By Dr. K.V. Seshadrinatha Sastri
Lunar eclipse, as per astronomy, occurs when the Earth casts a shadow on the Moon. This phenomenon is referred to by many of the ancient scriptures – starting from the Vedas. ‘Brihat Samhita’ (the oldest among the classical astrology texts) and ‘Chandra Graha Ganitha’ (a classical astronomy text) emphasize that Rahu (one of the lunar nodes) hides the Moon owing to its position on Earth. The Puranic scriptures too narrate this in the form of a story.
It is considered as event of significance because even modern science accepts that all animate and inanimate things do get influenced by the invisible rays that are emitted during the eclipse. During the Full Moon days, high tidal waves are witnessed in the seas, whereas the entire surface of the sea is known to be relatively calm during the eclipses. Some studies have claimed that people who suffer from epilepsy get affected more on such days. Pregnant women are also asked to be cautious, as certain research findings have indicated that the radiations can possibly affect the baby in the womb.
The human body is said to experience a sudden dip in energy levels during this time. Therefore, Dharma Shastra (Vedic conduct) prescribes in detail the appropriate activities to be done for the optimal utilization of this celestial time period.
Instead of activities that require more of physical involvement, focus is given to those activities that relax the entire body and result in peace of mind. One such recommended activity is to have a shower during the start of the eclipse. This can soothe the body, calm the mind and conserve one’s energy levels. Another activity that anyone can do is to mentally contemplate on the chosen form/symbol of a higher power or a personal deity, and chant their mantra or sacred sound.
It is also advised not to consume food during the eclipse time, due to a marked decline in the digestive power during this period. However, patients, pregnant women, aged persons, babies and children, who cannot remain without food for a long time or whose bodily functions will get disrupted without intake of food, are exempted.
One can safely have food at least 4 hours before the start of the lunar eclipse. This is so because the digestive juices start secreting as soon as the food is taken in and thereafter, it takes 4 hours for complete digestion to take place. After the eclipse is over, one should take bath again and can consume food immediately.
Due to the effect of the invisible rays, it becomes important to safeguard items of daily use (such as milk, curd, and so on) from these radiations. For this reason, a piece of Darbha grass (renowned for high spiritual energy and anti-radiation properties) should be placed on each of these items 3 hours before the eclipse starts and can be removed after the eclipse is over. Also, watching the eclipse with naked eyes is not advised.
Since the impact of the eclipse on the Moon remains up to 3 days after the eclipse, therefore any ceremony for worldly pleasures or benefits should be conducted only after 3 days. If death anniversary (as per the lunar month) falls on the lunar eclipse day, it should be observed only on the next day.
On the lunar eclipse day, acts of charity are encouraged so that they bestow contentment to the donor, bring happiness to the receiver and also enhance one’s good karma (merit). It is a very auspicious time, as per Vedic Astrology, to start any spiritual practice. Propitiating one’s ancestors yields the best results when one performs the ancestral ritual called Tarpanam during the peak of the eclipse (when the Moon enters its waning phase).
In India, this lunar eclipse starts at 11:52 pm on June 15th, reaches its peak at 1:45 am on June 16th and concludes at 3:32 am on June 16th. Astrologically, this can impact persons born under specific stars and suitable Vedic remedies are prescribed for these stars. Moreover, the eclipse might have sudden, erratic and widespread effect on flora, fauna and the atmosphere.
Therefore, it is important to utilize this unique time to channelize our minds towards those activities and rituals that that concur on scientific and spiritual lines, and bring only positive benefits for everyone.
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The author serves as Member, Advisory Board, Astrology and Vedic Services, AstroVed.com. He is a distinguished Astrologer, eminent Ayurvedic Doctor, and former Principal of Sanskrit College, Madras.
Chennai, June 4th, 2011: From cricketing star Sachin Tendulkar to Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, there is a serpentine list of people who have reportedly performed the Rahu-Ketu Pooja to tame these astrological snake planets.
“An important day to perform this Pooja is June 6th, when Rahu and Ketu move into the signs Scorpio and Taurus respectively. This transit can spell favorable or unfavorable times for you depending on how these 2 Nodes of the Moon are positioned in your astrological chart”, says Maya Benkovich, Director, AstroVed (www.astroved.com), an online service provider in the area of Vedic Sciences.
Rahu is often shown as head of a demon without a body and represents obsession with material desires. On the other hand, Ketu is denoted as the demon’s headless body and signifies withdrawal from the world. Together, they represent the push and pull of 2 opposing forces that allow human beings to experience life in its entirety. No wonder, sudden and unpredictable changes in life are usually attributed to Rahu and Ketu.
To bring relief from the so-called ‘dreaded bite’ of these planets, special ceremonies have been commissioned on June 6th by AstroVed. Two back-to-back fire rituals for Rahu and Ketu will be webcast LIVE on www.astroved.com for those who wish to participate in these rituals.
Apart from these, Vedic rituals will be organized on June 6th at important powerspots in South India – Thirunageswaram, Keelaperumpallam and Thirupamburam (here Rahu and Ketu are present as a single physical form resembling very much the human DNA strand).
Interestingly, mythology presents a great remedy to take the sting out of the Rahu-Ketu effect. “As per scriptures, Vishnu had used his Sudarshana Chakra (divine discus) to cut the demon into halves, which then became Rahu and Ketu. Therefore, Sudarshana Yantra is considered an effective safeguard against the malefic influence of the snake planets”, informs Ram Kumar, Vedic Astrologer, AstroVed.
A lesser-known scientific rationale explains the phenomenon of Rahu and Ketu. The seven colors in the visible spectrum of light are known to correspond to the energy vibration of the planets in Astrology. The Infra-red rays and Ultaviolet light, which fall at the extremes of the visible spectrum, actually represent Rahu and Ketu respectively.
Like these invisible rays, Rahu and Ketu too signify their hidden impact on human affairs and warn us of the changes that lie ahead. Perhaps, it is their ‘hiss’ rather than the ‘bite’ that people should be wary of during the upcoming transit on June 6th.
Chennai, 31 March 2011: To ensure that India wins its second Cricket World Cup and its first ever on home soil, Astroved, a leading online service provider in Vedic Sciences and Vedic Astrology, is conducting a unique and grand fire ritual in Anna Nagar, Chennai immediately before the Finals of Cricket World Cup 2011 on Saturday, April 2nd.
“We will be performing the Victory Ritual few hours before the toss, followed by a non-stop chanting of success-granting Vedic mantras until the end of the match. Such a ceremony has never been attempted before, and any cricket lover will be able to see the ritual LIVE and offer their prayers from the comforts of their home”, says Jyoti Benkovich, Director, Astroved. The company is reported to have conducted a Cricket Homa (fire ritual) before the start of the World Cup, and has been doing a special Pooja (Vedic ritual) on the eve of every India match, to wish good luck to Dhoni’s Men in Blue.
The specialty of this Victory Ritual, as per the Vedic experts, is that it will invoke powerful energies of 6 popular Hindu Gods of Victory, each one bringing a unique and special quality that can help Team India conquer the final frontier. Hanuman, the monkey-faced God, is known to make the ‘impossible’ possible and can impart Indian bowlers with immense confidence before the big match. Veerabhadra, the ferocious commander-in-chief of Shiva’s army, can help the Indian batsmen instill fear in the opposition’s mind.
Karuppasamy, the dark God riding on a horse, is said to bring fast results and help the Indian captain make the right decisions at the right time. Muruga rules over Mars, which governs competitive sports; he can lend stamina to the Indian fielders to put in their best to save runs on the ground. Trivikrama is the form of Vishnu who decimated the demon king Bali, and can inspire the whole team to mentally dominate their Sinhalese rivals. Goddess Durga has the power to remove obstacles of every kind and can help India successfully overcome the challenge offered by Sri Lanka.
“Fire ritual is a divine technology that does not require your belief in order for it to be effective. Fire rituals are elemental invocations of archetypal energies. Such archetypes represent a particular energy that vibrates within us. This ancient ritual brings those energies alive in our conscious and allows them to flourish into our lives”, says Dr. Baskaran Pillai, an international Vedic expert and scholar-mystic.
Fire rituals create a powerful electromagnetic field, with favorable biological and environmental impact. Chanting Vedic mantras with the correct tone produce sound waves and sonic vibrations of high potential, while the special herbs offered in the fire produce strong bio-magnetic energy. Use of cow dung in fire rituals is a proven technology to counter even the nuclear radiations. The positive energy so released is known to traverse and benefit people across any barriers of space.
“Before any Vedic ritual, normally a ‘sankalpam’ is done where the priest declares the intention of performing the ritual. This is important for the outcome of the ritual. However, only a right Vedic ceremony done at the right time using the right ingredients by the right priest with the right intention is known to bring in the desired results”, shared Ram Kumar, a Vedic expert.
People can participate in the prayers for the Indian team by watching the LIVE webcast of the Victory Ritual on www.astroved.com from 12 Noon to 1:30 PM (IST) on April 2nd. They will also be encouraged to help the Real India win by raising a billion prayers for the homeless millions. HoPE Town, the company’s non-profit initiative, will build the communities of tomorrow where the Real India will live.
The collective wishes of the fans along with the goodwill towards the underprivileged might actually see Dhoni’s Men in Blue bring home the World Cup at Tendulkar’s home ground.