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34
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
Thunder or lightning in the Hasta* Lung-continued thunder shows that the rainnakshatra foretells good harvests and a pros- fall is distant. Similarly, continued flashes perous year. Thunder in the same nak- of lightning intimate danger to the lives and shatra is believed to muzzle the jaws of property of people.? Sudden thunder porserpents and other noxious creatures, and to tends an immediate cessation of rain. 1 achieve this object, also, o samélu (or a log Thunder or lightning out of season threatens of wood) is struck against & mobhāsā (or & calamity to the country. hollow stone used for threshing corn). If Vijli or lightning is said to be fettered on thunder is not heard during this nakshatra, the fifth day of the bright half of Ashädhmosquitoes and other insects and vermin are (or, as some say, on the second day of Shrabelieved to be likely to multiply.3
van)-after which date no apprehensions If thunder is heard during the Ardră
of its destructive powers need be enter. nakshatra, the rainfall will be delayed for s tained. Till then, however, it is free and month.
is likely to injure those personst who have Lightning is commonly seen on the second not cut or shaved their hair from their and the fifth day of the bright half of birth, 10 Ashādh, and is considered a sign of good The occurence of lightning is believed to rainfall, while its absence indicates a pro- cause the delivery and sometimes even the bable scarcity of rain. Its appearance on death of pregnant women 11 the fifth day of Ashādh is believed by some Any period marked by the occurrence of to foretell an early fall of rain. Since lightning is considered inauspicious, 12 the rainfall, and therefore the state of the The Puranas speak of fourteen worldscrops during the ensuing year, are suggested the seven swargas (celestial regions) and by lightning on this day, corn-dealers settle the seven patals (nether regions)1. Undera rise or fall in the price of corn according neath the seventh påtal lies Shesha (the as lightning is or is not seen on that occa- divine cobra) who supports all the fourteen sion,
worlds on one of his one thousand hoods. On Thunder in the cast predicts a speedy fall account of the heavy burden, the serpent-god of rain. If flashes of lightning are seen sometimes gets tired, and tries to change his in the north-east or the north, rain will fall position. The result of the movement is an within three days. Lightning in the south- earth-quake. According to another version, east or the south foretells extreme heat, an earthquake occurs when Shesha changes
Mr. D. K. Pandya, Dhbank.
? Mr. N. M. Dave, Sänka. 3 Mr. B. K. Dave, Kotda-Sangani.
• The Schoolmaster of Luvaria, • The Schoolmaster of Dadvi.
• The Schoolmaster of Songadh. + Talakshi, Dharashi, Saya!a.
* Mr. L. H. Jadow, Vasawad. Mr. M. M. Rana, Rajkot.
10 Mr, G. K. Dave, Sultanpur. 11 The Schoolmaster of Charadwa.
13 Mr. Jairam Vasaram, Jodia. * The Hasta nakshatra generally commences at the end of Bhadrapad or the beginning of Ashvin and lasts for a fortnight. The rains during this period, which are required for the rabi crops, are so much esteemed that each drop of them is said to be worth a drop of ghi. People store the hathio-varshād or the rain water of Hasta in reservoirs for drinking purposes, believing it to be very pure and digestive.-K. D. Desai.
Among the Hindus it is customary for those whose children do not live to keep their children unshaved for a certain number of years, after which the children are taken to a holy place and shaved there for the first time. The temple of Ranchhodji at Däkor is a favourite place for such ceremonies.-K. D. Desai.
1 The seven nether worlds are Atal-Vital, Sutal, Talätal, Mabātal, Rasatal, and Patal.
In an ocean, as some say-D. K. Pandya, Dhbank,
