Question

Who considered Lunar mansions in predicting seasonal rainfall?

• A. Kauṭilya
• B. Manu
• C. Parāśara
• D. Varāhmihira

Hint:

Associate key ancient figures with their magnum opus. Varāhmihira is synonymous with the Brihat Samhita, which is a foundational text for ancient Indian astronomy, astrology, and related predictive sciences like meteorology.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept
The question asks to identify the ancient Indian scholar who used the concept of "Lunar mansions" (Nakshatras) for the specific purpose of predicting seasonal rainfall.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation
While several ancient texts touch upon agriculture and weather, the most comprehensive and systematic work on astrology and astronomy, including meteorology, is the Brihat Samhita by Varāhmihira (6th century CE).
Varāhmihira dedicated several chapters to rainfall prediction (Garbhalakshana, Pravarshana). His methods were based on a wide range of observations, including the position of the Sun and Moon in different Nakshatras (lunar mansions), the appearance of clouds, wind direction, and biological indicators.
While Parāśara's Krishi Parashara also discusses rainfall, Varāhmihira's work is considered the most authoritative and detailed on using astronomical phenomena like lunar mansions for this purpose.
Step 3: Final Answer
Varāhmihira is the most prominent ancient authority who extensively used lunar mansions for rainfall prediction.