Chandra Grahan - 2016

 Chandra Grahan or Lunar Eclipse

There are two lunar eclipses – Chandra Grahan – in 2016.

Both are visible in India.

Date	Type	Locations
23th March 2016 Wednesday	Penumbral	Much of Asia, Australia, North America, Much of South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arctic, Antarctica
16/17th Sept 2016	Penumbral	Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, West in South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arctic, Antarctica

*Penumbral Lunar Eclipse in India.
*No Eclipse in Umbra.
*Penumbral Eclipse Not Visible to the Naked Eye.
*First Contact with the Penumbra - 22:27:22 on 16th, September.
*Maximum of Lunar Eclipse - 00:25:48
*Last Contact with the Penumbra - 02:24:15
*Duration of Penumbral Phase - 03 Hours 56 Mins 52 Secs


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What is Sutak:

Before a certain time period of Chandra Grahan and Surya Grahan, the environment starts getting contaminated with harmful objects. This time period is known as Sutak. It is believed that auspicious tasks should NOT be performed during Sutak.

During Sutak, following activities should be avoided:

*Sutak starts 12 hours before Surya Grahan and 9 hours before Chandra Grahan.
*One should not perform any auspicious work during Sutak.
*The idols and images of deities should not be touched and worshiped.
*Bath should be taken after Sutak to avoid its harmful effects.
*Sutak is applicable to those places only where Grahan or eclipse is visible.


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 Common rituals followed during Chandra Grahan

In contemporary time also, most people take the day of Chandra grahan very seriously. They follow some old rituals to protect themselves from evil influence of grahan. Lunar eclipse usually occurs at late night or early morning when people used to enjoy their sleep. But people who go outside for work at the time of grahan should certainly ignore looking at sky or moon. But still it often happens that people get influenced or come under attack of evil affect of grahan. This can cause observable change in certain areas of life like income, career or married life for some time. 

Moon can also show its affect over emotions and mind of people who get influence due to Chandra grahan. It may even cause mental disability, especially to fetus of mothers as per beliefs mentioned in Hindu mythologies. 

However, remedies of moon can be performed to reduce evil effects of this planet or for Chandra grahan shanti (pacify). Once grahan is over, taking bath is also considered important for purification. After completion of grahan time, ladies cook fresh meals to eat. Some people do not eat anything at the time of grahan. 

This way, there are innumerable conceptions attached with chandra grahan. And people, especially Hindus take each auspicious and inauspicious day or occasion significantly . For them, 'chandra grahan' is not fortunate. 

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Soorya Grahan - 2016

Soorya Grahan or Solar Eclipse

What is Soorya Grahan or Solar Eclipse:


** Solar eclipse is called Soorya Grahan in Hindi.

** It is seen when the Moon passes in middle of Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring or hiding the reflection of the Sun.

** An annular solar eclipse is seen when the Moon's apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun. It causes the Sun to look like a ring and blocks most of the Sun's light.

Date	Type	Visible Areas
8/9th Mar 2016 Wednesday	Total Eclipse	India, South/East Asia, North/West Australia, Pacific, Indian Ocean.
1st Sept 2016	Annular Eclipse	(Not visible in India) South/East Asia, North/West Australia, Pacific, Indian Ocean.

Solar eclipse of September 01, 2016

The eclipse of September 01, 2016 would be Annular Solar Eclipse as the shadow of moon would cover only 97% of the Sun. 
* The Solar Eclipse would be visible from most of the Africa continent.
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* The Solar Eclipse would NOT be visible from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Fiji and other Asian countries. 
* It would also not be visible in Europe, North America, South America and Australia continents except some western coastal cities of Australia including Perth.
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*Partial Solar Eclipse: 
Pretoria, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Harare and Windhoek are some of the big cities in Africa continent where partial Solar Eclipse would be visible.
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***************** What is Sutak:
Before a certain time period of Chandra Grahan and Surya Grahan, the environment starts getting contaminated with harmful objects. This time period is known as Sutak. It is believed that auspicious tasks should NOT be performed during Sutak.

During Sutak, following activities should be avoided:

*Sutak starts 12 hours before Surya Grahan and 9 hours before Chandra Grahan.
*One should not perform any auspicious work during Sutak.
*The idols and images of deities should not be touched and worshiped.
*Bath should be taken after Sutak to avoid its harmful effects.
*Sutak is applicable to those places only where Grahan or eclipse is visible.
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Convictions associated with Surya Grahan


There are innumerable convictions or myths that are associated with Surya Grahan. For Hindus, occasion of Surya Grahan (eclipse) is not acknowledged good or auspicious. They feel that eclipse strongly hits the zodiac signs of particular houses in native's chart to show changes. 

And the person who comes in contact with Surya Grahan certainly faces notable changes either good or bad. But in most of the cases, Grahan endows bad or unfavorable results. So it is always better to follow rituals to protect yourself from malefic effects or influence of eclipses.

** You can donate or offer things such as clothes, meals to needy people.

** Donating food to animals or feeding birds is also auspcious.

** During Grahan time, you can chant Surya mantra "Om hram hreem hroum sah suryaya namah" (or) can also chant Gayatri Mantra (or) Maha Mrityunjay Mantra .

** Once the period of grahan is over one should take bath and should take fresh food.


It is advisable always to take safe measures during Surya Grahan. You can follow some tips mentioned here:-

** During Surya Grahan, one should always avoid eating food.

** Do not prepare anything new in food during grahan.

** Avoid already prepared food before or during grahan time.

Effect of grahan or eclipse  on pregnant women

Pregnant women are most sensitive to get adverse effect of grahan or eclipse effect on pregnant women is always worse.
 Dos and Don'ts for pregnant women:-

** Firstly a pregnant woman should not view Grahan with naked eyes. Preferably she should stay home and not be in the open during Grahan Kaal
  
** Do not use knife or any other sharp weapon at home during Grahan. Belief has it that cutting fruits and vegetables during Grahan Kaal will lead to the birth of a child with cleft organ.
 
** Avoid wearing metals especially sari pins, hair pin, tightening pins and jewelry etc. 

** Many women avoid sleeping during Grahan. 

** Some scriptures suggest that women should sit only on a bed with Durva Grass and chant the Santana Gopala Mantra. 

** Many women take a bath before and after Grahan.

Scientific View

The scientific argument that is easiest to give in favour of these precautions listed above is that, since "Grahan" is a phase that is anti the normal course of natural happenings, it's bound to have ill-effects. The extent of harm caused is debatable no doubt, especially in the absence of any research or facts to support the claims made by astrologers.We still believe taking precautions is the best thing to do, for the best interest of both the mother and child.

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