Today's total Solar Eclipse has made most of the news headlines from the scientific perspective. Not that there was anything particular or rare about it, but its just that science has developed so much in terms of predicting and studying the solar eclipse that its accessible to more and more people around the globe. The northern hemisphere eclipse had its path starting from the Artic/ Canada, and then passing through Siberia, Mongolia and China. It had its partial eclipse path affecting India also.
Solar eclipse (aka Surya Grahanam in Sanskrit) has much relevance in Hindu Mythology. The story goes on as during the Palazhi Madanam or the churning of the milky ocean, Rahu disguised himself as God and awaited to drink the nectar. When Lord Vishnu approached Rahu, Surya and Chandra (Sun and Moon Gods respectively) identified him as the demon and warned Vishu who then severed the head of the demon. Since the nectar had already been consumed partially, the demon did not die, instead the head and the body emerged separately to form Rahu and Ketu, who take turns to take revenge on Surya and Chandra for their betrayal, and thus the Solar and Lunar Eclipse occur periodically.
Though science has overtaken myths, Hindus till date believe the story and engage themselves in prayer and holy deeds during the eclipse time after which they are supposed to take a bath, purify themselves and prepare fresh food and consume it. Since eclipse can be seen as a time when the sun or the moon is covered, it is believed inauspicious to do any activities, and hence they pray.
The picture shows thousands of devotees taking a dip in the river Yamuna, in Northern India after the eclipse. (photo courtesy- yahoo news)
Elsewhere: - In China people believed that Solar Eclipse occur when the sun was being devoured by a powerful dragon and hence they would beat drums to create loud noises or beat on the mirror to ward off the dragon. This year the occurrence of eclipse right before the Olympics this year on 08-08-08 was seen as a potential danger, but luckily feng shui experts and astrologers have predicted that there's no need to worry about it.
In Africa, ancient people had a similar belief where it was said that a snake which emerged from the ocean grew so large that it swallowed the sun, and later had to be scared off by beating on the drums.
The Japanese would cover their wells to prevent any poison from dripping on to it from the dark sun.
The Tahitians on the other hand believed that the sun and the moon were so much in love when they got to meet during the solar and the lunar eclipse, which is similar to the ancient Arctic America believers that the sun and the moon would leave their respective positions temporarily to check out the happenings of the universe.
The Egyptians depict the solar eclipse as the victory of light over darkness. Even though the beliefs might be relevant, similar or contradictory, this amazing phenomenon proving Einstein's Theory of Relativity was confirmed by Sir Arthur Eddington in 1919. Eclipse is also interesting to the scientists in studying the corona of the sun, and its surface during this time.
Wait, here's more... According to NASA, the next total eclipse will occur July 22, 2009, starting in India and moving across Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, China and over the Pacific Ocean.
