EARTHQUAKES  SOME ANCIENT SPECULATIONS   BY 
G. V. TAGARE

This disastrous natural phenomenon has been taking place since times immemorial.  Naturally like their counter parts in other countries. Indian sages like Kashyapa, Garga, Vrddha Garga (a different sage), Vasistha, Parasara et al have advanced their theories about the symptoms, effects etc. of this calamitous event from time to time. Varaha Mihira (A.D. 500-575), a great stronomer-cum-astrologer has compiled an encyclopaedia of different sciences and other lores of his time in a volume called Brhat-samhita. It consists of 57 chapters out of which chapter 32 deals with earthquakes. It systematically deals with the topic. 

I rely on Varaha Mihira's Brhat-Samhita as it is 600 years earlier than the Adbhuta-sagar (A.D. 1186) of Ballala sena (A.D. 1158-1183). He has borrowed a great deal from Varaha Mihira. Hence I shall briefly  present Varaha Mihira's views in the matter. His views are those of his predecessors. They are as follows:  

1. Kashyapa : The earth floats over a big ocean. It moves or quakes due to the movements of big aquatic creatures.  
2. Garga: There are four "Quarter-elephants (Dig-gajas) supporting the earth on four sides.  When they get exhausted, they heave a havy sigh of relief. Hence the earthquakes and strong devastating winds blow over the earth.  

We need not regard this as the pressure-explosion theory or earthquakes advanced in modern times.  

Vasistha: When two powerful atmospheric currents collide and dash against the earth, there is earthquake. 
Vrddha Garga : The earthquakes are due to some unseen (adrsta) cause.  
Parasara: Earthquakes are caused by the solar and lunar eclipses and by the unnatural changes in plants, Varha Mihira refers to the Puranic legend of mountains with wings.  At god Brahma's order Indra chopped the wings off. It is the impact of a falling mountain from above that causes earthquakes.  

They divided the whole day (including night) in flour equal parts and assigned them to different gods.  
  
 

Part of the day	Presiding Deity
I half of the day	Vayu (Wind-god)
II half of the day Agni	(Fire-god)
I half of the night	Indra
II half of the night	Varuna

  

Varaha Mihira was not a geologist. But as an editor of an encyclopaedia, he systematically compiled available information on different sciences etc. in the Brhat Samhit (B.S.) While dealing with earthquakes, he analysed and arranged the details about the quakes on the following points:  

1. Time of the day. 
2. Presiding deity of that period. 
3. The asterism assigned to the deity. It means that if a quake occurred under a certain asterism, the credit (?) is to be ascribed to that deity. He however does not explain why a certain asterism is assigned to a particular deity. Thus Ashvini is assigned to Varuna, while the next star Bharani is assigned to the Fire god. The principle of assignment of asterisms to deities is not clear. 
4. Prognostic symptoms of the quake before a week or so. 
5. Effects on the population. 
6. Countries affected by the earthquake. Here too no geographical order is seen. However many of them are found to be seismically sensitive. 
7. Period of the effect of the quake. 
8. Geographical extent of the affected area. The limits are so limited as compared with what we know today, It is most probably due to lack of communication in those days. 

We shall now take up quakes in the juridisction of each of the deities. 
  
1. CIRCLE OF THE WIND-GOD 

1. Time of the day: First half of the day.  
2. Wind god. 
3. Asterisms assigned: 1) Uttara phalguni, 2) Hasta, 3) Citra, 4) Svati,  
    5)Punarvasu, 6) Mrgasirsa, 7) Ashvini. 
4. 1) Prognostic symptoms: All quarters appear full of smoke. 2) Strong  
     winds raising dust storms and breaking trees. 3) Dimness in the sun. 
5. 1) Effects on the populace: Destruction of crops, water, forests and  
    plants. 2) Outbreak of epidemics of fever, asthma, lunacy and 
    troubles due to cold. 
6. Classes of people affected: Merchants, courtesans, women,  
    warriors, physicians, artists 
7. Period of effects of the quake: Two moths. 
8. Countries affected: Saurashtra, Kuru, Magadha, Dasarana (E. Malawa), 
    Matsya (Territory around Jaipur, Rajasthan) Here Varaha Mihira has  
    adopted the views of Garga and Rishi-putra as against those of  
    Vrddha Garga and Parasara. 
9. Extent affected: 200 Yojans. 
  
II THE CIRCLE OF THE FIRE GOD. 

1. Time of the day: Second half of the day. 
2. Deity : Agni 
3. Asterisms controlled: 1. Pusya, 2. Krttika, 3. Vishakha, 4. Bharani,  
    5. Magha, 6. Purava Bhadrapada, 7. Purava phalguni. 
4. Prognostic symptoms: 1) The sky full of meteors and falling stars.  
    2) Horizon aglow as if with blazing fire. 3)Devastation of land by fire  
    empowered with wind. 
5. Effects on the population: 1)Destruction of clouds, 2)Drying up of  
    lakes and tanks, 3)Political troubles. 
6. Effects on the populace: 1)Outbreak of epidemics like fever, scabs,  
    jondice. 2)Troubles to soldiers and hot-headed people. 
7. Period of the effect of the quake: Three fortnights. 
8. Countries affected: Asmaka (Maharastra), Anga (Bhagalpur), Bahlika  
    (Region between Beas and Sutlej), Tangana (Region from  
    Ramaaganga to upper Sarayu), Vanga (Bengal), Dravida. 
9. Extent affected: 110 Yojans. 
  
III THE CIRCLE OF INDRA. 

1. Time: first half of night,  
2. Deity presiding: Indra 
3. Asterisms controlled: 1. Abhijit, 2. Sravana. 3. Dhanistha, 4. Rohini,  
    5. Jyeshtha, 6. Uttarsasadha, 7. Anuradha 
4. Prognostic symptoms: 1. Mountain-like clouds thunder, send fort  
    flashes of lightening, 2. "Showers" of bees and sepents. 
5. Effects on population" 1. Dangerous to men of celebrated families,  
    upper castes kings and heads of corporations, 2. Spread of disease  
    like dysentery, swelling of throat, severe vomiting. 
6. Countries affected: People of Kashi, Yugandhara (Country near  
    Kurukshetra), Paurava (Country on the eastern bank of Jhelum  
    including Gujarat district), Kirata (Hill tribes), Abhira, Madra (Region  
    between the Ravi and Chenab, Arbuda (Country round Mt. Abu),  
    Surashtra, Malawa. 
7. Period of effects of the quake: 7 days. 
8. Extent of the affected area: 108 Yojanas. 
  
IV CIRCLE OF VARUNA. 

1. Time: Second half of the night,  
2. Deity: Varuna 
3. Asterisms assigned to varuna: 1. Revati 2.Purvasadha 3. Ardra,  
    4. Aaslesa 5. Mula, 6. Uttarabhadrapada, 7. Satabhisok. 
4. Prognostic symptoms: Clouds like blue lilies, bees or collyrium  
    rumbling pleasantly will send forth light showers. 
5. Effects on the population: Dangerous to sailors 
6. Countries affected: Destructive to Gonarda (Punjab), Cedi  
    (Bundelkhand) Kukkura (Part of Rajsthan of which Balmer was the  
    capital), Kirata and Vidisha. 
  
EFFECT OF THE QUAKE: IMMEDIATE 

Varaha Mihira belonged to Ujjain or Malwa. He lived 1500 years ago. Many climatic and other changes have taken place. But many of the states or places mentioned by him are found to seismically sensitive. 

I write this paper after reading the terrific quake-shock in taiwan. We are not aware of quake-proof zones and build dams and sites of heavy industries. Our engineers have not developed the technique of building quakeproof houses as they have done in Japan.  

As I said above Varaha Mihira was not a geologist. But the facts about earthquakes he has presented should be verified objectively before throwing them out. While working on Agriculture Horticulture, Water-monitoring and such other topics in ancient India), I found that many of the suggestions in Brhat Samhita are still useful today. I hope this nationally important subject should attract urgent attention of geologists. 
  
G.V. Tagare, 
Mandar, Madhav Peth, Miraj 
416410 
10.11.99