Jain Journal 2014 07

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 68

K. G. Sheshadri: The Science of Clouds in Ancient Jain Literature
69
Sūryābhadeva created clouds containing water through Vaikriya power also inducing thundering, whirling action of the clouds in sky so that they showered fragrant water all around the seat of Bhagwan Mahavir. Thereafter they created the flower bearing clouds that showered flowers on him (1.16-17]. The Bhagavati Sūtral2 [2.5.101] says that conception of clouds lasts for 6 months (approximately 196 days). Conflicting views exist on the time of conception of clouds. Some say clouds conceive in 4 months from Mārgaśīrṣa to Phālguņa and deliver in 4 months from Sravaņa to Kārtikā. Or they conceive from Kārtikā to Magha and deliver from Āsādha to āśvina. Some say the season of conception takes place in Pausa after sun traverses first half of Müla and delivery commences from Āsādha when sun enters Ardra asterism or conception takes place when sun occupies Svāti, or both Sun and Moon in Svati, or when Sun in Svāti and Moon in Aśvini.
The Sthānānga Sūtra 3 mentions that clouds are of Four kinds namely Desavāsi (that rains in a specific area), Savvāsi (rains in all states or in a wide area), Some are both Desavāsi and Savvāsi while some are neither Desavāsī nor Savvāsī. The same text also adds that with just one rain the Puşkala Samvartaka clouds makes land fertile for 10,000 years, the Pradyumna clouds make it fertile for 1000 years, Jimuta clouds for 10 years and Jimha clouds for one year. The Jambūdvipa Prajñapti Sūtral4 mentions that Puşkara clouds occur during the first samaya of second Aeon of Utsarpiņi time cycle. These clouds remove dryness and spread along the length and breadth of Bhāratadeśa. They cause rains for 7 days and 7 nights. The text also mentions rains of milk, ghee, nectar in a divine context alluding to the following clouds namely Kșiramegha, Ghrtamegha, Amrtamegha, Rasamegha.
The Bhadrabāhu Samhitāls of Jain Bhikshu Bhadrabahu dated prior to Varāhamihira's text deals on various aspects of clouds. It classifies clouds based on their colours and their directions as Brahmaņa (white - North), Kșatriya (Red - East), Vaisya (Yellow -