Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!

LUNAR ECLIPSE – DECEMBER’ 2009

(Chandra Grahana)

Lunar eclipse is caused by the entering of the Moon into the earth-shadow. When the
Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, the shadow of the Earth covers the Moon
producing a Lunar Eclipse. The light of the Moon is darkened temporarily. It occurs
on a full moon day when the Moon is directly opposite to the Sun.

A partial Lunar Eclipse is going to take place on 31st December 2009 on the threshold
of the New Year 2010. This is the last eclipse for the year 2009. It is visible all over
India and in some other countries like Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. It is a minor
partial Lunar Eclipse not visible to the naked eye.
Schedule of Current Lunar Eclipse
• Date of Eclipse: Mid night of 31st December, 2009 (Thursday)
• Type of Eclipse: Partial Lunar Eclipse (Kethu Grastha Chandra Grahanam)
• Visibility: Visible across the country
• Eclipse Time: From 00.23 hrs to 01.23 hrs IST (01.01.2010 - Friday)
• Duration of the eclipse: 01.00 hr
• Vedha (inauspicious period): From15.23 hrs (31.12.09) to 01.23 hrs (01.1.2010)
• Parva Kala: One hour (From 00.23 hrs to 01.23 hrs)
Food restriction for those who can afford starts from 15.23 hrs of 31st December’2009.
Pregnant women, children, old people, medically unfit have exemptions in timings of
food restriction. As far as possible avoid taking food during eclipse time.
Astrological details of the Eclipse

Eclipse is occurring in Dakshinayana in the Lunar month of Pushya Masam (Solar Month
Dhanurmasam) on the Full Moon day (Pournima). It is called as Kethu Grastha
Chandra Grahanam (Moon's descending node Kethu involved)

• Eclipse Constellation: Ardra (Star Lord - Rahu)

• Eclipse sign: Mithuna Raasi (Gemini) – Sign Lord - Mercury
• Stars in the Eclipse sign: Mrigasira (3 & 4), Ardra, and Punarvasu (1, 2, &3)
• Planets in the Eclipse sign: Moon and Kethu
Implications
Rahu, the star Lord of Ardra, is inimical to the Moon who is currently transiting in
Dhanus Raasi diagonally opposite to and aspecting the eclipse sign. At the time of
Eclipse four Planets Rahu, Sun, Venus and Mercury will be positioned in Dhanus Raasi,
7th house from the Eclipse sign and aspecting the same. Gemini sign (Mithuna Raasi) is
currently undergoing Ardhaastama Sani effect, (Saturn’s 2 ½ years sojourn) with
Saturn aspecting the eclipse sign. Based on the planetary positioning at the time of
Eclipse adverse effect is indicated more on the natives belonging to Ardra Star and
the zodiac sign Mithuna Raasi (Gemini).

Effect of Eclipse on the zodiac signs

Simha, Kanya, Makara, Mesha (Leo, Virgo, Capricorn and Aries) - Good results are
indicated
Thula, Dhanus, Kumbha, Vrushabha (Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius and Taurus) – Mixed
results are indicated
Mithuna, Karkataka, Vrischika, Meena (Gemini, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces) - Negative
results are indicated
Suggested Remedies:
Those belonging to Mithuna Raasi and Ardra star in particular should donate to a
Brahmin on the next day, one Bronze/Copper plate (filled with ghee) + Chandra Bimba
& Naga Bimba (silver) + 1 mtr length multi coloured cloth after prayer along with
Rice, Black Urad, Horse Gram, Moong (Green) and Black Thil seeds (1¼ kg each
quantity). Performing Rudrabhishekam to Lord Shiva before and after the Eclipse will
be beneficial.

Others (Karkataka, Vrischika and Meena sings) should donate Rice, Black Urad, Horse
Gram, Moong and Black Thil seeds as said above.

Those belonging to Ardra star and Mithuna Raasi please, avoid looking/getting
exposed to the Eclipse.

Prayers during Eclipse time: Specific prayers to Lord Ganesha (For Kethu), Lord Sri
Krishna and Lord Shiva (For Moon), Lord Hanuman, Moon God, Kethu, and Saturn are
required.
Suggested prayers

Some of the useful prayers suggested during Eclipse time are, Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama
Sthothram, Sri Vishnu Panjara Sthothram, Sri Nrusimha Kavacham, Runa Vimochana Sri
Nrusimha Sthothram, Sri Krishnaastakam, Sri Ganeshaastakam, Sankata Nasana
Ganesha Sthothram, Vayu Sthuthi, Hanuman Chaleesa and Sri Raghavendra Sthothram.

One can choose any one of the above or any other useful Divine prayer based on their
individual faith and belief while the list is only indicative but not exhaustive. Those
who cannot recite them can at least resort to chanting of Narayana Astakshari or
Shiva Panchakshari or Sri Rama Nama or Sri Raghavendra Astakshari (Om! Sri
Raghavendraya Namah!) during Eclipse time.

What is to be done during the Eclipse time?

Any Eclipse time is said to be very sacred and celestial and entire period of Eclipse is
called as Parva Kala (most sacred time). Any sacred rituals or rites performed during
a parva kala will derive more merits than those performed during ordinary times.
Hence, please don’t waste the Eclipse time with materialistic pursuits and activities.
Eclipse is the most opportune time to perform Snana (sacred bath) before and after
the Eclipse, Prayer, Punascharana of Upadesa Manthra, Pitru Tharpana, and Charity.

Chanting of Vedic manthras/sacred Sthothras will ward off the negative energy that
gets activated during eclipse and protects from all negativity.

Sarva Pithru Tarpana should be performed with proper sankalpa during eclipse time
(by those who have lost their parents) with black Thil (sesame) seeds.

After this Eclipse only Snana (bath) is required. Food should be taken on the next day
after performing prayer and giving charity wherever it is applicable.

For more information on Eclipse, precautions to be taken, dos & don’ts you may like
to read the related articles….

www.scribd.com/doc/11034547/Solar-Eclipse

www.scribd.com/doc/17458234/SOLAR-ECLIPSE-JULY-2009

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
bhargavasarma