Ancient text provides clues to unusual phenomena

By T. Nandakumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 29. As scientists still grope in the dark to find credible explanations to collapsing wells and other unusual phenomena reported from various parts of the State, detailed observations of such incidents have emerged from an ancient text on Ayurveda dating back 5,000 years.

Accounts of vanishing wells, coloured rain, ripples in water, trees shedding leaves, rings around celestial bodies and meteorite hits have been described in the Charaka Samhita, a Sanskrit text, which also goes into the possible causes and consequences of the phenomena.

According to the text, such incidents could be triggered by an imbalance in the environmental equilibrium possibly by human intervention. It warns that these unusual phenomena could result in a breakdown of the immune system of living beings on earth.

In the chapter titled `Janapadho Udhvamsaneeyam' in the Charaka Samhita, there are references to `Kshubhithodeerna salilasayam' meaning the formation of ripples on the water surface in reservoirs, `Ulkaapathanam' which refers to meteorite hits and `Bhoomikambanam' which alludes to tremors and quakes. Dr. S. Rajasekharan, an Ayurveda expert who has decoded the Sanskrit text, says there are indications to show that a series of mild tremors would affect the stability of the soil, providing clues to the phenomenon of collapsing wells and ripples in water.

The text also refers to `Athibhayaravam'- a thunderous sound in the atmosphere and `Thaamra Aruna Sithaabhra Jaala Samvritham' meaning the formation of copper, red and white `rings' in the atmosphere. Dr. Rajasekharan, who is the head of the Ethnomedicine Division at the Tropical Botanic Gardens and Research Institute at Palode, says the interaction of such rings with light rays from the sun, moon and stars could result in coloured rain.

It may be recalled that a coloured ring visible around the sun in Thiruvananthapuram some weeks back had generated much interest. Similarly, the coloured rain witnessed at Mavelikkara several weeks back was reportedly accompanied by a thunderous sound.

Dr. Rajasekharan goes on to infer that these rings could possibly be concentrations of fungi or other micro organisms. He argues the case for a detailed atmospheric study to analyse any possible chemical reactions induced by the interaction of these rings with light rays.

In the Charaka Samhita, the occurence of unnatural phenomena are collectively attributed to the "poisoning of the land" which could be interpreted to convey the meaning of pollution.

The text refers to the shedding of leaves by trees as a direct consequence of this poisoning. According to Dr. Rajasekharan, the shedding of leaves of a particular species of tree as reported from Kollam earlier this month could be similar to the one depicted in the text.

"Possibly, some atmospheric condition induced by the birth of new micro organisms led to the erosion of the immune system of that tree," he infers.

Linking this incident to the account given in the text, Dr. Rajasekharan warns that any similar impact on humans could lead to a breakdown of the immune system and an outbreak of epidemics which would be difficult to manage. "Ayurveda is a holistic medical system which draws a direct link between man and his natural environment. Naturally, any imbalance in the environment is bound to have an impact on man. This explains the detailed observations about unnatural phenomenon in the Charaka Samhita".

He argues for a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of unnatural phenomena reported from various parts of the state. "While most of the ongoing research work concentrates on the geological aspects, the observations in the Charaka Samhita call for more emphasis on atmospheric studies and the impact of environmental changes on the health of living beings," he says.

The recent spate of incidents of wells caving in, followed by scarlet showers in many parts of the State had set off alarm bells and led to wild rumours about an impending calamity.

Though a battery of scientists are claimed to be investigating the phenomenon, the conflicting versions put out by them have only served to add fuel to the speculations.

While one section of scientists avers that the incidents are linked to seismic activity, there have also been inferences about comet showers and atmospheric fungal colonies.

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