The third discussion as part of Shri Shankar Shikshayatan’s annual seminar on Kadambini took place on March 31, 2025. The focus of the seminar was on the chapter titled Masikadhyaya which explained the phenomenon of rainfall from April 21 (Vaishaka) to October 22 (Ashvin). There are 431 verses in the chapter.
Prof. Parmanand Bharadwaj of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanksrit University chaired the meeting. He pointed out that Pandit Madhusudan Ojha in his book Kadambini has explained the scientific basis of predicting the rainfall with the formation of clouds in the month of Vaishaka. Akshaya Tritiya is treated as the principle of calculation. The date falls on the third lunar day of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu month of Vaisakha.
अक्षयायां तृतीयायां पूरयेद् भाण्डमम्बुना ।
रविं विलोकयेन्मध्ये तत्स्वरूपं विमर्शयेत्॥
रक्ते सूर्ये विग्रहः स्यान्नीले पीते महारुजः।
श्वेते सुभिक्षं विज्ञेयं धूसरो दुःखमूषकाः॥ –कादम्बिनी, पृ.५५, कारिका २२८-२२९
On the day of akshaya Tritiya, the sun’s reflection can be seen in a container with water. The reflection can assist in making the prediction. If the reflection is red in colour, then the outcome is expected to be a war and if the reflection is yellow or blue, it could mean diseases. If the reflection is white in colour, then the possibility of good rainfall is higher.
Prof. Vishnu Kumar Nirmal of Central Sanskrit University, Jaipur, highlighted the importance of Kadambini and explained how several concepts of weather predictions have been explained by Pandit Madhusudan Ojha.
चतस्रस्तिथयो वायुधारणा अष्टमीमुखाः।
ज्यैष्ठशुक्ले मृदु-स्निग्ध-स्थगिताभ्रोऽनिलः शुभः॥
स विद्युतः सपृषतः सपांशूत्करमारुताः।
सार्कचन्द्रपरिच्छन्ना धारणाः शुभधारणाः॥ -कादम्बिनी, पृ.६५, कारिका २८३-२८४
From the Ashtami (eighth day) of Jaishta (May 20 to June 22) to Ekadashi (the eleventh lunar day of the waxing (Shukla Paksha) and waning (Krishna Paksha) lunar cycles in a Vedic calendar month), changes in wind pattern can be witnessed. Three patterns can be detected–mrudu, snigdha and sthagit. On these dates, lightning, water drops, dusty winds and clouds enveloping the moon, all these signs point to good tidings for cloud formation
Dr Rupesh Kumar Mishra of Maharishi Panini Sanskrit and Vedic University, Ujjain, spoke about the month of Ashada (June 22-July 21). Three factors are taken in consideration–svatiyoga, ashadi pariksha and rohiniyoga. Ojhaji has laid special emphasis on ashadi pariksha.
गर्भाः पुष्टिकराः सर्वे सुयोगा विलयं गताः।
आषाढ्यां तु विनष्टायां सर्वमेवाशुभं भवेत्॥
गर्भनाशकराः सर्वे कुयोगा विलयं गताः।
यद्याषाठी शुभा जाता तदा सर्वं शुभं भवेत् ॥ -कादम्बिनी, पृ.८५, कारिका ४१७-४१८
Clouds are born on the new moon day of ashada shukla and if this does not take place, it is considered a bad omen for the monsoon.
Dr Brahmanand Mishra of Central Sanskrit University, Raghunath Kirti, Deoprayag, highlighted the criticality of the month of Shravan (July 23 to August 22) on rain. Ojhaji has written that in the month of Shravan, the position of the Sun creates the right equations for a good rainfall.
श्रावणे शुक्लपक्षे तु सिंहसंक्रान्तिसम्भवः।
समुद्रे पूर्णवृष्टिः स्यादन्यदेशे तु कुत्रचित् ॥
कर्कसंक्रमणे वृष्टिरवृष्टिः सिंहसंक्रमे।
कर्णपूरे वहेत् कन्या तुले निर्वातवृष्टयः॥ –कादम्बिनी, पृ.१०८, कारिका ५२१-५२२
During the month of Shravan’s bright lunar fortnight, if the Sun travels over the constellation of Leo, it indicates good rainfall over the ocean and nearby landmass. In other regions, rain would be scattered.
Prof; Santosh Kumar Shukla of Jawaharlal Nehru University, explained the importance of the month of Bhadra (August 23 to September 22) for monsoon. Ojhaji has indicated that:
प्रतिपत् सप्तमी भाद्रे द्वादशी च त्रयोदशी।
पूर्णिमा चासु वारुण्यां श्रितैर्मेघैः प्रवर्षणम् ॥
भाद्र-शुक्ल-द्वितीयायां यदि चन्द्रो न दृश्यते।
तदा तेन भवेद् वर्षे सस्यसंपत्तिरुत्तमा ॥ –कादम्बिनी, पृ.११४, कारिका ५५२-५५३
During the month of Bhadra, in the Shukla phase of the moon, seventh, 12th, 13th and New Moon days, if there are clouds, it could indicate good rainfall. If the moon is not visible on the second day of Shukla phase, it could mean good rainfall.
He pointed out Ojhaji has similarly written about the month of Ashwin (September 23 to October 22):
नापेक्षते गर्भसिद्धिं चतुर्थी पञ्चमी तिथिः।
ग्रहयोगवशादेवाश्विने वर्षति तच्छुभम् ॥
चतुर्थ्यामपि पञ्चम्यामाश्विने शीघगर्भता ।
पञ्चभिः सप्तभिर्वा स्याद्दिनैरेकार्णवा मही॥-कादम्बिनी, पृ.११८, कारिका ५७९-५८०
During the bright phase of moon in the Ashwin month, there is little likelihood of cloud formation and hence rain could happen due to other factors. On the fourth and fifth day of Ashwin month, there could be formation of clouds which could result in a good rainfall within five to seven days.
Dr Anayamani Tripathi of Central Sanskrit University, Ranvir campus, recited the mangalacharan. The seminar was organised and managed by Dr Lakshmi Kant Vimal of Shri Shankar Shikshayatan.