Astrology and Spirituality- Eclipses

   By KVRK Bhargav 

 (Bhargav is a student of Swami who after completing his B.Tech in Textile Engineering graduated with an MBA from the the Sri Sathya Sai University in 2001. Ever since, he has had the great fortune of waiting for Swami’s direct guidance. He has been blessed with many interactions with Swami and he pursues astrology as a hobby to understand how it complements and dovetails spirituality. He shares his insights on how the planets are not causes of fear; rather they all serve the common goal of prodding man towards his spiritual destiny of Self Realization)

 Swami sitting majestically in the bhajan hall throne, waiting for bhajans to start, beckoned one boy and enquired,  " Is there any special event tonight?The boy  kneeling down with folded hands, replied, "I don't know Swami".
Swami quickly rejoined commandingly, "Dunnapota ! Tonight there is a lunar eclipse, spend the night in prayer, small spiritual sadhana at this time can give rich dividends." That night all students did combined prayers during the eclipse time as it was the command of the divine master.

Eclipses have fascinated man since time immemorial. Eclipses and their influence on collective human consciousness is always steeped in mystery and many legends and myths have been born with them as the central theme. Let us try and unravel the mystery behind it.

Solar Eclipse geometry

Eclipses, talking purely from astronomical point of view, are occurrences  due to the relative placement of Sun, Moon and our planet Earth. Lunar eclipse takes  place on a full moon day when shadow of earth falls on the moon obscuring it from our view. Similarly, solar eclipse occurs on a new moon day when moon comes between sun and earth.

Rahu devouring sun

Ancient sages and philosophers had perfect knowledge of eclipses and their exact occurrence due to the science of astrology. Astrologically the nodes of moon Rahu and Ketu cause the eclipses. An eclipse happens when the sun, moon and the axis of Rahu and Ketu overlap. In Indian mythology, a symbolism of a snake is used to represent Rahu and Ketu which gulp down the Sun and Moon during their respective eclipses.
 The level of science was so advanced that our ancient vedic scholars were able to predict the exact occurrence, the duration and the effects of it on human beings with utmost precision. The modern science which generally deals with the physical and gross world has gained laudable expertise regarding the prediction and duration of eclipses. But when it comes to its subtle effects on human personality, mental framework and collective human affairs it falls woefully short.

Sun in astrological terminology represents the soul and the digestive fire and Moon represents the mind and the body fluids like the lymph and blood. When there is an obscuring of these planets in the gross level they exert a considerable influence on their subtle significations. The reason for exponential increase in anti social activities during lunar eclipse speaks for the influence moon exerts on human mind. Vedic wisdom suggests that we should spend this time in doing prayers and meditation as this time is very conducive for spiritual uplift. There is also a strict regimen which has to be followed regarding diet. I recall one instance in  my college days, when Swami specially sent word that the dinner session should be postponed from the usual 7:30pm to 10:00pm till the moon was released from the clutches of Rahu and Ketu. Subsequently, all the utensils were washed thoroughly and cooking commenced and we had dinner at around 10:30pm.

Ida, Pingala and Sushmana nadis and the chakras

A possible reason which I contemplate might be that the nadis Ida and Pingala which represent the lunar and solar energies in our body meet the central Sushmana nadi at the solar plexus(Manipura Chakra) and again at the brow chakra(Ajna Chakra), the two principal chakras in the body. During an eclipse the solar and lunar energies go little out of balance, mainly affecting the digestive fire at solar plexus at Manipura Chakra and the mind at the brow centre, the Ajna Chakra.
So our ancient wisdom suggests that we fast to exert minimum load on our digestive system and do spiritual sadhana to energize our mind with positive vibrations.

Darbha grass

 It is also said food items get contaminated, when the rays emanating during the time of eclipse pervade the atmosphere. Herein lies the utility and value of Darbha grass. Darbha / Kusha grass grows freely in hot and dry places. It is said that a single Darbha grass kept in food items,  protects the food from harmful affects of eclipse. Darbha grass is also used in many religious functions. It has even been proved scientifically that even X-ray radiation can be absorbed by Darbha grass. This grass should be freely used to protect foodstuffs during times of eclipse.
Let us now throw some light on the aspect of who should see and who should not see the eclipse. Every eclipse falls in a particular nakshatra of the zodiac. Individuals born in that nakshatra and those born in the corresponding triads of that nakshatra should avoid getting exposed to the rays of a particular eclipse. The triads are:
Aswini- Magha-Moola, Bharani-Poorva Phalguni- Poorva Ashadha, Krittika-Uttara Phalguni-Uttara Ashadha, Rohini-Hasta-Sravana, Mrigasira-Chitra-Dhanistha, Arudra-Swati-Satabhishak, Punarvasu-Vishaka-Poorva Bhadra, Pushya-Anuradha-Uttara Bhadra, Aslesha-Jyestha-Revati.
Eclipse falling in any one of the three forbades the individuals of all the three nakshatras to view it.

Regarding the prayers, the best and universal prayer is Gayatri mantra. One can even chant the mantras of their chosen deities and the mantras which an individual is initiated into by his preceptor. The practice of taking bath before and after the eclipse is also recommended by our  pandits. This is a special time when one can achieve mastery over a mantra, known as mantra siddhi, due to manifold increase in the potency of any spiritual endeavour undertaken during an eclipse.

When a native takes birth during an eclipse, he or she becomes sensitive to unseen realms and other realities, but at the same time makes the native prone to emotional and psychological disturbances, isolation, fears and phobias. In rare cases this birth bestows on the native keen psychological, philosophical and spiritual insights. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was believed to be born on a lunar eclipse.
Finally, one more clarification is that the effect of the eclipse is felt only when it is visible to your part of the world.

Great astrologerVarahamihira says in his magnum opus Brihat Samhita on astrology, "People knew how eclipses were formed.They knew that they were not formed by the snakes.The snake- connection is an allusion to drive home the message of conflict between spiritual (Ketu) and material (Rahu) wishes by which our life is entangled with the snakes trying to gulp our soul(sun) and mind (moon)."