Page:The Religion of the Veda.djvu/90

 The Religion of the Veda sacral day is to kindle the fire that shall convey the oblations to the other gods. This is so familiar a fact of Vedic religion as to require no illustration. The truly significant thing is, that it creates a theme in the poetic treatment of the sacrifice, namely: Agni is the son of Dawn, because immediately after Goddess Dawn is beheld God Fire is kindled. In a beautiful hymn to God Savitar, the motive or promotive power behind the sun, the doings of the early morn are described in real poetry: 74 "C Weaving Night hath folded up her woof, In the midst of her performance wise Savitar suspends her work. He riseth from his couch and sets the seasons, With fitting plan God Savitar hath come hither." The scattered homes and all life The mighty flame of household fire pervadeth. The largest share the Mother has decreed unto her Son; To do his own desire god Savitar hath sped hither." (Rig-Veda 2. 38. 4, 5.) Let us not, by any means, imagine that the Mother here is the unselfish human mother who sees to it that her boy Devadatta, or whatever his name may be, has a substantial breakfast. No, it is the Mother Dawn whose Son Agni would as a matter of fact get the largest share anyway, because all obla- tions are poured into the fire. We must, I think, i