Rainfall 2017 – Level 3 (Margazhi / Solar Garbottam).

Previous articles:

Rainfall 2017 – Level 1(Panchanga-based)

Rainfall 2017 – Level 2 (Planetary combinations)

“Garbottam” means ‘Fetus formation’ or ‘nature of pregnancy’. This is also known as ‘pregnancy of clouds’. This is observed on the month of Margazhi, soon after the rainfall of the previous season is over. At the time the Sun enters the star Pooradam (Purvashada) in then sign of Sagittarius in Margazhi, it is said that the conditions for the next season’s rainfall start taking shape. This goes on for 13 days when the Sun will be crossing the star Pooradam. This period is known as Garbottam period or pregnancy period. One can find the beginning and end of this period mentioned in the almanacs (Panchangam). 

The duration of each star is 13 degree- 20 minutes. Sun travels approximately 1 degree in a day. Each degree of Sun’s transit in Purvashada star is related to the entire duration of a star that Sun travels starting from Arudra star in the month of June. This is approximately equal to a fortnight. As per rainfall prediction techniques of astrology, observation of 5 meteorological factors on the days of Sun’s transit in Purvashada would give clues on the rainfall prospects for each fortnight starting from the time Sun travels in Arudra in the 2^nd half of June. 

One important feature of this is that it is applicable to the observer’s location. The presence of good Garbottam on a day coupled with favourable planetary position on the days of rainfall would ensure good rainfall.  So it is necessary that the observer continues to be in his / her location for the 13 odd days of Sun’s transit in Purvashada to gauge the rainfall effect in his / her place from June to December.

This year’s Garbottam started on 28^th December 2016 at 11 PM (yesterday night) and would end at 12-57 AM on the early morning of on 11^th January 2017. The Garbottam of last year was found to be highly reliable. This year I would further refine it with planetary spoilers and supporters to gauge the effect. Each day’s observation and inference would be posted on the next day. In the current article, I am giving the basics of how and when to see Garbottam.

Things needed:-

• Knowledge of names of Lunar months and dates (thithi) and names of 27 stars of the Vedic astrology.
• Astrology software or any source which will help one to know the star in which Sun or Moon transits on a particular day.
• Round the clock observation or observation of the outside at regular intervals.

What to check:-

1.      Winds:-

Gentle and agreeable wind = Good rainfall

Cool breeze from North and Northeast = good rainfall.

Heavy winds = rain clouds would gather but be shattered

Dust storm = No rains

2.      Rain

In Margazhi, usually there will be no rains. If it rains heavily (during Garbottam), rainfall on the corresponding day would be affected. A gentle rain or drizzle would give good rainfall on the corresponding day after 6 and a half months.

3.      Lightening

Lightening = good rainfall

Rainbow in the morning or evening = good rainfall

4.      Roar of thunder

Low, rumbling roar of thunder = good rainfall

Heavy sounding thunder = rain clouds would shatter away.

5.      Clouds

Sky overcast with huge, bright, dense clouds = good rainfall

Clouds in the shape of aquatic animals= good rainfall

Blood red clouds = good rainfall.

The following are to be checked:-m

1.      Terrestrial              

2.      Atmospheric

3.      Planetary.

Features of Good Garbottam for rainfall later:-

(I) Terrestrial factors to be observed.

1.      Sweet chirpings of birds.

2.      Animals moving in relaxed mood and making pleasant sounds

3.      Kids making sweet sounds and playing

4.      Trees with sprouts

5.    Trees grow without diseases.

(II) Atmospheric factors to be observed.

1.          Clouds resembling pearl or silver color

2.          Clouds in the shape of aquatic animal, huge and dense.

3.          Dark clouds hiding the Sun often.

4.          These clouds scorched by bright sun light

5.          Gentle breeze

6.          Sun and the Moon encircled by glossy, bright and thick halo.

7.          Sky filled with bulky clouds or smooth needle like clouds (cirrus), or in the shape of sword.

8.          Clouds appearing in red or blue tint.

9.          Pleasant twilights in morning and evening.

10.       Light rumbling thunder

11.       Rainbow in the lower horizon.

12.       Red glow in the horizon at dawn and sun set. 

13.       Clouds with halos

{Note:- Points 2 and 3 must be present along with few other features of the above list for a good Garbottam.)

III) Planetary factors.

 - Planets appearing with clear and bright disc at night

-  Planets moving in Northern declinations

- Moon and stars must appear white 

Planetary features that spoil conception of rainfall.

·         Eclipses ( mar rainfall later on the corresponding day)

·         Planetary war (where planets are close together in such a way one planet will be crossing another.) ( mars rainfall for several days in the corresponding period.)

{In the present Margazhi Garbottam, these two features are not present.}

Position of Moon:-

Moon in the following stars during Garbottam would give good rainfall in the corresponding period if the above 3-some features are good on that day.

Purvashada (Pooradam),

Uttarashada (Uttradam),

Satabhishak (sadayam),

Purva Bhadrapada (Purattadhi),

Uttarabhadrapada (Uttrattadhi),

Rohini,

Arudra,

Aslesha (Ayilyam) ,

Magha ,

Swati

[In the present Garbottam, Moon would be moving through the first 6 stars in the above list.}

Given below is a table of  Garbottam dates and the corresponding fortnight later that is likely to bear the impact of the Garbottam. The Stars transited by Moon that are capable of giving good rainfall later are highlighted.

Day	Date of Garbottam	Star of day (Moon in)	Date of Impact (Fortnight)
1	28-12-2016 (11 PM) To 29-12-2016 (10.20 PM)	Moola at night of 28th. Purvashada from 11-18 AM on 29th	22-06-17 to 05-07-17
2	29-12-2016 (10-20 PM) To 30-12-2016 (10-50 PM)	Purvashada till 1-10 PM on 30th After that Uttrashada.	05-07-17 to 19-07-17
3	30-12-2016 (10-50 PM) To 31-12-2016 (11-20 PM)	Uttrashada till 2-47 PM After that Shravana	19-07-17 to 02-08-17
4	31-12-2016 (11-20 PM) To 01-01-2017 (12 midnight)	Shravana till 4 PM After that Dhanishta	02-08-17 to 16-08-17
5	01-01-2017 (Midnight) To 02-01-2017 (Midnight)	Dhanishta till 4-51 PM After that Sathabhishak	16-08-2017 to 30-08-2017
6	02-01-2017 (Midnight) To 03-01-2017 (Midnight)	Shathabhishak till 5-17 PM After that Purva Bhadrapada	30-08-2017 to 13-09-2017
7	03-01-2017 (Midnight) To 04-01-2017 (Midnight)	Purva Bhadrapada till 5-15 PM After that Uttra Bhadrapada	13-09-2017 to 26-09-2017
8	04-01-2017 (Midnight) To 05-01-2017 (Midnight)	Uttra Bhadrapada till 4-45 PM After that Revathy	26-09-2017 to 10-10-2017
9	05-01-2017 (Midnight) To 06-01-2017 (Midnight)	Revathy till 3-45 PM After that Aswini	10-10-2017 to 23-10-2017
10	06-01-2017 (Midnight) To 07-01-2017 (Midnight)	Aswini till 2-18 PM After that Bharani	23-10-2017 to 06-11-2017.
11	07-01-2017 (Midnight) To 08-01-2017 (Midnight)	Bharani till 12-26 PM After that Kritthika	07-11-2017 to 19-11-2017
12	08-01-2017 (Midnight) To 09-01-2017 (Midnight)	Kritthika  till 10-16 AM After that Rohini	19-11-2017 to 02-12-2017
13	09-01-2017 (Midnight) To 10-01-2017 (Midnight / 12-57 AM on 11-01-2017	Rohini till 7-56 AM on 10-01-201 After that Mrigasheersha	02-12-2017 to 15-02-2017

Conclusion:

This year’s Garbottam has a clean-slate-like transit for Moon and Sun. There is no planetary war like last year. However all the planets are in southern declination during this period which is a cause of concern. A good feature is Moon would be transiting in 6 stars of good rainfall support. If only there is good Garbottam happening on these days, the impact would be very good. But that is subject to planetary support. In the day to day Garbottam article that will be posted from tomorrow, the supporting and spoiling planetary features on impact day would be written to judge the final outcome.