Guest guest Posted October 6, 2005 Report Share Posted October 6, 2005 Pranaam Sanjay, It is believed in tradition that eclipse times are conducive to certain types of meditation and prayers, but not for all religious rituals that go on at temples. It is very common in south India for temples to close during eclipses. There is a subtle difference between meditation/sadhana (which is more of a 8th/12th house thing and directed at moksha) and a religious ritual (which is more of a 5th/9th house thing and directed at dharma). What happens at temples is the latter. What is good to do at the time of an eclipse is the former. I don't think this is the decision of any one particular contemporary astrologer. Closing temples at the time of eclipses is the standard practice in south India, atleast for several centuries. On a personal note, this eclipse occurred when Sun, Moon and Ketu were in Hasta nakshatra. Hasta contains my natal lagna. No wonder this was very important for me. May Jupiter's light shine on us, Narasimha ------------------------------- Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org ------------------------------- sohamsa , " Sanjay Rath " <guruji@s...> wrote: > om namo bhagavate vasudevaya > Dear members, > > The following news item brings the impact on eclipses on day-to- day life > into focus. I am interested in knowing who these astrologers are and the > basis for which the temple has been closed for the solar eclipse. I think > this is very very foolish as this is the time when people are advised to > pray to the deity and seek intervention for moksha. In fact the eclipse is > considered one of the most fortunate periods to pray and the solar eclipse > is especially very favorable to pray for a Diksha Guru who will show the > path out of this world of Maya (illusion). The Dakshinamurti stotra sings a > stanza eulogising the worship of Dakshinamurti as akin to the eclipse moment > when one gets emancipation from the eclipse of Maya on the mind...Raahu > grasta divakaro sadrishaam... > > ------------------- begin news ------------------------ > News >> Science > URL: http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=127847 > <http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp? id=127847 & cat=Science> > & cat=Science > > Rationalists dismiss predictions linked to eclipse > Hyderabad | October 03, 2005 7:15:11 PM IST > > Scientists and rationalists have dismissed the predictions of some > astrologers that Monday's solar eclipse would trigger natural calamities. > > They also said the advice of some Vedic experts that one should not eat, > drink or have sex during the eclipse was based on superstition and beliefs > that had no scientific basis. > > " There is absolutely no scientific evidence to prove that an eclipse could > trigger an earthquake or disturb the sea. This is nothing but superstition, " > said Ramesh, secretary of Jana Vignana Vedika, a body of rationalists > working to promote scientific temper among people. > > Ramesh ridiculed the decision of Hindu religious leaders to close temples > during the eclipse. > > " When we say that god has created sun, moon, earth and everything in this > universe, how can we close down temples or stop worshipping during this > event which is also His creation? " asked Ramesh. > > The world-famous temple of Lord Venkateswara at Tirupati and all major > temples in Bhadrachalam and other places in Andhra Pradesh were shut for the > duration of the solar eclipse as the time is not considered auspicious for > worship. > > Some astrologers and Vedic experts have cautioned people not to eat, drink, > go to toilet or have sex during the eclipse. They advised people to eat > eight hours before the eclipse to allow for digestion. > > Those who were not well and pregnant women were advised to remain indoors. > > Scientists, however, said this had no scientific basis. > > " This is only a belief by some people and there is absolutely no scientific > evidence that doing a certain thing or not doing it during the period will > harm you. One should only be careful not to watch the eclipse with the naked > eye, " said Siddharth, director of the B.M. Birla Science Centre. > > (IANS) > ----------------------------- end news > ------------ > > With best wishes and warm regards, > Sanjay Rath > * * * > Sri Jagannath CenterR > 15B Gangaram Hospital Road > New Delhi 110060, India > <http://srath.com/> http://srath.com, +91-11-25717162 > * * * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 6, 2005 Report Share Posted October 6, 2005 ... hamsasso.aham .. Dear Guru, The temporary eclipse of the sun--the temporary setting of the ego--is indeed a very auspicious time for sadhana. But as the karaka for the physical deha, the eclipse of the sun is not auspicious for the body (aarogyam bhaaskaraad-icchet). It is advised that one should not cause bodily systems such as the digestive system to come alive by eating and drinking when they are not strong. Thus, for the same reasons, we avoid eating in the middle of the night when Surya has set. Sadhana can be done at home as ishwara is all-pervading, and need not be performed at a temple. A temple is the physical body of the all-pervading ishwara. Just as the eclipse period is not auspicious for the physical body of jeevas, it is also not auspicious for the physical body of ishwara. Thus, I do not consider it surprising that a temple's doors are closed, and physical movements restricted during a grahana. Ishwara may be the controller of maya, but both jivaalayaa's (body) and devaalayaa's (temples) are still subject to the same maya, and similar rules apply to both. Your shishya, ajit On 10/6/05, Sanjay Rath <guruji wrote: om namo bhagavate vasudevaya Dear members, The following news item brings the impact on eclipses on day-to-day life into focus. I am interested in knowing who these astrologers are and the basis for which the temple has been closed for the solar eclipse. I think this is very very foolish as this is the time when people are advised to pray to the deity and seek intervention for moksha. In fact the eclipse is considered one of the most fortunate periods to pray and the solar eclipse is especially very favorable to pray for a Diksha Guru who will show the path out of this world of Maya (illusion). The Dakshinamurti stotra sings a stanza eulogising the worship of Dakshinamurti as akin to the eclipse moment when one gets emancipation from the eclipse of Maya on the mind...Raahu grasta divakaro sadrishaam... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 || Hare Rama Krishna || Dear Narasimha-ji, Pranam. When the light from the Luminaries that is supposed to reach the earth is reduced, it becomes all the more important that we worship Gods to strengthen the light within us. It is through worship of the right knowledge that darkness can be removed. Temples are places where concentrated energies of God are believed to exist and the public should have access to it during this time. To me, even if it is an age old custom, it is superstitious for the temple authorities to close the temples in order to protect this energy (?). We need to invoke the energy of Lord Vishnu who will protect us by the use of his chakra and destroy the asura within us so that it doesn't even get the first drop of necter so that we can start a fresh cycle. For a better part of the public, temples are the only place for worship and are maintained by public donations. Interestingly, during this same period, our Muslim brothers and sisters are celebrating their holiest month through fasts. Kindly explain if I failed to understand the concept. Pranam and regards, Sourav =================================================================== sohamsa , " pvr108 " <pvr@c...> wrote: > Pranaam Sanjay, > > It is believed in tradition that eclipse times are conducive to > certain types of meditation and prayers, but not for all religious > rituals that go on at temples. It is very common in south India for > temples to close during eclipses. There is a subtle difference > between meditation/sadhana (which is more of a 8th/12th house thing > and directed at moksha) and a religious ritual (which is more of a > 5th/9th house thing and directed at dharma). What happens at temples > is the latter. What is good to do at the time of an eclipse is the > former. > > I don't think this is the decision of any one particular > contemporary astrologer. Closing temples at the time of eclipses is > the standard practice in south India, atleast for several centuries. > > On a personal note, this eclipse occurred when Sun, Moon and Ketu > were in Hasta nakshatra. Hasta contains my natal lagna. No wonder > this was very important for me. > > May Jupiter's light shine on us, > Narasimha > ------------------------------- > Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net > Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org > Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org > ------------------------------- > > sohamsa , " Sanjay Rath " <guruji@s...> wrote: > > om namo bhagavate vasudevaya > > Dear members, > > > > The following news item brings the impact on eclipses on day-to- > day life > > into focus. I am interested in knowing who these astrologers are > and the > > basis for which the temple has been closed for the solar eclipse. > I think > > this is very very foolish as this is the time when people are > advised to > > pray to the deity and seek intervention for moksha. In fact the > eclipse is > > considered one of the most fortunate periods to pray and the solar > eclipse > > is especially very favorable to pray for a Diksha Guru who will > show the > > path out of this world of Maya (illusion). The Dakshinamurti > stotra sings a > > stanza eulogising the worship of Dakshinamurti as akin to the > eclipse moment > > when one gets emancipation from the eclipse of Maya on the > mind...Raahu > > grasta divakaro sadrishaam... > > > > ------------------- begin news ------------------------ > > News >> Science > > URL: http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=127847 > > <http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp? > id=127847 & cat=Science> > > & cat=Science > > > > Rationalists dismiss predictions linked to eclipse > > Hyderabad | October 03, 2005 7:15:11 PM IST > > > > Scientists and rationalists have dismissed the predictions of some > > astrologers that Monday's solar eclipse would trigger natural > calamities. > > > > They also said the advice of some Vedic experts that one should > not eat, > > drink or have sex during the eclipse was based on superstition and > beliefs > > that had no scientific basis. > > > > " There is absolutely no scientific evidence to prove that an > eclipse could > > trigger an earthquake or disturb the sea. This is nothing but > superstition, " > > said Ramesh, secretary of Jana Vignana Vedika, a body of > rationalists > > working to promote scientific temper among people. > > > > Ramesh ridiculed the decision of Hindu religious leaders to close > temples > > during the eclipse. > > > > " When we say that god has created sun, moon, earth and everything > in this > > universe, how can we close down temples or stop worshipping during > this > > event which is also His creation? " asked Ramesh. > > > > The world-famous temple of Lord Venkateswara at Tirupati and all > major > > temples in Bhadrachalam and other places in Andhra Pradesh were > shut for the > > duration of the solar eclipse as the time is not considered > auspicious for > > worship. > > > > Some astrologers and Vedic experts have cautioned people not to > eat, drink, > > go to toilet or have sex during the eclipse. They advised people > to eat > > eight hours before the eclipse to allow for digestion. > > > > Those who were not well and pregnant women were advised to remain > indoors. > > > > Scientists, however, said this had no scientific basis. > > > > " This is only a belief by some people and there is absolutely no > scientific > > evidence that doing a certain thing or not doing it during the > period will > > harm you. One should only be careful not to watch the eclipse with > the naked > > eye, " said Siddharth, director of the B.M. Birla Science Centre. > > > > (IANS) > > ----------------------------- end news > > ------------ > > > > With best wishes and warm regards, > > Sanjay Rath > > * * * > > Sri Jagannath CenterR > > 15B Gangaram Hospital Road > > New Delhi 110060, India > > <http://srath.com/> http://srath.com, +91-11-25717162 > > * * * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 Dear Robert, Pranaams! Thank you for your views. Congratulations on releasing your important work! I am sure the Jyotish community will benefit. May Lord Jagannatha's blessings be with you in all your endeavors! Hasta not only has your 9th lord, but it also contains the Abhisheka nakshatra reckoned from lagna!! No wonder an eclipse in that nakshatra triggered an abhisheka of some sort. BTW, today is your Tithi Pravesha. Happy soli-lunar birthday! May Jupiter's light shine on us, Narasimha -------------------------------Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org------------------------------- > Dear Narasimha,> > Pranaam -> > I share your views completely re: eclipses, and which kinds of > sadhana/meditation, as opposed to Deity worship (8th/12th, or 5th/9th > houses respectively) should be performed at such times.> > You mentioned that the Sun/Moon/Ketu configuration fell in Hasta > where your natal Moon is placed, and thus this is significant for > you. Parenthetically, it has been significant for me too, as my > natal 9th lord Mercury is in Hasta, and it was just a day after the > eclipse that I had announced the release of my book. This indeed > sets the stage for a new chapter in my life, and I believe the > eclipse either contributed to that, or at the very least signalled > the time when such a cyclic change would occur.> > Anyway, my musings for the day....> > Best wishes,> Robert> > At 10:33 AM 10/6/2005, you wrote:> >Pranaam Sanjay,> >> >It is believed in tradition that eclipse times are conducive to> >certain types of meditation and prayers, but not for all religious> >rituals that go on at temples. It is very common in south India for> >temples to close during eclipses. There is a subtle difference> >between meditation/sadhana (which is more of a 8th/12th house thing> >and directed at moksha) and a religious ritual (which is more of a> >5th/9th house thing and directed at dharma). What happens at temples> >is the latter. What is good to do at the time of an eclipse is the> >former.> >> >I don't think this is the decision of any one particular> >contemporary astrologer. Closing temples at the time of eclipses is> >the standard practice in south India, atleast for several centuries.> >> >On a personal note, this eclipse occurred when Sun, Moon and Ketu> >were in Hasta nakshatra. Hasta contains my natal lagna. No wonder> >this was very important for me.> >> >May Jupiter's light shine on us,> >Narasimha> >-------------------------------> >Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net> >Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org> >Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org> >-------------------------------> >> >sohamsa , "Sanjay Rath" <guruji@s...> wrote:> > > om namo bhagavate vasudevaya> > > Dear members,> > >> > > The following news item brings the impact on eclipses on day-to-> >day life> > > into focus. I am interested in knowing who these astrologers are> >and the> > > basis for which the temple has been closed for the solar eclipse.> >I think> > > this is very very foolish as this is the time when people are> >advised to> > > pray to the deity and seek intervention for moksha. In fact the> >eclipse is> > > considered one of the most fortunate periods to pray and the solar> >eclipse> > > is especially very favorable to pray for a Diksha Guru who will> >show the> > > path out of this world of Maya (illusion). The Dakshinamurti> >stotra sings a> > > stanza eulogising the worship of Dakshinamurti as akin to the> >eclipse moment> > > when one gets emancipation from the eclipse of Maya on the> >mind...Raahu> > > grasta divakaro sadrishaam... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.