On August 16, we will experience a partial lunar eclipse. The moon will be edging forward in the first few minutes of the sign of Aquarius. Eclipsing the Moon will be the North Node or Dragon’s Head, Rahu, in the latter degrees of Capricorn. This eclipse will occur in the constellation of Dhanistha according to Vedic Astrological calculation. Dhanistha is a constellation that generally brings danger and disturbance and its ruler is Mars.

The time of greatest eclipse will be 10.10 pm London time which is 5.10 pm New York time.

An eclipse is generally an inauspicious event since the planets which are the luminaries, the givers of light, are overshadowed or eclipsed by other celestial bodies. In Vedic mythology and astrological calculation, we always find the presence of either lunar node, Rahu or Ketu, in conjunction with the eclipsed planet. Rahu and Ketu are known as chaya-graha in Sanskrit which means ‘shadow planets’ since their purpose is to carry and project the shadow upon the other planets. This they accomplish both on the personal or individual level and the collective or world level. Rahu and Ketu uncover the nature of the shadow or negative behavior pattern and its consequences so that it can be recognized, exposed to the light of day, and subsequently resolved or removed.

Eclipse effects may be felt during the actual time of eclipse but they also reverberate for months to come.

Some of the effects that may become apparent in the near future are as follows:

The price of materials produced through mining will increase, such as gold, coal and natural gas.

The cost of iron and steel production is likely to rise.

Building contractors will lose money on their investments and developments

The price of agricultural products, such as grain, vegetables, fruits and tea will continue to escalate. Some countries may even begin a program of rationing certain foods and basic necessities.

There may be another outbreak of mad cow disease due unsanitary conditions at a slaughterhouse.

There may be a scandal at a newspaper or television network whose intent it is to harm a political candidate instead of merely reporting the news.

The cost of electricity will also escalate.

WHAT TO DO DURING AN ECLIPSE

In Vedic times, many thousands of years ago, it was the custom to enter a river, particularly a sacred river, such as the Ganges, or the ocean or other body of water and chant mantras and offer prayers for purification for the duration of the eclipse. Solar and lunar eclipses are generally very inauspicious, with certain rare exceptions. It is nonetheless an advantageous opportunity for fasting, prayer and meditation on God. Fasting should be observed for the whole period of the eclipse in order to nullify the reactions of past negative or egocentric activities.

It is also recommended to give in charity to the poor as much as possible during the time of a lunar or solar eclipse. If you cannot afford to give in charity, then simply give charity within your mind, that is, envision yourself doing it just the way you would on the physical plane. The spiritual benefit for you will be the same.

Pregnant women should never look at an eclipse since it is thought to have a potentially negative effect on the health of the fetus.

If you have planets or your Ascendant in Capricorn or Aquarius in your Vedic birth chart, you can counteract some of the negative effects of the eclipse by chanting the following mantras to Rahu and/or the Moon.

For Rahu: Om shree rahave (raa ha vay) namaha

For the Moon: Om shree chandraaya namaha

VEDIC LEGEND

Thousands of years ago, the demons and the gods were instructed by Vishnu (God Himself) to churn the Ocean of Milk at the base of the universe in order generate the sacred soma, the nectar of immortality. When the nectar of immortality was produced, the problem was to distribute it between the gods and demons. To give it to the demons would mean to give infinite strength to those who would use it with poor judgment or from a limited, egotistical perspective.

To remedy the situation, Vishnu took the form of a beautiful damsel named Mohini (the bewilderer) and told the demons to arrange themselves in a row in order to be served their share of the nectar. In preparation for the intense experience of drinking the nectar, Mohini asked the demons to close their eyes and meditate. If anyone opened his eyes, he would lose his chance to share the nectar due to his impatience. The materialistic and self-involved demons waited and waited. Mohini distributed the nectar only to the gods.

It is generally a female divinity, a virgin, who protects and bestows divine knowledge or revelation to the lower beings. Mohini tried to teach the demons that one should not strive for physical immortality and its benefits but for the supreme knowledge that transcends all material enjoyment and sensory perception.

The demon, Rahu, who is thought to be a serpent-like character, had no intention of co-operating with Mohini’s plan and hid himself in the row of gods, directly between the Sun and the Moon. The Sun god passed the jug of nectar over to him and he took a drink. At that time, the Sun and Moon gods recognized him and called out to Mohini, "This is Rahu, the demon, in the midst of the gods!" The nectar had only gone as far as his throat when Mohini threw Her discus at him, severing his head from his body. But since the nectar was already in his head, his head became immortal like the other gods. Rahu went on to perpetually eclipse the Sun and Moon as pay-back for their treachery toward him. Ketu is considered to be the tail of the serpent, since Rahu and Ketu are always exactly 180 degrees apart.

© Drew Lawrence 2008