The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c6.49

v1.c6.49

In the *Bṛhat Saṃhitā* of Varāhamihira, a work of the middle of the sixth century, repeated mention is made of Orissa in connexion with the effect of eclipses under particular conjunctions; thus it is said "the Pañcālas, Kaliṅgas, Surasenas, Kāmbojas, Oḍras, Kirātas, as well as men who follow the profession of arms, or work by fire (smiths), suffer from illness if an eclipse takes place when the sun or moon is in Aries".³⁵ Again, "an eclipse in the month of Caitra causes distress to painters, writers, and singers, to men who live by their beauty, to Vaidic scholars, gold merchants, the Pauṇḍras, Oḍras, Kekayas, and Aśmakas; in that year the lord of the immortals distributes rain unequally" ³⁶