Eclipses (grahan) have a special place in Indian tradition. Temples close, cooking stops and people turn to prayer and mantra. In Vedic astrology an eclipse is a moment when Rahu or Ketu "seizes" a luminary, and it is read as a powerful but temporary disturbance.
How eclipses happen
- A solar eclipse (Surya grahan) happens at Amavasya (new moon), when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun.
- A lunar eclipse (Chandra grahan) happens at Purnima (full moon), when the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon.
- They occur only when the new or full moon falls near the lunar nodes, Rahu and Ketu. That is why there are usually four to seven eclipses a year, in "seasons" about six months apart.
Sutak: the traditional observance period
Tradition marks a period of sutak before an eclipse, during which auspicious work, cooking and eating are avoided:
- about 12 hours before a solar eclipse;
- about 9 hours before a lunar eclipse.
Sutak is generally observed only where the eclipse is visible. Children, the elderly, the sick and pregnant women are traditionally exempted from strict fasting. Customs during the eclipse include chanting mantras, meditation and charity, and bathing afterwards.
Eclipses and your chart
An eclipse affects people most when it falls:
- on or close to your Sun, Moon or Lagna;
- in the Moon sign or birth nakshatra;
- during a dasha of Rahu, Ketu or the eclipsed luminary.
Its effects are said to unfold over the following months, highlighting the house where it falls. Many people simply notice a period of change or clarity in that area.
Muhurta
The days around an eclipse are avoided for weddings, house-warming and new ventures. A newborn born during an eclipse is traditionally given a grahan shanti.
Keep it calm
Eclipses are dramatic in the sky and in tradition, but most pass without significant personal effect. Follow your family's observances, avoid starting important things around them, and use the time for quiet practice.
Our panchang shows the day's tithi and nakshatra; see Amavasya and Purnima for the monthly lunar days.