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168
RISABHA DEVA
the comet type are slowly approaching our world, and would come the nearest to it at the end of the sixth kala, of the running half-cycle. Let us further suppose that the first one of these bodies to draw near to the earth will be the comet with a fiery nature, like that of the sun. Its approach will then be characterised by all the indications given in the prophecy-the deterioration of vegetation, the disappearance of fire, because of the lack of fuel, the blowing of hot winds, the showering down of hot cinders, burning dust and the like. The destroyer will remain in the vicinity of the earth for the space of 49 days, which will be full of calamity for all living nature. It will then depart and recede further away. The other comet with the nature of the Moon will then draw near, when there will occur the opposite kind of phenomena-the blowing of cold winds, the raining down of cooling things, curds, milk, ambrosia,' and the like! Humanity will now reappear on the surface of the earth, and will once more inhabit it. It will take them about 42,000 years to be restored to a state of civilization which will admit of the advent
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some unknown cause, so that the earth is brought scorchingly near to the sun for the space of 49 days, after which it is drawn nearer to the moon for a similar period. Then all the terrible phenomena of the prophecy are likely to occur as described.