LUNAR ECLIPSE (Chandra Grahana) - 27.07.2018

➡️CHANDRA GRAHANA (27.07.2018) - Useful information.....

A Lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahana) visible in INdia is going to be witnessed on 27^thJuly 2018 (Friday) on the lunar day of Aashaada Sukla Pournami at midnight hours extending up to early hours of 28^thJuly,2018;

It is going to be a Total Lunar Eclipse (Khagrasa Chandra Grahana) occurring at the Moon’s descending node Kethugrastha;

Astrologically this eclipse is occurring in the constellation of UttaraAshada Nakshathra extending to SRavana nakshathra in the zodiac sign Capricorn (Makara Raasi);

➡️Schedule of the current Lunar Eclipse...

+ Date of Eclipse: 27.07.2018;

+ Weekday: Friday (Bhargava Vaasara);

+ Lunar Day: Sri VilambinaAma Samvatsara Aashaada Sukla Pournami;

+ Type of Eclipse: Total Lunar Eclipse;
(Kethugrastha - Khagrasa Chandra Grahana)

+ Visibility (India): Yes;

> Eclipse Time: 23.54 hrs (27.07.2018) to 03.49 hrs (28.07.2018)

+ Duration of Eclipse: 3 hours & 55 minutes

+ Eclipse Phases:

> Sparsha (Beginning):   23.54 hrs;

> Madhya (Mid time):      01.52 hrs (28.07.2018)

> Moksha (Ending time): 03.49 hrs (28.07.2018)

+ Vedha: Starts from….. 14.54 hrs (27.07.2018)

➡️Astrological details of the Eclipse....

Eclipse Sign: Makara Raasi (Capricorn);

Eclipse constellation: UttaraAshaada / Sravana;

Planets in Eclipse sign: Chandra + Kethu + Kuja;

+ Effect on the zodiac signs...

> Negative results: Makara; Mithuna; Kumbha; Thula;

> Mixed results: Vrushabha; Karkataka; Kanya; Dhanus;

> Auspicious results: Mesha; Simha; Vruschika; Meena;

Since eclipse is occurring in Makara Raasi (Capricorn sign) and in UttaraAshaada/Sravana Nakshathra, those who are born in those constellations and in the Moon sign (Janma Raasi) of Makara may have to perform Grahana Dosha Shanti.

➡️GRAHANA VICHARA....

> WHAT IS TO BE DONE DURING ECLIPSE TIME?

Eclipse is the most opportune time to perform…

+ Snaana (Sachela snaana) at the start & after the Eclipse;

+ Bhagawad-Prarthana (Prayer);

+ Punascharana of Upadesa Manthras (eg.. Gayathri manthra),

+ Pithru Tharpana;

+ Daana;

Chanting of Vedic manthras/sacred stothras during eclipse will ward off the negative energy that gets activated during eclipse and protects from all negativity.

Those who are eligible (Tharpanaadhikari) should give Sarva Pithru Tharpana to fore-fathers with black Thila (Sesame) with proper sankalpa during eclipse time.

During Vedha period, nithya karma like Snana, Sandhyavandana can be performed.

+ Snana (taking bath) after the Eclipse is a must;

+ KaAla Sraaddha can be performed / completed before commencement of Vedha;

➡️SUGGESTED PRAYERS (Eclipse specific...)

Specific prayers to Lord Vishnu/Sri Krishna, Lord Hanuman; Lord Shiva (for Moon); Guru Sri Raaghavendra;

Some of the useful prayers suggested during eclipse time are…

Gayathri Manthra Japa;
Sri Vishnu Sahasra Naama Stothra;
Sri Sanaischarakrutha Nrusimha Stuthi;
Sri Venkatesha Stothra (Brahmanda Purana);
Sri Krishna Dwadasanama/Ashtottara;
Sri Hari-Vayu Stuthi; Khila Vayu Stuthi;
Yantroddhaaraka Hanumad Stothra;
Sri Rudra Dwadasanaama Stothra;
Sri Raghavendra Stothra/Kavacha/Ashtaakshari;

> Since the Eclipse is Kethu-Grastha, praying Lord Ganesha is also suggested;

One may choose any one or more of the above or any other useful Divine prayer based on their individual faith and according to their sampradaya; while the above list is only indicative but not exhaustive.

Those who cannot recite them can at least resort to chanting of...

Naaraayana Ashtaakshari/Dwadasaakshari;(or)
Sri Rama Naama (or)
Hare Rama-Hare Krishna Manthra; (or)
Nama Thraya Japa (Achyuta-Ananta-Govinda); (or)
Sri Raghavendra Ashtaakshari during the Eclipse time.

> Praying Sri Guru Raayaru during Eclipse time is specifically prescribed;

Whenever there is a lunar or solar eclipse or during Pushya Star occurring on Sunday (Pushya-Arka Yoga), any person reciting Sri Raaghavendra Stothra 108 times with all sincerity and devotion will not have trouble from ghosts/devils and no evil befall on him.

Sri Appanaachaarya an ardent devotee and prime disciple of Sri Guru Raayaru in his famous hymn on Guru Raaghavendra (Sri Raaghavednra Stothra) emphasizes as follows....

ಸೋಮಸೂರ್ಯೋಪರಾಗೇ ಚ ಪುಷ್ಯಾರ್ಕಾದಿಸಮಾಗಮೇ |
ಯೋನೋತ್ತಮಮಿದಂ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರಮಷ್ಟೋತ್ತರಶತಂ ಜಪೇತ್ |
ಭೂತಪ್ರೇತಪಿಶಾಚಾದಿ ಪೀಡಾ ತಸ್ಯ ನ ಜಾಯತೇ |

Soma-Sooryo paraage cha pushyaarkaadi samaagame,
Yo anuthamam idham stotramashtothara satham japeth,
Bootha pretha pisachaadi peeda thasya na jaayathe

➡️PITHRU THARAPANA SANKALPA SLOKA.....
(Current Lunar Eclipse specific)

Sri Govinda - Govinda! Sri MahaVishnorAagnaaya,
Pravarthamanasya, Aadya Bramhane, Dwiteeya Parardhe,
Sri Swetha Varaaha Kalpe, Vaivaswatha Manvanthare, Kaliyuge,
Kali Prathama Charane, Bauddhavathare, Salivaahanasakhe,
Jambudweepe, Meror Dakshina bhage, Bharathavarshe,
Bharatha Khande, Godavari Dakshina theere……Sannidhau,

Asmin Varthamane, Vyavahaarike, Chaandramaanena,
Sri Vilambinaama Sanvatsare, Dakshinayane,
Greeshma Ruthau, Aashaada Maase, Sukla Pakshe,
Pournami Thithau; Bhargava Vaasare;
Vishnu Nakshatre, Vishnu Yoge, Vishnu Karane;

evam guna visheshana visistaayaam; Punya thithau;

Praacheenavithi (Yagnopaveetham in apasavya position)

Samastha Pitrantharyaami…
Sri MadhvaVallabha SriMadhJanardhana Vaasudevah Preranaaya
Sri MadhvaVallabha SriMadhJanardhana Vaasudevah Preethyartham

Asmath Samastha Pithrunaam...
Akshaya Punya Lokaavaapthyartham
Chandroparaaga Punyakaaley; Sraaddhaanga
Saddhyah Thila Tharpanam Karishye;

After giving Thila Tharpana;

> Samarpana sloka...

Yasya smrithya cha naamokthyaa thapoyajnaa kriyadhishu
nyunam sampoornathaam yaathi sadhyo vande thamachyutham
manthraheenam kriyaheenam bhakthiheenam Janaardhana
yathkrutham thu mayaa deva paripoornam thadhasthu mey...

Anena Mayaa - Chandroparaaga Kruthena
Samastha Pithru Thila Tharpanena;

Samastha Pithrantharyaami Sri MadhvaVallabha
SriMadhJanardhana Vaasudevah
Priyathaam Supreetho Varado Bhavathu;

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu

Kaayena vaacha manasendri yairvaa
Buddhyaatmanaa vaa prakrite swabhavath
Karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai
Naarayanayethi samarpayaami

➡️GRAHANA DOSHA PARIHARA.....

Since eclipse is occurring in the constellation of UttaraShada/Sravana Nakshathra/Makara Raasi, those who are born in the above constellations/zodiac sign may have to perform Grahana Shanti.

Those born in the Moon sign of Makara Raasi should donate the following to a Brahmana along with Dakshine.

One Bronze/Copper plate (filled with ghee) +
Silver/Gold Chandra Bimba & Naga Bimba; along with....

Rice (Moon)
Horse-Gram (Kethu); +
ToorDal (Kuja) +
Black Thila;

> Sankalpa sloka while giving Bimba Daana....

Chandraantaryaami...
Sri Bharatheeramana Mukhyapraanaanthargatha
Sri Lakshminaarasimha preranaaya
Sri Lakshminaarasimha preethyartham
Chandroparaaga-peeda-parihaaraartham
Sanaaga chandrabimba-daanamaham karishye

ಚಂದ್ರಾಂತರ್ಯಾಮಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಭಾರತೀರಮಣ ಮುಖ್ಯಪ್ರಾಣಾಂತರ್ಗತ
ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನಾರಸಿಂಹಪ್ರೆರಣಾಯ ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನಾರಸಿಂಹಪ್ರೀತ್ಯರ್ಥಮ್
ಚಂದ್ರೋಪರಾಗಪೀಡಾಪರಿಹಾರಾರ್ಥಮ್
ಸನಾಗ ಚಂದ್ರಬಿಂಬದಾನಮಹಮ್ ಕರಿಷ್ಯೇ

చంద్రాంతర్యామి శ్రీ భారతీరమణ ముఖ్యప్రాణాంతర్గత
శ్రీ లక్ష్మీనారసింహప్రేరణాయ శ్రీ లక్ష్మీనారసింహప్రీత్యర్థమ్
చంద్రోపరాగపీడాపరిహారార్థమ్
సనాగ చంద్రబింబదానమహమ్ కరిష్యే

Any Eclipse time is sacred and the entire period of Eclipse is known as Parva Kala (most sacred time).

Any sacred rituals or rites performed during Parvakaala will derive more merits than those performed during ordinary times.

Hence, don’t waste the Eclipse time with materialistic pursuits and activities.

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
Hari Sarvottama - Vaayu Jeevottama
Sri GuruRaajoVijayate