Today marks the first Solar Eclipse of the year. This eclipse will be partially visible in many countries, including some parts of India. There is a Hindu story on Grahan which I want to share with you all. The articles that I have read in the net and through books and few discourses that I have attended are the main source of this article. I may be totally wrong but this is my understanding of Grahan.
During the Samudra Manthan or Churning of Ocean episode in Puranas, the Amrit that was obtained from churning the ocean was stolen by the Asuras (Demons). Lord Vishnu then took the form of Mohini, a beautiful damsel, to win back the Amrit from the Asuras. Mohini got back the Amrit from the Asuras by enamoring them. The Asuras fell to her beauty and handed over the Amrit to her.
Mohini Roopi Sri Hari returned back to the Deva Log and started distributing the Amrit. The Lord asked everyone to form in two rows, one for Daithyas and one for other Gods. One Daithya by name Swarbhanu came in a disguise and sat among the row that was meant for the Gods. Lord Sun and Moon on seeing that Swarbhanu was not one among them, complained to Sri Hari. By then, the Amrit was already given to Swarbhanu.
Swarbhanu had made penance earlier asking for Amrit to be falling in his mouth. So, Sri Hari had knowingly given Amrit to Swarbhanu even though Swarbhanu disguised everyone and sat in the row meant for Gods. Sri Hari allowed the Amrit to be swallowed up to Swarbhanu’s mouth and then used his Sudharshana and removed the head of Swarbhanu. Sri Hari has fulfilled his promise given to Swarbhanu by dropping Amrit into his mouth, but did not allow it to enter beyond the mouth and yet at the same time punished him for sitting along with the Gods.
The Head of Swarbhanu was fixed to a Snake’s body to become “Rahu” and the other portion without the head is called as “Kethu”. The two-portioned Swarbhanu decided to take revenge against Surya and Chandra.
Thus periodically we have Rahu & Kethu waging a war Surya and Chandra. The Chandra Grahan (Lunar eclipse) and Surya Grahan (Solar eclipse) takes place when Kethu & Rahu gobbles up Moon and Sun respectively. Surya and Chandra ultimately fight to free themselves. This event is called as Rahugrahasta Suryagrahana for Solar Eclipse and Kethugrahasta Chandragrahana for Lunar Eclipse.
It is indeed a very interesting story from the Puranas. One might question such stories or laugh at these stories, considering the advancements in science. The Puranas often put forth complex theories and phenomenon in the form of Stories. It is for the reader to dive deep into it to find the real meaning.
Rahu and Kethu are not Planets. But they are often categorized along with other Planets. Rahu and Kethu are not celestial objects but they are celestial nodal points.
The moon’s orbit around the earth is slightly tilted. Hence, most of the time the moon is slightly away from the line connecting the Sun and the Earth. That is why we do not have an eclipse whenever there is a Full Moon or New Moon.
However when the moon happens to be at one of the two nodal points where its orbit cuts the Earth-Sun path, it will come directly in line connecting the Earth and the Sun. This is when an eclipse takes place. The position of the Moon, behind or front, decides whether it is Solar or Lunar eclipse.
Rahu and Kethu are nothing but these two nodal points. One nodal point is when the moon moves from the Northern Celestial sphere to the Southern Celestial sphere and the other nodal point is when the moon moves in the opposite direction.
The story in the Purana was meant as a way to explain a complex astronomical phenomenon in a simple way. Those who find only the literal meaning of the story will have nothing to learn or understand.
The Hindus have various restrictions on Do’s and Don’ts during the Eclipse period. Let us have a look at some of the common things
- We should stop taking any food atleast 9 -12 hours before the Eclipse. This period is called the Vedaramba. It is normally 9 hours prior to Chandra Grahan and 12 hours before Surya Grahan
- Take a bath (if possible holy bath) during the Eclipse period.
- Perform prayers for the Lord during the Eclipse Period. Also perform rituals like Tarpan for ancestors during the Eclipse Period. Grahan Period is called Parva Kaala and whatever prayers you perform during this period, the Punya is more.
- After the Eclipse is over, take one more bath.
- During the Grahan, the pregnant women are not supposed to come out of the house. Even the Sunlight, in case of Surya Grahan or Solar Eclipse should not be allowed to enter into the rooms in which the pregnant women live.
- Do not sleep during the Grahan Period.
- Avoid looking at the Sun Directly with naked eyes during the Solar Eclipse.
- Use Dharbha (Dried Grass) during eclipse time on top of Containers which are stored with Food Items or Water.
Let us now look at why they say these things should not be done.
Today, we know about the poisonous gases and atoms that surround the Sun. Assume all these that are trapped between the Sun and the Moon flares up after a few minutes of being compressed in a zone (When Sun and Moon falls in the same line). The outcome is high level of Radiation and possible removal of some particles of Oxygen from the Atmosphere. This is likely to cause some imbalance in the Nature.
Hence it is advised not to eat food that is exposed to the radiation caused by the Eclipse. The tolerance level could be different for the pregnant women and hence they are advised to be in closed doors during the Eclipse period. That is same reason to have a bath after the Eclipse period to purify from such radiations in the body.
Interestingly, Hindus advise the use of Dharbha (Dried Grass) on all the containers of Food Items and Water. Dharbha is considered to be pure as it is born from the body of Lord Varaha. It is also believed that Dharbha has powers to withstand radiation and does not allow it to penetrate on things that are kept below it. I am yet to find a scientific reasoning for this. I will surely share this once I get to know about it. If any of you know about this, please do let me know.
During the Samudra Manthan or Churning of Ocean episode in Puranas, the Amrit that was obtained from churning the ocean was stolen by the Asuras (Demons). Lord Vishnu then took the form of Mohini, a beautiful damsel, to win back the Amrit from the Asuras. Mohini got back the Amrit from the Asuras by enamoring them. The Asuras fell to her beauty and handed over the Amrit to her.
Mohini Roopi Sri Hari returned back to the Deva Log and started distributing the Amrit. The Lord asked everyone to form in two rows, one for Daithyas and one for other Gods. One Daithya by name Swarbhanu came in a disguise and sat among the row that was meant for the Gods. Lord Sun and Moon on seeing that Swarbhanu was not one among them, complained to Sri Hari. By then, the Amrit was already given to Swarbhanu.
Swarbhanu had made penance earlier asking for Amrit to be falling in his mouth. So, Sri Hari had knowingly given Amrit to Swarbhanu even though Swarbhanu disguised everyone and sat in the row meant for Gods. Sri Hari allowed the Amrit to be swallowed up to Swarbhanu’s mouth and then used his Sudharshana and removed the head of Swarbhanu. Sri Hari has fulfilled his promise given to Swarbhanu by dropping Amrit into his mouth, but did not allow it to enter beyond the mouth and yet at the same time punished him for sitting along with the Gods.
The Head of Swarbhanu was fixed to a Snake’s body to become “Rahu” and the other portion without the head is called as “Kethu”. The two-portioned Swarbhanu decided to take revenge against Surya and Chandra.
Thus periodically we have Rahu & Kethu waging a war Surya and Chandra. The Chandra Grahan (Lunar eclipse) and Surya Grahan (Solar eclipse) takes place when Kethu & Rahu gobbles up Moon and Sun respectively. Surya and Chandra ultimately fight to free themselves. This event is called as Rahugrahasta Suryagrahana for Solar Eclipse and Kethugrahasta Chandragrahana for Lunar Eclipse.
It is indeed a very interesting story from the Puranas. One might question such stories or laugh at these stories, considering the advancements in science. The Puranas often put forth complex theories and phenomenon in the form of Stories. It is for the reader to dive deep into it to find the real meaning.
Rahu and Kethu are not Planets. But they are often categorized along with other Planets. Rahu and Kethu are not celestial objects but they are celestial nodal points.
The moon’s orbit around the earth is slightly tilted. Hence, most of the time the moon is slightly away from the line connecting the Sun and the Earth. That is why we do not have an eclipse whenever there is a Full Moon or New Moon.
However when the moon happens to be at one of the two nodal points where its orbit cuts the Earth-Sun path, it will come directly in line connecting the Earth and the Sun. This is when an eclipse takes place. The position of the Moon, behind or front, decides whether it is Solar or Lunar eclipse.
Rahu and Kethu are nothing but these two nodal points. One nodal point is when the moon moves from the Northern Celestial sphere to the Southern Celestial sphere and the other nodal point is when the moon moves in the opposite direction.
The story in the Purana was meant as a way to explain a complex astronomical phenomenon in a simple way. Those who find only the literal meaning of the story will have nothing to learn or understand.
The Hindus have various restrictions on Do’s and Don’ts during the Eclipse period. Let us have a look at some of the common things
- We should stop taking any food atleast 9 -12 hours before the Eclipse. This period is called the Vedaramba. It is normally 9 hours prior to Chandra Grahan and 12 hours before Surya Grahan
- Take a bath (if possible holy bath) during the Eclipse period.
- Perform prayers for the Lord during the Eclipse Period. Also perform rituals like Tarpan for ancestors during the Eclipse Period. Grahan Period is called Parva Kaala and whatever prayers you perform during this period, the Punya is more.
- After the Eclipse is over, take one more bath.
- During the Grahan, the pregnant women are not supposed to come out of the house. Even the Sunlight, in case of Surya Grahan or Solar Eclipse should not be allowed to enter into the rooms in which the pregnant women live.
- Do not sleep during the Grahan Period.
- Avoid looking at the Sun Directly with naked eyes during the Solar Eclipse.
- Use Dharbha (Dried Grass) during eclipse time on top of Containers which are stored with Food Items or Water.
Let us now look at why they say these things should not be done.
Today, we know about the poisonous gases and atoms that surround the Sun. Assume all these that are trapped between the Sun and the Moon flares up after a few minutes of being compressed in a zone (When Sun and Moon falls in the same line). The outcome is high level of Radiation and possible removal of some particles of Oxygen from the Atmosphere. This is likely to cause some imbalance in the Nature.
Hence it is advised not to eat food that is exposed to the radiation caused by the Eclipse. The tolerance level could be different for the pregnant women and hence they are advised to be in closed doors during the Eclipse period. That is same reason to have a bath after the Eclipse period to purify from such radiations in the body.
Interestingly, Hindus advise the use of Dharbha (Dried Grass) on all the containers of Food Items and Water. Dharbha is considered to be pure as it is born from the body of Lord Varaha. It is also believed that Dharbha has powers to withstand radiation and does not allow it to penetrate on things that are kept below it. I am yet to find a scientific reasoning for this. I will surely share this once I get to know about it. If any of you know about this, please do let me know.
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Good presentation with unwanted compromises. Its not a Hindu story , its truth. Rahu is the Black planet 80000 miles high. Rahu, was the son of Simikha, powerful demon. Rahu was given planet status because he got boon from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. whatever given in vedas and scriptures we can present straightaway. no need of compromises to please somebody.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback. I have not compromised anything for anyone. I have just put across the way I understood it. As I mentioned earlier in my Post, I may be wrong in my understanding and I am open to correct myself. That is how we all evolve. Keep your feedbacks coming for all my posts. This helps me a lot.
ReplyDeleteexcellent research ,Iam very interested to know all the scientific reasons to all Hindu traditional beliefs and U r in the same way. I hope that U may share Ur knowledge, keep going and all the best
ReplyDelete