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 Shikshpatri, 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 Purns (written by Ved Vys), 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 apsar (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 Rhu, 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 Rhu, both the sun and the moon revealed that it was a demon. So God beheaded Rhu instantly with his sudarshan chakra. But by the time God beheaded Rhu he had drunk the amrut. The amrut had reached Rhus throat, making his head immortal. Rhus head thus became a planet. Since the Sun-god and the Moon-god told God about Rhu, Rhu was deeply disappointed and nursed a hatred for them. Therefore it is believed that during certain times of the year Rhu holds the sun and the moon by his mouth (grahan), hence the existence of the solar and lunar eclipses. The Shikshpatri 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 Rhu. 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 ones 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 Shatnand Muni, states that after one purifies oneself, one should offer donations according to ones 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 Rhu that the devotees offer donations. Since sadhus have no money, they rejoice by performing puja. Q.2 How to remain pure during the eclipse? A. One should get rid of extra cooked food after the solar or lunar eclipse. One should not touch anything such as clothes, food, personal items, etc. during the eclipse. After the eclipse is over, one should not touch anyone and take a bath with ones clothes on. If one has touched anything by mistake, it should be purified by washing or by sprinkling water over it.

In todays age of science and technology it may be difficult to believe the story of the origin of eclipses, but the rules and regulations followed before, during and after an eclipse are scientifically proven to have a beneficial effect on us. Dr. Thornton has done significant research on the effects of eclipse. His scientific experiments prove that an eclipse has a definite effect on the digestive system of humans and animals. Even animals have a natural tendency to reject food at certain times. In one of his experiments he proved that dogs rejected food while an eclipse was in progress. Just as the scriptures propagate the prohibition of food during the eclipse, they also prohibit viewing the eclipse while it is in progress. The scripture Arthdipik Brahmasiddhnt states that one should view the eclipse only if one covers ones eyes with a thin cloth it should not be viewed directly. The other ways of viewing the eclipse is viewing the reflection of the eclipse in oil, water or mirror. Also, a pregnant woman should never see an eclipse in the absence of a cloth in front of her eyes. Similarly scientists today warn us that one should not view the eclipse without shades, especially when the sun or moon are in the total eclipse phase. Q.3 Why should we take a bath after an eclipse? A. One should take a bath after an eclipse because it is believed that the earth is plunged into darkness during a lunar or solar eclipse. Darkness symbolizes impurity and therefore one has to sit in one place and chant the name of God. Once the eclipse is over, light returns back to the earth; and to rejoice, one has to cleanse the impurity that darkness brought, worship God and offer donations to express ones happiness. In the same way, we are all engulfed by an eclipse in the form of my. So, just as one does for an eclipse, one should pray to God in order to overcome the force of my.