National Seminar on Kadambini: Vrishti Vijnana
The Shri Shankar Shikshayatan Vedic Research Institute organised a two-day National Seminar titled “Kadambinī: Vṛishṭi-Vijnana Vimārsha (Discourse on the Science of Rainfall)” on 30–31 December 2025 (Tuesday–Wednesday) at the Vachaspati Auditorium, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit University, New Delhi, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Inaugural Session Presiding over the session, the Honourable Vice-Chancellor of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, Prof. Murli Manohar Pathak, expressed his wish that the two-day national seminar be successful and stated that the Kadambinī text is extremely beneficial for society. Water is essential for all of us, and rainfall is its primary source. This text provides a comprehensive explanation of the causes behind rainfall and the absence of rainfall. The fundamental cause of rainfall is the Sun. The Sun absorbs water from the Earth and it is the Sun itself that brings rain back to the Earth. As the Chief Guest, Shri Rajeshwar Shukla, Principal Judge, Family Court, Gorakhpur, stated that rainfall is essential for the preservation of life. From an environmental perspective, conserving water is the responsibility of all of us. Through this text, predicting rainfall becomes easier; hence, the book is worthy of study. Prof. Santosh Kumar Shukla, Institute of Sanskrit and Indological Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, while introducing the theme, said that the auspicious invocation of the text describes the deities responsible for rainfall. The four rain-bestowing deities are Vasavya, Sharmaṇya, Sapīti, and Marut. देवान् वसव्यान् शर्मण्यान् सपीतीन् मरुतोऽपि च । अभ्यर्थये वशे येषामेषा वृष्टिः प्रवर्तते ॥ कादम्बिनी पृष्ठ १, का. ६ “I beseech the Vasavya, Śarmaṇya, Sapīti, and Marut deities,under whose control this rainfall operates.”(Kadambinī, p. 1, v. 6) Second Session The session was chaired by Prof. Santosh Kumar Shukla. He explained that if at sunrise or sunset the Sun or Moon appears honey-coloured and strong winds blow, then excessive rainfall occurs. उदयेऽस्तमये वापि विवर्णोऽर्कोऽथवा शशी । मधुवर्णोऽतिवायुश्चेदतिवृष्टिर्भवेत्तदा ॥ वही, पृ. २१९, का.४२ “If at sunrise or sunset the Sun or Moon appears discoloured or honey-coloured,and strong winds prevail, then excessive rainfall occurs.”(ibid., p. 219, v. 42) Prof. Rāmrāj Upādhyāya, Department of Priesthood, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, stated that if the auspicious planets responsible for rainfall on the full-moon day of the bright fortnight of Āṣāḍha become afflicted, great inauspiciousness is feared—this is the author’s intent. गर्भाः पुष्टिकराः सर्वे सुयोगा विलयं गताः । आषाढ्यां तु विनष्टायां सर्वमेवाशुभं भवेत् ॥ वही, पृ. ८५, का.४१७ All the germinating conditions (germ-bearing clouds / rain-producing factors) that are nourishing and well-formed, having arisen from favourable combinations, are destroyed. When this destruction occurs in the month of Āshāḍha, everything turns inauspicious. Prof. Harish, Department of Sanskrit, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, stated that if during Mārgaśīrṣa, Pauṣa, and Māgha months the Sun and Moon appear dim due to frost, then beginning from the seventh day of the bright fortnight of Āṣāḍha, there will be abundant rainfall for thirteen days. तुषारमलिनौ ताम्रौ चन्द्रार्कौ मार्गतस्त्रये । आषाढशुक्लसप्तम्यारब्धे वृष्टिर्दिनत्रये ॥ तत्रैव पृष्ठम् २०, का. १९ When the Moon and the Sun, appearing copper-coloured and dimmed by frost or haze, are seen during the three path-months (Mārgaśīrṣa, Pauṣa, and Māgha), then rainfall occurs for three days, beginning from the seventh day of the bright fortnight of Āshāḍha. Dr. Dhananjay Mani Tripathi, Associate Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia, said that in the month of Pauṣa, based on the Moon’s motion, clouds conceive from Mūla to Bharaṇī nakṣatra, and based on the Sun’s motion, rainfall occurs from Ārdrā to Viśākhā. पौषेमूलाद् भरण्यन्तं चन्द्रचारेण गर्भति । आर्द्रादिभे विशाखान्ते सूर्यचारेण वर्षति ॥ वही, पृ. २४, का.४१ In the month of Pauṣa, from Mūla up to Bharaṇī (nakṣatras), the clouds conceive according to the movement of the Moon; and from Ārdrā up to Viśākhā (nakṣatras), they rain according to the movement of the Sun. Dr. Ratish Kumar Jha, Assistant Professor, Jyotiṣa Department, Madhubani, Bihar, stated that if on the first Tuesday of the bright fortnight of Āṣāḍha the sky is cloudless, without lightning or thunder, then excessive rainfall occurs for two months. आषाढे प्रथमे भौमे निरभ्रे यदि भास्करः।न विद्युद्गर्जितं तर्हि द्वौ मासौ स्यादवर्षणम् ॥ वही, पृ. ८०, का.३५७ If, in the month of Āṣhāḍha, on the first Tuesday, the Sun shines in a cloudless sky, and there is neither lightning nor thunder, then there will be no rainfall for two months. Dr. Mādhav Gopal, Assistant Professor, Aatmaram Sanatan Dharma College, Delhi, said that clouds in the western direction on Pratipadā, Saptamī, Dvādaśī, and Pūrṇimā of the bright fortnight of Bhādra cause good rainfall. प्रतिपत् सप्तमी भाद्रे द्वादशी च त्रयोदशी ।पूर्णिमा चासु वारुण्यां श्रितैर्मेघैः प्रवर्षणम् ॥ वही, पृ. ११४, का.५५२ In the month of Bhādra, on Pratipadā (1st), Saptamī (7th), Dvādaśī (12th), Trayodaśī (13th), and Pūrṇimā (Full Moon), if clouds gather in the western (Varuṇa) direction, then rainfall occurs abundantly. Dr. Manishankar Dwivedi, Guest Faculty, Jamia Millia Islamia, said that if in Phālguna the sky remains cloudy without rain, it indicates successful cloud conception, resulting in good rainfall during the monsoon. फाल्गुने नित्यमभ्रं स्यान्न तु पातयते जलम् ।गर्भदोहसम्पत्तिं विद्याद् वृष्टिः शुभा भवेत् ॥ वही, पृ. ३९, का.१२५ If in the month of Phālguna the sky remains continually clouded, yet does not release rain, this should be understood as the successful formation and nourishment of the cloud-embryo; as a result, the rainfall will be auspicious (in the coming season). Third Session Prof. Sundar Narayan Jha, Department of Veda, presiding over the session, stated that if during the month of Caitra the Sun is in Revatī nakṣatra and for thirteen days there are no clouds, wind, or lightning, then the cloud conception is considered fruitful. रेवत्या अर्कभोग्येषु त्रयोदशदिनेष्वपि ।यत्राभ्रं पवनो विद्युत् तत्र गर्भः शुभावहः ॥ वही, पृ. ४३, का.१५३ When the Sun is passing through Revatī nakṣatra, during those thirteen days, if there are clouds, wind, and lightning, then the cloud-embryo (rain potential) formed there is auspicious and fruitful Prof. Mahānanda Jha, Department of Nyāya, stated that if during Māgha month from Mūla to Bharaṇī nakṣatra there are lightning, thunder, clouds, and easterly or northerly winds, rainfall continues from…