Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v1.c5.68

v1.c5.68

Some celestial phenomena are joyful to watch, some are amazing while some others are even frightening. When the eclipses, shooting stars and comets inspire a sense of awe and even fear in many a mind even in the present times, it is quite obvious that in the beginning these phenomena would have been regarded by the human being as extremely frightful and portentous of divine wrath. Many of us must have read how Christopher Columbus told the inhabitants of an island that because the god Sun was displeased with them he would hide himself on a particular day and how those people were frightened to see the prediction come true. Again it is a historical fact that the war, which had continued for five years between the people of Lydia and Media, about the year 584 B.C., came to an end by the mutual signing of a peace pact, because a total solar eclipse had occurred during the year and both the fighting parties were struck with horror to see the day suddenly turning into night.