Indian Antiquary Vol 46

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 381

THE FOLKLORE OF GUJARAT
kettledrums-beaten by the gods in delight at the sight of rain. There is also a popular belief in the Surat district that an old hag causes thunder either when she grinds corn or when she rolls stones in the clouds,2
The prevalent belief about lightning seems to be that it is the girl whom Kansa tried to dash against a stone, but who escaped and went up to the sky. Kansa, the tyrant king of Mathura, was informed by a heavenly voice, by way of prophecy, that a son would be born to his sister who would cause his destruction. Kansa thereupon confined his sister Devaki and her husband Vasudeva in prison, loaded them with fetters, and kept the strictest watch over them. He took from Devaki, and slew, every child of hers as soon as it was born. In this way he disposed of her first six children. On the seventh occasion, however, on which Devaki gave birth to a son named Krishna, a girl was born at the same hour to Nanda in Mathura; and Vasudeva secretly interchanged the two children in spite of the vigilance of Kansa, When Kansa knew of his sister having been delivered, he seized the infant girl and tried to dash her against a stone. The little one immediately flew away to the skies, where she still dwells in the form of Vijli or lightning.3
The shastras describe l'ijli as the distinctive weapon of Indra, just as pashupalaka is peculiar to Shiva and the Gandiva bow to Arjuna.*
Other beliefs about lightning are that Vijli is the sister of Megharājā, the god of rains, and appears to announce his approach:5
Mr. N. M. Dave, Sanka.
1 The Schoolmaster of Kolki.
12 Mr. D. K. Pandya, Dhhank. 14 The Schoolmaster of Dadvi.
that Vijli is a goddess who rests upon winds, fire, and rains : that Vijli is but the thunderbolt of Indra: that lightnings are the flashes of the bright weapon of Indra:8 that lightning is the lustre of the fireworks and the lamps lighted by the gods in honour of the nuptials of Indra: that lightning is produced by the sparks caused by the friction of the gedi and the danda of Indra when the god plays the game 10 Vijli is also known as Saudamini, i, e., one residing on Mount Sudāmā,11
The occurence of thunder and the appearance of lightning on particular days and in particular directions are regarded as signs of the abundance or scarcity of rain during the season.
1 Mr. H. M. Bhatt, Ganod.
The Schoolmasters of Dhhank, Sanka, Limbdi, and Sultanpur.
Mr. M. M. Rana, Rajkot.
The Schoolmaster of Charadwa.
Thunder during the Rohini nakshatra is a bad omen: it foreshadows either a famine, 12 or a Boterun, i, e., complete cessation of rains for seventy-two days after the thunder-claps are heard. According to another view, if the Rohini nakshatra lasts for a fortnight and if the sky is clear during the period and yet lightning and thunder occur, a Boterun will be the consequence; but if lightning and thunder were to accompany the clouds in the same nakshatra, heavy and plentiful rains may be confidently expected, 13 Lightning without clouds in the same nak shatra is believed to be the cause of what is popularly called Rohini-dazi, i.e., the burning heat of Rohini.14
Some persons expect a Boterun after kadakas or crashing thunder. Others apprehend a famine if they hear thunder on the second day of the bright half of Jyeshtha (the eighth month).8
2 Mr. K. D. Desai.
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The Schoolmaster of Lilapur. The Schoolmaster of Surela. Mr. N. D. Vora, Rajpara,
11 The Schoolmaster of Gondal.
13 Mr. B. K. Dave, Kotda-Sangani.
* i, e., the period for which the Rohini nakshatra lasts.