National Seminar on Kadambini-Part X
Report A national seminar was organised by Shri Shankar Shikshayatan Vedic Research Institute on Friday, October 31, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, through an online platform. The seminar was based on various topics discussed in the Prakīrṇādhikāra section of the work “Kādambinī” composed by Pandit Madhusudan Ojha. Prof. Amit Kumar Shukla, Ācārya, Department of Jyotiṣa, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, delivering his address as the chief guest, said that —“In the month in which a row of stars shines with the luster of a bright and clear crystal gem, then in that month, clouds certainly bring good rainfall.” Vimala-sphaṭikābhāsā rocate tārakāvalī |Tatra māse subhikṣāya megho nūnaṁ pravarṣati ||(Kādambinī, p. 187, Kārikā 377) He further said that when a row of stars with a watery glow becomes visible for seven nights, it indicates good rainfall. The sighting of certain stars is the main indicator for predicting rainfall, and forecasting based on the color of the star is a major topic discussed in the text. The Kādambinī encompasses many such astronomical and meteorological themes. Saptarātraṁ jalādhārā bhāsate tārakāvalī |Tadāvaśyaṁ subhikṣāya meghas tatra pravarṣati ||(ibid., Kārikā 378) Dr. Pravesh Vyas, Assistant Professor, Department of Vāstuśāstra, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, New Delhi, stated in his address that this section of Kādambinī contains a detailed description of various comets (ketus). Among them, the comet named Sanvarta Ketu remains in transit for 1008 years and appears in the western direction during the evening, occupying three degrees of the sky. Saṁvartaḥ proṣya varṣāṇām aṣṭottara-sahasrakam |Paścime dṛśyate sāyam ākramya tryaṁśakaṁ divi ||(ibid., Kārikā 363) This comet, having a smoky or coppery hue, a pointed-shaft-like glow, and a rough tail, causes inauspicious effects for as many years as the number of muhūrtas it remains visible during the night. Dhūma-tāmra-āṇu-śūlābha-rūkṣa-cūḍaḥ sa yāvataḥ |Muhūrtān niśi dṛśyate tāvad varṣāṇy aniṣṭakṛt ||(ibid., Kārikā 364) Dr. Jyoti Prasad Dash, Assistant Professor, Department of Jyotiṣa, Central Sanskrit University, Sadashiva Campus, said that when the Vasā Ketu is very smooth in appearance, accompanied by good rainfall but also capable of bringing epidemics, it remains in the sky for 130 years, rising in the northern direction and stretching upward. Similar to it is the Asthi Ketu; if that comet appears rough, it leads to famine. A Śastra Ketu appearing in the western direction like the Vasā Ketu is a harbinger of epidemics. Vasāketur mahān snigdha-subhikṣa-marakapradaḥ |Triṁśad varṣa-śataṁ proṣya parod apy udagā yataḥ ||Vasāketuḥ samo rūkṣo ’sthi ketuḥ kṣud-bhayāvahaḥ |Prācyāṁ vasāsamo dṛṣṭaḥ śastra ketur mara-pradaḥ ||(ibid., Kārikās 350–351) Dr. Chandra Kant, Assistant Professor, Department of Jyotiṣa, Maharshi Valmiki Sanskrit University, Kaithal (Haryana), explained that the comets Audālaka Ketu and Śveta Ketu both have their front part directed southward and rise at midnight. The comet called Kā Ketu rises simultaneously in the east and west, having a dual form. Audālaka and Śveta Ketu appear bright and smooth for seven nights, and sometimes Kā Ketu is seen for a longer duration. When smooth and luminous, these bring auspicious results for ten years; when rough, they cause suffering through weapons or calamities. Audālakaḥ śveta ketur yāmyāgro ’rdha-niśodayaḥ |Prācyāṁ pratīcyāṁ yugapat ka-saṁjño ’nyo yugākṛtiḥ ||Snigdhāv ubhau sapta-rātraṁ dṛśyete kā ’dhikaṁ kvacit |Śubhado daśa-varṣāṇi rūkṣau śastra-dinārtidau ||(ibid., Kārikās 339–340) Prof. Santosh Kumar Shukla, Ācārya, School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, remarked that in this Prakīrṇādhikāra section, a comprehensive and systematic discussion on Ketu grahas (comets) has been undertaken. Sometimes in the sky, self-luminous bodies with diffused radiance appear — these are known as ketus (comets). Vikīrṇa-tejasaḥ kecit sva-prakāśamayā divi |Dṛśyante jātu cit piṇḍāpiṇḍās te ketavo matāḥ ||(ibid., Kārikā 296) Dr. Madhusudan Sharma, Guest Faculty, Department of Paurōhitya, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, New Delhi, recited a Vedic benedictory chant (maṅgalācharaṇa) melodiously. The program was conducted by Dr. Lakshmi Kant Vimal, Research Officer, Shri Shankar Shikshayatan Vedic Research Institute. Scholars, research students, and Sanskrit enthusiasts from various universities and colleges across different states actively participated, making the seminar a great success.