Note 144 — Chapter I · NATURE POWERS.
Reading edition
In the Kolába District it is believed that thunder is the military band of the king of clouds and lightning is his banner.144 Lightning is said to be produced by the fighting of celestial elephants; while thunder is heard when they pour out water.145 Some people think that thunder is the noise of the feet of the elephants (clouds) that give rain; lightning is also said to be generated from their foot fall.146 The clouds are supposed to be the messengers of gods, lightning being the manifestation of Divine power. The gods are said to confine these messengers from the nakshatra of Ardra to the nakshatra of Hasti, in which latter nakshatra they again begin to roar.147