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THANE, MAHARASHTRA, February 4, 2001: According to Dr. Vijay Bedekar, president of the Thane-based Institute of Oriental Study, the Vedas, Puranas and great epics had references to earthquakes and the devastation these natural disasters could cause. While there is extensive research about the quakes in the last 200 years, he said historical documents reveal studies about earthquakes in the olden days too. Two books, the Brihad Samhita of Varaha Mihira (5th and 6th century A.D.) and Brihad Sagara of Ballara Sena (10th and 11th century A.D.) have references about earthquakes. Dr. Bedekar said, “The reasons and zones of quakes had been classically mentioned in these texts,” adding that the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari was divided into four seismic zones. Dr. Bedekar said the four types of earthquakes were the Vayu type which causes the maximum damage, the Agni, Indra and Varuna types. Quakes and their intensity could also be found in texts of “Lokapakaram” in Kannada by Chamundrai, in 1025 A.D. China has kept the longest detailed records on earthquakes, going back more than 2,000 years, which has allowed their scientists to make a few accurate predictions.

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