The appearance of a comet is regarded by the Hindus as symptomatic of a coming evil, e.g., a big war, a great famine, or a terrible contagious disease spreading itself throughout the length and breadth of a country.[248] Some persons think that comets and shooting stars bode evil to the king.[249]
Whenever a great person or a very holy man is about to be born, it is believed that he alights on the earth in the shape of a shooting star. Sometimes a big star falls on the earth, and thereby a noise like that of thunder is produced. When this happens, people believe that a great Rája or a holy saint whose merit has been exhausted is going to be born on earth.[250] The following verse from the Mrichhakatika Nátak supports the view in accordance with which orthodox people in the Konkan avoid looking at shooting stars:—
इंद्रधनुष्य आणि गोप्रसूति । नक्षत्रांची अधोगति सत्पुरुषांची प्राणविपत्ति ॥ पाहूं नये साचार ॥ i.e.,
The following four things, viz., the rainbow, the fall of shooting stars, the delivery of a cow, and the death-struggle of saints or holy men should not be looked at.[251] It is generally believed by Hindus that a child will immediately be born in the house towards which shooting stars are directed.[252]
[1] School Master, Palshet, Ratnágiri. [↑]
[2] School Master, Adivare, Ratnágiri. [↑]
[3] School Master, Parule, Ratnágiri. [↑]