The Vedic fathers of geology

GEOLOGICAL ANTIQUITY oF THE VepAs. 81

Region. It seems, therefore, that the IndoAryans, as also Iranians and other A’ryan branches of the parent Indo-Aryan stock had, after leaving A‘ryAvarta—their cradle—, once remained in the Arctic Colonies for a considerable time, in the Pre-Glacial Period, when, all of a sudden, thick sheets of Ice having spread all over the northern regions, and especially occupied the higher latitudes, the Indo-A’ryans returned to their Mother-Country A’ryavarta—, keeping betore their view the highest Himalayan Mountain { एतखत्तरं fit), from which they had marched in all dircetions, as the chief Guiding Mark in the great Ice-floods ; the Iranians retraced their steps to their adopted country Iran ; while the other Aryan branches settled in countries which were free from the ravages of Ice, or where they could find refuge. ( vide ante pp. 7477, 80, 81, and next p. 82)

Now, it appears from the Avestic evidence, that long before the advent of the Glacial Period or the Pleistocene Epoch, clear signs were already perceived of the approach of hard winter, deadly frost, and heavy floods of Ice, at no distant date; and even a prophetic annowpicement was in due course made, to the effect that, a destructive frost would ensue, which would cover mountains and the face of the Earth.