The lunar eclipse on the night of 16th
July 2019 that arrived in the midst of unusually less hype was followed by quick
pace of successive events that make me write them here for record and future reference.
The partial eclipse occurred in the 2nd
half of the night of July 16th a few hours before the sun entered
Cancer ushering in Dakshinayana.
On 17th night the Brindavan of Sri
Vyasaraja Tirtha was vandalised causing immense sorrow to devout Hindus.
On 18th, four people died in a stampede
in the process of worshiping the deity, Atthi Varadar in Kanchipuram.
This was soon followed by heavy rains in many parts
of India leading to floods and displacement of people. The UN Office for the coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs declared,
“As a result of torrential monsoon rains mid
July, over 25 million people have been affected by flooding in Bangladesh,
India, Nepal and Myanmar. At least 600 people are known to have died and over
half a million people have been displaced with homes, schools and hospitals
damaged or destroyed. There is the possibility that the situation could deteriorate
further as rains continue in many of the flood-affected areas.”
Source:
This map and the events following the eclipse offer
scope to analyse the effect of the eclipse. To understand this we must first
note down the effects of the eclipse, derived from Varahamihira’s Brihat
Samhita.
· The month: Lunar Ashadha:
Prediction by Varahamihira:
“Wells, wet fields and rivers will become dry; dealers in roots and fruits, the
people of Gandhara, of Kashmir, Of Pulinda and of China will perish; there will
be abundance of rains.” (Ch 5-77)
Inference: Contradictory
views are given. On one side wells and rivers would become dry and on the other
there will be abundance of rains. The prediction implies run-off water and back
to lack of usable water soon.
· The Sign: Gemini.
Prediction by Varahamihira:
“Chaste women, princes, powerful petty chiefs, learned men, people living on
the banks of Jamna and rulers of Balhika and Matysa with their subjects will
suffer miseries.” (Ch 5-37)
Inference: The current spate
of rainfall seems to be relevant to flood conditions in river Jamna and Ganga.
Balhika could refer to Iran, North West Pakistan.
· Part of the night eclipsed: The night (or day, in
the case of solar eclipse) is divided into 7 equal parts. That part of the
night when the eclipse happens is noted for prediction. This time it happened
in 5th and 6th part.
Prediction by Varahamihira:
“In the fifth section, herbivorous animals, ministers and household inmates
will suffer as also the Vaishyas. If they should be eclipsed when in the sixth
section of the firmament, women and shudras will suffer.” (Ch 5- 30, 31)
Inference: Domestic
animals, ministers (fall of Kumaraswamy Government
in Karnataka), business people, working class and women are expected to
suffer.
· Direction of commencement of eclipse: Started from
northern part of the lunar disc.
Prediction by Varahamihira:
“If the eclipse should commence at the northern, southern or western point of
the disc, the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas or the Shudras will suffer
respectively. (Ch 5-32)
Inference: The
commencement t north affects Brahmins. This includes acharyas and temples. The
vandalism at the Brindavan
of Sri Vyasaraja Teertha and death of people in the temple in stampede had happened within 3
days of the eclipse.
Picture
credit: @bharanivt
· Shape of the eclipse: There are 10 types of
eclipse depending on the shape of the eclipsed part. This time three fourth of
the disc was eclipsed at maximum.
Prediction by Varahamihira:
“If a third, or a fourth, or one half of the disc should be eclipsed, it is
technically known as Grasana (seizing with the mouth). Grasa- Partial eclipse:
the wealth of prosperous princes will suffer diminution and prosperous
countries will be afflicted with calamities.” (Ch 5- 46)
Inference: The first part
of the prediction foretells loss of wealth of the rich perhaps by way of ED
attachment of properties or debt trap. The second part on calamities is what we
are seeing in north and north east India by floods.
·
Overall
assessment:
1. Suffering
to all sections of society except Kshatriyas (army) is indicated and we are
witness to this now.
2. The
vandalism at Bridavanam and death at Kanchi temple refer to suffering to
Brahmins;
3. Business
losses and hardship to working class is also evident on account of the floods.
4. Herbivorous animals refers to domesticated
animals that are likely to be affected by floods.
5. Affliction
to ministers was seen in the fall of Kumaraswamy ministry in Karnataka.
The amazing part of this assessment is the extent of
eclipse witnessed in different places.
Both Brindavanam and Kanchipuram that faced affliction
immediately after the eclipse are in close latitudes. (Anegundi, the location of
the Brindavanam is at 76.49˚ E; Kanchi at 79.70˚ E) They were exposed to
maximum duration of eclipse. Refer P1 in red box in the map below.
In the P1 region suffering to Brahmins (temples and
devotees – any devotee is a Brahmin who contemplates on Brahman) and ministers (fall
of government in Karnataka)
In P2 region, suffering to business people, ordinary
people and animals. (1st map in the beginning)
May be for the first time in recent years, the
eclipse related predictions had matched on a higher degree. One reason I propose
is the planetary condition at the time of eclipse. Saturn in close conjunction
with Ketu and in direct opposition to Rahu is one factor that causes widespread
misery to common man. The star dispositor of Saturn is lorded by Venus which
also joined this combination close to the eclipsed degree. Venus in the star of
Jupiter brings in the picture both Venus and Jupiter related people, namely
women and temple related issues.
In the past eclipses were dreaded due to the kind of
suffering that was related to eclipses. But in this age of all round suffering,
all round the year, nothing shocks us. However the extraordinary events listed
in the beginning of this article make us wonder whether eclipses are portentous
of some events on earth.
· Who
can forget the Mantralaya floods that ravaged Sri Raghavendra Swami’s abode soon
after a solar eclipse on 22nd July 2009, with similar predictive
indicators of danger to Acharya or temple related places?
· And
who can deny that it requires an eclipse to eclipse the un-democratically
installed government of Kumaraswamy?
With more records in place, let us hope to understand
better the work of Kala Purusha through his tools in the sky.
Until then and always let our prayers be “Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavantu”
