $%<81$8<ff, and Bodewit. $%<*1 &7ff,

Sti we have to )ear in "ind that the association of a"a and the Pitro/a with heaven( i!ht(

and peasure cannot e4cusivey )e e4pained )y ho"oo!i.in! the nether word and thenocturna s/y, 3ere we see the destiny of the dead and of the !ods of death "ade ceestia,

The ori!ina situation continued as an undercurrent and reappeared "uch "ore ceary inpost?6edic iterature,

The positive and ne!ative aspects not ony concern the !ods of death and the position oftheir rea"s in which the ancestors stay( )ut aso the fathers the"seves( who so"eti"es

show traces of a de"onic nature, See Bodewit. *+++), The rites for the" are ;rites ofdar/ness dear to the ni!ht and have to )e perfor"ed in the winter "onths( the Fdar/ haf of

the yearF; #2as $%991 $&',

I a" under the i"pression that the Pitrs and their word were viewed a")ivaenty, The te4tsrefer to the"( )ut "osty in a rather va!ue way, These Pitrs are to so"e e4tent worshippedand perhaps feared( )ut they represent a !roup( a cate!ory( rather than oneFs own

ancestors, 2ependin! on the te4ts and the conte4ts( the Pitro/a see"s to )e the second)est word #a)ove this word )ut distinct fro" and ower than the Svar!a' or the second

worst word #su)terranean )ut perhaps distinct fro" and superior to the word of the sinners(the rivas( the de"ons( at east superior to he',

In this artice we have e"phasi.ed depth and dar/ness in connection with yonder word,

Statisticay the references to the ofty and u"inous aspects of ife after death for" the"a>ority in the srauta te4ts( which are chronoo!icay situated )etween the R!vedasa"hitaand the Upanisads, 3owever( if one woud ony ta/e into account the !enera i"pressions

produced )y these te4ts( one coud not i"a!ine how towns and houses "ade of )ric/s( howco""erce and ur)an ife( how renunciation and re)irth coud ever have co"e into e4istence,

Perhaps the ;6eda Bet; of centra northern India #the country of the Gurus and Pancaas' isnot the )est source of infor"ation on India in the first haf of the first "ienniu" B,C,

12



#$,' Converse $%9$1 8+8 denies this and o)serves1 ;Ni!ht( dar/ness( death( hun!er( want

are fre-uenty identified with death without i""ortaity( )ut there is no ne!ative i""ortaity(no he,; 0e shoud ta/e into account that in identifications and cassifications a)stract

concepts "ay function as ciphers or code?na"es for concrete entities,

#*,' Berthoet $%<71 *&&1 ;5it der Unterwet ver)indet sich !erne die 6orsteun! des

2un/en( "it de" 3i""e ver/nupft sich die des Lichten,;

#8,' See Guiper $%<81 :<f,1 ;6arunaFs Fofty dwein!F( his Fhouse with a thousand doorsF isaso caed a FStone houseF #har"ya?', In the eary "ornin! the !oddess 2awn( when arisin!

fro" the nether word( is said to co"e Ffro" the har"yani in the East >ust as A!ni is )orn inthis stone house )efore )eco"in! the nave of the radiant fir"a"ent, The notion of dar/ness

appears to )e inti"atey associated with this Fstone houseF, It was( indeed( the dwein!?paceof the dead( >ust as 6aruna was the !od of death, 3ence aso a"a was supposed to dwein it, The sa"e association with dar/ness is aso found in the story of Indra )rin!in! the

)eicose Susna Finto the dar/ness( into the stone houseF,; See further Bodewit. $%%%a1 $$9n,,

#&,' In R6 <( :( $9 IndraFs /iin! of 6rtra is caed a coverin! with dar/ness, In a note to his

transation =edner o)serves1 ;6rtra( der insternis )rachte( wird se)st "it insternis desTodes .u!edec/t,;

#7,' The transation of 0hitney "isinterprets this and renders verse *1 ;now !o away inwardor downward,; =riffithFs transation ;Pass hence into the rea"s )eow or vanish; Creates

two options which the te4t does not offer, Boo"fied $<%91 &&7 ri!hty o)serves that nyanand adharan are synony"ous and that a itera transation woud resut in ;do thou !o away

down( or ower; It is evident that the turn of phrase wishes to e4press the owest possi)ere!ion of the nether word,

#:,' See Rohde $%&:1 9* on the a")i!uity of diseases and de"ons,

#9,' This pace is "entioned )y Gaus $%<:1 78 as one of the very few references to a wordoutside the universe, It is put on a ine with references to a fourth word, ;Sofern darunter die

0et der Asuras und der verhassten 0idersacher verstanden wird( ist er e" in weter erneunterha) der Erde !ee!ener Bereich der insternis; #p, 7&', Gaus a"ost entirey re>ects

the concept of a he for the 6edic prose te4ts and is sient on the possi)e e4istence of anunderword for nor"a peope,

#<,' See aso Bodewit. $%%%a #$$9 n, $$' on But.en)er!er #$%%:1 :*f,' and his wron!association of dar/ness and the !rave in connection with this verse( which has a parae in

A6 <(&(8,

#%,' 5Bh $*( $<8( 8 and 5anu <( %& e-uate he and dar/ness,

#$+,' In a note =edner( on the one hand( refers to R6 9( $+&( $: #where a sorcerer shoudsin/ down )eow every creature( i,e,( into the nether word'( on the other hand( to the sphere

of the contest with a oser who fas down to the earth,

#$$,' or post?6edic references see Bha!P 7( :( $$ #anti?6edic peope'@ 5anu <( %&

#referrin! to he', In A6 $<( 8( 8 #a hy"n fro" the funera ritua'( a youn! wo"an #thewidow' is said to )e carried to the funera pie( enveoped with )ind dar/ness, I dou)t that

this refers to the fact that she was covered with a vei( as =riffith assu"es in a note on histransation, Bind dar/ness was death( her destiny( fro" which she was rescued,

#$*,' Oden)er! $%$91 7&+ re>ects every connection with he and interprets this si"py as

death, 3owever( his position is not cear( as Ar)"an $%*<1 *+& points out, Esewhere he

woud adduce such a pace as proof for the e4istence of an underword #to )e distin!uishedfro" he',

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#$8,' or "ore or ess recent iterature see 3orsch $%9$1 $+:( Bodewit. $%%&( and O)eries

$%%<1 &::?98,

#$&,' SB $( :( &( $8H$< even ho"oo!i.es the "oon with 6rtra,

#$7,' The )ac/!round of the connection )etween a"a or death and seep and )etween

a"a and drea"s "ay )e rather different, The ter" svapna is used for )oth, On death andseep see aso Bodewit. $%%%a1 $$7,

#$:,' See Bodewit. $%%&1 8*,

#$9,' 3e is caed Araru( who is denoted as an Asura )y 5S &( $( $+1 $8,< and TB 8( *( %$(

and who is aso e-uated with the riva, This indicates the sphere of the underword,

#$<,' See Guiper $%9%1 8$,

#$%,' See A6 $*( &( 8:@ 6S 8+( 7@ TB 8( &( $@ DB $( 8*7@ =B $( $( *@ DUB &( *7( :@ &( *:( $@ TA

$( %( $, Since the "ain the"es of this artice are not at a or hardy touched upon in thesepaces( they were not discussed a)ove, In ate 6edic te4ts i/e the 2har"asutras the

concept of he and the ter" nara/a occur severa ti"es@ see Gane $%781 $:$f, The atenessof these te4ts need not i"py ateness of the concept,

#*+,' See R6 *( *%( :@ $+( %7( $&,

#*$,' The e4istence of ethica ideas in pre?Upanisadic iterature is often denied, Accordin! toTu $%<%1 8$( the doctrine of /ar"a with its opposition of su/rta and dus/rta woud even in

the Upanisads sti )e )ased on correctness in the perfor"ance of the ritua,

#**,' See Bodewit. $%%<1 7%9,

#*8,' See Bodewit. $%%:1 &:,

#*&,' See Rohde $%&:1 %81 ;It is interestin! to see in this te4t that the priests of the

A!nicayana deny the vaue of other sacrifices,;

#*7,' 3orsch( who correcty assu"es a transition fro" the concept of an underword to aheaveny ocation in the R6 #$%9$1 $+:'( connects a"a ori!inay with heaven and ony

ater with the underword1 ;a"a( dessen Sonnenaspe/t nicht .u u)ersehen ist( herrscht i"3i""e( erst spatar wird er .u" Totenrichter in einer finstern 0et; #$%9$1 $$+ n, $7 c',

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The dark and deep underworld in the Veda.doc