The Gurusamhita: An Ancient Text On Weathter-Forecasting (An old and Rare Book)

The beginnings of the sciences of astronomy and climatology in India go back to the Rigvedic times in any case. The requirements of sacrificial rituals supported them. With the help of casual references we can trace the position of these sciences in later periods. The importance of agriculture in the economy of the country attracted greater attention for the two sciences. The cycle of religious rites and festivities round the year further deepened interest in them. The Brhatsamhita names some earlier authorities on astronomy whose texts are unfortunately lost, though quotations from them in Bhattotpala's commentary clearly indicate that they were available to Bhattotpala. Among the existing texts the Brhatsamhita is the earliest to give a systematic treatment to the subject of weather-forecasting. This branch of astronomy had an interesting character. It was partly scientific, based on the observation of planets and astronomical phenomena. It was supplemented by information and experience derived from observations of natural phenomena and behaviour of human beings, birds, beasts and insects. Mixed up with all this were many superstitious ideas, unscientific beliefs and wrong notions. The early medieval period, which witnessed large farms as a result of the feudalised economy and State structure, created a deeper interest in agriculture and its problems. For catering to the needs of the class of landed aristocracy a number of Sanskrit texts on agriculture, particularly weather-forecasting, were prepared in the period.'