National Seminar on Kadambini-Part I
This was the first seminar in the annual series of discussions on Pandit Madhusudan Ojha’s Kadambini which Shri Shankar Shikshayatan had decided to hold this year to highlight his exemplary work on vedic science . Kadambini explores in great detail the ancient Indian weather science envisioned by our seer-scientists of yore for forecasting normal, abnormal and excessive rain-fall as also drought in the rainy season of a year on the basis of close and careful observation of the four kinds of causes. The good and adverse impact of the various kinds of comets has also been discussed in this treatise. It serves as a conclusive proof of Pandit Madhusudan Ojha’s profound scholarship in astronomy, astrology and other related ancient sciences. The seminar was held on January 31, 2025. Prof. Shyamdev Mishra, Acharya, Department of Astrology, Central Sanskrit University, Lucknow Campus, pointed out that the root cause of rain was the sun. The sun plays an important role in creating clouds. In vedic science, this phenomenon is known by two terms–rit and satya. The element which has a centre and body is satya tattva. The element which does not have a centre and body is called the rit tattva. Water is the symbol of the rit element. Water has no centre or body. Kadambini is a book related to rain and it is about the rit tattva. Pro. Subhash Pandey, Acharya, Faculty of Sanskrit Vidya Theology, Kashi Hindu University, Varanasi said that the book explains the period when monsoon womb is created in the month of Magha (February-March). मृदुः प्रसादको वायुः सोमेशानेन्द्रदिग्भवः।परिवेषः सितः स्निग्धो विपुलः शशिसूर्ययोः॥ –कादम्बिनी पृ. १३, कारिका ४५mridhu prasadako vayuha someshanendradigbhavapariveshaha sitaha snigdho vipulaha shashisuryayoha. –Kadambini p. 13, Karika 45 The nourishing period of cloud’s formation is summer. In summer, if the wind blows in the north, north-east and east, then that wind is gentle and pleasant.The formation of the cloud is strengthened by this wind. If there is sun and moon around this wind, their light is in a wide circle, white and smooth, then the formation of the cloud is very strong. There is a greater possibility of heavy rainfall. Dr. Rameshwar Dayal Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Astrology, Central Sanskrit University, Jaipur Campus, said in his presentation that the gestation period of the cloud is in these four months– from Agrahan month (December-January) to Falgun month (March-April). The nurturing period of the cloud is from Chaitra month (April-May) to Ashadha month (July-August). The natal period of the cloud is from Shravan month (August-September) to Kartik month (November-December). The natal period means the rainy season. Thus, winter is the gestation period, summer is the nurturing period and rainy season is the natal period. सूर्ये दक्षिणगोलस्थे गर्भितं चोत्तरायणे।नक्षत्रमष्टमावृत्तौ गत्वा चन्द्रः प्रवर्षति॥ –कादम्बिनी पृ. ७, कारिका २४suryae dakshingolasthe garbhitam chottarayanenakshatra mashtamaavrittau gatva chandrah pravarshati –Kadambini page 7, Karika 24 The meaning of this karika is that the sun should be in Dakshinayan. But from a microscopic point of view, it should be in Uttarayan. During this period, when the moon comes for the eighth time in the same constellation on which the formation of the cloud is fixed, then good rain occurs. Prof. Santosh Kumar Shukla, Acharya, Sanskrit and Oriental Studies Institute, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and convener, Shri Shankar Shikshayatan, said that modern climate analysts normally predict the rainfall for one week and at most for a fortnight only. But in our country, the rainfall has been estimated one year in advance. What was our ancient method for this consideration? What experiment was done for that? We will be able to understand all these subjects of interest through the Kadambini seminar. Dr. Madhusudan Sharma, Guest Professor, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, recited the vedic mangalacharan. Dr. Laxmi Kant Vimal, Research Officer, Shri Shankar Shikshayatan, conducted the programme which was attended online by research scholars, professors and seekers interested in Sanskrit studies from universities and colleges from across the country. Visit our Youtube Channel for recordings of these presentations https://www.youtube.com/@shrishankarshikshayatan2753