Chapter 955

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For the Stanzas call this locality by a term translated in the Commentary as a place of no latitude (Niraksha), the Abode of the Gods. As a scholiast says in the Sûrya Siddhânta (xii. 42-44):

“Above them goes the sun when situated at the equinoxes; they have neither equinoctial shadow nor elevation of the pole (akshonnati).

“In both directions from Meru are two pole-stars (dhruvatârâ), fixed in the midst of the sky, to those who are situated in places of no latitude (niraksha), both these have their place in the horizon.

“Hence there is, in those cities [in that land], no elevation of the poles, the two pole-stars being situated in their horizon; but their degrees of co-latitude (lambaka) are ninety: at Meru the degrees of latitude (aksha) are of the same number.” (See Vishnu Purâna, Wilson’s Trans., ii. 208.)