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Glimpses of Hydrology in Jainism
H. Sreenivasa Rao
Introduction Hydrology is the scientific study of surface, ground as well as the atmospheric water. Further it deals with the occurrence of water, circulation, distribution, physical and chemical properties, reactions to environment and living beings etc. Thus, Hydrology embraces the entire domain of water, its history, qualitative and quantitative utility of water on earth. Though the concept of modern Hydrology was found in the year 1930, its origin can be traced back to the stage of mans dwelling on agriculture for his survival. He had nurtured the cultures and named them as Sindhu, Nile etc., and religion being the part of these cultures has contributed the basic knowledge of Hydrology. Jaina treatises like Avasyaka Curni, Prajaapana, Rattamata etc. of Jainism furnishes the details of meteorology, draught, etc., the tanks and water bodies built during the historic period are still alive and people are getting benefits even today. Avasyaka Curni furnishes a list of sixteen types of winds:
Pracheena Vata (Easterly) Udeecheena Vata (Northerly) Dakshina Vata (Southerly) Uttara Powrastha (Blowing from the front) Savastuka (Under defined) Dakshinapoorvantugara (Southerly strong wind) Apara Dakshinabeejaya (North-Westerly hurricane) Aparaveejaya (Westerlies) Aparottara Garjana(North-Northerly hurricane) Uttara Savastuka (Unknown) Dakshina Savastuk
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