Why temples are remain closed during the Surya Grahan or Chandra Grahan? This is the question we were asked by a visitor in our blog. I read this topic recently in a daily newspaper. I will let you know the reason why temples are remain closed during the Solar Eclipse or Lunar Eclipse.

Based on the relation between the Earth and the Moon and the Sun, the time and the panchangs are calculated. So when the Grahan happens to Moon or Sun, who provide energy and the light to this Earth, it is obviously a bad day to the Earth and the living world. So the cultural and religious centers, the temples, are remain closed during the Solar Eclipse or Lunar Eclipse.

Solar Eclipse or Surya grahan on July 22 in 2009

Chandra Grahan or Lunar Eclipse on August 6 in 2009

Solar Eclipse or the Suya Grahan on July 22 in 2009 is good or bad? This is one of the most brainstorming questions of this year for Astrologers, because it is the time to take place the Triple Eclipse that is occurring for the first time in the history after the Kurukshetra in Dwapara Yug. Most of the Astrologers indicated that the Surya Grahan take place on July 22 in 2009 is a very bad omen.

What is the impact of Solar Eclipse on the world?

Communal violence and regional violence is the first and foremost bad omen for the world. The Government delegates, ministers and officials should take care about their security. Terrorist’s activities may increase.

This Solar Eclipse will be visible in India, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Mangolia, Singapore and other East Asian countries and Pacific Ocean areas. Astrologers are predicting it as a bad time for the above countries. Natural calamities like cyclones and hurricanes are on the cards.

These all given details are predicted by some renowned Astrologers in Panchangs; not my opinions or not my predictions.

Scientific evidences about the Hindu rituals followed during Solar Eclipse or Lunar Eclipse 

Next Grahan – Lunar Eclipse on August 6 in 2009

Solar Eclipse and Lunar Eclipse show some effects on pregnant women and their pregnancy. As per Hinduism and some other cultures in the world, pregnant women should take prior care during Grahan. But it also has some scientific reasons. Dr. Aprana Saxena has researched on some pregnant rats that are affected with the radioactive rays during the time of Sampoorn Surya Grahan (Total Solar Eclipse).

Why Pregnancy of a woman is affected – Why should a pregnant woman should take care during Grahan or Eclipse?

Dr. Aparna Saxena has found that some of the rats which were examined by her were delivered small-sized babies, some other affected rats had undergone abortion and some other rats delivered disabled and abnormal babies. It has to be noted that some of the affected rats delivered baby rats which have ruptured bone marrow.

Not only animals and human, Grahan also affects plants. Some researches said that Onion and Sorghum plants were affected by the Eclipse. According to the research of Dr. S.P. Goswami and Usha Goswami, Sea animals are also affected with the rays during Grahan. During the time of Grahan, X- rays are released from Sun and Moon. The X- rays can affect the licing world. This phenomenon is referred as ‘Cosmic radiation’.

These scientific researches prove that the rituals and aachars followed by a pregnant woman during Grahanam have scientific evidences. It also proves that Hinduism is not an only a religion but the healthy way of human living and the existence of the world.

Other Scientific evidences and proven reason on Grahan or Eclipse

Sampoorn Surya Grahan or Total Solar Eclipse on 22 july, 2009

Chandra Grahan or Lunar Eclipse on 6 August, 2009

There are some rituals and traditions in Hinduism that Surya Grahan or Chandra Grahan will show some bad effects on Earth and its living world. It is a proven fact. But what about certain aachar (rituals) followed by Hindu people during Grahan? Is there any scientific reason behind the aachars at the time of Grahan?

Why one should avoid drinking stored water during Surya or Chandra Grahan?

During Surya Grahan or Chandra Grahan, one should not drink stored water. During a Sampoorn Surya Grahan (Total Solar Eclipse), Division of Environmental Biology of Vikram Sarabhai Research Centre with the association of S.N. Hospitals, proved that purity of the water was reduced after Grahan. They have researched it for few days and analyzed the results of water before Grahan and the same water after the Grahan.

Why Grass Blades or Durva are kept on food and water during Surya Grahan or Chandra Grahan?

Grass blades (Durva or Garika or Darbha) are kept on stored water and food during the time Grahan. It is not a blind ritual. It’s proven scientifically that Grass blades purify the water more than Tulsi (Ocimum) leaves can during Grahanam. Grass blades have immense purifying power. This is the main reason why grass blades are kept on stored water and food like pickles.

Pregnant women are most delicate people to look after at the time of Surya or Chandra Grahan. Many doshams or the bad omen or the fears associated with Grahanam and the pregnant woman. Works to do and works to avoid during this day for pregnant women are mentioned below.

Pregnant women should take some precautions to avoid bad effects of Surya Grahan or Chandra Grahan. Many people believe that only Surya Grahan affects the pregnant woman, but it is advisable to follow the mentionaed precautions on the day of Chandra Grahan also. Mantras to recite on the day of Grahan are given in this post.

Tips for Pregnant Women – What to do and what not to do – What to avoid and what to perform during Surya Grahan or Chandra Grahan:

• The first and foremost precaution that every pregnant woman has to take is to avoid seeing or looking at the Grahanam. Even though, it is visible to naked eye, pregnant women should avoid watching graham.
• Stay at home and go out side during the grahanam.
• There is a strong belief in some Hindus that wearing or tightening saree clips, hair clips or any other pins or clips will be inauspicious. Avoid wearing or tightening clips.
• Avoid cutting vegetables or fruits or any other material. Many Hindus believe that cutting any material will result the pregnant women a cleft organ child.
• In some regions, pregnant women avoid sleeping during the Grahanam.
• For normal and safe delivery, pregnant women recite Santana Gopala Swamy Mantram and Surya Stotras like Aditya Hridayam and other Surya Mantras, Maha Mritunjaya Stotram.
• Santana Gopala Stotra (a mantra to chant during graham by pregnant women) keeps up the health of the pregnant woman as well as the child (Garbhastha Shishu).

Santana Gopala Swamy Mantra – Mantra to chant or recite for pregnant women during Grahan:

Om Devaki Sudha Govinda Vasudeva Jagath Pathe
Dehimey Thanayam Krishna Thwameham Saranamgathe !
Kadhahaa Deva Deva Jagannatha Gothra Vridhi Karap Prabho
Dehimey Thanayam Sheegram Ayushmantham Yashashreenam !!

Things to avoid and to perform during Surya and Chandra Grahan

List of Surya Grahans from 2009 to 2012

List of Chandra Grahans from 2009 to 2012