Monday, October 25, 2010

Scattered thoughts on comets

The last page picture and news “NASA’s Deep impact space craft now on an extended mission known as EPOXI , will rendezvous with comet Hartley-2 on November 4th” in Business Line today(24th Oct,2010) provoked Nandi’s thoughts on comets. Nandi’s first sighting of a comet was during 1964-66 period when he was studying for Pre-Degree Course at Pazhassi Raja NSS College, Mattannur in Kannur District of Kerala. After seeing the Malayalam movie “Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja” you may be knowing Pazhassi hills and forest. Nandi did wander through the forests of Pazhassi and through the remains of Pazhassi Raja’s palace at that time. Nandi’s concept of a comet was “a star with a tail” as the name of comet in Malayalam is “Vaal (tail) Nakshatram(star)” and he searched for such an object in the night sky and in the early morning sky even climbing on the roof of the hostel building where he was staying, when the news appeared in the dailies regarding the approach of the comet “Seki - Ikeya” . But he failed to find such an object in the beginning. Later he could see the comet at Sunrise with its bewitching tail and all, in the foreground of dense forest covered with mist and the memory still remains vibrant with awe. Nandi also associate that period with a war (Indo – Pakistan) and the scarcity of food items. Then he was in the mess committee of the hostel and had to go to Thalassery to get permission from the authorities for procuring ration rice for the hostel mess.
By the way, Comet ….., Pazhassi…., War ……coming like a stream. The planet Mars, named after the Roman God of War along with Mercury will be entering Sagiturus during the last week of November where Rahu (the serpent) is situated now. Comets are called “Dhooma Kethu” in Sanskrit ( Kethu is lower part of Rahu) and considered as a bad omen. Therefore, the elusive market correction can be triggered off on chances of a war or some other natural calamity. So, be pessimistic till the first half of December, 2010.

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