My neighbor's neatly maintained lawn resembled a rubbish heap. Empty Styrofoam cups floated around. The kids broke out in a frenzy running around flapping their arms. The dry winter leaves flew in the air looking like a flock of sparrows. Plastic bags hung from tree branches and the wind howled and roared at times as if making an announcement. "Who is that?" questioned the little girl. In the whole universe where everything is personal and a manifestation of the energy of Krishna, the wind too is a person. I was simultaneously awestruck by the dance of the leaves and frightened by the noise of the blowing winds. Weather forecasts reported hundreds of people were rendered power less. Aren't we powerless against the forces of nature anyway? Here was the often quoted Adhidaivik force at work. Though the storm chasers believe that the early onset of high velocity winds, tornadoes etc. is due to the effects of global warming, I wanted to find out more about the cause of natural disasters and it is interesting how our literature provides an answer for everything.
According to the science of Vedic Astrology, the deity of storm, wind and the hunt is believed to be Rudra and the meaning of which is to cry out loud. No wonder then that the winds made this loud wailing sound creating a kind of fear.
Reminded of Trinavrta who represents the false pride that arises from material scholarship, which gives rise to deviant philosophies, I turned to Srimad Bhagavatam and found that in his purport to 3.17.5 dealing with the birth of asuras Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha, Srila Prabhupada has explained lucidly the reason for such natural disasters.
There blew winds which were most uninviting to the touch, hissing again and again and uprooting gigantic trees. They had storms for their armies and clouds of dust for their ensigns.
PURPORT
When there are natural disturbances like blowing cyclones, too much heat or snowfall, and uprooting of trees by hurricanes, it is to be understood that the demoniac population is increasing and so the natural disturbance is also taking place. There are many countries on the globe, even at the present moment, where all these disturbances are current. This is true all over the world. There is insufficient sunshine, and there are always clouds in the sky, snowfall and severe cold. These assure that such places are inhabited by demoniac people who are accustomed to all kinds of forbidden, sinful activity.
PURPORT
When there are natural disturbances like blowing cyclones, too much heat or snowfall, and uprooting of trees by hurricanes, it is to be understood that the demoniac population is increasing and so the natural disturbance is also taking place. There are many countries on the globe, even at the present moment, where all these disturbances are current. This is true all over the world. There is insufficient sunshine, and there are always clouds in the sky, snowfall and severe cold. These assure that such places are inhabited by demoniac people who are accustomed to all kinds of forbidden, sinful activity.
These are winds that signify a change in the already degraded Kaliyuga, winds that howl and announce the birth of deviant philosophies and false pride.
Liberation comes only through Kirtana, the only good quality in this ocean of faults.
Kaler dosha nidhe rajan astihy eko mahan gunah
Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta sangah param vrajet.
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