For the benefit of those charitably disposed

[Guest guest]

16.05 is the end of month( Vrishabha Sankranti),it is full Moon,and it is

Moon eclipse

on 16.05.2003 5-6 am GMT(Greenwich Mean Time)

 

Bhagavad Gita 17.21

 

d€tavyam iti yad d€naˆ

d…yate ’nupak€riŠe

dee k€le ca p€tre ca

tad d€naˆ s€ttvikaˆ smtam

SYNONYMS

d€tavyam—worth giving; iti—thus; yat—that which; d€nam—charity; d…yate—is

given; anupak€riŠe—irrespective of return; dee—in a proper place; k€le—at a

proper time; ca—also; p€tre—to a suitable person; ca—and; tat—that;

d€nam—charity; s€ttvikam—in the mode of goodness; smtam—is considered.

TRANSLATION

Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the proper time

and place, and to a worthy person is considered to be in the mode of

goodness.

PURPORT

In the Vedic literature, charity given to a person engaged in spiritual

activities is recommended. There is no recommendation for giving charity

indiscriminately. Spiritual perfection is always a consideration.********

Therefore charity is recommended to be given at a place of pilgrimage and at

lunar or solar eclipses or at the end of the month or to a qualified

br€hmaŠa or a VaiŠava (devotee) or in temples. Such charities should be

given without any consideration of return.******** Charity to the poor is

sometimes given out of compassion, but if a poor man is not worth giving

charity to, then there is no spiritual advancement. In other words,

indiscriminate charity is not recommended in the Vedic literature.

Bg 17.21

 

 

PS I would think if it is not possible to physically give at that time and

mentally declare donation towards someone or some project(and of course give

it later)the benefit should be the same.

 

PPS Details on

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/lunar_eclipse_news_030425.html

 

STAGE GMT ADT EDT CDT MDT PDT

STAGE 1 Enters penumbra 1:05 10:05 9:05 8:05 -- --

STAGE 2 Shadows visible 1:46 10:46 9:46 8:46 -- --

STAGE 3 Enters umbra 2:03 11:03 10:03 9:03 8:03 --

STAGE 4 75% coverage 2:56 11:56 10:56 9:56 8:56 --

STAGE 5 Totality nears 3:10 12:10 11:10 10:10 9:10 8:10

STAGE 6 Totality begins 3:14 12:14 11:14 10:14 9:14 8:14

STAGE 7 Middle of totality 3:40 12:40 11:40 10:40 9:40 8:40

STAGE 8 Totality ends 4:07 1:07 12:07 11:07 10:07 9:07

STAGE 9 75% coverage 4:24 1:24 12:24 11:24 10:24 9:24

STAGE 10 Shadow leaving 5:17 2:17 1:17 12:17 11:17 10:17

STAGE 11 All evidence fading 5:34 2:34 1:34 12:34 11:34 10:34

STAGE 12 Official end 6:15 3:15 2:15 1:15 12:15 11:15