Eclipse and our temple

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Text COM:2530719 (199 lines) [W1]

Jaya Tirtha Charan (das) JPS

04-Aug-99 14:11

(Arcana) Deity Worship [3520]

Reference: Text COM:2530048 by Vipramukhya Swami

Comment: Text COM:2530962 by Nayana-ranjana (das) (BBT Bombay - IN)

Re: Eclipse and our temple

---------------------------

Hare Krishna Maharaj,

 

PAMHO., AGTSP.,

 

I have as you would know by now sent you some shastric information privately

that covers this phenomenon from the Vaishnava perspective. Recently I sent

it out on other conferences Astrology around the time of the Partial Lunar

eclipse.

 

At 09:57 AM 8/4/99 +0100, you wrote:

>[Text 2530048 from COM]

>

>Dear deity experts,

>

>Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

>

>In a few days (August 11, 1999) there will be a complete and total solar

>eclipse in South-West England. Here at Bhaktivedanta Manor the eclipse will

>not be total, but around 90%. It takes place around 10AM and lasts for a

few

>hours.

>

>In India I know temples often close during times of the eclipse.

>

 

This is correct.

There is no cooking done, no eating done.

Also no-one should try to bring a child into the world at this time.

Sleeping is to be avoided.

Even study of shastra is not recommended according to the shastra HBV cited

by Gopal Bhatta and Sanantan Gos in their Dik Darshani Tika.

 

Pregnant women should not look at an eclipse, nor should they sew or thread

garlands during this time or according to Ayurved the child can be

physically and mentally impared with hair-lip and internal problems.

 

One should not associate with non-believers, atheists, agnostics, etc.

 

Rather one should as much as possible follow the example of the devotees

prior to the appearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, by taking shelter of

the Holy name of the Lord.

 

Sometimes confusion is there about doing yajnas etc., at the time of an

eclipse, but it is recommeded such things are done afterwards - as in the

case of those in days of yore who would assemble at Kurukshetra for a Lunar

or Solar eclipse and then perform an Ashwameda yajna etc., and feed

thousands of people - it was done after the eclipse.

 

The time of perumbra on either side of coming and going is about four hours

in total, although the actual eclipse (full umbra) will only be for two or

so minutes in each place it passes through. So for your area you will need

to find the time when the perumbra begins, and when it finishes.