Note 137 — Chapter I · NATURE POWERS.
Reading edition
Various conflicting notions are entertained regarding thunder and lightning. The people of the Ratnágiri District believe that the clouds are animals that roar. When these animals emit water it bursts forth on account of the circular motion of the winds called Chanda and Munda. This bursting is supposed to produce thunder and lightning.137 Somewhere thunder and lightning are said to be the signals given by the god Indra, to birds, beasts, etc., of the setting in of the rainy season.138 Some people believe that the god Indra sends rain through his elephants who, being excited, make a noise like thunder.139