Surya- Chandra Grahan
(Solar-Lunar Eclipse)

Grahan means to grab or to cover. During full moon when the planets like Rahu or Ketu enter the shadowy region of the earth and cover the, moon either partially or totally it is called Chandra Grahan. Similarly, when the planets enter the shadowy region of the moon and block the view of the sun either partially or totally it is called Surya Grahan (solar eclipse), In other words, when the shadow of the moon falls upon the sun it is not visible from the earth and it is called solar eclipse or surya grahan and when the shadow of the earth falls upon the moon the moon is not visible from the earth which is called lunar eclipse or chandra grahan. During surya grahan the moon comes in between the sun and the earth and during chandra. grahan the earth' comes in between the sun and the moon. The variation in the movements of these planets cause either partial or total eclipse on earth, Modern scientists consider planets as inanimate objects but spiritualists consider them as animate. They believe that the planets Rahu and Ketu are very powerful because they have been blessed by Lord Shankar and it is their conscious shadows that are responsible for solar and lunar eclipses.

Now before going through the effect of grahan on us, it is imperative, first of all, to know that this earth is filled with oxygen and carbon dioxide which the scientists term as positive and negative gases. The planet with maximum of oxygen is life sustaining and the planet with maximum of carbon dioxide is life destroyer, In other words, we find life in the planet where there is maximum of oxygen and vice versa.

Our wise ancestors clearly understood that our earth sometimes became life sustainer and sometimes life destroyer due to its movement and interaction with different other planets and heavenly bodies. Hindu scripture abounds with information and instructions as to which planet or heavenly body affects which part of the earth and at what time of the year so they have provided us with counter measures and prohibitions to be opted during that phase of the earth. Brihaspati is considered to be the main container of oxygen and sani (saturn) the store house of carbondioxide. Scientists believe that beside twelveth part the rest of the sun contains life sustaining oxygen gas and the numerous black spots seen on it contain carbondioxide. So the waning moon, nearing new moon,. receives, maximum of carbondioxide and the waxing moon receives maximum of oxygen.

Rahu and Ketu are shadowy planets, they always cause eclipses both solar and lunar and always act as intensifying ~gent of carbondioxide in the universe.

Therefore, the Hindu seriphere suggests to restore to such ritualistic activities as going for pilgrimage, bathing in sacred rivers like Ganga and yamuna, enchanting vedic mantras, making of generous donations to the Brahamins and the needy, specially during eclipses and Whenever the different parts of the earth are affected by the poisonous elements of other heavenly bodies

Another important thing, to be noted, is that, as different bodily organs such as nose, ear eyes etc. take a specific and definite place in human body, similarly different organs have been imagined on the body of the earth. Kuruchetra has been imagined as the heart and Kashi in Banaras as mind. The sun develops the brain and the moon the mind.

The ved, through its mantra "Chaudrama manasho jatsachatro; Surya ajayat etc. "wants to tell us that the moon was born from the heart of God Birat and the sun from his eyes. This means that the mind of a living being is affected by the moon and the ray emited by the moon during lunar eclipse is blocked by Rahu and Ketu thereby weakening the mental strength of a man to a great extent, consequently different mental and physical aliments may develop in him. Therefore ritualistic performance as stated earlier are very beneficial for him during such eclipses. Similarly, during solar eclipse the ray of the sun is again blocked by these heavenly bodies Rahu and Ketu to a great extent causing weakness of the heart and facilating heart complication in many. Therefore, to avoid and avert such unforeseen consequences the scripture advises us to visit Kuruchetra for pilgrimage.

Supporting the above tradition Paraskar and Atharvaveda also have said, "Ved tay Bhumi, hirdaya divi Chandramashi tritam" - meaning, Oh earth! do you know that your heart or your mind depends upon the moon? and "Himwat praswanti Singhaw Samuhay sangam. Apo na madya tachaivirthdan hidiyat Vesjam". or "Let the holy water of the Himalayas, that flows down in the form of river Ganga and Yamuna and that which can wash away my sins, provide for me penecca for all types of heart aliments".

For spiritual and mental development Gautam Buddha started his "Dharma Chakra” in Sarnath in Kashi. Saints like Gaushami Tulsidas, Kabir Das etc. earned their name and fame from Kashi and even today the importance of this place has not diminished. Even the scriptures describe the water of River Ganga as medicinal and suggest bathing with this water at Kashi during eclipses. This is a scientific way of preventing heart ailments and mind that may be caused due to ill effect of eclipses and not just a baseless superstition.

In villages people beat drums, tins and different utensils and other sounding metals shonting 'Chorday, Chamar (Cabbler) during eclipses. Although this tradition has no scientific base, it shows a sense of fellow feeling and supportive attitude during hard times and troubles of others. Various assumptions and guesses regarding the reason and cause of eclipse are found in Hindu culture. Among them the most popular is the one which tells, that Rahu, once was drinking amrit hiding himself among the group of Gods without being notice by anybody. The sun and the moon who saw Rahu's clandestine act went to Lord Bishnu and complained him about this. Lord Bishnu as a punishment, beheaded Rahu for his offence but fortunately the blessed potion that he had drunk had just reached his throat so Rahu did not die instantly, instead his head remained as Rahu and the body became Ketu. To take revenge to the sun and the moon Rahu and Ketu, during new and full moon still pester and harass the sun and the moon in the form of eclipses.

Although there are other various explanations for the cause of eclipse, one thing is . certain, that is, the donations and alms made out and the incantation of mantras during eclipses has the approval of Hindu sastra which they believe never go wasted.