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MUMBAI, INDIA, June 16, 2004: Even as India’s eastern part continues to reel under floods, lack of rains in the western parts has forced some Hindu priests — standing neck-deep in water and chanting hymns — to invoke the rain god.”Praying to Varuna — the God of rains — while standing in water is a very effective ritual,” believes K.A. Vishwanathan of the South Indian Education Society in Sion in central Mumbai. “It is performed in south India and has produced good results there,” he said. Ten priests began reciting the Varuna Mantra (hymns invoking the rain god) standing in a tank as volunteers poured buckets of cold water. “The ritual was performed earlier in Mumbai in 1987 and 1992,” informed Vishwanathan. Said K.M. Shivaramakrishnan, vice president and trustee of the Shankara Math: “The ritual has been undertaken after the city of Mumbai and most of India had scarcity of rains. “In villages and small towns, the ritual is performed in temple tanks, rivers and ponds. But since we are in a city, the priests had to immerse themselves in large aluminium tanks. “The priests are very well-versed in the Vedas. They do the japam (sing hymns) without referring to any book.” Vishwanathan added, “After the water ritual, a havan (fire sacrifice) would also be offered.”

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