Total Lunar Eclipse (10.12.2011) - ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಚಂದ್ರಗ್ರಹಣ/సంపూర్ణ చంద్రగ్రహಣ೦

Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vaasudevaya!

     Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha    

Sparsha             Madhya             Moksha (18.16hrs)         (20.02hrs)         (21.48hrs)

Last eclipse of the year 2011 is going to be witnessed on 10^th December 2011, the full moon day, Pournimaasya. It is going to be a total Lunar eclipse (Sampoorna Chandra Grahana) occurring at the Moon’s descending node, Kethugrastha Chandra Grahana. This eclipse will be visible all over Asia, Australia, New-Zealand, Europe, North America, Canada and Middle East.  In India it will be visible throughout the country.  It is going to be again a long eclipse stretching for more than three hours with its totality lasting for 51 minutes. We had recently witnessed a similar type but still longer lunar eclipse in the month of June’2011. Astrologically, this Eclipse is occurring in the constellation of Rohini extending to Mrigasira star in Vrushabha Raasi (Taurus).

Schedule of current Lunar Eclipse as per IST

Date of Eclipse	10th December, 2011 (Saturday)
Lunar Day	Margasira Sukla Pournami
Type of Eclipse	Total Lunar Eclipse Sampoorna Chandra Grahana Kethu Grastha – Khagraasa
Visibility	Across the country
Eclipse Time	18.16 hrs (IST) to 21.48 hrs (IST)
Total duration of Eclipse	3 hours and 32 minutes
Eclipse Phases: Sparsha (Beginning) Madhya (Mid time) Moksha (Ending time)	18.16 hrs 20.02 hrs 21.48 hrs
Vedha starts from	09.16 hrs
Parva Kala	3 hours and 32 minutes

As per NASA the timing is going to be same through out the country. Food restriction for those who can afford starts from Sunrise on 10.12.2011. Pregnant women, children, old aged and ailing have relaxations in food timings but well before the eclipse time.  As far as possible avoid taking food during eclipse.

Astrological details of the Eclipse

Eclipse Sign	Vrushabha Raasi (Taurus)
Eclipse constellation	Rohini and Mrigasira (1 & 2)
Planets in Eclipse sign	Kethu and Moon
Effect on zodiac signs ·         Negative results ·         Mixed results ·         Auspicious results	Vrushabha (Taurus), Thula (Libra) Mithuna (Gemini), Kumbha (Aquarius) Mesha (Aries), Kanya (Virgo) Vrischika (Scorpio), Makara (Capricorn) Karkataka (Cancer), Simha (Leo) Dhanus (Sagittarius), Meena (Pisces)

Suggested Remedies

Since the eclipse is occurring in the constellation of Rohini and Mrigasira, those belonging to these two birth stars may have to perform Grahana Shanti. Those born in the Moon sign of Taurus (Vrushabha) and in the constellation of Rohini & Mrigasira in particular should donate the following to a Brahmin on the next day morning after taking bath.

One Bronze/Copper plate (filled with ghee) +

Chandra Bimba & Naga Bimba (silver) +

Vasthra (Clothes) + Dakshina along with

Rice, Horse Gram and Toor Dal

Donating Black Thil seeds during Parvakala like Eclipse is always recommended which is considered as highly meritorious.

While giving charity (Bimba Daana) following sloka to be recited..
chandraantaryaami sri lakshminaarasimha preranaaya 

sri lakshminaarasimha preetyartham 

chandroparaagapeedaparihaaraartham

sanaaga chandrabimbadaanamaham karishye

ಚಂದ್ರಾಂತರ್ಯಾಮಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನಾರಸಿಂಹಪ್ರೆರಣಾಯ 
ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನಾರಸಿಂಹಪ್ರೀತ್ಯರ್ಥಮ್  

ಚಂದ್ರೋಪರಾಗಪೀಡಾಪರಿಹಾರಾರ್ಥಮ್ 
ಸನಾಗ ಚಂದ್ರಬಿಂಬದಾನಮಹಮ್ ಕರಿಷ್ಯೇ

చంద్రాంతర్యామి శ్రీ లక్ష్మీనారసింహప్రేరణాయ 
శ్రీ లక్ష్మీనారసింహప్రీత్యర్థమ్

చంద్రోపరాగపీడాపరిహారార్థమ్ 
సనాగ చంద్రబింబదానమహమ్ కరిష్యే

Performing Rudrabhishekam to Lord Shiva before and after the Eclipse will be beneficial.  Those belonging to Rohini and Mrigasira stars should avoid looking/getting exposed to the Eclipse.

Suggested prayers

Specific prayers to Lord Maha Ganapathi (for Kethu), Lord Sri Krishna and Lord Shiva (For Moon), Lord Hanuman, Moon God are required to be made during eclipse. Some of the useful prayers suggested for recitation during eclipse time are…

  

Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stothram

Sri Nrusimha Kavacham

Runa Vimochana Sri Nrusimha Stothram

Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stothram

Sri Krishnaastakam, Sri Damodara Stothram

Sri Venkateswara Vajra Kavacha Stothram

Durga Kavacham or Durga Stuthi

Sri Hari-Vayu Stuthi, Yanthroddharaka Hanumad Stothram

Khila Vayu Stuthi, Hanuman Chaleesa

Sri Raghavendra Sthothram/ Kavacham

One can choose any one of the above or any other useful Divine prayer based on their individual faith and belief while the above list is only indicative but not exhaustive.  Those who cannot recite them can at least resort to chanting of Narayana Astakshari or Shiva Panchakshari or Sri Rama Nama or Sri Raghavendra Astakshari during Eclipse.

http://bhargavasarma.blogspot.com/search/label/DIVINE%20STOTRAS%20AND%20SLOKAS

What is to be done during Eclipse time?

Any Eclipse time is said to be very sacred and celestial and entire period of Eclipse is known as Parva Kala (most sacred time).  Any sacred rituals or rites performed during a parva kala will derive more merits than those performed during ordinary times. Hence, please don’t waste the Eclipse time with materialistic pursuits and activities. Eclipse is the most opportune time to perform Snana {(sacred bath) before and after the Eclipse}, Prayer, Punascharana of Upadesa Manthra like Gayathri manthra, Pithru Tharpana, and Charity. Chanting of Vedic manthras/sacred Sthothras 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 Tarpana to fore-fathers with black Thil (Sesame) seeds with proper sankalpa during eclipse time.  In case eclipse day is coinciding with Pithru/Mathru thithi (Pournami) it should be performed after the eclipse. During Vedha period nithya karma like Snana, Sandhyavandana can be performed. Snana (taking bath) after the Eclipse is a must and thereafter food can be taken after offering prayer.

Annexure

Pithru Tharpana - Sankalpa Sloka

(For the current Lunar Eclipse)

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, Bhaaratavarshe,
Bharatha Khande, Godavari Dakshina theere…Sannidhau,
Asmin Varthamane, Vyavahaarike, Chaandramanena,
Sri Khara Nama Sanvastare, Dakshinayane, Hemantha Ruthau,
Margasira Maase, Sukla Pakshe, Pournami Thithau…
Mandha Vaasare, Vishnu Nakshatre, Vishnu Yoge,
Vishnu Karane, evam guna visheshana visistaayaam,
Punya thithau
Praacheenavithi (Yagnopaveetham in apasavya position)
Asmath Samastha Pithrunaam
Akshaya Punya Lokaavaapthyartham
Chandroparaaga Punyakaaley Sraaddhanga
Saddhyah Thila Tharpanam Karishye

Samarpana sloka
Anena Mayaa - Chandroparaaga Kruthena
Samastha Pithru Thila Tharpanena
SriMadhJanardhana Vaasudevah
Priyathaam Preetho Varado Bhavathu
Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
Kaayena vaacha manasendri yairvaa
Buddhyaatmanaa vaa prakrite swabhavath
Karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai
Naarayanayethi samarpayaami

For more information on Thila tharpana vidhi, list of Sarva Pithru etc… you may like to refer to the following post…..

http://bhargavasarma.blogspot.com/search/label/AMAVASYA%20THARPANA%20VIDHI

For more details on Eclipse terminology, dos & don’ts, usage of Dharbha (Kusa grass) during Eclipse etc… you may like to refer to the related posts from the following link…

http://bhargavasarma.blogspot.com/search/label/Eclipse

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu