History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s6.10

v1.c24.s6.10

The process of the formation of clouds and of rainfall was described in terms of an embryo and delivery. The pregnancy lasts six months and a half. It begins in autumn-winter, but there was a wide difference of opinion about the actual period of the formation of the rain-embryo. According to some it occurred after the bright half of Kārttika, but the majority view placed it from the first day of the bright half of Mārgaśīrṣa (Bṛhatsaṃhitā XXI. 5.6). The period of the delivery of the rainfall was determined accordingly (ibid. 9-12). Varāhamihira records auspicious marks for the nourishment of the rain foetus, symptoms in different months favouring their health, and also indications of miscarriage (ibid., 13-28).