Mark Your Calendar: 5.30 am - 7.30 am Indian Standard Time (In the Hindu Calendar July 22 is also a no-moon day or 'Amavasya')
Map showing the track of the total solar eclipse over India (Courtesy: NASA Eclipse Website)
Where in India: The complete eclipse can be best seen from the Indian states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Major cities include Surat, Vadodara, Bhopal, Ujjain, Indore, Gaya, Varanasi, Patna, Darjeeling, Gangtok and Dibrugarh. The people of Mumbai, New Delhi can view only a partial eclipse.
Hindu Beliefs around Surya Grahan: Ancient Hindus believed that Rahu, the demon, gobbles up the Moon and the Sun (Chandra-Surya) causing Chandra Grahan (Lunar eclipse) and Surya Grahan (Solar eclipse). At this time Hindu temples, barring some Shiva temples, remain closed. However, Hindus are encouraged to chant several mantras, including the Gayatri Mantra or the Mahamrityunjay Mantra during the eclipse. Many Hindus throng to nearby sacred rivers to take a holy dip during the Surya Grahan. Some people observe fast before the eclipse; however, eating during the eclipse is prohibited in Hinduism. Pregnant women are barred from venturing outside their house to avoid coming in contact with harmful rays of the sun. Giving birth during Surya Grahan is considered highly inauspicious.
Astro Predictions: Vedic astrologers consider the occurring of three eclipses (lunar eclipse on July 7, solar eclipse on July 22, and another lunar eclipse on August 6) in a span of 30 days an ominous sign and predict that natural disasters, mass destruction or war may break out.
Caution: Do not look at the eclipse with bare eyes. Certified solar filters, sun-view goggles and indirect projection through a pinhole camera must be used to view the eclipse.
Bipin Saxena sent me this photo of the partial solar eclipse he clicked from his roof top in Delhi.
What a wonderful message on this historic event in a century.
Please keep up the goo work at Hinduism.about.com
Fantastic service from your side Mr.Das. I read almost all your emails. From now on, I will also try to send some feedback where I can.
Keep your efforts going.
Namashkar Dasji,
your articles are matchless and so are you in your knowledge..best wishesh to keep good work up.
Thx for the write ups on ashta samskara. When one grows up and settles abroad for long time these age old religious practices start fading and get hazed. When we re read about these practices it just removes the thin veil that has clogged these beliefs and we gear up for passing these practices to the generation next with proper explation. Thx keep it up
Dear Mr Das.
Thank you for posting your article.
Peopole may know that it is a very good practice to chant during the eclipse. each chant during the eclipse will be multiplied in its effects a 1000 times.
you may see the following link for special info for healing ones life during an eclipse.
Yours respectfuly
Yagish
Links:
http://www.getting-positive-karma-now.com/eclipse-healing-opportunity.html
and:
http://www.getting-positive-karma-now.com/solar-eclipse.html
wonder message about nature
Really great,so many religious facts have been made easy to understand.Please continue the excellent job you are doing,I always look forward to your mail, regards Eswar
Hello Mr. Das,
Fantastic explanation about Grahan, thank you for the inputs. Good work.
i appreciate your efforts to keep Indian population well informed about our heritage, great traditions and culture. keep it up
Mr. Das,
Your explanation is always so simple and wonderful.
I look forward to your emails on all topics.
Fantastic!
I have a quick question. If Rahu (the demon gobbles up the moon) how could there be Sun rays? Isn’t this confusing? It should be all dark. Please advise. Thanks.
Dear Das Bhai,
THANKS A MILLION, YOUR EMAIL ARE FANTASTIC, AND IT JUST SAYS EXACTLY WHAT MY NANIMA USED TO SAY BEFORE 62 YEARS. YOU ARE MOST INFORMATIVE AND BRILLIANT. KEEP UP GOOD WORK!
GOD BLESS YOU.
Jitender, Rahu and Ketu are demonic personifications in Hindu mythology. Actually, from an astrological perspective (Vedic Astronomy), Rahu and Ketu are nothing but magnetic points of forces where the path of the Earth’s revolution around the Sun and the path of the Moon’s revolution around the Earth intersect.
I have asked Subhamoy Das to write a detailed article on the mythological significance of Rahu and Ketu and I am sure he will enlighten us on it soon. Mr. Das, keep up the great work!
this is a wonderful time for our family
thanks a lot for info keep up the good work. naveen from fiji.
thank you for the much needed info and brilliant explanation.keep up the good work
Thanx heaps for your timely explanations on all topics. You’re a a genius! Keep up the good work and May Goddess Laxmi & God Ganesha bestow you with Good Health, Wealth & Prosperity. BEST OF LUCK!
Thank you sir, I had lot of misunderstanding out Grahan but you have cleared my mind. Hindusian is not to be scared of Gods or Grahan. It is the science of the universe and to admire it realty.
Excellent site with excellent topics..Keep up the good work Dass bhai
Dear Das,
Let me appreciate your wonderful work for the society. In this modern world most people are not aware of religeous principles and practices, especially in Hindus. Your work have made some kind of progress in this matter and i like to request you to make more and more efforts to spread the message of our religion (transparency and tolerence)to our people, with modern comparisons so that it can be more believable for them. Wish you good luck. God bless you.
Excellent information about eclipses in India.You have nbicely stated about the types of worship every person to offer during this time.This is a special type of praers and everybody should know as to how to offer prayers to almighty God.For more details please read my books on ‘Prayers of all Religions of the world
I appreciatge the manner in which you narated about this occasion.
Truly yours
Shankerprasad S Bhatt
Visit web site worldprayers.googlepages.com
my email ssbhatt79@gmail.com