Brief Report
The second seminar of the annual discussions on Pandit Madhsudan Ojha’s Kadambini was organised on February 28,2025. The seminar focused on the Masikadhyaya of the book, a scientific treatise on monsoon. The first seminar was held in January this year.
Prof. Girija Shankar Shastri, Acharya, Department of Astrology, Faculty of Sanskrit Vidya Dharmavijnana, Kashi Hindu University, Varanasi presided over the programme. In his presidential address, he said that in Kadambini, the indications of rainfall during the monsoon season have been discussed from the position of the stars in the month of October-November (kartik month in the Hindu calendar). If there was rain on the second or third day of kartik month, there would be excessive rainfall that year. If there was no rain on either of these two dates, there is a greater possibility of the season experiencing no rain.
कार्तिकस्य द्वितीया वा तृतीया वापि वर्षति।
भाविवर्षे बहुजलं न चेत्तस्मिन्नवर्षणम्॥ कादम्बिनी पृष्ठ १७, कारिक ५
kartikasya dwitiya or tritiya vapi varshati
bhavivarshe bahujalam na chettasminnavarshanam.– Kadambini Page 17, karika 5
He said that Pandit Madhusudan Ojha had studied scientific principles given in a wide variety of vedic texts to present the relevant ones in a new manner in Kadambini. He has drawn from texts like Varshaprabodh and Vanmala and presented the summary of principles and conclusions in a simple manner. For instance, writing on the subject of Chaitramas, Ojhaji writes that in the month of Chaitra, when the Sun is present on the Star Revati and for thirteen days, wherever the wind blows, wherever clouds form and lightning flashes, there is a greater possibility of good rainfall during the monsoon.
रेवत्या अर्कभोग्येषु त्रयोदशदिनेष्वपि ।
यत्राभ्रं पवनो विद्युत् तत्र गर्भः शुभावहः॥ कादम्बिनी पृष्ठ ४३, कारिक १५३
revatya arkabhogyeshu trayodashdineshvapi
yatrabhram pavano vidyut tatra garbhah shubhavah:॥ Kadambini page 43, Karika 153
Dr. Krishna Kumar Bhargava, Assistant Professor, Department of Astrology and Vastu, Rashtriya Sanskrit University, Tirupati, in his meaningful presentation, highlighted the importance of Kadambini. The description of the womb of a cloud in the context of months and the transformation of that womb of cloud into the rainy season is a scientific theory related to water.
तुषारमलिनौ ताम्रौ चन्द्रार्कौ मार्गतस्त्रये ।
आषाढशुक्लसप्तम्यारब्धे वृष्टिर्दिनत्रये ॥ कादम्बिनी पृष्ठ २०, कारिक १९
tusharmalinou tamrau chandrau margatastraye
ashadhashuklasaptamyarbhe vrishtardinatraye.– Kadambini page 20, Karika 19
If the sky is always cloudy in the month of Phalgun (March-April) and it is not raining, then it should be considered as the womb of a cloud. This conception of a cloud creates the opportunity for good rainfall in the rainy season.
फाल्गुने नित्यमभ्रं स्यान्न तु पातयते जलम् ।
गर्भदोहद-सम्पत्तिं विद्याद् वृष्टिः शुभा भवेत्॥ कादम्बिनी पृष्ठ ३९, कारिक १२५
falgune nityambhram syann tu patayate jalam
garbhadohad-sampattam vidyaad vrishtih shubha bhavet. –Kadambini page 39, Karika 125
Dr. Ashwini Pandey, Assistant Professor, Department of Astrology, Central Sanskrit University, Bhopal Campus, highlighted the importance of rain and said that it was an essential element of life. Without water, life is not possible. Water is the reason for food. Pandit Madhusudan Ojha has explained the signs of rain bearing cloud. He has based his statement on the moon during the month of Paush(January-February). This moon lasts from the constellation named Mool to the constellation named Bharani.
पौषे मूलाद् भरण्यन्तं चन्द्रचारेण गर्भति।
आर्द्रादिभे विशाखान्ते सूर्यचारेण वर्षति॥ कादम्बिनी पृष्ठ २४, कारिक ४१
paushe moolad bharanyantam chandracharen garbhati
ardradibhe vishakhante suryacharen varshati.– Kadambini page 24, Karika 41
Dr. Ashish Kumar Chaudhary, Assistant Professor, Department of Astrology, Central Sanskrit University, Bhopal Campus, pointed out that Ojhas has give considerable emphasis on the cause of rainfall. It has been discussed in detail that in which month, due to which cause, there will be good rainfall or no rainfall during the rainy season.
पौषारब्धोडुसंदोहे मूलाद्ये भरणीपरे।
विद्युद्गर्जितवाताभ्रैरार्द्रार्कादिषु वृष्टयः॥ कादम्बिनी पृष्ठ ३२, कारिक ८८
pausharabdhodusandohe muladhye bharnipare
vidyudgarjitvatabhrairardrarkadishu vrashtayaha.–Kadambini page 32, Karika 88
Dr. Prakash Ranjan Mishra, Assistant Professor and Coordinator, Veda-Priesthood-Ritual Branch, Central Sanskrit University, Eklavya campus recited the Vedic invocation. Dr. Lakshmi Kant Vimal, Research Officer of Shri Shankar Shikshayatan Vedic Research Institute, conducted the programme which was attended by professors, research scholars, scholars interested in Sanskrit studies from universities and colleges from many states across the country.