The real reason to meditate and practice siddhis during an eclipse is
they become much more powerful. Maybe they should have held flying
sessions at the dome during the eclipse and people might float. :-D
On 04/15/2014 04:25 AM, Michael Jackson wrote:
Hindu Superstition that is TM Gospel through the ignorance of
believing Marshy was an infallible god:
Eclipse
Why should we follow the rituals during and after the eclipse and how
should they be followed?
How to remain pure during the eclipse?
Why should we take a bath after an eclipse?
Back to Main
Q.1 Why should we follow the rituals during and after the eclipse and
how should they be followed?
A. There are two types of eclipses: solar and lunar eclipses. When an
eclipse occurs, only certain regions of the world are affected. The
rule for following the eclipse ritual is as follows: if the eclipse
affects the region that you are living in, then you should follow the
rituals as prescribed by the scriptures. However, if the eclipse does
not affect your region, then you should not follow the rituals laid
out for the eclipse.
In the Shikshãpatri, Bhagwan Swaminarayan says:
At the time of a solar or lunar eclipse, instantly stop all activities
and chant the name of God in a purified state. After the eclipse,
householders should bathe with the clothes they are wearing and then
make donations according to their means. (Shik 86/87)
The Hindu scriptures, the Purãns (written by Ved Vyãs), narrate the
story of how the eclipse came into existence:
After the churning of the ocean by the devas (gods) and daityas
(demons), amrut - immortalizing the nectar - was produced. It so
happened that the demons got the nectar first, but the devas created
an apsarã (a beautiful celestial woman) called Mohini. She tricked the
demons and took the nectar away from them. Once the devas received the
amrut, they asked God to distribute the amrut to all the gods equally.
While God was serving everyone amrut, a demon, named Rãhu, through
yogic powers transformed himself into a deva and sat in line to
receive amrut and thus become immortal. He sat between the Sun-god and
the Moon-god. They both recognized the demon in the form of a deva.
When God unknowlingly served amrut to Rãhu, both the sun and the moon
revealed that it was a demon. So God beheaded Rãhu instantly with his
sudarshan chakra. But by the time God beheaded Rãhu he had drunk the
amrut. The amrut had reached Rãhu’s throat, making his head immortal.
Rãhu’s head thus became a planet. Since the Sun-god and the Moon-god
told God about Rãhu, Rãhu was deeply disappointed and nursed a hatred
for them. Therefore it is believed that during certain times of the
year Rãhu holds the sun and the moon by his mouth (grahan), hence the
existence of the solar and lunar eclipses.
The Shikshãpatri states that one should instantly stop all activities
and chant the name of God at the time of an eclipse. The reason for
doing so is to chant and pray to God for the release of the sun or the
moon from the grasp of Rãhu.
Be it a solar or lunar eclipse, the rules to follow before, during and
after the eclipse are as follows:
Before the eclipse:
One should not eat 12 hours before the solar eclipse begins. One can
drink water.
One should not eat 9 hours before the lunar eclipse begins. One can
drink water.
In addition, one should not offer meals to God during this pre-eclipse
period. However, one is allowed to perform arti, pray and sing
devotional songs during this period.
There may be times when the solar eclipse occurs before sunrise.
Therefore one may see the eclipse only after the sun has risen. In
this case, one should not eat after sunset the previous night.
During the eclipse:
While the eclipse is taking place one should sit in one place, chant
the name of God and sing devotional songs.
One should observe a waterless fast while the actual eclipse is in
progress.
After the eclipse:
One should take a bath with one’s clothes on immediately after the
eclipse.
It is best to take a bath in cold water after the eclipse is over.
The Satsangijivan, written by Shatãnand Muni, states that after one
purifies oneself, one should offer donations according to one’s
income. If donations are offered with love and devotion, one will
receive appropriate returns as stated in the scriptures. It is in the
joy of the Sun and/or Moon-god being released from the clutches of
Rãhu that the devotees offer donations. Since sadhus have no money,
they rejoice by performing puja.
