Chariots of Celestial Bodies
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Chariots of Celestial Bodies are the cars on which the various celestial bodies move about in the space. According to Vishnu Purana each of the celestial bodies is drawn by a different type of carriage.
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Vishnu Purana has described in detail the cars or the chariots on which the various celestial bodies and the nine planets move on. The car of the moon has three wheels and is drawn by ten steeds white as the Jasmine five on the right half and five on the left. The asterisms upheld by Dhruva move before the sun. And the cords that fasten the moon are lightened or relaxed in the same manner like those of the sun. The horses of the moon drag its car for a whole Kalpa.
The chariot of Budha, the son of the moon, is made of the wind and fire and is drawn by eight bay horses gifted with the velocity of the wind. The huge car of Sukra (Venus) is carried by earth bone horses, equipped with a protecting fender and a floor, armed with arrows and is adorned with a pennon. The magnificent car of Bhauma (Mars) is made of gold. It is octagonal in shape and is drawn by eight steeds which is ruby red in colour because they originate from fire. Vrihaspati or Jupiter travels in golden coloured car which in turn is drawn by pale-coloured steeds and the planet travels at the end of the year from one sign to another. The slow-paced Sani or Saturn travels in a car drawn by piebald horses. The chariot of Rahul is drawn by eight black horses. The car of Ketu is drawn by eight horses having fleetness of the wind. The horses are dusky red in colour or it can be said that they resemble the colour of burning straw.
Vishnu Purana states that the chariots of the nine planets are all fastened to Dhruva by aerial cords. To Dhruva in turn are attached the orbs of all the planets, asterism and stars. And they all move in their respective orbits being kept in their places by their respective bands of air. It has been said that stars and the aerial cords by which they are attached to Dhruva are equal in number. And as the stars turn around they cause the pole-star or Dhruva to revolve.
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