Risht Samucchaya

Author(s): Durgadevacharya, A S Gopani
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 76

INTRODUCTION
1
the dream (st. 122). All these four abnormal experiences of the dream have been referred to as inauspicious, with negligible variations in the SS, which also is, like the KS and the CS, silent on the point of specific time-limit (29; 55, 56, 59, 63, 64). There is essential harmony between the two, regarding the s significance of the appearance of a monk and a white garment, though the RS deals with them under good omens (st. 189) and the SS under good dreams ( 29; 76, 77).
The RS and the VS? There is some essential radical difference between the RS and the VS regarding the ominousness or otherwise of 10 the beasts and birds going from south to north or east to west and vice versa at the time of starting or deciding the result of a particular event. The RS states, in unambiguous terms, that if a female cuckoo or a jackal that goes from the south to the north, making noise, indicates that the sick person 15 will survive the attack and live (sts. 173–174). The VS does not support this ( 86; 37). The RS mentions that a horse, going to the north from the south signifies good (sts. 173–174); while this is controverted by the VS which states that a horse going to the east or seen in the east is auspicious (86; 45). 20 According to the RS, a pigeon going to the south, making noise, betokens death to the sick person (sts. 173–174). The VS does not lend support to the theory (86; 21). An owl, going to the north, destroys the life of a sick person, declares the RS (st. 175). This is corroborated by the VS (86; 21, 37). In the 25 opinion of the RS, a cock going to the north prognosticates death of the sick (loc. cit.). The VS goes against this theory ( 86; 38). Both RS and VS resemble each other in the evil nature of the crow's flight to the north (RS, loc. cit.; VS, 86; 21). A mungoose robs the sick person of his life, according to the 30 RS, if it is seen going to the north (loc. cit.). But the VS modifies the statement by saying that it is bad if it is seen in front (86; 41). With respect to the bad implication of the deer's going to the north, both agree (RS, loc. cit.; VS, 86; 23). According to the RS, even the sight of a hare is bad (st. 176 );35 while according to the VS, the sight of a hare in the west only is undesirable ( 86; 22).
1 See App. XII, p. 104.