Before I bid goodbye to 2019, I was lucky to
witness the last solar eclipse of the decade, the celestial wonder. Thursday morning was an absolute
treat for astronomers and avid sky-watchers like me, as the Annular Solar
Eclipse was very stunning to witness. This was the
biggest astronomical phenomenon ever and many other avid sky watchers witnessed
it across the world.
This Ring of Fire was visible across most part
of South Asia and the Middle East, including India, Australia, the Philippines,
Saudi Arabia and Singapore. It was visible across the US for the first time
after 99 years. The passing of the Sun's light from the Moon formed a negative
shadow, which looked like a ring of fire. It was significant being the
last solar eclipse of the decade and also a rare one.
Eclipses have always been considered a
significant celestial event by Hindus, since time immemorial and this year gave
us a number of opportunities to witness the beautiful phenomenon.
As per Hindu mythology, the sun
is worshipped as a major life force, but during an eclipse it disappears,
making it an omen of all things evil. Therefore, eclipses are considered to be
inauspicious by Hindus. To minimise the negative effects of this natural
phenomenon, we Hindus do a number of rituals.
But before I tell you about some rituals that I
followed this year, do you know, there is a story behind this phenomenon in
Hindu mythology, which clearly gives a reason as to why the eclipse occurs.
Well, if you haven’t heard about it yet, here’s a small version that I heard
from my mom, when I was a kid.
The Story Of Eclipse
As described in Bhagwat Gita and Vishnu Purana,
the story of eclipses in Hindu mythology dates back to Samudra Manthan, when the elixir of immortality was
churned out of the ocean and the gods used the celestial nymph or Apsara Mohini to trick
the devils out of their share.
One of the devils, Asura Svarbhanu,
disguised himself as a god and sat between the Moon and the Sun for a drink of
the elixir. But when Apsara Mohini (Lord Vishnu)
came closer, the Moon and the Sun revealed that Asura Svarbhanu was a
demon. However, till then, the devil had already sipped on the drink. So, Lord
Vishnu immediately cut off his head, but since the demon had already
swallowed a bit of the nectar, his head became immortal.
According to the story, the head is known as Rahu
and the detached body is known as Ketu. The demon swore vengeance against the Moon
and the Sun for depriving him of the elixir. So, as per the mythology Rahu keeps
swallowing the Sun and the Moon, from time to time, but the incident doesn't
last long as Rahu has no hands to grab onto these two celestial gods.
Hindu Rituals That Help Minimize Eclipse Effects
Rahu kaal is considered to be very inauspicious. As per Hindu Vedas, harmful
agents are at play during eclipses and therefore, every action should be guided
by utmost caution. Scientifically, absence of sun rays increases the amount of
germs and bacteria in the atmosphere. Therefore, there are certain do’s and
don’ts that must be followed.
During an eclipse, worshipping or touching gods
is completely forbidden. Usually, in all temples, the doors are closed during the
eclipse and once the phenomenon is over, the idols are washed with the sacred
water of Ganga river to purify them. I followed the same at home. Once the
eclipse was over, I took bath, put on fresh clothes, washed all the idols and
oil lamps, and finally offered my prayers to God.
Pregnant women are considered to be susceptible
to the evil forces during an eclipse. They should abstain from cutting
vegetables or stitching clothes or even sitting with their legs crossed (as
believed in my family).
No food is cooked during the eclipse and leftovers
are finished a day before. I left Indian basil leaves or Tulsi in all the cooked
food items so that the sacred leaves could help minimalize the eclipse effect. I
was actually on a waterless fast, while the annular eclipse was in progress.
People in olden days, also forbid sleeping,
urination, defecation, sexual intercourse and makeup during this natural
phenomenon. They believed that chanting mantras, singing devotional songs and meditation helped reduce the evil
effect.
When
Eclipse is Over…
Taking bath
in sacred Ganga river is supposed to counter the evil effects. Otherwise, people
should take bath after the eclipse, and change into fresh & clean clothes. It
is believed that the earth is plunged into darkness during an eclipse, which symbolizes
impurity. Hence, sitting in one place and chanting the name of God is
considered very good during the eclipse. Once it is over, light returns back to
the earth and to rejoice, one has to cleanse the impurity that darkness
brought. So, we should worship God and offer donations, if possible.
Superstition or No Superstition
The eclipse astrologically affects certain
constellations and many Hindus do believe that this phenomenon affects their
stars and their health. But for now, whatever I talk about eclipse other than
astronomy, many people may consider it as a superstition.
However,
the truth is Hindus have more than a 10,000 year of existence on earth and we
have followed many practices since then. Science is gradually unravelling these
mysteries which are considered as factual cultures and habits. As we all have
witnessed that there is total obeisance to the age old traditions by
Hindus.
As for my
belief in our age old traditions, I may not visit temples or chant mantras
whole day, but I do fast and try to meditate for a while during the eclipse,
just to feel my inner strength.
