Part 5.1.6 - Omens related to the Constellations

[Full title: Celestial Omens (6) The Constellations]

Parisista 56 conceives of India as a tortoise facing towards the east, and assigns to the nine parts thereof three constellations each beginning with the Krttikas. contact with an evil planet), 48 When a certain group of constellations is 'smitten' (coming in the quarter to which that group is assigned is in the danger of being adversely affected. When the group of constellations (Krttika, Rohini and Mrgasiras) belonging to the centre is smitten, it affects the regions of Saketa, Mithila, Mekala, Ahichatra, Nagapur, Kasi, Pariyatra, Kuru, Pancala, Kosala, Kausambi and Pataliputra. When the group of constellations towards the head (1.e. the east) is smitten, it affects Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Magadha, Mahendra, Gavasa, Ambastha and the regions near the eastern ocean. When the group of constellations in the south-east is smitten, it affects Khasa, Bhadra, Sanatata, Samavardhamanaka, Vaideha, Gandhara, Kosala, Tosala, Venatata, Sajjapura, Madreya, and Tamalipta. When the group of constellations assigned to the south is smitten, it affects Avanti, Vidarbha, Matsya, Cakora, Bhimaratha, Yavana, 47. Kausika Sutra (93.35; 128) prescribes a rite to be performed when the constellations seem to fall as it were (atha yatrai tan naksatrani patapatani 'va bhavanti). 48. Cf. Mah. V.143.8-10; Vedic Index3.13-18, 27.

584 Valaya, Kanti, Simhala, Lankapuri, Dravida and Barbara. When the group of constellations assigned to the south-west is smitten, the places affected are: the Sahya mountain, Vaijayanti, Kunkuna, Nasikya, Karmanoyami, Mahi, Narmada and Bhrgukaccha. When the group of constellations assigned to the west are smitten, it affects Saurastra, Sindhu sauvira, Malava, Ramarastraka, Anarta, Gaccha and Ianata. When the group of constellations assigned to the north-west is smitten, the places affected are: Sarasvata, Trigarta, Matsya, Nanvara, Balhika, Mathura and Puranga. When the group of constellations assigned to the north are smitten, the places affected are: Brahmavarta, Satadru, Himavanta and Mainaka mountains and Kasmira. And when the group of constellations assigned to the north-east is smitten, the places affected are: Nepala, Kamarupa, Videha, Audumbara, 49 Avanti and Kaikaya. The Brhatsamhita also contains a chapter (14 th) called Kurmavibhaga. It generally agrees with our text but Varahamihira has given therein a much larger number of names of places belonging to the various quarters. Varahamihira seems to have possessed a more detailed geographical informa tion than the author of the Parisista. It may be seen that 49. Some regions are mentioned in the above statement as belonging to two different quarters. For instance, Kalinga is mentioned in the centre and in the east; Matsya is mentioned in the south and in the north; and Videha is mentioned in the south-east as well as in the north-east.

585 the names of countries, places, mountains and people are mixed up in the list of the Atharvaveda-Parisistas There is also some disagreement between the information given by the Atharvaveda-Parisistas and that given by Varahamihira. For instance, he mentions Audumbara in the centre, whereas our Parisista mentions it in the northeast. Varahamihira mentions Tamralipta in the east, whereas our text mention it (Tamalipta) in the south-east. He mentions Anga and Vanga in the south-east (?), whereas our text mentions it in the east. Varahamihira mentions Nasikya and Konkana in the south, our text mentions them in the southwest. He mentions Ambastha, Barbara and Dravida in the southwest, while our text mentions Ambastha in the east, and Barbara as well as Dravida in the South. Varahamihira mentions Kashmira in the north-east (!) while our text mentions it in the north. 50 Parisista 57 divides the twenty-eight constellations into four 'circles' (mandalani) ascribed to different gods. The first circle consists of the Visakha, Krttika, Pusya, Purva Prosthapada, Bharani, Magha and Purva Phalguni and is presided over by Agni; the second circle consists of the Hasta, Asvins, Citra, Uttara Phalguni, Abhijit, Mrgasiras 50. The Brhatsamhita by Varahamihira contains a separate chapter (15 th) called naksatra-vyuha, and it mentions the persons, objects etc. controlled by the various constellations. MEDE

586 and Svati, and is presided over by Vayu; the third circle consists of the Ardra, Aslega, Mula, Purva Asadha, Satabhisak, Revati and Uttara Prosthapada, and is presided over by Varuna; and the fourth circle consists of the Jyestha, Anuradha, Sravana, Sravistha, Punarvasu, Rohini as well as Uttara Asadha and is presided over by Mahendra. The various portents like earth-quake, whirl-wind, falling of meteors, sounds in space, trembling of images, and eclipses of the Sun and the Moon, which occur under any one of these different circles of constellations, are ascribed to the particular god who presides over that circle, and the effects of these portents on the future differ according to the different gods. The Atharvaveda-Parisistas, thus, points out that the portents occurring under the constellations belonging to Agni forebode famine and disease. Cows yield little milk; fire breaks out in the cities and villages; the people who live by the use of fire (such as smiths, etc.) and the sacrificers are tormented; diseases like jaundice-fever (pitta-jvara), asthma and eyesores trouble the people, especially men; the rivers dry up; crop does not grow; the earth is heated, and there is no rain; the trees do not yield fruit; and there is famine, epidemic, diseases and the fear of enemy's attack. The portents occurring under the constellations belonging to Vayu betoken

587 the absence of welfare. There is a heavy dust-fall, there is no fat in milk; palacial buildings and arches fall down; the Madrakas, the Yavanas, the Sakas, the Kambojas, the Balhikas 51 and the Gandharas are ruined; elephants, horses, camels, wolves, mongoose and cetaka, and persons living by the use of weapons are affected by diseases. The chiefs in the city and the meritorious people are destroyed, and there is labour (ayasa), cancer (ulbana) and fighting every-where. The portents occurring under the constellations belonging to Varuna foretell prosperity. The cows yield ample milk; the elephants are rendered fruitful (nagas ca phalinah); the enemies are quiet; persons who live by water (boatmen, fishermen etc.) attain a great prosperity; the heavenly bodies are seen of a glossy colour and the temporal as well as spiritual powers (brahma-ksatram) increase. The portents occurring under the constellations belonging to Mahendra indicate well-being. The cows give birth to calves; women beget sons; insects, serpents and the germs born of sweat die; the Brahmanas engage themselves in the study of the Vedas and in the sacrifices; and the Ksatriyas, the Vaisyas and the Sudras do their respective duties. The extent of the effect of the portents occurring under the first circle is hundred and twenty yojanas; of those 51. It is interesting to note that some tribes are mentioned only in the case of the portents ascribed to Vayu and not in the case of those ascribed to Agni, Varuna or Indra.

588 52 occurring under the second circle, ninety yojanas; of those occurring under the third circle, seventy youanas; of those occurring under the fourth circle, eighty yojanas In the case of an earthquake occurring under the jurisdiction of Agni, it bears fruit within two months; that occurring under the jurisdiction of Varuna fructifies immediately; that occurring under the jurisdiction of Vayu comes into effect within three months; and that occurring under the jurisdiction of Mahendra takes place within a month and a half.