Water, rain and rivers in a dream: what the old books say
On water in a dream the two old books do not speak with one voice: bathing or swimming in a river, a full pot, the Ganga in flood, and crossing the sea by ship to the shore all read well, while the Kanavu Nool (v.29) puts "water and a long river" in its not-favourable list and the Kana Nool (v.24) reads a downpour as a sign of quarrels.
Source: Kanavu Nool, Chennai 1880 (v.8, 14, 25, 26, 29, 31); Kana Nool, Madurai 1903 (v.12, 16, 24, 26, 29). In our own words
These are traditional beliefs from two old printed books, not predictions. The books sometimes give harsher readings than these, and we do not reproduce them. "Not favourable" here means only that tradition reads a minor setback.
Where the two books differ
Water is where the two books contradict each other most. In the Kanavu Nool, swimming a river in heavy rain (v.8), crossing the sea by ship (v.14), the Ganga in flood (v.26) and eating snacks in a drizzle (v.31) all read well, yet its own verse 29 puts water in the not-favourable list (one word of that verse is not certain). The Kana Nool also reads rivers and the sea well, and only a downpour differently. So no single "good" or "bad" fits this page.
What the books say
Beside each line is the book, verse (v.) and page (p.): 1880 is the Kanavu Nool, 1903 the Kana Nool. Both labels together mean both books say it.
- Good by tradition Bathing in a river: Troubles ease 1903 v.26, p.6
- Good by tradition Swimming in a river in new or white clothes: Health improves. The two books agree here 1880 v.8, p.4 · 1903 v.29, p.7
- Good by tradition Seeing the Ganga in flood: Overflowing wealth and fame 1880 v.26, p.7
- Good by tradition Seeing a full water-pot: Plenty comes 1880 v.25, p.7 · 1880 v.26, p.7
- Good by tradition Boarding a ship and reaching the shore across the open sea: Well-being and wealth (Kana Nool: going abroad and returning with wealth). The two books agree 1880 v.14, p.5 · 1903 v.16, p.5
- Good by tradition Sharing favourite snacks while clouds drizzle: A good outcome 1880 v.31, p.8
- Good by tradition Seeing a rain of arrows on a battlefield: The book says real rain will fall 1903 v.12, p.4
- Not favourable Water, a long river, buttermilk or cotton seen in a dream without rain: Tradition reads a minor setback 1880 v.29, p.8
- Not favourable Seeing clouds pour rain everywhere: Tradition reads a quarrel 1903 v.24, p.6
What the books leave out
The books have no separate line for drinking water, a pot breaking, water entering the house, or being swept away in a flood. The word "kaarilaatha" in Kanavu Nool v.29 is clear on the page but its sense is not certain; we have read it as "a dream without rain", not as a certainty.
Frequently asked
Is water in a dream good?
Mostly yes in the books: bathing or swimming in a river, a full pot, the Ganga in flood and a sea voyage all read well. But Kanavu Nool v.29 puts water in the not-favourable list, so the books differ even within themselves, and we show this as "mixed".
What does rain in a dream mean?
The Kanavu Nool has no line on rain by itself; swimming a river in heavy rain (v.8) and sharing snacks in a drizzle (v.31) are scenes it reads well. The Kana Nool reads clouds pouring everywhere as a sign of quarrels (v.24). Since they differ, this is marked "the books differ".
What about a pot of water in a dream?
Kanavu Nool v.25 and 26 read seeing a full pot as good. Drinking the water is not a separate scene in either book.
