Story of Khana (Khona) is popular in Bengal and eastern parts of
India. She is believed to have lived during the 5th century AD. People
repeat her prophecies and sayings even today. Her sayings are related to agriculture,
climate, rain etc.
Legend has it that Khana was the daughter-in-law of
Varahamihira, who was a great astronomer and mathematician. He was a key member
of the royal court of Vikramaditya.
One day, Varahamihira returned home worried. On enquiry,
Khana found that the King wanted to know the number of stars in the sky and
Varahamihira was unable to answer it.
Khana easily solved the problem and Varahamihira went back
to the court with the answer.
The king then wanted to know the method used to find the
answer.
Varahamihira admitted to the king that Khana, his
daughter-in-law, worked out solution to the problem.
Vikramaditya then offered Khana a prestigious place in the royal
court.
But Khana thought her father-in-law could feel humiliated,
she cut off her tongue and became dumb.
Some of her sayings – If there is a dense fog in the month
of Chaitra, or if there is flood in the month of Bhadra, there will be natural
calamity during which human skulls will cover the earth.
If there, blows a southern wind in Ashada month, rest
assured there will be flood.