Tuesday, August 12, 2008

How to observe eclipse?

Following is the gist of Do’s and Donts during an eclipse (extracts from classical text Dharmasindhu)
1. The period of eclipse is considered as Punyakaala (auspicious period).
2. The period of eclipse is divided into three: Sparsha (Beginning), Madhya (Middle) and Moksha (end)
3. Bath (preferably in cold water) both before Sparsha and after Moksha. During eclipse do Japa and Pooje. At the end donate liberally.
4. Not to sleep during eclipse. (If slept, sickness will embrace)
5. Not to answer nature’s call. ( Shitting will make one a worm in the next Janma and urinating will bring poverty)
6. Sex to be avoided 3 days before and 3 days after the eclipse.
7. Stop taking food 12 hours before a Solar eclipse and 9 hours before a lunar eclipse. Concessions are made to children, sick , old people and pregnant women. They can take food upto 2 hours 24 mins before the eclipse starts. Eating during eclipse is a strict NO. (Else, Naraka or hell is assured!).
8. Food prepared before the eclipse should not be used after the eclipse.
9. Milk, Butter milk, Ghee, items made of ghee and pickle are exempted from rule 8 provided they are covered by Dharbe or Tulsi or Garike
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6 comments:

Seetharamaiah Srinivas said...

KINDLY TELL ME WHERE YOU GOT THIS "DHARMASINDU". IS IT AUTHENTICATED BY ANY RESEARCH ?

Madhu said...

Dear Srinivas,
"Dharmasindhu" is abook authored by Sri Shambu Sharama Naajagaara and was first published in 1970 and won the Karnataka State award in 1971. Reprinted recently in 2002 under the publication of Samaja Pusthakalaya, Dharawad 580 001. Price Rs.250.00. It is a must in every household.
As regards research, this book was originally written in sanskrit by a great scholar Sri Kshinatha Upadhyaya in 1712. You may please remember that most of the books written in earlier days were for public good (Loka Kalyanartham) whereas the present day books are for fame or money etc. The author Sri Kashinatha Upadhyaya was so humble that after writing the book, he had sent this book to Kashi and requested the scholars in Kashi to study this book and sought their opinion. He also stated that if the book is not considered useful or good, the book can be put in river Ganga!.
However, the scholars studied the book for one month and realised its greatness and carried it in "Pallakki" and performed a pooje near Holy Ganga river.
I sincerely believe in its greatness. You are a free individual.
Yours truly
Madhusoodana

adinath_r said...

dear sir,

do you have a copy of the book in english ???

Madhu said...

Dear Sri Adinath,
I do not have the English version of the said book nor I have any knowledge of its English version. I am sure it must have been translated into many Indian Languages.

adinath_r said...

An extract from A_Digest_of_Hindu_Law 1867

6 The Samskarakaustubha by Anantadeva the son of Apadeva is one of the numerous compilations treating of the sixteen initiatory rites and kindred matters It is said to belong to the same time as the Nirnayasindhu The edition referred to in the Digest was printed in Bombay at Bapu Sadashiv's press 1862

7 The Dharmasindhu by Kas inatha the son of Anantadeva is quite a modern compilation of the same description as the Nirnayasindhu The author according to the Pandits was a native of Pandarapura and died about forty or fifty years ago

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=Enw-AAAAcAAJ&dq=dharmasindhu&pg=PR11&ci=114%2C739%2C705%2C323&source=bookclip

shankara said...

Adinath,

Dharmasindhu has been in print from the second half of 18th century. It was later published by Nirnayasagar press, Mumbai in 1888. Its title page can be viewed at http://dspace.wbpublibnet.gov.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/10689/16406/1/Title.pdf