Lunar Eclipse (Chandra Grahan) (Hinduism) (full) information (facts) (significance) (importance)
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Just before going to “Lunar Eclipse (Chandra Grahan) (Hinduism) (8th of November 2022) (full) information (facts) (significance) (importance)“, let us know a brief, basic and very important information.
In this post you will know about the following:
Chandra Grahan (Lunar eclipse) meaning and Surya Grahan (Grahana) (Solar eclipse) meaning | Information about, who is Rahu & Who is Ketu? | Can we eat food or drink during the Grahan (Grahana) (eclipse) period? |
Why we need to keep Darbh (Darbha) (grass) on all the items during Grahan (Grahana) (eclipse) time? |
Do’s and don’ts during eclipse (Surya Grahan / Solar Eclipse and Chandra Grahan / Lunar Eclipse) (What should we do during lunar eclipse?) |
Suggested Prarthana (Prayers) during Eclipse period | Grahan (Grahana) (Eclipse) affected cities names around the world |
Chandra Grahan (Lunar Eclipse) meaning : All the Chandra Grahan (Solar eclipse) is called as Ketu Grasta Grahan (eclipse). Here Chandra means Moon and Grahan means eclipse.
‘Chandra Grahan‘ (Lunar eclipse) occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth’s shadow. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are exactly or very closely aligned with Earth between the other two, and this can take place only on the night of a ‘Purnima‘ (Full moon).
The type and length of a Chandra grahan (Lunar eclipse) depend on the Moon’s proximity to either node of its orbit.
Unlike a Surya Grahan (Solar eclipse), which can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world, a Chandra Grahan (Lunar eclipse) may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth.
Surya Grahan (Grahana) (Solar eclipse) meaning : All the Surya Grahan (Solar eclipse) is called as Rahu Grasta Grahan (eclipse). Here Surya means Sun and Grahan means eclipse.
A Surya Grahan (Solar Eclipse) occurs when a portion of the Earth is engulfed in a shadow cast by the Moon which fully or partially blocks sunlight. This occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth are aligned with each other.
Such alignment coincides only on a ‘Amavasya‘ (New Moon), indicating the Moon is closest to the ecliptic plane. In a total eclipse (grahan), the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In partial and annular eclipses, only part of the Sun is obscured.
A total Chandra Grahan (Lunar eclipse) can last up to nearly 2 hours, while a total Surya Grahan (Solar eclipse) lasts only up to a few minutes at any given place, due to the smaller size of the Moon’s shadow.
Also unlike Surya Grahans (Solar eclipses), Chandra Grahans (Lunar eclipses) are safe to view without any eye protection or special precautions, as they are dimmer than the full Moon.
Note : *Don’t get panic by knowing the Ashubh phal (bad fortune or rigorous bad fortune). Do chant Lord Sri Vishnu names during the grahan (eclipse) period.
If you chant Lord Sri Vishnu names during the grahan (eclipse) period, instead of Ashubh phal (bad fortune or rigorous bad fortune), you will get Adhika punya (more good deeds). Don’t worry, everything will be in right place if you chant Lord Sri Vishnu names.
Similarly for the people who have Shubh Phal (Good fortune) need not have over confident. If you don’t do chanting of Lord Sri Vishnu names, you may lose your good fortunes too.*
Information about, who is Rahu & Who is Ketu is as given below?
During Samudra Manthan (Sagar Manthan) (Amrit Manthan), when Mohini roopa (form) Lord Sri Vishnu was distributing the amrita, there were two rows.
One row for Daityas (Rakshasas) (Demons) and the other row for the Devatas (Demigods). At that time, one Daitya (Rakshasa) (Demon) by name Swarbhanu, came in a disguise as a Devata (Demigod) and sat in the Devata (Demigod) row.
Thus, Lord Sri Vishnu (Mohini) gave Swarbhanu the amrita. At that time Lord Sri Surya Deva (Sun God) and Lord Sri Chandra Deva (Moon God) on seeing that demon Swarbhanu has come in Devata’s (Demigod’s) row and was also drinking amrita, complained it to Lord Sri Vishnu (Mohini).
For this reason, Lord Sri Vishnu (Mohini) using his Sudarshana Chakra removed the head of that demon Swarbhanu. Lord Sri Vishnu purposefully gave the amrita to the demon Swarbhanu who had entered the Devata’s (Demigod’s) row.
Actually that demon Swarbhanu had earlier done penance asking for amrita to enter his mouth. For this reason, Lord Sri Vishnu had allowed amrita to be swallowed up to Swarbhanu’s mouth, but it didn’t enter beyond his mouth.
Thus, as soon as the amrita entered Swarbhanu mouth, Lord Sri Vishnu cut-off Swarbhanu’s head. Accordingly, the head of the demon Swarbhanu was fixed to a snake’s body to become “Rahu”, and the other portion without the head is called as “Ketu”.
What should we do during lunar eclipse? Can we eat food or drink during the Grahan (Grahana) (eclipse) period?
We should not eat or drink anything 9 hours prior to Chandra Grahan (Lunar eclipse) and 12 hours before Surya Grahan (Solar eclipse) respectively.
Why we need to keep Darbh (Darbha) (grass) on all the items during Grahan (eclipse) time?
Darbha (Darbh) (grass) is born from the body of Lord Sri Varaha (An avatar of Lord Sri Vishnu). In Darbha (Darbh) (grass), there is sannidhana (presence) of Lord Sri Vishnu, Lord Sri Brahma Deva and Lord Shiva.
Thus, Darbha (Darbh) (grass) is always and highly pure. During Grahan (eclipse) period, all these items like milk, curds, vegetables, etc. which are being kept will loose their power and becomes unusable.
But with the use of Darbha (Darbh) (grass) being kept on these items, their purity will be maintained and one can use the same after Grahan (eclipse) also. In Sanskrit grass is also called as Kusha.
Do’s and don’ts during eclipse (Surya Grahan / Solar Eclipse and Chandra Grahan / Lunar Eclipse) (What should we do during lunar eclipse?):
Eclipse is the most ‘parva kaala’ (opportune time) to perform the following:
1. Snana (Snan) (bath) : (Sachela snaana – taking bath) at the start & after the completion of Eclipse.
2. Snana (Snan) (taking bath) after the Eclipse : This is a must (also we should take the bath at just the start of the Eclipse too).
3. Danam (Donation) : If danam (daan) is done during the eclipse period, it is highly auspicious.
4. Chanting of Vedic mantras (sacred stotras) : During eclipse is one chants the Vedic mantras as per his varna, it will ward off the unwanted and negative energy that gets activated during eclipse and protects us from all negativity.
5. Bhagawad Prarthana (Praying to Lord Sri Vishnu) : At any given time we need to chant one or more name(s) of Lord Sri Vishnu and especially during the grahan (eclipse) period it is more favorable to chant Lord Sri Vishnu name(s).
6. Punascharana of Upadesa Mantras : To chant the Mantras (e.g., Gayatri mantra, Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, etc.) is more propitious.
7. Pitru Tarpana (Doing tarpana to Pitrus) : Pitru Tarpana can be done during this period as per your family rituals.
8. Sarva Pitru Tarpana : Those who are eligible (Tarpana Adhikari) should give ‘Sarva Pitru Tarpana’ to his fore-fathers with black Tila (Til) (Sesame) with proper sankalpa during eclipse time.
9. Others : During Vedha period, nitya karma like Snana (snan) (bath), Sandhyavandana can be performed.
10. Kaala Shraadha : Kaala Shraddha can be performed / completed before commencement of Vedha.
Suggested Prarthana (Prayers) during Eclipse period:
I. Specific prayers to Bhagavan Sri Vishnu / Sri Krishna, Hanuman Ji, Lord Shiva (for Moon) and to your Guru(s).
II. Some of the useful prayers suggested during eclipse time are as given below:
i. Gayatri Mantra Japa, ii. Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stotra, iii. Sri Sanaischarakruta Narasimha Stuti,
iv. Sri Venkatesha Stotra (From Brahmanda Purana), v. Sri Krishna Dwadasha nama / Ashtottara nama,
vi. Sri Hari-Vayu Stuti, vii. Khila Vayu Stuti, viii. Yantrodhaaraka Hanuman Stotra, ix. Sri Rudra Dwadasha nama Stotra
x. Sri Raghavendra Swamy Stotra / Kavacha / Ashtakshari (Your Guru’s stotra)
One may choose any one or more of the above (especially Gayatri Mantra or Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama) or any other useful Divine prayer based on their individual faith and according to their sampradaya (tradition).
While the above list is only indicative but not exhaustive.
Those who cannot recite them can at least resort to chanting of the following:
Narayana Ashtakshari (Om Namo Narayanayana) or Dwadasha Akshari (Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya) or Sri Rama Nama or Hare Rama-Hare Krishna Mantra or
Nama Traya Japa (i.e., Achyuta-Ananta-Govinda) or Sri Raghavendra Ashtakshari (Your Guru’s mantra) during the Eclipse time.
Praying to Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy (or to your Guru) during Eclipse period is very auspicious:
Whenever there is a Chandra Grahan (Lunar Eclipse) or Surya Grahan (Solar Eclipse) or during Pushya Star occurring on Sunday (Pushya-Arka Yoga), any person reciting Sri Raghavendra Swamy Stotra 108 times with all sincerity and devotion will not have trouble from any evil spirits.
Sri Appanna Acharya who was an ardent devotee and prime disciple of Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy in his famous hymn on Sri Guru Raghavendra (Sri Raghavednra Stotra) emphasizes as follows:
सोम सूर्योपरागे च पुष्यार्कादि समागमे | योनोत्तममिदं स्तोत्रमष्टोत्तरशतं जपेत | भूतप्रेतपिशाचादि पीडा तस्य न जायते |
ಸೋಮಸೂರ್ಯೋಪರಾಗೇ ಚ ಪುಷ್ಯಾರ್ಕಾದಿಸಮಾಗಮೇ | ಯೋನೋತ್ತಮಮಿದಂ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರಮಷ್ಟೋತ್ತರಶತಂ ಜಪೇತ್ | ಭೂತಪ್ರೇತಪಿಶಾಚಾದಿ ಪೀಡಾ ತಸ್ಯ ನ ಜಾಯತೇ |
sōmasūryōparāgē ca puṣyārkādisamāgamē | yōnōttamamidaṁ stōtramaṣṭōttaraśataṁ japēt | bhūtaprētapiśācādi pīḍā tasya na jāyatē |
Any Grahan (Eclipse) period is very sacred and the entire period of Eclipse is known as ‘Parva Kaala‘ (पर्व काल) (parva kāla) (Highly divine and sacred time).
Any divine and sacred rituals or rites performed during ‘Parva Kaala’ will derive more merits than those performed during ordinary times.
Hence, don’t waste the Grahan (Eclipse) time with materialistic pursuits and activities. Chant more and more of Sri Hari names as informed earlier.
Grahan (Grahana) (Eclipse) affected cities names around the world is as given below:
Vedha kaal (kaala) starts from Sunrise (Suryodaya) itself. Lunar Eclipse this time will be observed in entire India, most Asian countries and also other parts of the world.
Outside India : Kathmandu, Tokyo, Manila, Beijing, Sydney, Jakarta, Melbourne, San Francisco, Washington D.C., New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Mexico City. Refer your local timings for the start and end of the Grahan (Grahana) (eclipse) timings.
Stotra (Prayer) to be chanted for Chandra Grahan (Grahana) (Lunar eclipse) is as given below:
योसौ वज्रधरो देव: आदित्यानां प्रभुर्मत: । सहस्रनयन: शक्रो ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ।
मुखं य: सर्वदेवानां सप्तार्चिरमितद्युति: । सूर्य परागसंभूतां अग्ने: पीडां व्यपोहतु।
य: कर्मसाक्षी लोकानां धर्मो महिषवाहन: । यमश्चंद्रोपरागोत्थां ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ।
रक्षोगणाधिप: साक्षात् नीलांजनसमप्रभ: । खड्गहस्तोऽतिभीमश्च ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ॥
नागपाशधरो देव: सदा मकरवाहन: । स जलाधिपतिर्देव: ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ॥
प्राणरूपो हि लोकानां सदा कृष्णमृगप्रिय: । वायुश्चंद्रोपरागोत्थां ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ॥
योऽसौ निधिपतिर्देव: खड्गशूलगदाधर: । सूर्य परागकलुषं धनदोऽत्र व्यपोहतु ।
योऽसाविंदुधरो देव: पिनाकी वृषवाहन: । सूर्य परागपापानि स नाशयतु शंकर:॥
त्रैलोक्ये यानि भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च। ब्रह्मविष्णुर्करुद्राश्च दहंतु मम पातकं ॥
Yōsau vajradharō dēva: Ādityānāṁ prabhurmata: | Sahasranayana: Śakrō grahapīḍāṁ vyapōhatu |
mukhaṁ ya: Sarvadēvānāṁ saptārciramitadyuti: | Sūrya/ parāgasambhūtāṁ agnē: Pīḍāṁ vyapōhatu |
ya: Karmasākṣī lōkānāṁ dharmō mahiṣavāhana: | Yama: Sūryaparāga sambhūtāṁ grahapīḍāṁ vyapōhatu |
akṣōgaṇādhipa: Sākṣāt nīlān̄janasamaprabha: | Khaḍgahastō̕tibhīmaśca grahapīḍāṁ vyapōhatu ||
āgapāśadharō dēva: Sadā makaravāhana: | Sa jalādhipatirdēva: Grahapīḍāṁ vyapōhatu ||
prāṇarūpō hi lōkānāṁ sadā kr̥ṣṇamr̥gapriya: | Vāyuśca sūrya parāgōt’thāṁ grahapīḍāṁ vyapōhatu ||
yō̕sau nidhipatirdēva: Khaḍgaśūlagadādhara: | Sūrya parāgakaluṣaṁ dhanadō̕tra vyapōhatu |
yō̕sāvindudharō dēva: Pinākī vr̥ṣavāhana: | Sūrya parāgapāpāni vināśayatu śaṅkara: ||
Trailōkyē yāni bhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca | brahmaviṣṇurkarudrāśca dahantu mama pātakaṁ ||
ಯೋಸೌ ವಜ್ರಧರೋ ದೇವ: ಆದಿತ್ಯಾನಾಂ ಪ್ರಭುರ್ಮತ: | ಸಹಸ್ರನಯನ: ಶಕ್ರೋ ಗ್ರಹಪೀಡಾಂ ವ್ಯಪೋಹತು |
ಮುಖಂ ಯ: ಸರ್ವದೇವಾನಾಂ ಸಪ್ತಾರ್ಚಿರಮಿತದ್ಯುತಿ: | ಸೂರ್ಯ/ ಪರಾಗಸಂಭೂತಾಂ ಅಗ್ನೇ: ಪೀಡಾಂ ವ್ಯಪೋಹತು |
ಯ: ಕರ್ಮಸಾಕ್ಷೀ ಲೋಕಾನಾಂ ಧರ್ಮೋ ಮಹಿಷವಾಹನ: | ಯಮ: ಸೂರ್ಯಪರಾಗ ಸಂಭೂತಾಂ ಗ್ರಹಪೀಡಾಂ ವ್ಯಪೋಹತು |
ರಕ್ಷೋಗಣಾಧಿಪ: ಸಾಕ್ಷಾತ್ ನೀಲಾಂಜನಸಮಪ್ರಭ: | ಖಡ್ಗಹಸ್ತೋಽತಿಭೀಮಶ್ಚ ಗ್ರಹಪೀಡಾಂ ವ್ಯಪೋಹತು ||
ನಾಗಪಾಶಧರೋ ದೇವ: ಸದಾ ಮಕರವಾಹನ: | ಸ ಜಲಾಧಿಪತಿರ್ದೇವ: ಗ್ರಹಪೀಡಾಂ ವ್ಯಪೋಹತು ||
ಪ್ರಾಣರೂಪೋ ಹಿ ಲೋಕಾನಾಂ ಸದಾ ಕೃಷ್ಣಮೃಗಪ್ರಿಯ: | ವಾಯುಶ್ಚ ಸೂರ್ಯ ಪರಾಗೋತ್ಥಾಂ ಗ್ರಹಪೀಡಾಂ ವ್ಯಪೋಹತು ||
ಯೋಽಸೌ ನಿಧಿಪತಿರ್ದೇವ: ಖಡ್ಗಶೂಲಗದಾಧರ: | ಸೂರ್ಯ ಪರಾಗಕಲುಷಂ ಧನದೋಽತ್ರ ವ್ಯಪೋಹತು |
ಯೋಽಸಾವಿಂದುಧರೋ ದೇವ: ಪಿನಾಕೀ ವೃಷವಾಹನ: | ಸೂರ್ಯ ಪರಾಗಪಾಪಾನಿ ವಿನಾಶಯತು ಶಂಕರ: ||
ತ್ರೈಲೋಕ್ಯೇ ಯಾನಿ ಭೂತಾನಿ ಸ್ಥಾವರಾಣಿ ಚರಾಣಿ ಚ | ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವಿಷ್ಣುರ್ಕರುದ್ರಾಶ್ಚ ದಹಂತು ಮಮ ಪಾತಕಂ ||
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