The Indications at Dawn and Twilight
The interval during which the firmament contains indistinct stars before the Sun has half-risen is called Dawn. The similar interval after the Sun has half-set is called Twilight. The effects—good and bad—of this juncture are foretold through various symptoms involving wildlife, atmospheric conditions, and celestial phenomena.
General Indicators
DeerBirdsWindHaloes round the Sun and MoonMock Sun or MoonCross-bar of clouds on Sun’s discTree-shaped cloudsRainbowGlossiness of an apparent town in the skySun’s raysRod-like formation (Danda)Clouds, wind, and dust
Animal Signs
| Creature | Action | Condition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer/Beast | Crying dreadfully aloud repeatedly | General | Destruction of the village |
| Deer/Beast | Standing in the Sun crying aloud | South of an army | Annihilation of the army |
| Flock of Deer | To the left of an army | Facing the Sun | War will break out |
| Flock of Deer | To the right of an army | Cries pleasantly, not facing Sun | Two armies will come together |
| Birds & Beasts | Facing the Sun | Crying | Destruction of the country |
| Birds & Beasts | Faces glowing in Sun, sending notes | Standing south of a city | City captured by enemies |
Wind and Atmosphere
🌪️ Dire Consequences
- Strong and rough wind making howling noise
- Crushing houses, trees, and arches
- Raising heaps of dust and clods of earth
- Throwing down birds from the sky
🍃 Beneficial
- Leaves slightly shaken by gentle breeze
- No wind
- Animals and birds not facing Sun sending melodious notes
🌧️ Immediate Rain
- Glossy Danda (Rod)
- Lightning
- Fish-like clouds
- Mock Sun
- Halo
- Rainbow
- Airavata (Rainbow)
- Sunbeams
🌫️ Dust Effects
- Dust coloured like Bandhuka flower (red) or collyrium going up to Sun -> Diseases
- White dust -> Prosperity and peace
- Dust resembling white powder of conch covering Sun -> Princes triumph, mankind happy
Sun's Rays
Negative Effects
- • Broken off
- • Unequal
- • Discoloured
- • Unnatural
- • Crooked
- • Turned anti-clockwise
- • Slender, short, crippled, soiled
War and Drought
Positive Effects
- • Brilliant
- • Pure
- • Straight
- • Long
- • Turned clock-wise
- • Seen in bright sky
Prosperity of the world
Specific Colors
- • Copper-coloured -> Death of general
- • Yellow and rosy -> Misery/Disease
- • Green -> Destruction of cattle
- • Smoky -> Ruin of cows
- • Madder-coloured -> Trouble through weapons and fires
- • Tawny -> Stormy rain
- • Ash-coloured -> Drought
- • Spotted/Greyish -> Slight rain
Various Specific Effects
Rain Giving (Amogha)
- • White, glossy, unbroken, straight
- • Pervading whole firmament
Produce Rain (Unerring)
Drought Inducing
- • Greyish, tawny, russet, variegated, madder-hued, green, spotted
- • Stretching over sky and turned upwards
Drought and Danger after a week
Cloud Formations
| Form | Position/Timing | Feature | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue and tree-shaped | Zenith, screening Sun | Curd-like top | Copious rain |
| Yellow tinged | Anywhere | Dense bottom | Copious rain |
| Fragmentary cloud like armed person | Near Sun | - | Danger to king from enemies |
| White aerial city | Approached by Sun | - | Besieged town will be victorious |
| White aerial city | Cut in two by Sun | - | Town will be destroyed |
| Planetary shapes (banner, umbrella, mountain, elephant, horse) | Twilight | - | Victory of kings and people |
| Blood-red | Twilight | - | War |
| Smoke-like mass | Suspended | Smooth appearance | Armies prosper |
Natural Twilight Colors
| Season | Natural Color |
|---|---|
| Winter | Red |
| Sisira | Yellow |
| Spring | White |
| Summer | Variegated |
| Rainy | Lotus-hued |
| Autumn | Crimson |
* Note: Each colour is beneficial in its own season and harmful if otherwise.
The Danda (Rod)
A collection of Sun-beams, clouds, and wind taking the form of a staff is called a Danda.
- Intermediate Misery to kings
- Cardinal Evil to Brahmins, Kshatriyas, etc. respectively
- Dawn, Noon, Twilight Danger from weapons (war) and diseases
- White Destroys Brahmins
- Red Destroys Kshatriyas
- Yellow Destroys Vaisyas
- Dark Destroys Sudras
Timing & Range of Influence
Time of Fruition
- Dawn Effects Same moment
- Evening Effects Same night or in 3 days
- Haloes, Dust, Bolts Within a week, or same day
- Sun-beams, Rainbow, Lightning, Mock-Sun Within a week, or same day
- Birds 8th day, or same day
- Beasts Within a week
Range (Yojanas)
- Twilight Gleam 1 Yojana
- Lightning Flash 6 Yojanas
- Thunder Sound 5 Yojanas
- Meteors No limit
- Mock-Sun Halo 3 Yojanas
- Bolt / Cloud Cross-bar 5 Yojanas
- Halo 5-6 Yojanas
- Rainbow 10 Yojanas