FaithAlone.net

Scientific Errors in Hinduism - The Water Cycle

The Puranas present a water cycle which involves the sun evaporating water, then communicating that water to the moon, which then communicates that water to the earth:

Brahmanda Purana - Book 2, Chapter 22

13 In the course of his revolution, O Brāhmaṇas, he illuminates the quarters. With the mass of his rays and accompanied by the wind all round, the sun takes away the water of the entire world, O excellent Brāhmaṇas.
14 The moon transmits the entire water drunk by the sun. The torrential current of water (Downpour of rain) functions through Nāḍis (veinlike vessels) accompanied by the wind.
15 The water that oozes out of the moon remains in the food (i.e. plants and food crops).
16 Being obstructed by the wind, the clouds scatter water over the earth. Thus water is continuously raised up (i.e. turned into vapour) and dropped down.

Vayu Purana - Chapter 51

13 O Brahmanas, in the course of his revolution, the sun brightens the quarters by his brilliance. With the mass of his rays in the company of the wind all round, O excellent Brahmanas, the sun takes up the waters of the universe.
14 The water drunk in by the sun gets transferred to the moon from the solar fire. Through the Nadis (tubular veins) full of wind the activity of sustaining the worlds begins.
15 What exudes from the moon, the sun receives at its tips. When the wind blows the clouds let it shower on the earth.
16 Thus the water is poured and it falls again and again. The same water assumes various shapes.

Vishnu Purana - Book 2, Chapter 9

During eight months of the year the sun attracts the waters, which are the essence of all fluids, and then pours them upon earths (during the other four months) as rain: from rain grows corn; and by corn the whole world subsists.
The sun with his scorching rays absorbs the moisture of the earth, and with them nourishes the moon. The moon communicates, through tubes of air, its dews to the clouds, which, being composed of smoke, fire, and wind (or vapour), can retain the waters with which they are charged: they are therefore called Abhras, because their contents are not dispersed.
When however they are broken to pieces by the wind, then watery stores descend, bland, and freed front every impurity by the sweetening process of time.

Linga Purana - Book 1, Chapter 54

30 Presided over by him the sun, along with the wind, takes up water from everywhere.
31 The son of Uttānapāda attained the state of Dhruva, thanks to the favour of Viṣṇu. It was obtained by Auttānapāda on account of his father.
32 The waters drunk by the sun penetrate the moon gradually and from the moon they drip down to the clouds. On being tossed about by the wind, the cluster of clouds causes shower on the earth.
33 The word bhāskara (sun) is derived as follows: - [bhāsayet tena bhāskaraḥ] - (He who illuminates is bhāskara). There is no destruction of water. The same water revolves.

The above citations are correct in stating that the sun evaporates water. However, this water is not communicated to the moon. Rather, as the evaporated moisture rises, it cools, and condenses into clouds, eventually raining down to earth.

Throughout this process, of course, the water never gets anywhere near either the sun or the moon. It stays within earth's atmosphere. Therefore, this is another example of scientific error within Hinduism.