Meghadhuta (Cloud Messenger) was written by Kalidasa in the fourth century CE. This portrays an exiled Yaksha (a benevolent nature spirit) and a cloud, which was perched on a peak. He asks the cloud to take a message of love to his wife in the Himalayan city of Alaka. The Yaksha then describes what the cloud would see.
‘After resting, move on while watering with fresh raindrops
the clusters of Jasmine buds that grow in gardens
on the banks of the forest rivers –
You have made a momentary acquaintance
with the flower-picking girls
By lending shade to their faces,
the lotuses at whose ears are withered and broken
as they wipe away the perspiration from their cheeks.’‘Even if you arrive at Mahakala at some other time,
O cloud, you should wait
Until the sun passes from the range of the eye.
Playing the honorable role of drum
at the evening offering to Shiva,
You will receive the full reward for
Your deep thunder.’
What happens is that the cloud itself becomes full of messages of love as it sees so many exquisite sights on its way. This is an ancient poem which resonates with all of us. It depicts the poet’s deep understanding of nature and geography. It gives a detailed description of the flora and fauna. It is a story never to forget. The clouds are responsible for maintaining the biodiversity on earth.
We do not comprehend clearly our relationship with clouds. Our link to them is very powerful for sustainability of life on earth. Clouds are composed of water vapors which evaporate from Earth into the atmosphere. As air itself rises from earth to ether, it cools it. It cannot hold much water and grows saturated, with vapors condensing.
The water cycle
As this changes from gas to liquid, it forms tiny droplets which cling to particles in the sky, and this becomes visible as a cloud. Clouds play a vital role in the climate. As soon as clouds hit a mountain, they start to interact with the vegetation there. In mountainous locations, the forest on hills acts as filters, they sieve the clouds and get the rain or water back from these atmospheric formations into the land’s water cycle.
What are we doing about it? We are destroying our habitat by cutting down trees and distressing the existing ecosystems. The entire landscape is becoming dryer and dryer, and the cloud forests are impacted. We have to reduce our carbon footprints.
Aim Hrim Klim