Annular Solar Eclipse visible in India on 21st June : Rules to abide by & fruit according to zodiac signs

Annular Solar Eclipse visible in India on 21^st June : Rules to abide by & fruit according to zodiac signs

1. Solar eclipse

On Jyeshtha Amavasya (21.6.2020), Sunday, an Annular solar eclipse will be visible in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttarakhand and partial solar eclipse in the rest of India around 10 a.m. A solar eclipse takes place when the moon passes between the sun and the earth. In such a case, the moon blocks the light of the sun from reaching the earth. The moon casts a shadow on the earth.

There are three types of solar eclipses. First, a total solar eclipse. For this to take place, the sun, moon and earth must be aligned in a straight line. Second, a partial solar eclipse when the sun, moon and earth are not exactly in a line. The solar eclipse of 21st June, however, is Annular (like a bangle). This happens when the moon is farthest from the earth. Since the moon is farther away from the earth, it seems smaller and does not block the entire view of the sun. Instead, the moon in front of the sun looks like a dark disk on top of a larger disk and appears like a ring of fire. The solar eclipse takes place only on Amavasya (New moon day). Sage Atri was the first teacher who imparted knowledge about eclipses.

2. Period of visibility of solar eclipse in India

This eclipse will be visible in the whole of the Asian Continent, Africa Continent, parts of southern Europe and the northern part of Australia. This eclipse will be visible on 21.6.2020 from 10.01 a.m. to 1.28 p.m. (Ref. : Date Almanac)

2A. The phases observed during the eclipse (These timings are for Mumbai)

2A 1. Sparsh (Start) : On 21.6.2020 at 10.01 a.m.

2A 2. Madhya (Intermission) : On 21.6.2020 at 11.38 a.m.

2A 3. Moksha (End) : On 21.6.2020 at 1.28 p.m.

2A 4. Grahan Parva (Note 1) (Eclipse period from start to end) : 3 hours 27 minutes

Note 1 – Parva means an auspicious time. The time from the start to end of the eclipse is the auspicious time. The Scriptures say that spiritual benefits are accrued if one remains in communion with God during this period.

2B. Commencement of Vedha of the eclipse

2B 1. Meaning : Before the solar eclipse, the sun starts to come in the shadow of the moon. As a result, the sunlight starts reducing gradually. This is called the commencement of Vedha.

2B 2. Period : Since this solar eclipse is in the second prahar (Eighth part of the day), Vedha has to be observed from Saturday (20.6.2020) 10 p.m. to Moksha of the eclipse, that is, 1.28 p.m. on 21.6.2020

3. Rules to abide by during the solar eclipse

During Vedhakal bathing, puja, daily rituals/worship, chanting and Shraddha can be performed. Eating is prohibited; hence, refrain from eating; however, drinking water when essential, urination/defaecation, and sleeping are permissible. During Parvakal (10.01 a.m. to 13.28 p.m.) drinking water, urination/defaecation and sleeping are prohibited; hence, refrain from doing them in this period. The Vedhakal rules should be followed by children, weak and sick individuals, pregnant women from 4.45 a.m. on 21.6.2020 till Moksha of the eclipse.’ (Ref. : Date Almanac)

3A. Importance of abiding by rules of Vedha from the perspective of health

3A 1. Physical level : During the Vedhakal, the food becomes stale very soon due to the growth of germs. Immunity becomes low in this period. Just as food cooked at night becomes stale the next morning, the food cooked before eclipse becomes stale after the eclipse. Therefore, such food should be disposed off. This rule does not apply to water and milk. These can be used even after the eclipse.

3A 2. Mental level : Mental health is also affected during the Vedhakal. As per psychiatrists, some people suffer from mental distress such as depression, increased tension, etc.

The output of spiritual practice performed during the eclipse increases by a thousand times. Therefore, it is essential to give priority to spiritual practice during the eclipse. If one is engaged in religious activities such as chanting, reciting stotras, meditation, plenty of benefits are accrued.

4. Prohibited and permitted acts during the eclipse

4A. Prohibited acts : Sleeping, excretion, abhyangasnan (A Holy bath after applying oil, ubtan to the whole body), consuming food and water, intercourse.

4B. Permitted acts :

1. Bathing as soon as the Sparsh starts.

2. Worship of God, tarpan and shraddha (Offering water and special ritual performed for the departed ancestors), chanting, Homa (Yajna) and donations.

3. Restarting purashcharan (Repeated chanting) of mantra which was interrupted for some reason in the past, during this period will have manifold output.

4. Bathing at the end of the eclipse : If an individual is facing impurity (Sutak, etc.), he remains pure in context with acts associated with the eclipse such as bathing and donating during the period of the eclipse.

5. Fruit according to the zodiac signs

5A. Auspicious fruit : Mesh (Aries), Simha (Leo), Kanya (Virgo) and Makar (Capricorn).

5B. Inauspicious fruit : Mithun (Gemini), Karka (Cancer), Vrushchik (Scorpio) and Meen (Pisces).

5C. Mixed fruit : Vrushabha (Taurus), Tula (Libra), Dhanu (Sagittarius) and Kumbha (Aquarius).

People in the inauspicious zodiac signs and pregnant women should not view this solar eclipse (Reference : Date Almanac)

6. Precautions to take while viewing the solar eclipse

Do not watch the Sun through dark tinted glasses or a phone camera. This is unsafe and can lead to permanent vision loss. Do not use home-made filters or sunglasses as they are not effective. Avoid looking at the Sun through telescope, binoculars and any other optical device. There are special solar filters available to look at the eclipse. Looking directly at the Sun can cause loss of the central vision, distorted vision, altered colour vision.

Since the Annular phase of the solar eclipse will be visible for 40 seconds, it is advisable to wear the specially-prepared sunglasses during this period. Later, the Annular solar eclipse will be visible in southern India on 21.5.2031. Earlier, Annular solar eclipses were visible in some parts of southern India on 15.1.2010 and 26.12.2019.

7. Information on bathing during the eclipse

During the eclipse, all water is considered to as that of the River Ganga; yet, cold water bestows more merits than hot water, flowing water instead of water which is drawn from a well, etc. are preferred. Bathing in a river, Ganga, sea is more beneficial and bestows more merits. Bathing especially in River Narmada is important. If this is not possible, remember Narmada during the bath.

8. Importance of spiritual practice during a solar eclipse

A particular atmosphere during the eclipse affects every animate being. The period of a solar eclipse is more complementary for spiritual practice than the lunar eclipse.

From the astrological, religious and scientific perspective, the eclipse period is considered important. Since the eclipse period is a sandhikal (Transition period), the effect of spiritual practice in this period is evident immediately.

The importance of chanting and donating during an eclipse is manifold. Therefore, donate as per your ability after the eclipse. The solar eclipse is the main period for starting chanting a new Name (of God) and perform purashcharan. If purashcharan, which was being performed earlier was restarted during an eclipse, the mantra becomes siddha (Effective).
By chanting with complete faith and concentration on remembering Shri Guru with bhav (Spiritual emotion), the distress at the physical, psychological, spiritual and worldly levels is eliminated. Every effort becomes successful. Japmala (A string of prayer beads commonly used for spiritual practice) is not needed for chanting during an eclipse. The entire period from Sparsha to Moksha of an eclipse is the most important.

– Mrs. Prajakta Joshi (Jyotish Phalit Visharad, Maharshi Adhyatma Vishwavidyalay, Jyotish Vibhag Pramukh, Sanatan Ashram, Ramnathi, Goa.)