DO’S AND DONT’S DURING ECLIPSE? AYURVEDA HAS THE ANSWER

Every big eclipse (whether lunar or solar) brings a series of non-conclusive discussions in between the scientists and astrologers. Scientists do not want to believe the subtle effects of planets on us and Astrologers are unable to explain the science. So here is this blog which will help you understand the changes happening in our body during an eclipse by using simple principles of Ayurveda. Let us understand the solar eclipse first and then the lunar one along with Dos and Don’ts.

SOLAR ECLIPSE

To begin with, we all need to understand that it is sun and more specifically sunlight that governs all the metabolic triggers in a living body. It is the morning sunlight (direct or indirect) which falls on our pineal gland (called as third eye in the ancient texts) situated in the centre of our forehead that triggers current (called as pitta, to be precise sadhak pitta in Ayurveda) in our entire body to kick start our metabolism and wake us up. It is this pitta (heat) which makes us hungry because increased metabolism increases energy demand too which we get through food. And it is pitta only which digests the food that we consume. That’s why we don’t feel hungry during dark hours (unless we are surrounded by very strong artificial light which is a malpractice in today’s world). It is also the reason that the Lunch should be heaviest (unlike the old saying of west) when sun is right above our head and pitta is highest in the body demanding heaviest food due to a highest metabolism.

***This post is an extract from the book THE ROOT CAUSE- Ayurveda, Astrology and beyond for a blissful life”. To pick up a copy of the book, please click the link/s mentioned at the end of this post ⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓

And since during solar eclipse there is a sudden loss of sunlight (extent of loss depends upon the extent of eclipse), pitta in the body too goes down suddenly resulting in sudden drop of metabolism, leading to incomplete digestion of consumed food. And a partially (or incomplete) digested food produces toxins in the body which get stuck in our blood vessels and become the cause of serious diseases. This is the reason that during and before solar eclipse, one should avoid having food as less pitta would create health issues in the body due to undigested food. The extent of fasting depends upon the duration and the extent of eclipse (partial or complete). Longer and more (complete) the eclipse at the specific location, more would be the fasting required. So, a complete eclipse means the person should begin fasting at least 12 hours before the beginning and it should continue until the eclipse is totally over (this is because solid food takes around 12 hrs to get completely digested). Since absence of sunlight also gives rise to microbes (called as negative energy), one must avoid consumption of food prepared before the eclipse. One should also avoid sleeping during this time as this will further drop Pitta. That is why it is suggested to stay busy during eclipse with prayers, light songs etc. This process of fasting and observing other precautions is called as SUTAK. Yes! people who are unwell, old, high on Pitta or Vata (VATA means less blood meaning those people whose blood vessels are thin/obstructed) or both, who cannot stay without food for so long, can have light food which is easily digested even with low pitta (for example well cooked moong dal and rice with cumin seeds in summers and ajwain in winters). Also remember that fruits like melons being cold in nature should not be consumed during solar eclipse because they need pitta to get digested.

***Donation of food items especially Khichdi (made out of moong dal and rice) during lunar eclipse is promoted simply because this food item is the most easily digestible food or say it is predigested due to external heat.

To understand who is high on Pitta or Vata or both please click the video below :-

LUNAR ECLIPSE

And now let’s discuss about the lunar eclipse. We all know that it’s the combination of moon’s and sun’s gravity (though primarily moon’s, it being very close to earth) which pulls water of the oceans on earth and causes high and low tides. And since our body too has around 70% water, these heavenly bodies exert their pull on this water too. So on full moon, body fluids especially blood also get pulled towards one part of the body thereby reducing it towards other. Also, the light of full moon is very relaxing and cool which reduces pitta (heat or current in the body). Thus both these reasons combined, flood the mind with loads of blood (meaning nutrition) giving a euphoric effect and suddenly reducing vata (paucity of blood) of the brain. Remember vata goes where blood doesn’t go and vata represents hyperactivity so reduced activity of the brain brings peace. This is the reason that meditation during full moon is considered very relaxing for mind and was strongly recommended by the Vedic scriptures. However during lunar eclipse which always happens on full moon only, there is a sudden downward pull of blood due to opposite pull from the sun which is aligned on the other side of earth along with sudden disappearance of white light. Both these phenomenon during lunar eclipse, create confusion in the metabolism of the human body and therefore it is advised to avoid consuming food during and around 8-9 hrs (SUTAK) before this phenomenon (especially if it’s a complete lunar eclipse). Unlike solar, in lunar eclipse, one should avoid louder activities like recitation of prayers etc and instead meditate to keep pitta in control. In other words Solar and lunar eclipse have almost opposite effects and that’s why they are referred to as husband wife (king and queen) in mythology because opposites attract.