365bet娱乐

[Full title: Atmospheric Omens (3) Lightning and Thunder]

Lightnings at the beginning of rainy season are believed to betoken the future 63, particularly in respect of the rains and the crops. It is laid down that a pure person should watch the sky on the fourth or fifth day of the bright 61. Varahamihira (Brhatsamhita by Varahamihira 33.12-29) generally agrees with the Parisista (58 b) in mentioning the effects of the falling meteors. 62. Cf. Kausika Sutra 93.33; 126 where a rite is prescribed to be performed when a meteor falls during the day. 63. Lightning is referred to as an omen at Ram. Vedic Index 65.48; 106.28; MBh I.30.36; II.102.31; V.84.3; Vedic Index 2.33; VII.44.4; VIII.31.5; Matsya Purana 172.15; Bhagavata Purana I.14.15; III.17.4; IV. 10.23 and Harivamsa I.42.15.

597 fortnight of the month of Asadha. If the lightning is seen in the east and the wind is blowing in the same direction, it indicates abundance of food, welfare, health and the absence of plague. If the lightning and the wind are seen in the south-east, there will be the danger from weapons, fire and showers; if they are seen in the south, there is the danger from poison, epidemic, disease and deaths; if they are seen in the south-west, there is the danger from many calamities; if they are seen in the west, there will be normal growth of crops and there will be diseases; if they are seen in the north-west, there will be the danger from mosquitoes and biting insects, and there will be normal wealth (from crops); if they are seen in the north, there will be the danger from heavy floods but there will be ample wealth; and if they are seen in the north-west, there will be no calamity, and there will be fine crops and wealth. If the wind is observed blowing in the direction opposite to that of the lightning, it indicates many calamities; otherwise it indicates happiness. When the thunders are auspicious, they foreshow bumper crop. When there is an inauspicious thunder followed by an auspicious one, there will be good rain but not good crop. When there are many occurrences of lightning, there will be the danger from heavy showers. When clouds, accompanied by lightning and thunder, adorn the north-east, they betoken ample rain. If, at the time of the early showers, the clouds are seen in the east curving auspiciously towards the south, it

598 indicates good rain. If they are seen in the south-east, they forecast excessive rain and damage to crops; if they are seen in the south, they presage uneven rainfall, disease and death; if they are seen in the south-west, there will be many calamities but good crop; and if they are seen in the west, it indicates normal crop. When there is rain-fall, first in the northwest, there will be heavy rains and hence few seeds should be sown. When, at the first shower, the clouds are seen to be of a glossy colour in the north, they should be regarded as possessed of all virtues (59.1.1-20).