Risht Samucchaya

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

Page 98

INTRODUCTION
The earliest reference to the Riştas is found in the AV, AA and the Drsțivāda of the Jainas. The crude idea becomes a little finer in the MBh and ON. It gets a distinct shape in the VP, MatP, YS and MP. The idea is described in details in such medical works as the KS, CS and the SS. The VS deals with s the General Ristas and the idea is found in its full-fledged, final form in the SRS' and YS'.
(ii) INDIVIDUAL RIŞTAS and General RisTAs: The Rişțas or the omens and portents are broadly divided into two parts, namely, Individual and General. The omens and portentsià through which individual's good luck or bad luck is known may be called Individual Ristas. Those prodigies which foretell national disasters, revolutions, epidemics, famines, wars and battles may be styled General Ristas or cataclysms.
Change is eternally going on in this universe. When is phenomenal changes are about to happen, they are often prognosticated by some peculiar signs. Earthquake is often preceded by the terrific chirping of the birds and crying of the animals. Omens, portents, popular superstitions and eclipses have all proved full of meaning. National calamities, battles andzo wars are almost always indicated by uncommon manifestations in the sky also. Solar and lunar eclipses indicate calamities for the most part. Total solar eclipses are rarely seen and when they occur they foretell the death of a king or of one occupying a higher social status. They are cent per cent 25 disastrous if both the eclipses-solar and lunar-take place in one and the same month. This unusual phenomenon had occurred in the year of Mahābhārata war and it has occurred in 1941 A. D. which witnessed a terrific war between Germany and Russia. The appearance of a comet also is ominous. Itao had appeared in 1941 A. D. as it did in the year of Mahā. bhārata war and unforeseen miseries befell Russia. A comet had appeared in 43 B. C. and Julius Caesar died as well as there was a revolution in Rome. It was again seen in 79 A. D. and a tough fight took place between the Aryans 35 and the Sakus. 632 A. D. witnessed its presence which resulted in the death of Mahomet-a muslim prophet. Its appearance in 1000 A.D. in Europe was followed by momentous changes. In 1066 A. D. it created unexpected adversities