Note 615 — Chapter I
Reading edition
The influence of meteors on human affairs is treated at length in the Varāhasanhitā.615 The phenomenon is popularly regarded as an evil omen: it is supposed to portend devastation by fire, an earthquake, a famine, an epidemic, danger from thieves, and storms at sea.616 The appearance of a bright shooting star is supposed to foretell the death of some great man;617 and on beholding one, it is customary to repeat the words ‘Rām Rām’618 several times.619 A shower of meteors is believed to presage some civil commotion or a change in the ruling dynasties.