Lunar eclipse leaves magnitudinal impact on ritualistic Mysureans

Astronomy enthusiasts feasted their eyes on Monday night as the partial lunar eclipse offered them a rare spectacle. Some others however, chose to perform rituals to ward off the ‘negative effects’ of the eclipse. The eclipse was partially visible across the country and also in other continents.

Muguru Madhu Dixith of Sri Mayakara Gurukula said that people who are born in Shravana, Uttarashada, Dhanista, Rohini and Hastha nakshathras and those with zodiac signs Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Cancer were expected to be affected by the eclipse.

He said that eclipses are a rare and significant scientific phenomenon and people need not panic when it occurs. “The stars will definitely be affected by all astronomical phenomenon. Some of them get publicity, whereas some others go unnoticed. Eclipses of this magnitude are significant. Repetition of a similar eclipse happens after a cycle of 48 eclipses and it takes almost 450 years for a recurrence,” he said.

Dixith said that as the effects of the stars are expected to reflect on the lives of people, Grahana Shanthi can be performed to ward off the ill-effects. “While it can be financial implications on persons of Sagittarius sign, the ill-effects can be in all aspects among Capricorn and Aquarius signs and family problems for those with Cancer sign. The ritual of Grahana Shanthi involves making a pair of replicas of moon and snake and offering puja. A piece of white cloth, rice and gingely seeds should be offered to the deities,” he said.

Various astrologers have suggested different remedies to ward off the evil effects. One of them asked people of a particular zodiac sign to see the reflection of their face in gingely oil before seeking a darshan of the deity in temples. They were asked to offer gingely oil and gingely seeds to the temples. The offerings were to be made to Shanishwara temples. If there were no Shanishwara temples in the vicinity, people were asked to make the offerings to any temple in their locality.

Speaking about different rituals as suggested by various other astrologers, Dixith said that the gingely oil ritual is to ward off the ill-effects of Shani (Shani Dosha) and such rituals do not have any connection with the lunar eclipse.

Shops made brisk business insale of loose rice, gingely oil, gingely seeds, white cloth and other items related with various rituals. The believers made a beeline to the temples on Tuesday morning to seek divine intervention to ward off the ill-effects. The temples received loads of offerings.

Even tulsi and garikehullu (bermuda grass) were in great demand since Monday evening as they were sprinkled on food items and water in households of believers before the start of the eclipse.  With such varied reactions, the lunar eclipse seems to have indeed left an impact.